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Garage heaters

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gsxitement

20+ Year Contributor
1,887
1,665
Dec 9, 2002
DOBBS FERRY, New_York
We just bought a new house that has a very decent garage. Perfect for working on my DSM. Only problem is I live in the north east, and the garage is not climate controlled. I'm trying to research decent heaters, but wanted to see what y'all in colder climates do.
 
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I use one of these...
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Stanley 1500-Watt Convection Utility Electric Space Heater
 
I have 2 forced air (torpedo) heaters in my shop. 1 - 135000 btu and 1 - 35000 btu with a 24" fan to circulate the heat. I walk in, flip a switch for the outlet to be live, and all of the stuff comes on together. That is what gets me by right now in a decent size shop.
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I have a used HVAC unit that was given to me for the shop, just haven't got the pad poured for it and a propane tank. Maybe next year.......
Just found a 400000 btu hanging Mr Heater for sale for $250 but I just don't have it at this time of year. Kansas taxes and tags are all due this month and I have a few cars to cover. Good deals always seem to show up at the wrong time lately.
 
I have 2 forced air (torpedo) heaters in my shop. 1 - 135000 btu and 1 - 35000 btu with a 24" fan to circulate the heat. I walk in, flip a switch for the outlet to be live, and all of the stuff comes on together. That is what gets me by right now in a decent size shop.
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I have a used HVAC unit that was given to me for the shop, just haven't got the pad poured for it and a propane tank. Maybe next year.......
Just found a 400000 btu hanging Mr Heater for sale for $250 but I just don't have it at this time of year. Kansas taxes and tags are all due this month and I have a few cars to cover. Good deals always seem to show up at the wrong time lately.


I know that feeling. I'm thinking one of those little bullet heaters that you put like the BBQ propane tanks on the back of for the time being till next summer when I can devote some time to putting in one of those hanging situs in. We have to giant propane tanks in the backyard for the pool heater, so I might just T off that and use that source. But for now.....small and cheap is the order of the day.
 

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Dam Erik, can I bum $250 so I can pick this one up here????
You can just PayPal me, LOL :p
Nice heater man, just what I need too!
 
Down south we don't have the harsh winters that you northern guys have to deal with. But if I'm in the garage and need some extra heat I use a dual burner heater that sits on a propane tank. My garage isn't insulated but it will heat the area your working in pretty good.

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Is that run on 220? Or can it run off 110/115?
220.

Be careful, your blasting that highly flammable paint thinner with a heater! :ohdamn:
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How is it on electricity usage Erik? Notice quite a jump in your bill?
I only turn it on when I'm working in the garage, so I don't notice it all. I assume it's about the same cost as running a clothes dryer.
 
The electric options are best.

Propane needs to be vented, as it gives off CO as it burns. There is also a LOT of moisture in propane, which will turn into frost on your walls, ceilings and windows, when it’s freezing outside. The frost can speed wood rot, but the real fun is when it starts melting and dripping on your project. :hmm:

The electric solutions are fume free, and fairly quiet. They won’t add moisture to your workspace either. True, they do cost more per btu than propane, but the benefits outweigh the difference.
 
I use a torpedo- I try to stick to kerosene but I use diesel in it too if Im too lasy to drive to the kero pump. Electric is way too expensive to run.

I always crack the bay door and roll it outside on startup. They take a moment to heat up and start burning clean with no stink. Once its firing clean, I roll it back in and close the door. Same thing before I shut it down, roll it outside before shut down to prevent stink.

Sigh.............its time to bust that thing out again.


Oh yeah- also- if you dont want to spend the extra money on a bigger torpedo with a big handle and wheels, thats fine. Its really annoying to have no wheels though............ so I just got a cheap movers dolly that I keep it on.
 
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It all depends on if your garage is attached. If it’s attached run your hvac to it. If not get a kerosene jet heater.

It costs me around $35-$40 a week in kerosene to heat my little shop. The 240v electric ceiling mount uses a ton of electric and doesn’t work as good. I do leave it on set around 45-50* so the shop doesn’t freeze though.
 
You bums cant handle 35 degrees for a couple weeks? Cuz that's all winter is ;)
I believed so too, but forecast shows 19 degrees next week :idontknow:

Soon I'm getting as far away from this place as I can. And never looking back. @rabenne
 
The electric options are best.

Propane needs to be vented, as it gives off CO as it burns. There is also a LOT of moisture in propane, which will turn into frost on your walls, ceilings and windows, when it’s freezing outside. The frost can speed wood rot, but the real fun is when it starts melting and dripping on your project. :hmm:

The electric solutions are fume free, and fairly quiet. They won’t add moisture to your workspace either. True, they do cost more per btu than propane, but the benefits outweigh the difference.

This. I've done both the propane and kerosene torpedo heaters. The kerosene torpedo heaters put out a TON of heat which is awesome, but you're constantly buying kerosene and re-fueling and have to keep the door open to vent the fumes.

As far as cost, I was spending money every week buying kersosene which sucks. Considering I only run the electric heater when I'm in there, I don't even notice the bill. I noticed shelling out $40 for kerosene though.

I finally went with the electric heater and it's the best thing, hands down.


This is an old pic of me using the torpedo heaters to paint my car. :D

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I have a Reznor UDAP 45 gas unit heater in my garage. Gets too cold in Saskatchewan to do anything in the winter without it.

I used a propane construction heater in the past, but you need to make sure you have it vented, which isn't always ideal when its -30 outside with ridiculous wind gusts.
 
I believed so too, but forecast shows 19 degrees next week :idontknow:

Soon I'm getting as far away from this place as I can. And never looking back. @rabenne

After Alabama I lived in NYS (southern tier) for 5 years. I wouldn't recommend that place either...

Where are you "escaping" to?

BTW it was 14 degrees in WI when I left for work this morning. DSM has been parked for about a week (first snow/salt). I use a torpedo heater in my 2 car, but also hate having to vent it. I currently don't have 220V in the garage but it's on the todo list anyway bc my compressor is 220V.
 
It was 23* when I headed to work this morning at my place and it looks like I have 2 days to finish the timing belt/cam swap/FP Mani/16g/FIC 1120/FMIC install on the 90 GSX then the weather will be "chilly"....WTF
I guess I need to get my ass busy!
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I no longer own this but I had an 800 sq ft insulated garage with one of these 5 plaque radiant natural gas heaters. Ventless and I didn't have a problem with moisture.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...+natural-gas-heaters+natural-gas-wall-heaters
The garage was very well insulated though so it didn't get freezing even with no heat. Most of the winter I didn't use it. If I went out in the garage for extended periods I would crank it up then turn it way way down or off. 30kBTU was plenty. I could work in a t shirt. In an uninsulated garage I think I would want forced air.
 
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