OT: garage space heaters

[Trex]

What is the hot set-up for unheated garages? Mine is a two car garage. Anyone have any low-cost solutions? Something that is plugged in would be preferred. I have one of those oil filled radiators that you plug in and they don't do squad. I don't want kerosene or anything open flame. Is radiant heat good? Anything good at Home Depot or Sears? Any and all suggestions welcomed.

[roger albert]

I installed a large-ish window unit with dual modes (AC and Heat)

Barring that, the radiant deals with a lot of reflector and a little fan,
or the quartz jobs, are good options.

[PFFOG]

Radiant is best as it does not heat the air directly, if it is uninsulated and you want electric, it is about the only way.

The small portable radiant propane work well too, but there is a flame. But you can direct the heat where you need it.

[signit98]

I open the door... warms up quickly...

[bradzdotcom]

got a little ceiling space in a corner?
this baby will curl your toes:
5000 watt garage space heater. $219:


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927

[PFFOG]

5,000 watts won't do $hit here in thee NE, if there is no insulation in the roof and walls, and has your standard garage door. It might take the edge off, but it will still be coat and glove temps.

I run a 50, 000 BTU propane salamander in my workspace when I have to do something, and even that just takes the edge off the cold. When I have to really do something, like tonight, the radiant propane heater is much more effective, I just set it up and aim it where I am working and work fast.

Some day I will have a proper shop with a heated floor, or overhead radiant heat, or combination of both.

[848dave]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

got a little ceiling space in a corner?
this baby will curl your toes:
5000 watt garage space heater. $219:


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927

That's what I have and it works great!! Two car garage, in a town home.

[bradzdotcom]

dave~
don't even think about moving to western ny.
yeskino apparently lives in some sort of igloo part of the year.
man, i was raised in NY. sure glad i don't remember how cold it was.

[PFFOG]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

dave~
don't even think about moving to western ny.
yeskino apparently lives in some sort of igloo part of the year.
man, i was raised in NY. sure glad i don't remember how cold it was.

January has been the coldest month in 5 years, the average monthly temp this month is about 18 F. with 82% humidity, which makes it feel colder than a dry cold.

Looking at another 7-10" of the white stuff tonight.

[wswartzwel]

Be glad it is snow and not ice... My dad just called from North AR. the ice was 3 inches thick on the trees and powerlines... Now all the branches are on the ground... No power... probably won't be any for awhile either.

[phoenixtexoma]

Speaking of ice in Arkansas, here's what it looks like in north Texas.

[PFFOG]

Yea, midwest got it bad. Hope everyone is safe and warm.

As much as Buffalo/upstate NY gets maligned for weather, I would rather shovel than cut up downed trees, and repair frozen pipes because of no heat/electric for weeks at at time. We do get ice storms every few years, but generally gets remedied quickly, and the 40 year old generator in the barn keeps me warm and in the light.

We also rarely get tornadoes, and if we do they usually only take a tree or two. I live about 1/4 mile from a major fault line, but our earthquakes might rattle the dishes in the cupboard, but not much else. The Great lakes temper the severe cold that the upper midwest gets, and the killer heat in the summer. We have bugs in the summer, but rarely are they bad enough to drive you indoors. Fires, not a worry either.

So all and all, with the exception of KILLER taxes, it is not a bad place to live.

[Guest24]

Originally Posted by roger albert

I installed a large-ish window unit with dual modes (AC and Heat)

Barring that, the radiant deals with a lot of reflector and a little fan,
or the quartz jobs, are good options.

An 18,000 BTU Cold/Heat LG runs about $600.00 DUS at Home Depot. You'd have to run a 220 Volt feed to the unit. We use them in our house in the Keys. Fairly energy efficient. Also, I installed an insulated garage door. This is the best investment I've ever made in weather proofing my home. Garage stays warmer in winter by 20 degrees and much cooler in the summer.
BTW the caterpillars had much longer fuzz this past summer.

[phoenixtexoma]

Wish I had a pic this morning. Freezing fog -- everything is white. Just like the old Jethro Tull song. Will be gone with the first strong dose of sunlight, but beautiful.

[plucky]

If it's for temporary use, don't you have to worry about moisture/humidity control as well? Humidity will go up as you're out in the garage and it's warmed up resulting in condensation when the heat is turned off.

I don't use heat, but I can get condensation even from a temperature swing over a day or two (from "cold" to around freezing and back to "cold") and I've had the door open for any period of time in that interval.

[boxercup]

Originally Posted by Trex

What is the hot set-up for unheated garages? Mine is a two car garage. Anyone have any low-cost solutions? Something that is plugged in would be preferred. I have one of those oil filled radiators that you plug in and they don't do squad. I don't want kerosene or anything open flame. Is radiant heat good? Anything good at Home Depot or Sears? Any and all suggestions welcomed.

Greetings Trex,

Don't raise your carbon footprint!

Use your living room!

[PFFOG]

Originally Posted by phoenixtexoma

....................... Just like the old Jethro Tull song. ....................

You are dating yourself

[Deans BMW]

This Airtite wood stove keeps the 1500 sq ft shop part of the MC B&B in the mid to hi 70's even when its below freezing out.

[Trex]

plucky - I am never in there all that long. Now that I have the R1100S tupperware removal exercise down pat, I can work on the bike and polish the valve caps quickly. If I have a small project to do, for an hour or so, I just need something to plug 'n play and take the chill off. I am looking at a Parabolic heater that Costco has. Under $100. The garage is about 750 sq ft and I am not looking to heat the whole thing up (as with a convection heater). Radiant seems best.

I do like the idea of insulated garage doors. Never thought of that.

BTW, what started all this was working in the garage last week-end JB Welding (that's a verb) the lower fairing bracket that is right behind the BMW badge. I never heard of anyone mentioning a problem with the bracket coming off from the fairing. Last Fall I could tell the lower part of the fairing on the right side was loose and I figured that the screw behind the badge dropped out. Then some on this board were talking about not bothering to use a screw there - just zip tie the thing since it is so difficult to get to. When I went to do that I saw that the black plastic "U" shaped bracket had separated from the fairing (didn't drop off as it was screwed to the metal frame tab). I left the JB Welding project until a cold winter Saturday and last Saturday was the day. It was nippy.

Robert F - back in the day, before I was married, I'd have a couple of bikes in the house in winter. I'd leave the Triumph out in the garage only because cold weather slowed down the oil leak. Once I got an old bevel gear Ducati stuck in the basement. It was a tough fit getting it down the storm door steps. Impossible to get it back up. Whatever you do, don't lift up and forward and at the same time try to steer a bike by its front turn signals. They weren't built for that.

[R69S]

Nice garage Dean-O!