Electrical Garage Heaters - Opinions please..

on-ramp · 12-30-2006, 08:36 AM

I have a 2 1/2 car garage ( about 20' x 20' ) with a 12 foot ceiling and I need a heating solution.

there is currently no gas line into the garage so I am considering 1 or 2 electrical heaters, either mounted from the ceiling or on the wall.

any recommendations? thanks in advance.

David · David's Garage

Where do you live?

on-ramp · 12-30-2006, 08:57 AM

i live in Aruba.

j.k.

i'm almost up in NH, and it's a long cold winter, gets below 0 sometimes. I'd like to get some projects done during these cold months.

dfink · 12-30-2006, 09:16 AM

How about 100 lb propane cylinder and propane heater. If you want to do electric you will need to have a 220V circuit to provide enough power. How about solar panels....
You could just put in an electric furnace like would be used in the house with one large duct running across the ceiling. Mostly just a matter of money. If looking at sizes I have a about 50,000 btu of capacity with my propane heater and small electric and it works in a 1-1/2 stall 12 foot ceiling down to about 20* below that it isn't enough. It is however comfortable in 1/2 hour. I suppose it also depends on if you want it heated all the time or just when working. If just when working look at putting some radient panels on the ceiling nearly instant heat but really only heat up objects. If going to leave on I would look at getting a regluar electric furnace unit and use the one large duct.

cary · 12-30-2006, 09:26 AM

How many car guy friends do you have ?

How about an oil furnace that burns used motor oil ?

The local transmission shop has one. It's pretty cool. Thats where I take all my used oil. Run it over there in 3 gal buckets on my 4 wheeler. Just a thought. Thats why the large Chevy dealer in Missoula put in a quick lube and beats everyones price. $$$$ saved. Its a HUGE place. Heated for ZERO cost. Other than the storage tanks.

VincentVega · 12-30-2006, 09:38 AM

I had a gas line extended into the garage to run my heater. It works great and I believe is more efficient than the electric models, although I dont have the data handy. If you dont want to run the gas line, the propane option is there as well.

Worth a look http://www.qcsupply.com/Products/9543.aspx

coloradoporsche · 09:47 AM

I have an insulated 3-car garage in Colorado. I keep a small elecric heater (oil filled radiator) from Wal-Mart plugged in all the time. It takes the edge off and makes the garage just comfortable enough once I put on the overalls. I think the minimum temp in the garage varies from about 40-50 degrees F depending on outside temp.

I used to fire up a propane heater to really warm things up, but since I have used the electric heater I don’t bother any more.

Zeke · 12-30-2006, 09:45 AM

What are the emissions of a used oil heater? I'll bet here in CA they are banned, but I don't know. That's why I ask.

Electric won't need to be vented. You'll want a fan assisted type. Expensive to run.

A remote tank and heaters sounds like the easiest solution.

cary · 12-30-2006, 09:52 AM

Your probably right on the emissions. Never thought of that. No rules up here.

Wickd89 · 12-30-2006, 10:37 AM

I like a portable sealed oil heater that is warmed electrically. Looks like an east coast old house radiator but it just plugs in. Works great and run about 30-40 bucks. Don't know if it will heat up an entire garage but can be rolled over to your work area and work just fine.

Tinker · 12-30-2006, 11:09 AM

What a timely thread.

I just got off the phone with the electric company questioning why my bill was 2.6 times the previous months.......electric heaters.

My office is in the garage as my house is space challenged. I am using an 'efficient' tiny heater to try to stay warm but I guess I need to find an alternative or move indoors.

FYI

Tinker

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dfink
How about 100 lb propane cylinder and propane heater. If you want to do electric you will need to have a 220V circuit to provide enough power. How about solar panels....
You could just put in an electric furnace like would be used in the house with one large duct running across the ceiling. Mostly just a matter of money. If looking at sizes I have a about 50,000 btu of capacity with my propane heater and small electric and it works in a 1-1/2 stall 12 foot ceiling down to about 20* below that it isn't enough. It is however comfortable in 1/2 hour. I suppose it also depends on if you want it heated all the time or just when working. If just when working look at putting some radient panels on the ceiling nearly instant heat but really only heat up objects. If going to leave on I would look at getting a regluar electric furnace unit and use the one large duct.

Yep, propane heaters rock! You'll need one of these to really heat the garage properly.

kycarguy 935 · 12-30-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by milt
What are the emissions of a used oil heater? I'll bet here in CA they are banned, but I don't know. That's why I ask.

When I lived in Huntington Beach and requested information on the used oil heaters they wouldn't even send me any information to a California address. I had to have them send it to my Kentucky address. In California they were banned. That was a few years ago and things may be different now but I really doubt it.

David · David's Garage

I use a couple of the oil filled radiator types to heat my 900sq ft garage. I can get it about 30 degrees above the outside temp, but my garage isn't completely insulated. It sounds like an electric or propane forced air heater may be better for NH.

I tried one of the radiant propane heaters and all it did was empty a bottle of propane.

scottmandue · 12-30-2006, 11:59 AM

You could go down to the animal shelter and pick up a half dozen dogs then keep them in the garage. I hear it works for the Eskimos.

Of course the have their own "emissions" problems.

J/K

Usmellgass2? · 12-30-2006, 12:00 PM

I live in Central WA, east side of the Cascades. 0 or below is not uncommon. I use a propane space heater suspended fron the ceiling pointing down at a 30 deg angle or so for quick heat or when its really cold. hanging from the ceiling opens up floor space as well as keeping pets ect safe. Then I have 2 220v 5800w electrics over head to maintain steady temp. About 35 f on standby and 60 occupied.

Usmellgass2? · 12-30-2006, 12:01 PM

IIRC the electrics are about 250$ ea and the propane was 200$

johnsjmc · 12-30-2006, 04:54 PM

Electric or propane are very expensive here especially if the garage is drafty. Radiant heaters are supposed to be more efficient .I use a woodstove rated at 15000 to 55000BTU and can get my 1500sf garage toasty warm on the coldest days .Wood here is only $30 per cord.

Oracle · 12-30-2006, 05:50 PM

I'm on the same boat... this summer I insulated the garage walls and the garage door will be next... After I'll buy a heater.
In this area natural gas heaters are the most popular, the electric ones the least cause they're the most expensive to run.

Saying that I found this infrared heaters early this week: http://www.calcana.com/index.html

There are enough options to keep everyone happy...

Zeke · 12-30-2006, 06:34 PM

Good thought on the fire wood. I built a wood burning stove out of an oil drum once and talk about radiant heat! With dampers, the thing could be made to burn low for hours once it got going. Perfect for a garage, no open flame. A little fan nearby would circulate the heat very nicely. It was somewhat like those 55 gal bbq's, just a different design. Load from the end. Flue at the opposite end.

I had forgotten about my drum heater. I actually heated a 900 sq. ft. shop with it that had 12 foot high walls. Of course, this was in SoCal where a cold night is 40*.