Need Midwest-Climate Garage Pics and Heater Ideas

[acapella8]

Forgive another post, but I've been getting so much useful info, that I can't stop.

I'm in Chicago. And it's getting cold.

That said, I have a moderate sized 2.5 car garage that is attached. (for those reading my sig, that's right, my MR2 gets it outside this winter)

I want to be able to improve my 78SC during the winter, nights and weekends.

I'm having 2 contractors come out tonight for estimates on cost of 1) running a NAT-GAS line out to the garage and the more likely option ... 2) running a new conduit with 220/240 @ 30/40A for an ceiling mounted electric heater.

I'd like to see what other people have done with regards to heating their garages that were designed to have

Other ideas I need help with:

- Best ways to heat approx 500 sq feet
- Best lighting ideas for a fairly dark garage

I already have the lift in mind, so we'll skip that for now.

Show me pics of your best winter garage retreat! (CA residents need not respond)

[911boost]

I have a 50,000 btu Modine Hot Dawg natural gas heater hanging from the far back corner of my three car tandem garage. There is a seperate thermostat that controls the garage temperature on the far wall under and behind the heater.

I also had the garage door insulated, which makes it look very nice, and helps keep the heat in.

As the master bedroom is directly above my garage, the heater was neccessary to keep my wife and I from freezing in the winter (great excuse to have a heated workspace, oohhh yeaaah).

I belive the installation and purchase of the heater was $1100, which included running the gas line, cutting the roof and installing the vent, and wiring some new electrical (outlet and switch).

I think its like this one:

http://www6.mailordercentral.com/igcusastore/prodinfo.asp?number=HD75A-01



I am VERY pleased with the heater. If you would like i can take some pictures tonigt.

Oops I forgot about the lights too. I have 4 of the 6 foot long double flourescent light bulb fixtures strategically placed in the garage. Its works very well, and I think in 4 years I have replaced one bulb.

Bill

[jmohn]

Nat. gas "unit heater" hung in a corner of the ceiling. Quick heat, much cheaper than elec.

Jerry M
'78 SC

[wcc]

I don't heat my garage all winter long. However, when I want to work on anything in there in the winter I fire up my 50000btu Reddy heater that is hooked up to a 20lb propane tank. I have a good size 3 car garage and it heats it up VERY fast and it gets so warm in there that it I actually have to turn it off or put on shorts. It'll take most of the chill off in about 5-10 minutes. I've done this for the past couple of years and so far I like this set up.
I don't want to heat the garage all the time cause the wife is always leaving the door open and that would be a waste for me. This is just what I do, but maybe you have a different situation. If it was just a work room and the doors aren't opened and closed all the time I would LOVE a full-time heated garage.

Oh, I forgot about the light issue. I don't have any special type of lighting either. I use one of those contractor spot lights on a tripod. I just aim it in the general direction and it is plenty of light. I also use retractable shop lights.

Bill
'85 Carrera

[acapella8]

Bill - I would love to see pictures of the door, heater and lights if possible - sounds like there's lots of good ideas here.

Keep them coming!

[acapella8]

WCC - can you take some pictures too? I'd love to see the propane tank setup.

JerryM - would love to see some pictures too. Thanks.

[creaturecat]

never use a propane heater indoors without proper ventilation - carbon monoxide is a silent killer - had a friend who died from this.

[acapella8]

Jerry - here's a question too, just curious but how is Natural Gas cheaper than Electric in your area? Maybe I'm missing something......

[ruf-porsche]

If you live in Chi-town be careful that you are not breaking any of the Building Code regulation by installing a heater in the garage. Chicago has it own building code, you will need to go to City hall / building dept. or a satellite office to see if some type of permit is require. Likely a permit will be require because the city now require you to apply for a permit just to install or replace a hot water heater.

[jmohn]

Sorry no pictures, but if you've ever been in a commercial garage or warehouse you've probably seen a unit heater hanging near the ceiling (without really noticing it). They are a properly vented and combustion-air supplied appliance rated for installation in an occupied area. ruf-porsche makes a good point, check your local codes (or ask your contractor, he SHOULD be familiar with them). In my area a garage heater is allowed but a permit is required for it's installation, the inspector will verify it is installed per it's "testing and listing" (i.e. the manufacturer's installation requirements) and that the gas line is properly sized and installed. As to cost of elec. vs. gas, in my area of the country elec. heat will cost approx. 1/2 - 2/3 more per BTU than nat. gas (I realize the cost of nat. gas has (is) going up, but elec. costs will also).

Jerry M
'78 SC

[wcc]

The only problem I ever had with the propane set up is I originally bought the 100,000BTU heater with the 20lb tank. DON'T DO THIS!!!! If you buy the bigger blower you NEED to run a larger propane tank like a 75lb tank. The 40,000BTU blower works just fine. The problem with the 100,000 blower is that it pulls from the tank too fast and doesn't burn it off properly. THIS WILL MAKE YOU SICK!!!!
That being said you can't go wrong with the setup I have been running.
Ok, I couldn't remember what I had till I got home.
I don't have a reddy heater, I actually have an ALL PRO 40000BTU heater that I use with a 20lb propane tank. Bought it from Home Depot. We use to use these inside new construction of houses in the winter so the drywall could be finished. Same with the light set up. I don't do construction anymore so I use these things for this.
Neither my garage doors or my garage roof are insulated. That is something I would like to do in the near future. That would hold the heat in longer.
Other than that, all I can say is I know a lot of people here in Michigan that use this exact same setup.


Bill

[javadog]

For lighting, I'd suggest 2x4 4-bulb commercial flourescent fixtures. The lenses used on many of them give off a very soft, diffused light, which is great for eliminating shadows. Much better than bare bulbs. You might also consider hanging a couple on the walls.

When trying to get the most bang for your buck, buy something that the commercial construction world buys a million times a year. The large quantities drive the unit prices down. Better yet, make friends with an electrical contractor that does a lot of commercial remodel work. These things get changed out all the time. I just threw away about a hundred or so.

Take a look at a small furnace as well as a gas heater. They are cheaper than you'd think and duct work costs little to run. Forced air will get you a better temperature distribution in the garage.

JR

[cegerer]

The burners on any gas-fired heater are required to be at least 18 inches above a garage floor. This is the height deemed safe to prevent your own little recreation of Hiroshima in case combustible gases accumulate (gas is heavier than air). Solid fuel (i.e. wood, corn, etc.) burning furnaces/stoves/etc. - although common occurrences - are strictly prohibited from garages by the NFPA!

[JonT]

Natural gas line connected to an infra-red ceramic heater (with 4 ceramic plates) heats my 2 car garage nicely for $400 installed. Leaves a small amount of condensation on the inside of the windows. Heats garage to comfortable in 10 mins in freezing weather outside (Im in Omaha).

[Ducman]

I have a larger 3 car garage, but it is attached and insulated. I simply installed a 25000 BTU ventless natural gas unit from Menards. With the optional blower it was less than $250. I keep it on the absolute lowest setting - keeps garage around 50 degrees - when I plan to do some work I crank it up and 15 minutes later it's toasty.

I think I've got some pictures somewhere.

Lights - paint your walls and ceiling bright white, coat your floor. reflects alot of light.

[JonT]

[Flipseat]

I have a 22'x32' (12' ceilings) shop that is built from insulated block. The ceiling is insulated, and it has a concrete floor. The door is old (70s from when it was built) and I will be replacing it with a new insulated door with a row of windows in the top row to let light in and keep wandering eyes out. The quote I got on the door was ~ $1200 installed for insulated 12'x10' door. That is a good thing to have because if your door isn't at least sealed up well, lots of heat will go out there. The ceiling is nearly all insulated except the area around the old furnace, which I will finish when I put the new furnace in. Its 180,000 BTU LP furnace which I plan to remove and replace with a waste oil burner. I get all the waste oil I want for free... free fuel - can't go wrong there. I just have to save up a couple grand for the heater. For this winter I just went and bought a 40,000 BTU kerosene heater. It takes the chill off, but doesn't get really warm. I also open a window when I'm running it.

I'd like to hear if anyone else is running a waste oil burner, how big, how much it was, etc. They are maintenance whores, but I'm used to cars that are too, so thats ok!

[PorscheGuy79]

Tom,

Give me a call/email on the lighting, I just put some up in my garage.

[Billbo]

I have a 20ft radiant tube heater in my garage that I'm very happy with. I'll post pics as soon as I figure out how to.

[POVI]

Im running a Modine 75,000 ceiling mounted propane heater , with proper tube venting , with a 100 gallon propane tank .in 3 car garage. total install cost about $1400 .. i work in my tshirt in Feb. .. in NH

Joe