Garage heat options

[Mazo EMS2]

I've been battin' around the idea of installing a heater in my garage. I have a few things I wanna work on with the Spyder this winter, but trying to do it in the cold sucks. I already have natural gas brought through a wall, so it wouldn't take much to do it. So I thought I'd ask what people use for heaters. I'd like to go "ventless" so I don't have to poke a hole in the wall. The space is about 600sq ft.

 

[Bob Denman]

Couldn't you get a natural gas furnace from a mobilehome, and just hook it up to blow hot air around inside the garage? it would take a minimal amount of ductwork (If any...).
The only downside, is that you'd probably have to vent it...

 

[cuznjohn]

i used a small colman propane heater, but you have to worry about the bike sweating

 

[wyliec]

There is what is called direct vent for high efficiency furnaces; but, there is no ventless. Any ventless would be a small space heater, like cuznjohn mentioned.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

I can get a 30,000BTU wall unit for about $200. Says it'll heat 1000sqft. It's ventless. Might be an option

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...4431352164-c-6867.htm?tid=2305353895268874849

 

[Bob Denman]

If it runs off of a thermostat: it can't hurt to give it a try! :thumbup:

 

[blacklightning]

I can get a 30,000BTU wall unit for about $200. Says it'll heat 1000sqft. It's ventless. Might be an option

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...4431352164-c-6867.htm?tid=2305353895268874849

They work great. I bought and intalled one for my mother-in-law. I have a small Mr. Heater that I use in my office. my office is only about 480 sf, but it works great.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

In one of our houses in Michigan we had heat in the garage. It worked so well that my step daughter, who didn't get a parking spot in the garage, would pull her car in, turn up the thermostat and let the snow melt. :banghead: The heater was there when we bought the house and I don't remember what it was exactly. Natural gas for sure though. Update: The boss said it was a wall mounted ventless unit.

I wish it was as easy to cool our garage as it was to heat that one.

 

[Motorcycledave]

Northern Tool Supply

I got mine at Northern Supply
it hangs on the wall and needs no outside vent
mine is propane but they also are made for natural gas
has a fan and thermastat controled , the local
fire dept inspected it and gave it the big ��
$189 shipped.

 

[oldguyinTX]

Great options if you have natural gas or (cheap) propane available. NG doesn't exist here, and getting a permit for either an above ground or buried tank is absolutely insane. Then, the price of the tank - typically 500 lbs which is a big tank and lots of $$, plus excavation if it gets buried, then the ongoing price of propane here, which is not cheap. For me, the only option just doesn't work, although I wish it would.

 

[ARtraveler]

Hanging unit as mentioned above good. We have natural gas here. Had one at my other home, run by thermostat. Probably best bet. Make sure your local codes allow it. Here, everything is supposed to be directly vented to the outside.

Have hot water floor heat here, powered by natural gas. I leave it at 50 degrees and it works fine.

 

[Highwayman2013]

I can get a 30,000BTU wall unit for about $200. Says it'll heat 1000sqft. It's ventless. Might be an option

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...4431352164-c-6867.htm?tid=2305353895268874849

That would work fine. I had a similar unit in my living room in Pa. No venting.

 

[DGoebel]

+1 I heated my last 1500 sqft shop with a ventless just like that on NG. Did add a Combination Smoke CO detector (which never once went off in 5 years of MN winters), kept the shop (computer service repair shop) at 68 degrees all winter. Barely noticed the change in NG usage except in Jan/Feb<G>. Seems the heater even had it's own o2 sensor which would shut the heater off if o2 got too low.

 

[Motorcycledave]

COST

Because the one I have, hangs on the wall and does not require outside venting
it is not considered to be a permanent installed unit. however it works and looks like one
I run mine with a 25 gal propane tank $1.98 pr gal, and with daily use in the winter a tank will last about
2 months, if you are where it is super cold it would last about 1 month I am guessing.
I have been using mine for about 5 years and it works great, I start it up in the morning
it has a pilot light, so I just set the temp and away it goes fan comes on and off automaticly
it is perfect... go to their website and check it out.
If you email me I will send you pictures of mine.
mine has been inspected by the fire marshal here and he says it's good.
Dave
Stay Warm

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

One potential downside to an unvented heater is humidity. One of the products of combustion, especially natural gas, is water vapor. Run the heater long enough you'll have water dripping from everything in the garage that is the least bit cool. To counter that you'll need ventilation, which means a hole in the wall, or two even, one for fresh air and the other for exhaust, exactly what you are wanting to avoid!

Whatever you install make sure that any part of it that can act as an ignition source is at least 18" above the garage floor. That's to prevent igniting gasoline fumes that may be present, which is common in a garage. That's required by building and fire codes pretty much universally.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Great options if you have natural gas or (cheap) propane available. NG doesn't exist here, and getting a permit for either an above ground or buried tank is absolutely insane. Then, the price of the tank - typically 500 lbs which is a big tank and lots of $$, plus excavation if it gets buried, then the ongoing price of propane here, which is not cheap. For me, the only option just doesn't work, although I wish it would.

Go with a pellet stove. Cost of operation is similar to propane. I have one in my garage. Works great and makes for a nice toasty warm garage to work in.

 

[Bob Denman]

Pellet stoves will require daily attention...
That may not always be practical. nojoke

 

[5legsshort]

Best of both seasons

This is what I put in my 200 sq.ft. shed, so far so good. No fumes, no worries, but do have to cut a hole...
http://www.homedepot.com/p/LG-Elect...-with-Cool-Heat-and-Remote-LW8015HR/205588134

​

 

[jaherbst]

When I lived in Edina, MN I installed a Reznor gas heater in my garage. It was remotely controlled from inside the house. It hung from the ceiling and would heat up the entire garage in less than 10 minutes. Temps there in the winter were -20 to 30 degrees. Extremely happy with this setup and professional installation.

Jack

 

[Machinegunner]

If you use an unvented heater, you will have to maintain a warm temp otherwise if the garage gets cold there will be condensation. I use a direct vent unit heater hung from the ceiling. The best, in my opinion, is an infrared tube heater. It is hung and vented, but only heats the objects the rays shine on. You won't get condensation and you only need to turn it on when needed.