Garage heaters????

[red04svtcobra]

This winter I want to get a garage heater so that I can work on the car if it is cold outside and fell comfortable. I was thinking of a propane or kerosene one and just leave the attic door in the garage open so it is ventilated some. Then I was thinking of a ceramic type on but don't think that will work to good unless you are close to it. My other idea was to buy a window unit with AC/ heat and mount it up on the wall and plug it in the wall and that way I will have cool and hot air when needed.
What do any of you all use? I need some help picking out a good one, thanks
Chris

[Lumpydogs]

I've got an old kerosene heater I use in the winter. It takes a good hour to hour and a half to warm the garage. Darn garage floor is still cold, but I can work in a t-shirt no problem.

The funny part is that every time I use the heater a bee or two shows up in the house and freaks out the wife. I think the heat from the garage gets the bees in the attic out of hibernation.

p.s. You can buy a kerosene additive that virtually eliminates the smoke and some even have scents.

[RF Cobra]

gas/propane would be a lot more efficient than electric heat for a garage. Electric is cheaper to install but operating costs to cycle electric heat on and off in a garage would be significantly higher. Ideally if you could install a gas or propane heater designed for the space, that would be your best but, but may be more than you want to spend.

I haven't seen a ceramic one that would do a good job of heating up a garage space in a reasonable amount of time. They also use a lot of electricity for the heat they put out.

For a portable type unit using a fan to help circulate the air in the room will help spread the heat around faster making the garage more comfortable quicker.

Robbie had a great setup with a wood stove in his 3 car garage. He could work on his car and cook at the same time.

[red04svtcobra]

Thanks all, Do you keep the attic door open when using the heaters. Here are some I was looking at getting. Which would be the best or is there a better type to get. Is propane or kerosene better to use in garages.
Propane one http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...35A&lpage=none
Kerosene one http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5R7&lpage=none
kerosene one http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5CT&lpage=none
or one of these http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...8NT&lpage=none

[Lumpydogs]

Originally Posted by RF Cobra

...
For a portable type unit using a fan to help circulate the air in the room will help spread the heat around faster making the garage more comfortable quicker.

Good point, I forgot to mention I have a ceiling fan in the gargage that circulates the heated air.

p.s. I'm not recommending the portable kerosene heater, but just answering the posted question. The kerosene heater is not the best possible solution but an inexpensive and quick fix that seems to work O.K. for me.

[tazzracing1]

I have a wood stove but want to goto infared or blue flame, The I'm thinking infared. My Father uses a blue flame and it works great just on the pilot it is 50 to 55 degrees great in a michigan winter.

[1-QIK-SNK]

the forced air heater you have to use the 20# cylinders. you can not use it hooked up to the house tank(if you have one). the forced air one uses alittle higher presure. the infrared gas space heater can be used also off a 20# cylinder or you can hook it up to a propane tank(& not have to mess with the 20# tanks) if you have any gas appliances. hope you understand this.


also forced air one(35k btu will last about 8hrs or less on the 20# tanks)

i personally like the infrared heaters better. quiter and you dont need power to get heat. it will run off the pilot light. if power goes out you still can get heat.

if you have any more Q's let me know. i will try to answer them. i work with gas applinces every day. install them and repair them.

how big is your garage?

kerry

[tazzracing1]

Kerry

I was told that the infared heats the objects the room first also?? I have a regular furnace for the rec room attched to the garage and it also has a tank for that heater that I don't use goes through way to much gas so I have a great supply tank. Thanks for the help and advice.
Larry

[red04svtcobra]

Originally Posted by 1-QIK-SNK

the forced air heater you have to use the 20# cylinders. you can not use it hooked up to the house tank(if you have one). the forced air one uses alittle higher presure. the infrared gas space heater can be used also off a 20# cylinder or you can hook it up to a propane tank(& not have to mess with the 20# tanks) if you have any gas appliances. hope you understand this.


also forced air one(35k btu will last about 8hrs or less on the 20# tanks)

i personally like the infrared heaters better. quiter and you dont need power to get heat. it will run off the pilot light. if power goes out you still can get heat.

if you have any more Q's let me know. i will try to answer them. i work with gas applinces every day. install them and repair them.

how big is your garage?

kerry

If you are asking me I have a 2 car garage. Thanks for all the input and hopefully this weekend I will have one ready for winter.

[Cobra4me]

Chris quit breaking things and you wont have to work on the car during the winter

[red04svtcobra]

HAHAHA, I hope not to break anything but I want to be prepared!! I hate the cold so I need something to keep me warm while doing some more upgrades to the car over the winter while she is hibernating!
Robbie, you going to the drag day in SC? If so PM me.

[1-QIK-SNK]

If i was you i would go with the infared one and go ahead and hook it up into your tank thats already there. even if you dont use the furnace that much i would still hook it up to that tank. the infared will not hardly even use gas. you really wont even notice any gas being used.

if you lived closer to me and ya went that rout I would help ya hook it up, but most of the nc members are in western part of nc.

kerry

Originally Posted by tazzracing1

Kerry

I was told that the infared heats the objects the room first also?? I have a regular furnace for the rec room attched to the garage and it also has a tank for that heater that I don't use goes through way to much gas so I have a great supply tank. Thanks for the help and advice.
Larry

[red04svtcobra]

I don't have a tank, I have gas heat for the house but don't know what it is or how I could splice into the line in the garage to hook up one of thise infared ones.

[tazzracing1]

Kerry

Thank You for the advice and help. Well I guess I know what to by now.

[1-QIK-SNK]

since you dont have a tank, but you have gas heat for house i bet you have natural gas. do you have a meter of some sort outside that has hard piping to it? it is not hard to splice in to another gas line. if you want me to i could walk ya through it over the phone it would be alot easier(sp?). just let me know

kerry

Originally Posted by red04svtcobra

I don't have a tank, I have gas heat for the house but don't know what it is or how I could splice into the line in the garage to hook up one of thise infared ones.