heater for a freezing garage...recommendations?

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-29-2011, 11:03 PM

Got a good electrical feed in your garage at all? 220V power? If so you can get an electric unit to do the job. For my single bay I've got one of these:

Amazon.com: Dimplex DGWH4031 4000-Watt Garage/Workshop Heater: Home & Garden

It's on a 30A dedicated circuit coming out of my sub-panel.

**Kristopher1129** · 10-29-2011, 11:33 PM

I also have a 3 bay shop. I use a wood stove every year. I just stacked a cord of wood earlier today. Costed me $250 for the cord. Last year I went through about a cord and a half.

It does take a lot more work with stacking wood, tending to the stove, and maintaining the pipes and what not...but still. To heat your shop for less than $500 through the winter, you can't beat that. I actually highly prefer the smell, and feel of wood stove heat versus gas. Not to mention, it's actually a great conversation piece. People love to talk about it...don't know why, ha.

I have a little diesel portable heater too. Comes in handy if I end up with a mobile job in the winter. If they don't have a heated garage...I can just bring that baby with me. It is also VERY handy for blasting the cold out of the shop first thing in the morning.

I actually got my stove installed through a barter for some details.

**garcin** · 10-30-2011, 06:16 AM

Ok, go to Home depot and get yourself 8 dual halogen tripods (44.57 each) you get plenty of heat and lots of light, lol. Just kidding, but I do love this halogen. Good luck with your hunt for heat.

**SameGuy** · 10-30-2011, 06:59 AM

My two-car is under the bedrooms of this split-level and gets some heat from the central furnace, but it's inefficient -- why would I want my furnace to heat such a huge space with two big doors that open a few times a day? I sealed up the registers a couple of winters ago and my house is noticeably more comfortable and my gas bill went down... and the temperature in the garage still rarely gets below 50.

But I do want to be comfortable when I'm in the garage so I got a 5000 W electric heater and mounted it on the ceiling. It's similar to the 4000 W unit above, but hard-wired to a mechanical thermostat (digital ones don't go to 5000 W) and from there to the panel which is also in the garage. The garage measures 22'x21'x7' and this thing gets it from 50° to 75° in about 15 minutes, and barely cycles to keep it that warm.

All in all it cost $200 for the heater, $15 for the 'stat, $35 for about 20' of 10/2 and I forget how much for a 30 Amp breaker. I installed it myself and my BIL did the final connection to the panel (he's an EE).

**courtdale** · 10-30-2011, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by D.Acker

I have one of these and it works quite well in my less that "tight" single car, doesn't take long before I'm turning it down or off completely.

ProTemp Portable Propane Forced Air Heater (40K) at Blain's Farm & Fleet

I used one of these in PA (in the dead of winter) in an old run down garage that was far from what one would call properly insulated. It did a great job.

**BillE** · 10-30-2011, 07:18 AM

When I first moved back to MN, I looked hard at nat gas heaters. Think 20below with nasty winds.

When I started getting bids, every contractor said, "Ain't gonna work." This was because of the venting problem (to the outside). I only have one side to vent to and the wind (that's an understatement) would cause havoc with the whole thing. Thru the roof was also looked at, but again location negated that idea (snow build-up).

What I'm trying to say is get a reputable contractor(s) to look at what you have going before you start spending the $.

Oh, I'm using a kero heater...not the best but at least I don't freeze out here.

Bill

**BobbyG** · 10-30-2011, 08:05 AM

I have two heat sources for my 3 car garage; woodstove and a propane heater. The propane heater is connected to a 30 pound tank and this warms everything up pretty quickly.

The woodstove maintains the inside temperature nicely once the propane heater gets everything up to temp...

**SeaJay's** · 10-30-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by silverfox

You have an outdoor grill with one of those small propane tanks? If you do you can buy a small propane heat element that bolts right on the tank. Much safer than Kero.

This is what I use...it's a small unit that I use to use for my one car garage. I actually used it last night at my mothers house in her 2 car garage and it worked great.

**mwtaco** · 10-30-2011, 08:33 AM

thanks for the advice up to now guys...

my favorite setup would be a wall/ceiling mounted natural gas or electric heater with a vent...but economically speaking it's probably going overboard at this point. i first have to see if i spend enough time outside to justify such a nice setup.

i like the propane heater idea and will try that first. i was looking at the cannon shaped forced air heaters and glad to see you guys suggested it and that it works well. i will also look into the radiant heaters that mount onto the tank.

regarding the cannon shaped forced air heaters you guys mentioned...are they very loud?

thanks

**Bigpat** · 10-30-2011, 08:41 AM

What about a pellet stove?? Worked pretty well in my buddys garage last year up here in NY.... and pellets are much less pita to work with than actual wood stoves... not the same heat output.... but its an option keep an on on craigslist or something.... barter section always has interesting things