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Garage heater - Gas, electric, infrared?

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January 21, 2019, 06:38 AM
gpbst3
Garage heater - Gas, electric, infrared?
Im looking to take the chill out of a 2 car integral garage. I dont need to keep it comfortable but just around 50-60 degrees in the cold winters.

I see a lot of electric infrared heaters and they work by heating objects not the air. If this type of heater would be ceiling mounted in a corner would it make one vehicle exceptionally hot compared to the other?

I would need to have an electrician or plumber to run the supply line either way. Is gas or electric better, safer, cheaper to install?


January 21, 2019, 07:20 AM
limblessbiff
I’d go with gas. But how often are you out there?
If you’re just out there every once in a while for a short time I’d just get a torpedo heater. I use that over my gas furnace if I’m just out there for a few hours working on a car or something, anything beyond that gas is probably the most economical and comfortable.
January 21, 2019, 07:32 AM
Gustofer
I put a Modine Hot Dawg propane heater in my 30X40X14 shop hooked up to a 250 tank. I keep it at 39 degrees (which is a whole lot warmer than it sounds). My pipes stay unfrozen and my truck, while not toasty, is very comfortable to get into in the morning. If I need to do something out there I can crank it up to be warmer, but, and maybe I'm just a reptile, I rarely need to. It's actually quite comfortable at that temp out there.

The gas only costs a couple hundred a year to fill.


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January 21, 2019, 07:38 AM
2000Z-71
Have a small gas heater in the garage here and it seems to work very well.




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January 21, 2019, 08:59 AM
Vanwall
I have a 24 x 28 attached garage. I went with a reznor ceiling mount heater. Natural gas. Works great, I keep temp 50. I’m in NE Ohio.
January 21, 2019, 09:03 AM
ASKSmith
I live in the same area. Two car integral garage.

I honestly don't feel the need to spend the expense. It's usually 10-20 degrees warmer than outside. I definitely notice a difference when I use a car that's been in the garage, versus one that sits outside.

I'll be following this.


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I apologize now...
January 21, 2019, 09:58 AM
gpbst3
Just to clarify... this garage is attached to the house (half basement, half garage). Not a separate structure.

I would like to keep the temperature consistent in the low 50's for the winter. I would prefer a unit with a built in thermostat.


January 21, 2019, 10:25 AM
lbj
I have a Hot Dawg by Modine in my garage that works quite well. It's gas fired.
I keep my garage at 70 degrees all winter.

Not a lick of trouble going on 6 years.
It seems pretty efficient but was expensive to buy and install.
Mine is installed near the ceiling in a corner out of the way and has a thermostat mounted on the wall.
The unit is vented to the outside.

http://www.modinehvac.com/web/...-power-vented-hd.htm


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January 21, 2019, 11:22 AM
Doc H.
Reznor gas heater in our 3 car attached garage. Keeps it at a constant 55 degrees; projected -5 this week, has been down to -20. Ceiling mount, wall thermostat. Not much of an addition to utilities.



"And gentlemen in England now abed, shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispin's Day"
January 21, 2019, 12:43 PM
gpbst3
Those Reznors are much more expensive than I thought. I was thinking more along the $200-300 range


January 21, 2019, 12:53 PM
radioman
Rule of thumb is that all heaters are Natural Gas if you have natural gas coming to the house.


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January 21, 2019, 02:42 PM
Fredward
Commonly described as a walk-out basement. I had one for many years. Check your door(s). I put a heavily insulated roll up and a nicely insulated pedestrian door in, and it helped immensely. I also insulated the ceiling between the joists, and replaced the window with a thermal one. Total cost was about 2k, but my gas bill dropped hugely. Don't know exactly why, but the whole house was warmer. After that, I just used an oil heater when I felt the need, which wasn't very often.
January 21, 2019, 03:39 PM
Warhorse
I also have a Hot Dawg by Modine hanging from my garage ceiling, I set it at 68 degrees a couple hours before I want to do some work out there. It is pretty efficient with natural gas.


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January 21, 2019, 04:06 PM
Skins2881
I installed one of these today for one of my customers. Seemed to put out some decent heat for the few minutes I tested after installing it. Can't speak to longevity obviously, but it seemed produce heat alright.

ETA, apparently this unit is a high capacity heater and they won't ship it to CA.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Skins2881,



Jesse

Sic Semper Tyrannis
January 21, 2019, 05:18 PM
Patriot
I put a Mitsubishi split in my two car attached.

Keeps it warm and cool...all year round. I’m so productive now and have it set up nice.

Worth every penny...and hardly noticed the electric bill rise since it’s very efficient.


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January 21, 2019, 06:22 PM
sadlerbw
I’ve got an electric space heater. It doesn’t heat the space in any meaningful way, but if I point it at the front end of our cars it will usually melt the snow. I would NOT recommend electric for your purpose.

Now, at the shop/warehouse building my company has, the two forced air gas heaters (each one is about the size of a small washing machine) will heat the whole damn place up no problem. The install and up front will not be the least expensive, but natural gas is currently pretty cheap in the Midwest and it works great for heating.

- Bret
January 21, 2019, 07:01 PM
BuckRogers2000
We have a "Cayenne" gas heater, that's attached at the ceiling. Our third stall is our gym. We normally have the heater at the lowest setting (50 degrees) until a couple of hours before we use the gym. It's worked great for over 10 years.
January 22, 2019, 07:06 AM
taco68
Another vote for the Modine Hot Dawg. Have a 20x30 workshop with 10'ceilings. This is set up in a corner mounted to the ceiling. Not a problem after 10 years.


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