Heating a large garage

millhouse

millhouse

Forum Member
Well...it appears the house I've been trying to buy is going through. It needs some TLC and interior work...but the garage was built in 98 and is 37X29 with ~ 11-12 foot ceilings. The walls are insulated...but I'll have throw something on the back of the garage door.

Now...if I close before the end of november, I'll have some extra loot to throw into home improvement. The first thing that comes to mind is a heater for the garage...possibly one that can heat it throught the winter. I'd like to keep the price at or around $500.

Now...Ideally I'd pick up a infrared overhead gas unit and be done with it. Unfortunatly, there is no gas run out to it currently...and I'm not sure if I'll be able to lay the pipe before the ground freezes.

I've been eyeballing a 3200watt electric quartz overhead unit...but am unsure if one will be sufficient to heat the garage. There is no way I'll run two of em though.

I'm somewhat sold on a radiant heat system...as I've heard they do a much better job keeping it comfotable at all levels. Seeing as I would like to heat it throughout the winter...I see it as a better/cheaper heating solution when compared to forced air.

I'm not completly sold though...so ny and all input/opinions would be appreciated
 
igotaneed4speed said:
umm is the celling insulated?

you will lose 80-90% of the heat thru the celling before the walls even amtter..
Click to expand...

Yep...the only thing left un-insulated is the back side of the garage door. I'll probably just pick up some sheets of insulating foam and throw them on the back.
 
millhouse said:
Well...it appears the house I've been trying to buy is going through. It needs some TLC and interior work...but the garage was built in 98 and is 37X29 with ~ 11-12 foot ceilings. The walls are insulated...but I'll have throw something on the back of the garage door.

Now...if I close before the end of november, I'll have some extra loot to throw into home improvement. The first thing that comes to mind is a heater for the garage...possibly one that can heat it throught the winter. I'd like to keep the price at or around $500.

Now...Ideally I'd pick up a infrared overhead gas unit and be done with it. Unfortunatly, there is no gas run out to it currently...and I'm not sure if I'll be able to lay the pipe before the ground freezes.

I've been eyeballing a 3200watt electric quartz overhead unit...but am unsure if one will be sufficient to heat the garage. There is no way I'll run two of em though.

I'm somewhat sold on a radiant heat system...as I've heard they do a much better job keeping it comfotable at all levels. Seeing as I would like to heat it throughout the winter...I see it as a better/cheaper heating solution when compared to forced air.

I'm not completly sold though...so ny and all input/opinions would be appreciated
Click to expand...
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200316363_200316363
this is the one i have its plenty,my garage is a 3 car garage with 12 foot ceiling...
 
millhouse said:
Do you heat it throughout the winter? Do you notice condensation builup on tools and other items? I imagine that the concrete stays pretty cold..as do the tools and anything stored in the garage?
Click to expand...

I keep the thermostat at 55 all winter and turn it to 65 the day before I plan to work in there. No condensation build up at all because the furnace is vented. ( must non vented heaters have condensation problems). I did seal my floor to avoid condensation coming up through it from the ground.
 
You're on the right track with radiant heat. $500 isn't much to work with though.

A tubular setup would be best to cover the kind of area you need to cover rather than a spot heater. You might need a couple to get the job done, then you're way over budget.

Forced air unit heaters would come closer to your price range and get the job done.

If you want to stay near budget get a unit heater. If you want the primo setup and don't mind blowing the budget, go with infrared. Something like this would be sweet http://www.reverberay.com/products/ls.html
 
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millhouse said:
Do you heat it throughout the winter? Do you notice condensation builup on tools and other items? I imagine that the concrete stays pretty cold..as do the tools and anything stored in the garage?
Click to expand...
I turn that thing on 10 minutes before i go in the garage and its warm when i go out, the cement does stay cold, but it works great for when i need it, and as far as any sweating, Never....I also have a ceiling fan to move the air around better, my garage is shaped like an L.
 
You can usually score a nice hanging unit off ebay locally is you have patience...

I bought a 100000btu unit nat gas...i still havent hung it though...just using a tube heater!
 
igotaneed4speed said:
do you have a atic? in the garage is how tall is the roof line
Click to expand...

Yep, the ceilings have drywall and are insulated...the ceilings are ~ 10-12 feet tall (I have not measured yet).

8URZ0H6, I'll keep my eyes peeled. I'm not sure I'd want to pay for one to be shipped (large and expensive) so being local would be the key.

GeosRide, yep...Ideally I'd like to keep it heated throughout the winter.
 
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