Heating garage

[Silver R/T]

I'd like to get some projects done in winter months so I want to buy tank mounted propane heater 30K BTU and heat my 3 car garage. Should I be fine with that or there's something I'm overlooking?

[jb666]

Ventilation.

The tank mount propane heaters will kill you. If you're going to crack your door, that's fine, it'll let some fresh air in.

Another thing is , one of those will raise your garage from 30-70 degrees in minutes, but it'll also make everything in there sweat.. 

[Silver R/T]

I plan on running 2 window fans 2500cfm each.

[jb666]

I plan on running 2 window fans 2500cfm each.

You should be all set in that area...

I'm not sure what your climate is, but in my area, when I was running them (oversized 2 car) my biggest problem was the condensation this type of heater caused. It was horrible, the cars would almost be dripping wet.

[johnnycharger]

If these condensate too much....what is the best type of heater to use for a three car garage? 

[The70RT]

A heated floor is probably best then natural gas. I use wood it is cheap, you just have to have common sense and have it installed correctly. 

[jb666]

If these condensate too much....what is the best type of heater to use for a three car garage? 

It all depends what you have accessible for a power source out there?  I switched to an in-wall 30k BTU heater/AC unit(240V). It's been in for two seasons now. AMAZING heat and ice cold AC... Combined with insulation head to toe and that room is the most 'climate controlled' I have!

[A383Wing]

I have an old house furnace that runs on diesel...got a 5 gallon container that it sucks the fuel from and dumps the overflow back into....heats my 5 car garage nicely, uses about 5 gallons per day if I run it all day. Hot air comes out the bottom and exhausts through the roof

Bryan

[69 OUR/TEA]

A heated floor is probably best then natural gas. I use wood it is cheap, you just have to have common sense and have it installed correctly. 

   

[Silver R/T]

That sucks about moisture. I was planning on painting parts during winter.

[mrsskip68]

This is a Kerosene heater Chuck uses for our garage. We dont need to run it more than a couple minutes to warm it up. Smells a little bit, but we do have ventilation! It really works dam well for our situation. 

Lisa

[Silver R/T]

Ya I was considering kerosene heater but figured propane would be cheaper to run. Didn't know about whole condensation situation.

[ITSA426]

I have in floor heat and think it's the best way to go.  It's quiet and odor free.  It heats the concrete at night at off peak electric rates so the operating cost isn't bad.  The only moisture issues are melting ice from bringing in snow covered cars.  I keep the floor mopped up if it gets wet.

I've used 110 volt electric far infra red heat panels in the ceiling but it wasn't as good as advertised.  Factory reps were out several times to figure out why it wasn't working as promised.  It's probably a good supplemental system but can't stand alone in our Minnesota climate.  It cost a lot to run.  It's big claim was efficiency.

[Domino]

Magic Pak unit. 

[stripedelete]

Is it a finished garage or bare studs?  How high is the ceiling?

[64dartgt]

My friend has a wood stove in his, if you don't have room you could try one of these.  It is a nice addition

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200446397_200446397

[Iceyone]

I ran pex tubing throughout the floor of what will hopefully be my new garage soon. Waiting for the contractor to begin building. I plan on using an electric water heater for the heat source. Also ran pex throughout my basement floor. House is done but haven't hooked up the floor in the basement yet. The plan for the house is to use a wood fired outdoor boiler. My shop has a wood stove which I keep fired up 24/7 during the winter months. Also have a 110K BTU kerosene heater which works very well but will make your eyes water after awhile. I did notice last winter that some of the farm supply stores around here were selling indoor propane heaters which are "supposed" to be safe for indoor use.   

[nh_mopar_fan]

My friend has a wood stove in his, if you don't have room you could try one of these.  It is a nice addition

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200446397_200446397

That's pretty cool but pricey...

[Bobs69]

A heated floor is probably best then natural gas. I use wood it is cheap, you just have to have common sense and have it installed correctly.  

I know a guy who opened his own shop, wanted to be his own boss.  He has the heat in the floor.  Says it works good, takes awhile to recover heat after the door has been opened.  Also, no furnace or anything taking up floor space!  Plus I would suspect that having the heat in the floor would be nice on your feet and joints in your legs if you were standing in there a long time.  You gotta figure the cold from the concrete would get into your legs and eventually cripple you up some.

I remember back in college a friend's father had a double garage attached to the house and heated it with a wood stove.  It was nice.  I like it and would love to do that in mine too.  It's just that the stove needs so much clearance behind, above in front.  I couldn't spare the floor space.

[NHCharger]

I have a 75k BTU Hot Dawg. Paid $1,200.00 installed six years ago with a 10 year warrenty.

As mentioned the condensation would only be an issue if you left the garage unheated, and then turned the heat on and have the temperature come up fast. That use to happen to me at our old house when I would work on the Charger during the winter and used a torpedo heater. Now I can leave the temp at 45º-47º, and turn the Hot Dawg up to 56º when I work in the shop, no moisture problems.Obviously when I paint I turn the temp up higher.

[The70RT]

I have a 75k BTU Hot Dawg. Paid $1,200.00 installed six years ago with a 10 year warrenty.

As mentioned the condensation would only be an issue if you left the garage unheated, and then turned the heat on and have the temperature come up fast. That use to happen to me at our old house when I would work on the Charger during the winter and used a torpedo heater. Now I can leave the temp at 45º-47º, and turn the Hot Dawg up to 56º when I work in the shop, no moisture problems.Obviously when I paint I turn the temp up higher.

18" clearance sides, back, plus stove size.

[64dartgt]

I ran pex tubing throughout the floor of what will hopefully be my new garage soon. Waiting for the contractor to begin building. I plan on using an electric water heater for the heat source. Also ran pex throughout my basement floor. House is done but haven't hooked up the floor in the basement yet. The plan for the house is to use a wood fired outdoor boiler. My shop has a wood stove which I keep fired up 24/7 during the winter months. Also have a 110K BTU kerosene heater which works very well but will make your eyes water after awhile. I did notice last winter that some of the farm supply stores around here were selling indoor propane heaters which are "supposed" to be safe for indoor use.   

I bought one of these http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F232000-Indoor-Safe-Portable/dp/B002G51BZU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323956077&sr=8-1

I figured for the price I would try it.  I plan to use it to just take the chill off when working in the garage, when working on the boat in winter, tailgating and as an emergency heat source indoors.  It is well made and easy to light as it has a built in igniter.  So far I have only used it tailgating.  In the open it only warms what is in front of it, but it worked well.  At 9000 btu's it likely won't heat my 3 car garage, but as haven't done any work on the cars in winter to date, I thought it would be worth a try to see if I can get something done out there.  Hopefully it will take the chill off.  If it works some and if I actually do some work out there I will take the next steps and start insulating and perhaps look into a large ceiling mount electric heater to save floor space.

[Old Moparz]

My friend has a wood stove in his, if you don't have room you could try one of these.  It is a nice addition

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200446397_200446397

That's pretty cool but pricey...

Wow, I never knew they made such a thing.   

Something to consider with this is that if it simply slides into the window, you probably don't need a permit & a C.O. to use it. I bet the building department sees as being no different than using a portable heater or window air conditioner. The 24,000 btu's is pretty high, too.

I would seriously consider this for my garage situation. In New York state you need to follow the energy code to install a heating system, even in a garage. For me that means I'd have to insulate the entire building to the R value they now require, then drywall, paint, etc. No way I'm going to do all that without roughing in plumbing, electric & more, not to mention I'd have to empty the building to do it. 

[PocketThunder]

I have a 75k BTU Hot Dawg. Paid $1,200.00 installed six years ago with a 10 year warrenty.

As mentioned the condensation would only be an issue if you left the garage unheated, and then turned the heat on and have the temperature come up fast. That use to happen to me at our old house when I would work on the Charger during the winter and used a torpedo heater. Now I can leave the temp at 45º-47º, and turn the Hot Dawg up to 56º when I work in the shop, no moisture problems.Obviously when I paint I turn the temp up higher.

[nh_mopar_fan]

My friend has a wood stove in his, if you don't have room you could try one of these.  It is a nice addition

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200446397_200446397

That's pretty cool but pricey...

Wow, I never knew they made such a thing.   

Something to consider with this is that if it simply slides into the window, you probably don't need a permit & a C.O. to use it. I bet the building department sees as being no different than using a portable heater or window air conditioner. The 24,000 btu's is pretty high, too.

I would seriously consider this for my garage situation. In New York state you need to follow the energy code to install a heating system, even in a garage. For me that means I'd have to insulate the entire building to the R value they now require, then drywall, paint, etc. No way I'm going to do all that without roughing in plumbing, electric & more, not to mention I'd have to empty the building to do it. 

I have to agree. After thinking it over, this seems like a great option.