Garage heating alternatives?

[rage2]

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Another issue I should have mentioned is I don’t have 220 to run a high wattage electric heater. Sucks, the person before us built a beautiful insulated garage but wasn’t a car guy or DIYer so didn’t equip it beyond the bare minimum. I figure if I go to the trouble to run 220 out there I might as well go the little extra to do gas.

This was the big reason I went with gas. 1 electric heater wasn't enough to keep my insulated 2 car garage warm in the winter and 2 would pop the fuse.

[HiTempguy1]

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This, this is the life of the true baller.

And a baller that wants rusty cars Also, we're talking about a temperature to work on cars at. When I work on cars, 20*C is way too warm if doing any serious work.

Thermall coveralls at 10*C J-hop? Jesus man, maybe you just shouldn't work on your car in the winter, probably should wear painters coveralls and tape up your wrists so no dirty salt water gets on you

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Whoa tons of great responses. I’ll have to spend more time reading them tonight.

Another issue I should have mentioned is I don’t have 220 to run a high wattage electric heater.

Why would you need 220?? A 15 amp breaker can run a single 1200w heater, are all of your outlets on ONE breaker? They certainly shouldn't be, I guess in theory they could be but I doubt it. Buy two 1200w heaters, 10 amps each, ran on outlets on different breakers. Problem solved.

Edit-
Keep in mind, I'm just bugging you about these things. Just some of the responses we are getting are very... Mar like :p

[J-hop]

Haha no worries, I was thinking back to your 2400w heater for heating a 24x24, mine is only slightly smaller than that. Need to remeasure though, I keep forgetting. I think it’s 22x22 or 22x20

One on each might work.

Edit: totally missed your 10C comment haha. Yea man, I’m getting super soft. But yea 10C in the garage with thermal converalls would feel like +20 haha.

I did an oil change recently on my truck in the alley at -15, that was shit

[J-hop]

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Got a south facing window?

DIY solar air to air or air to water - using solar panels to power up a 12v washer pump or small fans - kept my garage in btown fairly comfortable. Just set them into the slider Windows and tuck taped.

No south facing window (only one north facing non-opening window I currently have covered up).

But I did seriously consider some sort of solar heating!

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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Why would you need 220?? A 15 amp breaker can run a single 1200w heater, are all of your outlets on ONE breaker? They certainly shouldn't be, I guess in theory they could be but I doubt it.

It's entirely possible. I have two friends with garages (one attached, one detached) that are are fed from a single 15A/120V breaker. Mid-2000s builds.

[rage2]

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And a baller that wants rusty cars

Ballers don't keep winter beaters long enough to rust.

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It's entirely possible. I have two friends with garages (one attached, one detached) that are are fed from a single 15A/120V breaker. Mid-2000s builds.

Single breaker for all my outlets in the garage as well. Thought that was the norm.

[J-hop]

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Single breaker for all my outlets in the garage as well. Thought that was the norm.

Yea actually thinking about it now I may be on a single breaker too. Again another great feature when a garage is built without the intent to run stuff in it

[killramos]

Who needs that much power for junk and Christmas ornaments.

[raceman6135]

My recommendation: definitely insulate and vapour barrier the attic (I believe you mentioned the walls were already insulated and vapour barriered). And pay attention to the seal on the garage door(s). That way, whatever you decide to do for heat will not be lost to the outdoors or up into the attic.

I'm currently using a mix of portable propane torpedo heater and 240 volt 4800 watt electric heat. Both my garages have sub-panels in them (60 amp), so it was no problem wiring in the appropriate receptacle.

I use the 30 pound propane tanks off my travel trailer for the propane heater when needed to take the chill off, then use the electric heater as my primary heat source. Can't run the propane heater too much as it pumps CO into the air, as well as some moisture (not good when staining wood), and it's fairly loud when running full out.

Electric heater from Can Tire: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ma...-0522638p.html
(Princess Auto sells refurbished ones like this for $20 cheaper)

Mr. Heater propane torpedo from Princess Auto: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...er/A-p8264541e
(I bought mine years ago, on sale, at a much cheaper price than they are now. Also, I probably wouldn't buy as powerful a heater if I bought it again.)

I will be going to a ceiling-hung natural gas heater sometime this year because I will be doing quite a bit of mixed work in my garage throughout the year: some metal/welding, some wood work, general repairs to things like lawn mowers, snow blowers, small appliances, etc. A ceiling hung NG is much more suited for that.

[Isaiah]

Why not just run a duct to the garage and heat the garage using the same furnace that's already heating the rest of the house?

[ercchry]

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Why not just run a duct to the garage and heat the garage using the same furnace that's already heating the rest of the house?

uh... building/fire code?

[legendboy]

I can get deals on Modine "Hot Dawg" and others. I made the mistake once running a 5 or 10kw ouellet elect forced air heater for a month = $500+ electric bill lol. I saved tons of money digging the trench for the gas line myself. Tee'd off for my bbq also, cost around $650 including permit for the fitter!

What you need are 2 or 3 of those oil filled electric heaters. My grandpa used them in his garage and kept it quite warm.
Run them on low all the time, play with the thermostats after 24 hrs. They don't use a lot of current and hold/radiate heat for a long time. Maybe a few newish used from kijiji?

I think honeywell maybe makes the safest one

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ga...-0435994p.html

[90_Shelby]

I just renovated my garage and upgraded to a Reznor, I have the old furnace for sale on kijiji and I'll take any offer rather then throw it in the garbage. It's an extremely simple gas fired heater that does not require any wiring as it has no fan. Nothing wrong with it, it works great. Somebody take it away!

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-heater-humid...ationFlag=true

[craigcd]

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Doesn't everyone who has a garage heater do this? What's the point otherwise?

I haven't worn a jacket all winter. T-shirt, hop in car. Heated garage at home and heated garage at work. 20C year round FTW.

Hahahaha same here. Its the best- toss a spare winter jacket in the trunk and I wear a spring jacket or nothing. Underground parking is awesome.

....... also radiant head FTW

- - - Updated - - -

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Why not just run a duct to the garage and heat the garage using the same furnace that's already heating the rest of the house?

Certain that is illegal and not safe. Garage fumes (c02) can enter house is the reason I think.

[legendboy]

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Doesn't everyone who has a garage heater do this? What's the point otherwise?

haha word man, my garage is 20c all winter long

[craigcd]

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haha word man, my garage is 20c all winter long

Way easier to do that with a rear detached, the family uses the garage door 15 times a day at my house haha. I settle for about 10 degs and crank it when working!

[rage2]

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Way easier to do that with a rear detached, the family uses the garage door 15 times a day at my house haha. I settle for about 10 degs and crank it when working!

Our garage is open a lot too sometimes left open for a bit losing all heat. Close the door, 10 mins later, back to normal.

[Seth1968]

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What you need are 2 or 3 of those oil filled electric heaters. My grandpa used them in his garage and kept it quite warm.
Run them on low all the time, play with the thermostats after 24 hrs. They don't use a lot of current and hold/radiate heat for a long time. Maybe a few newish used from kijiji?

All electric heaters are 100% efficient. Given the same power input, all put out the same amount of heat. That is, an oil filled heater isn't more electrically efficient than a coil heater. One main disadvantage of the typical oil heaters, is that the heat rises vertically and goes straight to the ceiling. A forced air electric heater blows the air across the floor and as such, distributes the heat much more efficiently.

Another misconception is that oil heaters are better because they emit heat for a period of time even after they're turned off. That is meaningless, as they take an equivalent time to heat up and start producing heat.

[ExtraSlow]

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All electric heaters are 100% efficient. Given the same power input, all put out the same amount of heat.

Seth said a smart thing. Totally agree with the physics of this statement.

[benyl]

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And a baller that wants rusty cars

Drains and a dehumidifier FTW.