Author Topic: Have unheated garage without heat, should i get a propane heater? (Read 4694 times)

daewon774 · « **on:** October 01, 2009, 01:24:25 PM »

I have a garage that is not attached to the apartment I am renting. To prepare for the northeast winter, and to get some heat in the garage so I can work on my CB, I'd like to get a portable heater. BTW, I have no electricity either. I could run an electric heater off the extension I'll be running into the garage but I'd rather run up a bill on a propane tank so my roommates don't get the hit on the bill.

What propane heaters do you all use and recommend?

Also, I've been reading up on these portable heaters for the garage. I will be leaving the garage door open a crack, as well as sitting the heater about 2-3 feet above ground so that I don't combust the entire building... Should I also open the window a crack as well? Should I run a fan too? How is this set up for my needs?

BobbyR · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2009, 01:40:00 PM »

Propane is great, but I prefer Kerosene heaters you can usally find at moving sales. If you ligt them outdoors and let them get to operating temp, they don't really smell. When you shut them off, you take them outside.

Gordon · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2009, 01:44:17 PM »

I use a propane heater that just mounts on top of the propane tank. Cheap but effective. It creates a lot of radiant heat, so I just aim it in the general direction of where I'm working and it keeps me warm without having to heat up the whole garage.

bucky katt · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2009, 01:53:23 PM »

i have a propane fueled infrared heater i got on sale this past spring at lowes. i paid 45 for it in may.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=155933-57645-LO-30-TT&lpage=none

i have it remotely mounted, hanging from a rafter up in the corner.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:24:41 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on October 01, 2009, 01:44:17 PM

I use a propane heater that just mounts on top of the propane tank. Cheap but effective. It creates a lot of radiant heat, so I just aim it in the general direction of where I'm working and it keeps me warm without having to heat up the whole garage.

We call these sunflower heaters. I have seen them in single or double configurations either directly mounted or with a short hose. I used a single for many years in my ice fishing shack (4x8x6.5) and never had it above the lowest setting at which it would run for days. I would be in shirtsleeves while fishing. Now I doubt that it will heat a whole garage but like Gordon says it should take the chill off and if your winters are not as extreme as ours so it may be okay. Because these are un-vented always leave a window or door open a crack for ventilation.

I have a kerosene heater too and I think it is generally cheaper to run.

bucky katt · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:31:24 PM »

i just need to run mine at the lowest setting too, then again, my winters rarely go below freezing

daewon774 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:51:10 PM »

Thanks for all the feed back.

I should have mentioned the dimensions of the garage. It's about 16x20. I'd like to get something to keep me at least warm, maybe the entire garage. I say this because the winters in the northeast can get pretty brutal. And my way of keeping my sanity and avoiding cabin fever would be to work on my project bike out in the garage. The problem is, it doesn't have any insulation at all.

The sunflower heaters would be fine with me but would it be fine in freezing temps? Also, I read somewhere that propane can freeze? Can someone explain this to me? I'd like the heater to be portable, but to be honest, I'd rather not lug this thing in and out of the garage every time I want to work on the bike.

How about these blower type propane/kerosene heaters? Anyone try any of these?

Also, since I never worked in a garage with an open flame, can someone tell me if a propane/kerosene setup would be safe if I kept the garage door and a window cracked? I'm trying to avoid explosions and passing out, lol.

I'll probably be removing anything with fumes in the garage just to be safe (ie paint, fuel, aerosols, ect...)

BobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:04:18 PM »

The propane heaters mentioned give out radiant heat which warms things and not the air. They are hot enough to ignite fumes. Kerosese heaters heat the air, so as you move around the room, and the flame would ignite fumes. All emit some carbon monoxide and consume oxygen so you will need a bit of ventilation.

I use the Kerosene models since they were cheap to buy and operate. Another option are the oil filled electric models, they put out some good heat and they don't emit fumes or have a flame that would ignite fumes. You can find them at moving sales a lot. They are very popular in Europe.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:08:40 PM »

Inside the gas bottle the propane is stored as a liquid. As you release it into the heater it converts to a gas. The evaporation process, like with any other fluid-to-gas state transition, removes heat from the surrounding environment, ie the gas bottle gets colder as you use it. In freezing temps you'll note a layer of frost at the bottom of the cylinder. I've never had the actual propane freeze up and I'm in Chicago.

I use a Mr Heater Buddy Heater personally, but my garage is only about 10x20. I keep the main door cracked about an inch which provides flow top and bottom.

mystic_1

MickeyX · « **Reply #9 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:26:24 PM »

Hmmm, good info. I was going to buy a heater for our garage this year too, now that we have a garage. It isn't attached or insulated either. We get cold but not usually freezing, although that concrete makes it seem like freezing. I'd like to run some electric ones though since our garage has electric and we don't pay extra for it. (our neighbor has all kinds of stuff plugged in his for that reason) Does anyone have any experience with any good electric heaters? Maybe with a blower or at least something that would heat the air quickly.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2009, 06:43:15 PM »

Quote from: MickeyX on October 01, 2009, 06:26:24 PM

Hmmm, good info. I was going to buy a heater for our garage this year too, now that we have a garage. It isn't attached or insulated either. We get cold but not usually freezing, although that concrete makes it seem like freezing. I'd like to run some electric ones though since our garage has electric and we don't pay extra for it. (our neighbor has all kinds of stuff plugged in his for that reason) Does anyone have any experience with any good electric heaters? Maybe with a blower or at least something that would heat the air quickly.

If you are not using it for a car but as a workshop throw some cheap plywood on the floor or to go even further by putting a layer of styrofoam maybe 1/2 inch, under the plywood, might help keep your feet warmer.

Alan F. · « **Reply #11 on:** October 01, 2009, 07:30:39 PM »

Years back a buddy and I spent a winter restoring an old truck in an unheated garage at his family's place, it was about 16x20. To keep the chill off we had a sunflower heater, it was a cold winter with temps in the teens and strong winds most of the time. I'm not gonna say it kept the garage warm, but it did take the chill off. Tools and the project stayed cold but it wasn't bad at all working out there. If you were working within 5 feet or so of the heater it was comfortable. I'd recommend a dual burner type over the single though. I wouldn't worry about igniting any fumes, it is possible and all, but I can remember hitting the heater with a shot of brake cleaner from a few feet away once, no big surprise just some flames for a second or two...
-A

andy8190 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2009, 11:11:08 PM »

i have a garage that is also unheated and not insulated. the last few days i have been thinking about what am i am going to do for the winter storage if i dont ride the bike much. the idea of some form of electric heater close to the bike to keep it at a milder temperature than the air temp has crossed my mind. what do you guys think?

mystic_1 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2009, 05:19:54 AM »

Quote from: andy8190 on October 01, 2009, 11:11:08 PM

i have a garage that is also unheated and not insulated. the last few days i have been thinking about what am i am going to do for the winter storage if i dont ride the bike much. the idea of some form of electric heater close to the bike to keep it at a milder temperature than the air temp has crossed my mind. what do you guys think?

I wouldn't bother trying to heat the bike itself. Take out the battery and store it inside, everything else will be fine (provided you follow standard long-term-storage procedures).

mystic_1

Inigo Montoya · « **Reply #14 on:** October 02, 2009, 06:22:12 AM »

Cost effectiveness might not be that great but I think I would rather do an electric oil heater or just an electric blower heater that you hang from the ceiling. No fumes to worry about and no fire hazard.

tramp · « **Reply #15 on:** October 02, 2009, 06:51:09 AM »

16 by 20 will heat with almost anything
i think propane is cleaner
keep a window cracked

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #16 on:** October 02, 2009, 06:53:30 AM »

Quote from: Inigo Montoya on October 02, 2009, 06:22:12 AM

Cost effectiveness might not be that great but I think I would rather do an electric oil heater or just an electric blower heater that you hang from the ceiling. No fumes to worry about and no fire hazard.

This is the direction I headed. Just finished rewire of the garage yesterday, 3 circuits, one of which is 220. Included on it is a blower/heater. I have no plans to 'keep' things warm, but use it when I get some time to work out there for a couple of hours, and then, probably only on days with more favorable conditions. Elec. heat can run into $$.

Inigo Montoya · « **Reply #17 on:** October 02, 2009, 08:40:18 AM »

Propane isn't exactly cheap either. I use it for my house and last year since winter was so damn long and cold(oct - apr) with a nasty north wind and it was about $500. But then our temps I think might have made a polar bear want a coat!

medic09 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 02, 2009, 09:35:03 AM »

Keep in mind the obvious: you don't need to heat the garage, or even your work area, to household temps. When I work in the garage in the winter, with temps below freezing, I don't work in shirtsleeves. Sweatshirt, even flannel lined jeans, are fine to work in and greatly reduce how much you're trying to heat the place. I also don't work without a few cups of tea handy.

bucky katt · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2009, 09:54:38 AM »

a 20 pound propane tank will last me half the winter as long as i keep it on low and only run the heater long enough to warm up the work area.

andy8190 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2009, 12:57:42 PM »

i think what i might do is build a small enclosure that i can cover the bike with made out of say pvc , plastic, and some insulation. i can have one side lose so i can slide it over the bike, i can then use a very small electric heater with a thermostat to keep the inside of the cube at about 50 or higher. what do u guys think

BobbyR · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:10:04 PM »

Sissies, when the tools frreze to you skin your are less likely to drop them. Cracked and bleeding hands are a sign of manhood, and give you street cred.

tramp · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:15:16 PM »

Quote from: BobbyR on October 02, 2009, 01:10:04 PM

Sissies, when the tools frreze to you skin your are less likely to drop them. Cracked and bleeding hands are a sign of manhood, and give you street cred.

you have never been really cold, have you

BobbyR · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2009, 01:37:42 PM »

Quote from: tramp on October 02, 2009, 01:15:16 PM

Quote from: BobbyR on October 02, 2009, 01:10:04 PM
Sissies, when the tools frreze to you skin your are less likely to drop them. Cracked and bleeding hands are a sign of manhood, and give you street cred.

you have never been really cold, have you

Yes of course I have. I spent a Feb in Minn once. I was being punished, my normal station was SJ Calif.

I was kidding of course.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 02, 2009, 04:40:12 PM »

You may think it doesn't get cold here, but I must disagree

I have a double sunflower heater in my 20x20 x 30 high garage. If I'm going out for just an hour or 2 - I crank it up and with the ceiling fan, it works great!

If I'm going to be in and out all day........I light the wood stove

News:

Author Topic: Have unheated garage without heat, should i get a propane heater? (Read 4694 times)