garage heating

[bleach]

well it's getting cold and i like to work on my car with out freezing something important off.

i have a propane heater that works for a small area (very small). this also raises the ? of is it safe to use a gas heater when working on a car?

i am in town so no wood stoves (and i have no space for a permanent heater.)

thank you for any help.

 

[shenion]

I have a 20,000 BTU natural gas heater in my 24x24' garage. Works well and will kepp it comfortable, does take a while if the garage is cold to get up to temp.

Piped into house gas. Ventless and has low O2 sensor. I don't really trust those simple "sunflower" type that mount on a propane tank. This is wall mounted.

There are propane versions of the same.

I would have preferred a 30k BTU to heat it up quicker.

I was tempted to run a duct from the central heat. But that is only 85% efficient. This is 98% efficient.

 

[bleach]

I don't really trust those simple "sunflower" type that mount on a propane tank.

do they still make those useless pices of junk?

i have a 35,000 BTU radiant heater that can heat up 25'x12' (it heats it ok it not hot nor cold but to cold to take of my jacket.) the hole garage is 25'x34' give or take.

what do you think of buying a used Kerosene Heater? (safe or stupid)
there is a 100,000 BTU heater around but again is Kerosene, propane and gas heaters safe around cars and all the other flammable stuff ?

i am not painting the car in till summer.

 

[shenion]

Kerosene heaters are safe as along as they are maintained. Used to use on in an old basement. They are supposedly one of the most cost effective (my nat gas bill goes up significantly when i spend several weekends in the garage.)

Check on the availability of kerosene. Have only seen it at gas stations far from me.

Probably would be a good idea to add a carbon monoxide detector to be safe.

As far as flammability, welding, running grinders etc, would be probably more dangerous. An enclosed heater is fine as long as you don't have fumes collecting. I keep my solvents, paints etc in a cabinet and my gas cans are kept outside.

 

[bleach]

thank you. i going to see if i can fine kerosene in bulk i know there is 1 gallon jugs for sale but there 10-15, a bit of a hit if you ask me.

 

[aero]

I've worked in hangars were they've used kerosene heaters, if they are the indirect type (IE heating air that is then circulated) they work well. If they are the direct type, (IE a burner with a fan roaring away blowing all the combustion fumes out the front) forget it. The later fill the place with all the combustion products, I used to come home black and stinking of kereosene from the fumes.

In my garage i have a propane heater. Its the radiant sort with 2 small panels and heats my single garage very well. It has the added advantage of being the fuel source for a decent blow lamp if I need to do any light brazing or silver soldering etc.

The disadvantage of any fuel burning heater is that it causes lots of condensation, a real pain if you have lathes or other machine tools/classic vehicles with lots of polished ally etc.

 

[andypocock]

I think a space heater takes some beating in getting a workshop up to temperature. You can then keep it there with a gas / propane wall heater.

Space heaters aren't that expensive now and you save a lot of time waiting for your work area to warm up.

Andy

Nowhere near as cold as Canada but a whimp

 

[shenion]

Bleach, keep your cold air on your side of the border! It is 25F here this morning and I need to go work on the Jeep

I have seen those kerosene heaters that look like jet engines. Yes, they do seem to not burn cleanly as you can smell the fumes.

I have used the larger wick type, worked well, took a while to warm up though. This gas one is nice, piezo start and it is going full blast.

 

[bleach]

Bleach, keep your cold air on your side of the border! It is 25F here this morning and I need to go work on the Jeep

it's bin a strange winter so far 32 to 34F during the day to a hi of 50F it bin way to warm for this time of a year it drops like a rock at night 32 to 23F or
colder. (all of this is without wind chill.)

this reminds me of a "warm" winter 2 years ago over night it changed to 14F to 5F for the rest of the winter and a day or to of -2F (again without wind chill.)

the kerosene i saw looks like a jet engine or a torpedo so this kind might not be the best to use do to the smell?

there is a old propane heater that can be mount for sale. what do i check besides the hose a reg?

 

[hareng]

Those torpedo propane types use some gas and have other side effects in an enclosed space.
The smallest type available from Machine Mart will take 1/2hr to warm a room approx 28 x 14 ft and use 13kg of propane in less than 6hrs, cost around £20.

 

[zardoz]

Yep when we worked in an open garage we had one of those "jet engine" type kerosene (paraffin) burners. It sure heats up quickly. Any kerosene burner will cause some condesation to a greater or leser extent. I remember when i was a nipper we had a small one for heating up the bedrooms before bedtime. Condensation would form on the metal of the unused fire grate.

 

[aero]

My radiant propane heater cost £50 to run last year (2 19KG cylinders), but I spent A LOT of time out there rebuilding a motorbike and referbing a lathe. I had a month off work so at one point it was used pretty much every day for 12 hours.

 

[zardoz]

My radiant propane heater cost £50 to run last year (2 19KG cylinders), but I spent A LOT of time out there rebuilding a motorbike and referbing a lathe. I had a month off work so at one point it was used pretty much every day for 12 hours.

Fifty quid for a winter/spring use ?! two cylinders! I used to go through one every fortnight, and that was when i was living in Sunny Torquay

 

[bleach]

My radiant propane heater cost £50 to run last year (2 19KG cylinders), but I spent A LOT of time out there rebuilding a motorbike and referbing a lathe. I had a month off work so at one point it was used pretty much every day for 12 hours.

what do you use?

 

[aero]

Its a sealy radiant type, heres a picture of it. Must admit I don't like the fact that it attachchs to the bottle, but when I get round to it I'll make a stand for it. But its ideal for my small workshop as it heats it very well, even when its below freezing outside.

 

[gavuk]

I'm in the market for a garage heater ,i was disapointed to read Hareng view of the small space heater (propane)as this was top of the list ,garage is not well insulated as its single brick thickness,wood/coal is out ofthe question due to location ,was thinking propane was cheapest initial outlay /running cost overall,although bit worried about spraying in the same room ....would love to know what everyone else is using and if the feel its economical ....garage is 24' x14',,,,,,had made up my mind on 34.000 btu for £80,can anyone suggest anything more suitable ...many thanks Gav

 

[aero]

My workshok is single brick, flat roofed, that heater works just fine. It got down to minus 2 here the other week and that kept it nice and toasty inside! Although I wouldn't spray with it lit. I've seen plenty of paint shops heated with open flame heaters.

I was thinking about lining the ceiling and wall with ply board from large packing cases. That would improve the insulation vastly (over none)

The only other thing I can suggest would be a couple of cheap electric heaters from B&Q. No water vapour off electric heaters.

 

[gavuk]

Thanks for replying aero,not sure what are friends over the pond don't like with your radiant heater ?i have a small calor like that with 2 burning plaques and a 2kw fan heater out there last week which did raise the temp a little,but prefer to be a little warmer,hence my thinking of a space heater ,i was hoping the would be a few people saying Hareng ,must have had a bad heater!and go for it ,not sure that electric is the most economical,but certainly cheap on the outlay,trying to find out if i can convert an old mains gas wall heater to propane and run that but struggling finding spares at moment ..not sure about the infrared heating on electric although the heaters appear expensive to buy,hopefully we can get a few more comments and views.....many thanks Gav

 

[hareng]

Gav we had one of these at work in the workshop
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...red-space-heater/path/gas-fired-space-heaters
Smallest BOC propane size would not last 8am to 1pm.

What about those ceramic heaters, can dry paint with them.

May require next size up but these are good plus can keep your coffee warm. Can cost nothing to run if burning scrap. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/potbelly-cast-iron-stove/path/cast-iron-stoves-2
The flues cost though certainly the cast bends.

 

[aero]

The space heaters are no little devils. They will drain a gas bottle as soon as some silly fcuk lights it.

You're welcome to visit and see how the old radiant type keeps a small sapce warm.

Weld off here 18th Jan!