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Dragsinger 11-22-2008 01:50 PM

small home shop heater
 
This is a 20 x 20 home shop were I do some race car sub - assembly bench work and other around the house projects. The building is reasonably and tight and has some insulation.

For years I have toughed it out with no heat but as my "mature years" approach [basically, I am old!] I do not tolerate the cold like years past.

240 voltage is available but no gas. Propane is an option, but for convince electric is the first choice. Mostly weekend use so the electric bill would not be a big issue with an efficient heater. My location is East Texas, mostly 40 - 50's average day time temps.

Let me hear what some of you have used.

Thanks

THE LEGEND 11-22-2008 02:01 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Larry,
I bought one of the small "TORPEDO" type propane heaters at Home Depot. It runs off on of those 20lb cylinders. I used it in my 30x30 and after about 30 minutes you would have to cut it off too warm.

My new shop is 28x44 It works it a little harder in there, but I have not put the insulation or ceiling tiles in yet either.
Chip

mtkawboy 11-22-2008 02:25 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Dayton makes several 240/208 heaters that would work well in a shop that size. Look in Ebay to see what they look like. Having a 20lb propane tank in your garage is like having a bomb in there. Anything goes wrong there goes the garage up in flames and the house too if its attached. Yes everyone has done it, me too until I saw the results when things go wrong. They work if youre willing to take that risk. I have an electric one that hangs from the ceiling myself

T Hall 11-22-2008 02:45 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
I have a 24x24 garage that is insulated. I purchased a 240 electric heater that mounts up high, looks just like a gas garage heater. I bought it from NORTHERN Tool co, I have had it for 6 years, my father in law bought the same one 2 years ago, we both love them, I keep my garage set on no3 out of 10 all week long and on weekends I turn it up to 5 as I will work in a t shirt. I live in Ohio with bad winters. My electric bill will rase only by $30 a month.
Here it is, I HIGHLY recommend it.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...t_6970_595_595

John Mason 11-22-2008 03:43 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
I use a Sears 110 volt 1000 watt and it keeps my 28 X 42 garage nice and warm in our bitter cold desert winters here in S. California. I learned this trick from Don Kennedy.
I had a different plan when I lived in Colorado!

Robert Swartz 11-22-2008 05:15 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by T Hall (Post 93303)
I have a 24x24 garage that is insulated. I purchased a 240 electric heater that mounts up high, looks just like a gas garage heater. I bought it from NORTHERN Tool co, I have had it for 6 years, my father in law bought the same one 2 years ago, we both love them, I keep my garage set on no3 out of 10 all week long and on weekends I turn it up to 5 as I will work in a t shirt. I live in Ohio with bad winters. My electric bill will rase only by $30 a month.
Here it is, I HIGHLY recommend it.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...t_6970_595_595

That's a nice little heater. Unfortunately, my shop is a 24 x 36 pole building. I started moving things in shortly after it was built. Never really intended to return to working on or seriously building cars again! So, I didn't insulate it, big mistake. You run yours all week long? I'd just be happy to have something that I could heat it up for the evening or to work on the weekends. Midwestern winters can be testy.

My buddy and I talked, may do something with the garage this coming summer.

George Mirza 11-22-2008 06:13 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Larry,
I have 16' of electric baseboard heat (220 single ph.) in my 24'x24' well insulated garage. I just turn it up an hour before I go out there and it warms it up enough to be comfortable in 20-30 degree weather. I think it was around $150 to do the entire job and I don't even notice it on my electric bill for an occasional Saturday use. But once you open the garage door for a few minutes it's back to square one. The ceiling mount electric heaters that T Hall spoke of work great also. If I spent more time out there I'd add one of them along with the baseboards.

T Hall 11-22-2008 06:24 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz (Post 93323)
That's a nice little heater. Unfortunately, my shop is a 24 x 36 pole building. I started moving things in shortly after it was built. Never really intended to return to working on or seriously building cars again! So, I didn't insulate it, big mistake. You run yours all week long? I'd just be happy to have something that I could heat it up for the evening or to work on the weekends. Midwestern winters can be testy.

My buddy and I talked, may do something with the garage this coming summer.


Once I turn it on for the winter, I leave it on all winter. I keep it on 3, which is probably around 62 deg inside, when I go out to work, I turn it up to 5-6, that makes it easy 70 deg. I hate to be cold.
As far as opening door, you are going to lose the heat no matter what you have. The 220 volts help keep the cost down compaired to 110 v.

BillK 11-22-2008 06:44 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Larry,
This is what I have in my 22x22 attached garage. It keeps it pretty toasty and I have never noticed a big increase in the electric bill. I dont use it every night, but sometimes most of the day on weekends.

http://www.heater-home.com/product/PH-5HW.aspx

Darcy Clarke 11-22-2008 07:51 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Hi Guys,

I live in Canada and have a 40 x 50 shop with 12 foot walls when we built it we used 8" wall and insulated the crap out of it as you only pay for insulation once. We heat it with one 240 volt 4500 watt heat at a continous 62F to 65F. Our heating bills are approx. $100.00 to $125.00 more per month but the heater only costs $65.00 therefore my initial output costs were low compared to $2000.00 for a furnace. We have 2 heaters in the shop with one set at half the one that runs so that in case one gives up the other will take over. The extra insulation cost us under $1500.00 for the life of the shop which is metal clad outside and inside. We have used it for 5 years now and our weather at time gets to -40 to -45 at times.

Darcy
6254stk

curtis hieb 11-22-2008 11:15 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
I have a shop like yours I use a PTAC unit like they have in hotels works great and you have A/C too. http://templates.earthstores.com/127...F6E&cat=437664

T Hall 11-22-2008 11:33 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
DAMN! I want that!
Thats the way to go for sure

Paul Doyle 11-23-2008 02:43 AM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Larry I got a 30X40 shop with 16 foot peak. Big enough for my log truck. I use the electric heater from northern tool like T Hall is talking about. For my shop its a little small. Works ok the maintane temperture.
I also have one of those little propane burning torpedo style heaters that I use to knock the chill off.About 30 minutes of it running is all it takes, in these cold north Louisiana winters. I'm north of Shreveport.

340Cuda 11-23-2008 10:39 AM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by T Hall (Post 93332)
The 220 volts help keep the cost down compaired to 110 v.

I can understand how a 220v heater could be more powerful but are they really more efficient than 110v heaters?

I have a well insulated 35 x 12 shop that is attached to the house. I have a very old Arvin 1650/1300 watt 110v heater that will warm it up and keep it warm even if very cold outside. However I don't like to run it on the 1650 setting real long because it will heat the power cord up also.

Bill

Dave Goob Cook 11-23-2008 12:33 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 340Cuda (Post 93393)
I can understand how a 220v heater could be more powerful but are they really more efficient than 110v heaters?

I have a well insulated 35 x 12 shop that is attached to the house. I have a very old Arvin 1650/1300 watt 110v heater that will warm it up and keep it warm even if very cold outside. However I don't like to run it on the 1650 setting real long because it will heat the power cord up also.

Bill

You pay for kilowatt hours, and watts are watts, no matter what the voltage.
The efficiency of 220 over 110 is less loss from the heat of the wiring, as the wires get hot, the current resistance rises.

House of Darts 11-24-2008 06:42 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Any form of heat whether electric, oil or gas presents a few issues. Most unit require that you have a" no pile" zone 36" from the heat source( you can't stack anything in that area). If you plan to do any maintence, the fumes from brake clean, lacquer thinner, etc are a real source for ignition. Open element heat units, like electric, naturally attract dust and when this lays on the elements, SHOUT FIRE. The torpedo heaters, propane or kero, are very loud and spit fire from time to time. The best source for heat is any unit that takes combustion air from the outside. They usually have thermostats and blower motors and has less of a "no pile" zone. Propane or nat. gas is the best and the units that use heating fuel are OK. The waste oil heaters are a pain and don't burn syn. oils very well. Electric heaters are alright if you can mount them high in the ceiling, 12' w/a 4' cushion before the ceiling. I have had 4 shops in 15 yrs. and the gas throught the wall is the best and safest. I also spray in my shop and safety is my main concern

FED 387 11-24-2008 07:09 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Geo thermal is the way to go if you can afford it especially for a New construction---I put one in my house and garage with both radiant heat in the floors as well as hot air heat thru ducts---The only "utility" cost I have now is my electric bill. The whole system will pay for itself by way of reduced utility costs in 24-28 months--After that my utility cost ahould be a min of 60% to as much as 80% below what it would have cost for Natural gas usage--Also heat my hot water this way too--Remember the earth 150 feet down is a consatant 56-58 degrees year round an inexhaustible supply of heat Check it out its the wave of the future NOW---Comp 387

Darcy Clarke 11-25-2008 12:56 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
What are the input costs of Geo? What is all the equipment needed? How far down do you have to drill? What is the life of the equipment and wells?

Thanks
Darcy
6254 Stk

T Hall 11-25-2008 01:29 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
Good grief! This guy just wants some cheap heat for his shop.

njk53 11-25-2008 11:35 PM

Re: small home shop heater
 
My pick would also be the Dayton Electric heater. Propane is sky high in price, natural gas is about the same, and a fuel oil/diesel torpedo isn't much better and a bit hard on fuel. In east Texas with the weather being in the 40-50° F range, the electric will knock the chill out of the air just fine. You will see that the comfortable working temperature will be in the 60-65°F range.

bobby 11-26-2008 08:18 AM

Re: small home shop heater
 
I have one of those Mr. Heater that goes on top of a propane tank. Mines a single burner but you can get them in double and triple. Heats my garage in about 30 minutes, then you have to turn it off for a while. They are cheap and so is a propane tank. Oh yea, did I mention that they are portable. you can throw themin your trailer if you want to, just crack a window couple of inches.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2707_200332707
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2713_200332713
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2713_200332713

Dragsinger 11-26-2008 09:05 AM

Re: small home shop heater
 
I decided to take the candles off my Birthday cake and use those for heat. 62 large candles put out considerable warmth, plus the mood is so nice for building a powerglide! [grin]


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