Need advice on heating my garage

[z31maniac]

if you are gonna go this route, get the over head radiant heat tubes. They heat the stuff in your shop not the just the air.

Will commence googling now.

[TrentW]

Fired up the propane heater yesterday just to see how long it takes to warm up to a comfortable temp. Outside temp was 25 deg--Chicago just had our first big drop--inside garage it was 38 deg. Garage has only two walls insulated & drywalled, open rafters to the roof. Cranked the heater up to 11 and after timing it for 15 min the garage temp was 56 deg. I was then able to turn down the valve to about 1/4 open and maintain the temp. I'm going to start covering the rafters with 6 mil plastic today, then cover that w/OSB in a couple weeks. Should help tremendously.

I'm gonna be on the lookout for a larger 100 lb tank too. Just figured I'd get the 30 lb tank for now, but will eventually use it as a reserve tank.

The good thing about this propane unit is besides not having to deal w/kerosene smell and toxic fumes is that I'm not having to plug it in and use electricity at the same time.

Then in the spring I can just move it into the basement so it doesn't take up space in the garage. I'm still not counting out running a gas line to the garage and going w/natural gas unit hung up on the wall, but I'm pretty pleased with this setup for now.

[Farbin Kaiber]

You could always change the orifice valves to Natural Gas and run the unit you have.

[TrentW]

You could always change the orifice valves to Natural Gas and run the unit you have.

Really? So you just buy a kit for that?

I'm also wondering if I should build an enclosure outside my garage for the tank and run the hose inside?

[Farbin Kaiber]

No, keep the tank inside, it's not huge and if you hook it up right it won't leak.

For the "kit" I'm not sure on a kit, but most bar-b-que places have natural gas and propane brass valves available, just take one off and take it in.

http://www.amazon.com/DCS-Propane-Natural-Conversion-DCSPH-1/dp/B001G0UVXY

[TrentW]

Good to know--thanks.

[TrentW]

No, keep the tank inside, it's not huge and if you hook it up right it won't leak.

For the "kit" I'm not sure on a kit, but most bar-b-que places have natural gas and propane brass valves available, just take one off and take it in.



http://www.amazon.com/DCS-Propane-Na.../dp/B001G0UVXY

If I go up to a 60# tank, should I keep it outside?

[M-technik-3]

Propane has different weights for weather wise too. It will freeze so insure the tank has a blanket on it.

28 here today, fired up mine and it warmed the garage to 50 in about 15 minutes. Thermostat operated Natual Gas 50K btu heater, with built in fan. Garage needs some insulation and a ceiling.

[ldsbeaker]

This thread got me thinking. My garage is nice, but cold, and I REALLY need to work in it.
I just bit the bullet and bought one of these...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200329099_200329099

The (few) reviews seem to recommend it, but it is cheapo northerntool stuff.
I'll report back when I get it and test it out.

[ldsbeaker]

Did a cold run tonight. I have an inside/outside thermometer for the garage.
It was 42/38 in/out when I went to the garage.

Turned on the heater, worked in the garage for 4 hours. Topped out around 67 in the garage, 37 out. Doesn't take long to get to a bearable temperature. I would have probably settled for mid 50s, but didn't want to turn it off. When I finished, I turned it off, and the cold came in QUICK.
Not bad for a few dollars worth of kerosene. It's a bitch to fuel, though.

[fiftytakedowns]

I usually pile em corpses 4-5 high, then a dab of lighter fluid to get em starterd.
and BAM instant heating, and waste disposal.