Heating your garage

[Pat Pixley]

Ok need some help here I plan on building a 16x24 garage
with a loft next year and I would like to get my duck in a row
 I have the windows,service door the lighting just got to get the kit and the concrete and the heat. So for those of us that live in the areas were we need heat out in our work areas what do you guy's heat with,  I have been think about a wood furnace. So what do you guy's do for heat.
Thanks
  Pat    
 
  '>

[motor8463]

Hi Pat,  I have a 30x30 two story barn style garage and use a pellet stove.  It works great and the electric fan propels the heat out of the unit really well.  I don't know what your final ceiling height will be but you might also consider a ceiling fan to blow the heat down to where its needed, I use two in my barn.  FarmTek has some great industrial ceiling fans at reasonable prices about 50-85 dollars.  I would also invest in a variable speed switch for the fan.  They are at www.FarmTek.com or 1-800-327-6835.  You could also just use a residential fan from Home Depot or Lowes but get a good one so you get good circulation.  If you have a high ceiling like I do, most of your heat will rise to the top so blow it back down where you need it, On you and your project!  Good luck.

Chuck

[BrianB]

Sounds like your going to have an awesome place to work on machines, Pat.

There's a few different ways to heat from the economical standpoint and the safety standpoint. On the economy side, you can't beat woodburning, you get a good return on your money. Using any flame producing (woodburning, LP, Natural Gas, Kerosene or any other combustible fed fire) you run into the problem of having to shut down/cool down before you can start sanding (producing dust) or painting.

The one exclusion to this is if you have an external wood-fired central boiler with piped heat that connects to your heat exchanger blower in your furnace, that's really safe but you're talking about a $3500 w/ furnace to $5000 w/o furnace.

Or on the safe but more expensive side, you can heat with electric baseboards, radiant flooring or an electric furnace.

Natural gas prices are supposed to skyrocket this winter which makes heating with a direct vent heater a little expensive plus the obvious safety issues. One thing to remember is that a lot of guys will heat the garage then turn off the heater and then go ahead and paint/produce dust then cycle the heat back on when they are through. So, in turn having a well insulated garage is key.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to go with. Oh yeah, let's see some pictures when you get through!

[Pat Pixley]

Thanks  Chuck & Brian for the help these are some good thing to think
about.

 Pat   '>

[Kevin C]

Hey

Where do you live?

I use my coke machines for heat in my garage & then in the summer it is hotter that heck. So in SC the winter time is coke machine time.

Kevin

[Pat Pixley]

Kevin I live in the Great Lakes State  MIchigan. So when Winter hits
it gets cold.
 
Hey Chuck how do you like your pellet  burner ?  And whats the cost for the winter months (just around about price)
Just wondering that all.
Thanks
  Pat

[Yarochrehc]

Hi Pat,
Brian hit the nail on the head, the key is to a well insulated building. If you insulate under the concrete floor, blown in insulation in the walls and ceiling, it will cost you very little to heat even with gas, and Michigan can get some cold weather.

Bob

[sodaworks]

Hello Pat,
  My resto shop is 28'x50' with with a 9' ceiling. The walls and ceilings were insulated prior to drywalling. For what it is worth you can have an insulation company come in and roll out the walls and blow in the ceiling much cheaper than you can buy the materials and do yourself. Also make sure to use dual pane windows and insulated garage doors. When I need to heat up my garage I use a  heat burner that attaches to a 5 gallon propane cylinder. I usually fire up the burner and crack a window open (fumes) about 15-20 minutes before working. You will be surprised how warm it gets. This works very well for me.  '>

[Pat Pixley]

I've got the insulation  covered I got a good bud that has a
insulation business,And he going to do the insulation for a soda machine, seem fair  
I think it just has to work that all.

 Pat

[globalcompressors]

Hey Pat,

 I too have a large shop, 1800 sqft w/ 12' ceiling. I have to echo the insulation thing, can't have enough. Here in Texas, we have to deal with the heat in summer. I run 5 tons of a/c  and 20kw heat electric with aux. diesel turbo heater, 120,000 btu. in winter. I have no problem on either side. Make sure to use insulated exterior doors and bay doors. This will really help. Air circulation is key in keeping an even temperature. Ceiling fans are a great idea!

Eric