How do you heat your shop?

FlyQXCRJ · #1 01-18-2006, 10:48 AM

I have about a 550 square foot shop that is detached from my house - that means I have no heat. It being winter in Oregon - I'M COLD!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to efficiently (cheaply) heat that kind of workspace?

Thanks,

RV7Factory · #2 01-18-2006, 10:56 AM

Matt, see this thread.

I ended up purchasing a small 1500W electric heater with a fan built in from HD. It takes the chill out, but on the coldest nights I still need a sweatshirt. For your shop, you probably want something with a little more power.

On a related note, find an old piece of carpet or similar to keep you feet somewhat insulated from the cold concrete (assuming that's what you have), you might be amazed at what a difference it can make. Your body can loose a lot of heat through your shoes/feet.

thallock · #3 01-18-2006, 10:59 AM

Matt,

I solved that problem by moving my shop to Texas. It was 85 deg F last week. I use a small electric heater when it gets really cold (all the way down to 45 last Saturday morning). Does that help?

Tracy.

FlyQXCRJ · #4 01-18-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thallock

Matt,

I solved that problem by moving my shop to Texas. It was 85 deg F last week. I use a small electric heater when it gets really cold (all the way down to 45 last Saturday morning). Does that help?

Tracy.

Thanks, Tracy - I've already had the pleasure of living in Texas. If it stopped raining here for just a few minutes, I might stop missing it!

ericwolf · #5 01-18-2006, 11:07 AM

I have a 20' X 20' detached garage and heat it with a 45,000 BTU Modine Hot Dawg garage heater on a thermostat. It runs on natural gas (or propane if you like) and vents to the outside. Since I work for Modine, I get a significant discount. I usually keep it at 40F unless I?m in there, then I heat it to about 55F.

Regardless of the heater, I think that it is important to insulate the workshop and attempt to seal the leaks around doors & windows.

thallock · #6 01-18-2006, 11:11 AM

Matt,

I spent 4 years in Vancouver, Wa, and loved it there. You can't beat the country. We got the same amount of rain as Austin, about 30-35 inches. The difference was that Vancouver spread it out amoung 330 days, whereas Austin does it in about 20 days.

Sorry for making you homesick. At least you can drive over to Van's when you need a part.

Tracy.

Kenneth · #7 01-18-2006, 11:21 AM

Matt,

I'm in the process of installing a Sterling SF045 45,000BTU natural gas heater for my 3 car garage.

My original thought was to install an electric heater that hung from the ceiling since I ran a 60amp subpanel to my garage while getting it ready for the build. However, I calculated that it would cost approximately $.80/hr to run a 15,000BTU unit. Even a best case scenerio that it ran only a few hours per day, the cost would very quickly add up. (I plan on keeping the garage at a steady 50F throughout the winter. I hate cold tools.)

Eventually I found a gas fired unit that draws it's combustion air from the outside for around $900 including shipping. The 45,000 BTU unit will burn gas at a rate of about $.30/hr. Still not cheap, but I figured over the course of the entire build process the choice to go with gas vs. electric would more than pay for itself. (Especially since the output is more than twice with the gas unit, thus reducing the amount of time it runs.)

If you want more information, check out this site: Click Here

I eventually bought my unit from these guys and am very satisfied with them: H-Mac Systems

I'll hopefully have the gas and electric finally completed tonight and will let you know how it work.

--Ken

Louavul · #8 01-18-2006, 11:37 AM

When we lived in the best kept secert of New Mexico we had a two car garage (shop) that had this .0 too thin metal two car sized door that just sucked the heat out of the area like a sponge. We found some 4 x 8 sheets of rigid panel type of insulation which we cut and glued into the segments of the door. That along with a new weather strip at the bottom of the door and one of those oil filled heaters from Target made the place quite comfortable all winter long.

Now, in Texas its ice tea and a fan all year long.

Steven L. Hild
La Vernia, Texas
RV-7, Fuse

rv8bldr · #9 01-18-2006, 11:44 AM

I used a mini-flame thrower from Coleman. It runs off a propane tank.

Cheers

mlw450802 · #10 01-18-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyQXCRJ

I have about a 550 square foot shop that is detached from my house - that means I have no heat. It being winter in Oregon - I'M COLD!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to efficiently (cheaply) heat that kind of workspace?

Thanks,

I use one of these:
http://www.comfortglow.com/blueflame/cb20t.html

It's been in the garage for 3 years now and really warms up quickly.

It's a wee bit fumey during certain times of the year (change in Natural gas origin?) but generally it's not noticeable.
I'm in Columbus, OH and our winters are fairly mild but the heater is up to the task even in below zero weather.

-mike