Thinking about a heater for the garage. Ive got a fairly well insulated 2 car that's very deep, probably 400 square feet total. The ceiling is low, so not too much air volume and it gets warmed a decent amount by the house. Mainly looking for something to take the chill off on really cold days. Prefer something that doesn't take up floor space. Any suggestions? Thoughts on gas versus electric? Anyone looking to unload a used unit?

I'll be going with gas, but I'm going to need 100k btu+. After my refinance, garage heat will be next on the list. I've already got a gas line to the garage (and a plumber friend), and intake air & exhaust gas won't be an issue.

I'd consider electric if it can meet your heating needs, and you have the capacity. Plumbing the gas & running exhaust (maybe intake air too) will be tougher than getting electricity where you need it.

I've got something like this, works great.

http://www.heateroutlet.com/productcart ... HJEIIpHbCQ


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One thing to look into is the cost to run it. I have a small electric unit that has to run non-stop while I'm in the garage and I usually turn it on a couple hours ahead of time. Seems to increase my electric bill by like 75-120% depending on how much I'm in the garage.

I run a old kerosene heater and It works great but don't like the price of it.
It don't put off any smell except when you shut it off.
Had it up to 70 in the garage and it was negative 20 outside

i run a 50k in my garage and its over kill , and its 3.5 car garage . craigslist has lots on them for sale . a 25k would work fine for your garage . mine actually heats it to 62 in about fifteen minutes

Definitly gas.

One idea is make friends with an HVAC guy. My buddy picked up a small furnace (used, but close to new) from his HVAC neighbor for free. The first time we ran it, we turned it on, went inside for a while as usual and came back to a garage that was 98 degrees!

Get these and quit being such a garage diva.

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... View=false

Hey, the beard is growing out because I've been lazy about shaving, I could look like a logger! Thanks guys. Mike, having seen your garage, I'm guessing your estimate of 25k BTUs is about right. I've got a lot less air volume than you do. It looks like 5000 watts equals about 17,500 BTU, electric might be a good option. I've got a sub panel near the spot I want to put it, but also have easy natural gas access through a wall into my utility room. Exhaust will be a PITA because my concrete foundation is the walls of the garage, but I might be able to sacrifice a small window to the cause. May come down to what I find cheap on craigslist. Please let me know if you guys see something in that range for sale.

Edit-Got curious and measured my garage. 550 square feet, for a total air volume of about 4200 cubic feet.

I have a couple wall mounted halogen heaters that I got at Sam's club about 8 years ago. They worked well for a smaller garage but now both need new elements in them. Once I get moved I plan to expand the existing garage into a garage / shop. For heat, I'm planning to build a waste oil heater.

Infrared are awesome! But they are not cheap. It sure makes a difference when the items you're touching are warm!

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200455645 - they have a 26k BTU, but for $10 more, might as well have more than you need.

My cousin found one like this and it heated his 3-car easily. I think he even set it at 50+/- to keep the chill off out there. Plus with his bedroom directly above, I am sure it helped keep his room warmer.

Wow, 37" puts it at head height! Bummer!

I dont heat my garage, it gets some heat from the house, but it can get down to the 30's in the winter if I let it.

For quick heat, I have a Kerosene/diesel construction heater...75,000 BTU's. It works good to get the garage and everything in it up to temp quickly. I do crack the door when running it, but its cheap heat. No issues with fumes but again I crack a door for fresh air. Then to maintain I use a little electric heater, baseboard style for a few days..but electricity is expensive and it's only on when I am physically there.


I also have another liquid propane powered heater, 14.5 million BTU's, it could bring a 2000square foot house from 32f to 75f in about 30 seconds. I don't use it for the house for obvious reasons!

I use a 100k btu salamander. Kerosene fired as diesel just stinks in it. Kerosene is stupid expensive but this heat will warm my garage in 5 minutes from 30's to 60's. Down fall is noise and needed space for it.

I use one of the propane fired construction heater like Gunni.

I just put a fan behind it on slow speed to circulate the heat a bit.