garage heater

[FSHKPR]

Looking for a new way to heat my garage, in the winter i do alot of woodworking out there. for the past few years i have been using a kerosene torpedo heater. really heats it up quick and keeps it warm, the problem with this is it is very noisy. and does have a bit of a smell. have looked at these ventless garage heaters made by reddy. price is pretty reasonable and says it will heat a 2 stall garage. has anybody used these ventless heaters? they say there is a oxygen depletion sensor on them. that shuts off gas should the oxygen level get low. but what about carbon dioxide? could there be enough carbon dioxide in the air to harm you, and still allow enough oxygen to not trip the sensor. or am i worried about nothing? I know the right way to go would be that Hot Dawg heater by modine. but i really dont want to spend 600 + dollars for heater and all the accesories it takes. i figure with the ventless,(about 210 bucks) hooked up to natural gas. i could still use the torpedo heater to bring it up to temp then turn off the torpedo and turn on the ventless. besides a woodburner anybody have any other ideas?<br />thanks

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: garage heater

Fishkeeper, The sensor that measures the O2 is probably measuring the CO2(carbon dioxide). If the CO2 is more than oxygen, then your oxygen supply will not be enough to operate the heater and or your lungs.<br /><br />I used a ventless in a shop once with bad results. Wood dust is very explosive! Need I say more? A definite fire hazard. Especially if your using a flammable finish.<br /><br />I'm installing a small upflow furnace of about 35Kbtu for my garage. It will be vented. That way the combustion chamber will only be using outside air. Will use a good filter to trap debris from going through the heat exchanger. The one I'm getting is only about $235. Then I can run a duct down the center of the shop to evenly distribute the heated air. Later I will add an "A" coil for air condition. Total cost minus A/C should be around 400 total.<br /><br />Just my opinion......SS

 

[aspeck]

Re: garage heater

Check out this post, it may help you.<br /><br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002896

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: garage heater

Hey FSHKPR, In my garage I use a portable propane can heater, from home depot. It puts out to 80,000 btu's. But I am not doing any wood work out there. and I leave the garage door open a bit so I have fresh air ventalation. Most of the work I doing in there is on the camping, hunting, and boating gear. Not enough room to work on the truck w/ the camper in the garage. But the Nice thing is that for The Deer Hunting trip I take the heater and with the Screened in room enclosed it heats everything, on low.<br /><br />Just a thought. my $.02

 

[Hooty]

Re: garage heater

You might look into an electric upflow furnace. No vent, no fuel, just wires.<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[rogerwa]

Re: garage heater

Jgregory, how well does that can heater work? I am thinking of getting one for my double car garage so I can work on the car and stuff during the winter. I did a brake job in 8 degree weather last year. Not a lot of fun..

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: garage heater

Roger that thing is Amazing. <br /><br />Last year during deer season it got down to -4 degrees. We where In my Tent Camper with the Screened in room enclosed So not alot of insulation. We never turned it up higher than 1/4 turn. But you must make sure you have ventalation Co2 gas and all that. But I would recommend it if you do not want the expense of puting in a permanent system. Personally, I like it because I am only heating the Garage when I am in it otherwise it's the same temp as out side makes it less attractive to rodents. 20# cylinder lasted us 2 days on low. And we where sitting in the camper in t-shirts.

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: garage heater

Well i went and bought the ventless heater. it sat in the garage for a week or so and i just kept thinking " how safe is this gonna be? so took it back to the menards store and had my buddie order me a modine hot dawg. 45000 btus. power vented. it cost me 250 bucks more than the ventless but i think i will be much happier. now i just have to install it. i am not worried about the electrical or even the gas hook up but is there anything special i need to know about venting a power vented heater?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: garage heater

Might want to get a carbon monoxide detector with a digital readout. The number will probably go up when you start your cars but at least you can have an idea if your new heater is venting correctly.