Replies

1. 
   Peter36 | Dec 19, 2004 03:26am | #1

   Hi JC. My shop is only 24 x 24 but I have 10' ceilings. I heat with a sealed radiant tube heater that is 22' long. I paid 800 dollars for it brand new 2 years ago. I pay my heating bill on the budget plan and it has only gone up by 15 dollars a month year round. I turn the heat on early Oct. and do not turn it off until the end of May. At night I turn the heat to its lowest setting about 2* C. When I go in the shop I turn the heat up to 15* and this only takes about 10 or 15 minutes to get there. I do not know where to buy one in your area but they are well worth owning. I live in Southern Ontario and winters range from about -5 to -18 Celcius.

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 19, 2004 05:27pm | #5

   Peter36

   If you could tell me the brand name, I'd be greatly appreciative.  I have been told by 2 different mfg. companies that their radiant tube heat cannot be installed in a shop with less than a 14 foot ceiling height.  Because of it, the HVAC contractor can't put it in, even though I told him I'd sign a waiver.  Tube radiant heat is what I had in mind the entire time I was building this shop.  My son's a hockey player, and all of the hockey rinks use this system to heat the stands, and I love it.  Instant heat!!  Any help about this would be greatly appreciated.

   JC

1. 
   Peter36 | Dec 19, 2004 05:46pm | #6

   Hello JC. I checked it out this morning and you can find it at http://www.garageheater.com. It says that they are approved for mounting as low as 7' off the floor. I really like mine and it is very efficient. I don't know about building codes in your area, but here there is no problem with installing it yourself and getting a gas fitter to do the connection. It is very easy to install, and only took me about 3 hours total time working alone.

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 19, 2004 06:16pm | #7

   Peter36

   Exactly what I was looking for!!  I just emailed them for information.  Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes.

   JC

2. 
   Curtis | Dec 19, 2004 03:55am | #2

   Hi

   have you checked out  http://www.northerntool.com/

   thay have almost every type of heater you can find on the market.

   I personally have been playing with the idea of going with corn or a used motor oil burner. I'm using kerosene now and there has to be a better source of fuel!

   Any how check northern out.

   Northern's web is not as frindly as there catolog.

   the page is http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=434180&R=434180 for corn and the used oil burner is somewhere ?

   Good luck.

   C.A.G.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/18/2004 8:08 pm ET by curtis

3. 
   drhamel | Dec 19, 2004 06:05am | #3

   JC, if you're open to putting in a wood floor on sleepers, radiant heat is still an option.

   Formerly just 'Don' but not the 'Glassmaster Don' or the lower-case 'don'.
4. 
   Ridgewood | Dec 19, 2004 05:17pm | #4

   I have to second the sealed radiant tube heater suggestion.  I just installed one in my 1500 sq ft shop with 12 ft ceilings.  It is natural gas, but will work just as well on propane.  I have no idea what the brand is, I can't see that far.  My tube is 30 feet long and I keep my shop around 50 F until I want to glue something and then it takes about 5 minutes to warm it up to about 65 F.  Those things can really crank out the heat.  Your local heating contractors should be able to tell you about the brands and costs.  I'm in southern Ontario and winters will get down to 0 F.

   Doug

5. 
   migraine | Dec 19, 2004 08:51pm | #8

   I'm in the prcoess of installing an air tight pellet stove in my shop as we speak.  I went to the local stove guy and he told me about a pellet furnace made by Breckwell called the "Big E" and it runs around $1350. plus piping($400).  It has a max 50,000 btu and runs at 80% effeicency.  When I went to his shop to order it he, he gave me a used one that needed aroung $100 in misc brick, glass, and seals.  It should be up and running tonight(I hope)  I'll let you know how it works in the next few days... 

6. 
   forestgirl | Dec 19, 2004 09:12pm | #9

   MichaelP uses a "Fredrich through the wall heat pump for both heating and cooling" as described in this post.  Pretty affordable and intriguing solution.  The whole thread is entitled "Heating the Shop" so you might find some good info there.  Don't know where you live, but if humidity is a problem, electric heat will be drier than propane.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 20, 2004 02:59am | #10

   forestgirl

   Thanks for the info, but a heat pump is not a viable option for me.  The temperatures in the midwest get way to cold for heat pumps, but thank you.  The radiant heat tubes are definately the way for me to go, now that I've already poured the concrete floor.

   JC

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 20, 2004 05:33am | #11

   I'm curious to see what a "radiant heat tube" looks like.  Definitely have to Google on that one.  I do hope, however, that I never live where I need on, LOL.  Good Luck!!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   Edited 12/19/2004 9:34 pm ET by forestgirl

1. 
   Peter36 | Dec 20, 2004 05:45am | #12

   Check this out. http://www.garageheater.com

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 20, 2004 09:11pm | #13

   Wow, those are great!  I've bookmarked it, just in case I get that new shop someday (can you tell, I'd like to move into a different house, LOL??)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

7. 
   adrienne4468 | Dec 20, 2004 09:32pm | #14

   http://www6.mailordercentral.com/igcusastore/products.asp?dept=1050

   I bought the 50,000 btu heater from this place and they had good service and a good product. This heats my 24 x 24 foot garage with 9' ceilings to 62 degrees from 10 degrees in about 10 minutes. It works really great and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

   tony

   We already have enough youth, how about a fountain of smarts.
8. 
   Woodstock128 | Dec 20, 2004 09:58pm | #15

   Reznor makes sealed combustion unit heaters in a huge range of sizes and for propane or natural gas. These take their combustion air from the outside and vent to the outside as well; they're controlled by a programmable thermostat....I spent about $2k with installation for a 45,000 BTU model.