What to heat the garage with????

[snakeyes]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5783

 

[747mopar]

In the winter time a heart pump works by pulling heat from outside and dumping it inside - as it gets colder, the efficiency drops - that's always been my complaint of the heat pumps .

Please explain, to me that makes no sense at all. Around here we lack heat from outside in the winter lol.

 

[747mopar]

I have friends that use those Central Boilers ,some use wood some us corn,then I have a friend that has a very large wood furnace inside ,,me I like the radiant heat tube system

That option was debated before the slab was poured, I'm just not a fan of the idea. I know people who love them and others that don't, the fact that you can never gain access after spending the money bothers me plus it takes a long time to kick the heat up. I'll look threw all of your links when I have better service but notice most say "barn" or "pole barn", keep in mind this garage is built like a house only with metal siding (16" on center 2X6s with R19 and R30 all wrapped in house wrap).... it will hold the heat.
Thanks

 

[747mopar]

True, but modern ones are way better and can work well below freezing.

If I remeber correctly don't these need a little help from another source when it gets nasty cold? We do see the occasional -20 with lots of 0 degree weather.

 

[snakeyes]

have a friend that has a 300ft long pole barn that stores steam engines and other very large toys and he has a heated floor its very nice but I dont have that kind of money

 

[Mike67]

high efficiency residential furnaces need to be kept warm because they constantly create condensate. The whole condensate system will freeze and really piss you off. So if you keep it 50, you’re good but now you’re locked into heating the space. Just a thought.

Standard efficiency units don’t suffer from this problem and are pretty cheap, though they will use like 10% more fuel.

How about a heat pump? Super efficient and in the summer they’re AC units.

Problem with heat pumps is that once it gets below 50f, your auxiliary heat kicks in.
You can buy the suspended wall heaters that run on propane or natural gas.
A couple of these would work great, no fumes, out of the way. There are different sizes too to customize your need...
http://www.landmsupply.com/departme...MIgZet45Ky1wIVwoWzCh2VUgHFEAQYHiABEgLHEvD_BwE

 

[snakeyes]

I`d be happy with maintaining 60 degrees ,hell I use to work out side all day long in rain and snow to old now and I am paying for them days now.

 

[Mike67]

Heat pump is an ac working in reverse. So in summer your condesor removes the heat , in the winter there is a reversing valve that changes the direction flow of the refrigerant. The indoor evaporator becomes the condesor and warms the air.
The problem with the reversing valves is that they would typically freeze up and the unit would go into defrost.
IMO Heat pumps are for mild climates and are a gimmick used by electric companies to get people off of natural gas...

 

[PP1RT]

have a friend that has a 300ft long pole barn that sores steam engines and other very large toys and he has a heated floor its very nice but I dont have that kind of money

The initial investment is huge buy supposed to even out in the long run. I am contemplating this route for my future shop addition(40x72). I am leaning towards spending the money on spray foam and heating with radiant tubes. They actually warm the floor also. Add in plenty of ceiling fans to keep air circulating.

My concern also with infloor heat is drilling in the concrete at a later date to install another lift. How do i know where the lines are? What if the concrete cracks and shifts?

 

[BeeKool]

Put a small gas wall mount heater to keep it 40.
Use woodstove if you want it warmer

 

[HT413]

Heat pump is an ac working in reverse. So in summer your condesor removes the heat , in the winter there is a reversing valve that changes the direction flow of the refrigerant. The indoor evaporator becomes the condesor and warms the air.
The problem with the reversing valves is that they would typically freeze up and the unit would go into defrost.
IMO Heat pumps are for mild climates and are a gimmick used by electric companies to get people off of natural gas...

Nah, I’m the last 8-10 years, things have changed. Any decent hp can keep cranking down near 0* with no auxiliary heat.

 

[HT413]

Put a small gas wall mount heater to keep it 40.
Use woodstove if you want it warmer

Probably the best bang for your buck. A little unit heater kicks.

 

[not so famous bob]

Thanks for the input. I don't think a programmable thermostat would be beneficial in my case, I never know when I'll be in the garage and instead of kicking the heat up I'll be firing up a wood burner to cut heating cost. The woodburner will likely be running Fri-Sun.

MY GARAGE ISN`T AS BIG AS URS, (16x39). I BUILT A SMALL WOOD BURNER OUT OF JUNK, AND HAVE A VENTLESS WALL HEATER IN THE OTHER END. I USE A SMALL DUCT FAN TO CIRCULATE WARM AIR FROM THE VENTLESS HEATER. DON`T USE THE WOODBURNER MUCH ANY MORE. JUST THE PILOT LIGHT AND DEEP FREZE WILL KEEP IT ABOVE FREZZING. Only turn the heat up when I`m out there.---disregard caps !

 

[conv67bdere]

Please explain, to me that makes no sense at all. Around here we lack heat from outside in the winter lol.

Bingo - that's the point.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Science says there is heat in the air till temp hits absolute 0 not freezing 0. That is the principal heat pumps work on. If there was no heat in the air you would not be walking out side without a heated spacesuit.
Also remember open flames and some fumes do not mix well and thats why gas water heaters and furnaces can not be installed in garages.
If you want to heat with wood a in ground pit with a heat chamber around it work amazingly well. Cold air to the chamber. Hot air to the building. Only requires a fan and what ever burns supply.
I know of a tree trimer that used this type system to heat his home. Load the burner, set the temp and forget it.

 

[conv67bdere]

Another very economical way to heat the garage is geothermal - but that applies to the monthly cost, the initial install is usually substantially higher than a normal heat pump

 

[440+6]

This is what I have, ceramic inferred, works great.

 

[493 Mike]

I have a geothermal HP in my house-pump and dump(almost 20 years now) and a propane boiler in my garage. I use a combination of unit heaters, cabinet heater, fin tube convection heat, and in floor radiant. The radiant is by far the most comfortable and most economical to operate.
I also have a one ton mini split A/C to dehumidify in the summer. The pole barn has 8" of fiberglass in the walls with 12" of cellulose blown on top of the steel ceiling. Temp stays under 75 on the hottest days without the A/C and I keep the temp set at 60 through the winter.
Mike

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

I run a house furnace in my garage. Works great! I keep it at least 50 all the time and it’ll warm up real quick when I want to spend time out there.

 

[mopar 3 B]

I have a geothermal HP in my house-pump and dump(almost 20 years now) and a propane boiler in my garage. I use a combination of unit heaters, cabinet heater, fin tube convection heat, and in floor radiant. The radiant is by far the most comfortable and most economical to operate.
I also have a one ton mini split A/C to dehumidify in the summer. The pole barn has 8" of fiberglass in the walls with 12" of cellulose blown on top of the steel ceiling. Temp stays under 75 on the hottest days without the A/C and I keep the temp set at 60 through the winter.
Mike

Is your geothermal drilled deep shaft or trenched?