Garage Heaters

[tzahlman]

I have a house with a 2 car detached garage that I keep my trailer in and with winter coming I was wondering if anyone could suggest a decent heater with a thermostat control to keep it above freezing. I dont have a gas hookup so i guess thats out of the question.

Thanks
Tom @ CleanImage Powerwashing [green]

 

[Dave Olson]

Hi Tom,

For the past couple years we have used electric heaters in small places. Basement of the house, storeroom at shop, back of truck vanbody when the truck is in our shop.

These are oil filled and look like an old steam radiator. Run on 110 power with 15 amp breakers. Made by DeLonghi. Has several different temperature settings with a themostat. About $50 at Lowes, Menards.

Dave Olson

 

[Andy Wheatley]

Tom,

A few questions...

How big is your garage?

Do you have power out to your garage? If so, 110, 220V or both? If not, how far away is a 110V outlet from your garage?

Do you have light fixtures in your garage?

Is your garage insulated?

 

[Dan S]

is your trailer enclosed? i use a box trk...... and i dont heat my whole garage i just heat the box rk.....i have a ventless propane heater mounted on the wall .......i use a 4' hose w/a quick coupler on it when im done for the day i connect to the 2 100lb propane tanks outside..... i have benn doing this for about 7 years and i use appox. 2 tanks a winter........there is an adjustment you can use on the heater to make it so it wont burn alot of propane.........it keeps my "box" around 50 which is a lil high but nothing ever freezes .....i never use anti - freeze..........hope this helps.....if you just have a open trailer i guess you read all this for nothin........

 

[Mike Hughes]

Dan,

With that box truck setup........is it possible to have a propane tank on board so you can heat it when you are out working, or on your way to a job? Or.....is that not necessary?

 

[Dan S]

yes it would be possible......@one time i had a 20 pounder mounted on the rear bumper but i never used it .....i aslo had a lead hose with a couple on it so i can switch from the big tanks to the small one...but like i said i dont do that anymore.i just use the big tanks..........................nothing frezzes in my "box"...............i also set it up with my propane suppliers that they come every2 months to make sure im not getting low........... but i did instal a flag on the tanks to indicate that one is empty ...and when that happens i call for more.................never had a problem.....i..never use antifreeze opps hey mike i forgot i did have a misshap last year..............i was leaving for a job and i went into the box to turn off heater and then went back into house to get my wallet and then forgot to unhook the tank from the heater .....so i put it into drive and.......ripped off the heater from the wall and ruined the regulater's......... but i learned a val. lesson.....dont leave wallet again.......

 

[Douglas Hicks]

My PW vents out the roof. would the ventless propane heater work to keep my coils from freezing?

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, inc

 

[Power Clean]

tom,

if the garage is well built, has electricity, and especially insulated, a couple of 100 watt light bulbs well placed should keep the immediate area warm enough to keep from freezing. put 2-3 inches of water in a bucket for proof. i even throw a blanket over the machine, not to heat the unit, but to retain the heat from the bulbs... two bulbs in case one blows.

roy

 

[Dan S]

yes Doug it will work with that vent-out the roof.....as a matter of fact you need fresh air into the area for these ventless heaters to work proper....i just crack a window or 2 in the "box" and this is more then enough.....................as far as the light-bulb thing im sure that is a great idea butwhat if you loose power? i know with us being rural area we loose it often....... with a propane ventless i can sleep @ night even if the power goes off.

what if both bulbs blow in the middle of the night? keep in mind im not saying that light-bulb thing is not good ......i know for me and where i live i would'nt even think about it.............

 

[Power Clean]

well, i guess if both bulbs blew, and were out that long, you'd be s-o-l.

ok, if the electric goes out and it stays out that long on a regular basis, yes i would invest in a unit like yours.

thanks for your view and advice.


roy

 

[tzahlman]

Thanks for the ideas. I have an open trailer in a 2 car garage that has electric fluorescent lights as well as being somewhat insulated. just dont want to have to flush my unit with anti freeze and want to be able to work in there as well.

Thanks Tom @ CleanImage Powerwashing

 

[Dave Olson]

We use a 16,000 Btu Lp heater for the back of our trucks. We can use them at anytime, in the shop, on the road, etc.

On the left hand side of this picture is one of our heaters. We have it mounted to the side of our boiler (red) and can be swiveled to direct the heat over at least 90 degree area. We also have another hook-up so we can run two heaters if necessary. Our Lp tanks are mounted to the truck chassis.

Dave Olson

 

[Dan S]

that's a big 10-4 there Roy...............................keep in mind i wasnt cutting down the lightbulb thing ..........

 

[Power Clean]

a test was done in alaska about 30 years ago. a 10x10x8 foot normally insulated box was constructed and one 100 watt bulb was used for light and heat. a person lived in this box for one week and wore a shirt and pair of pants for clothes.

he must be one tuff dude.

 

[Larry L.]

I use electric heaters,I have a light tarp that goes over the rig thats in the shop, the one that sets outside has a hy. tarp over it,been doing this for 10 years without any problems..............also I'm plumbed for easy ant-freezen if the electric goes off but have done it only once