My garage multitasks as a shop among other activities. The garage is fully drywalled but no insulation. For years I've been using a kerosene heater for heat.

There are a few problems with kerosene; smell, it gets way too hot, kerosene runs out before the fun does, and I might be overly concerned with an open flame with saw dust in the air.

 

I have a sub panel in the garage capable of 220volts, I also have a natural gas port available, and I'm not totally opposed to a wood stove. Although I think I'd like an option of just flipping a switch to have heat.

 

I used to work in an aircraft hangar which had infrared gas heat. I loved that system but I don't have enough head space.

 

What say you, oh wise ones?

 

Well, IMHO it depends on how much time you spend in your shop.  If you plan on spending a good deal of time there, I'd consider first blowing some insulation in the walls and ceiling.  It's a pretty cheap project and makes the decision of heat source a bit easier.  If the garage is insulated you could drop a few baseboard heaters in to heat it or even a small wood stove if you prefer.  You have the hard part done.  You have a garage!

@Ron Dudelston

Thanks for the input. I honestly have thought about insulation. I have things against all walls so I'd have to figure out a different organization method to get baseboard heat installed.

IMHO, insulation is a must. If it's an attached garage, it'll help with the house, too.

You might consider a flameless heater like this one. 

I heat a 30X38 shop with a larger one. Does an excellent job.

Hmmm couldn't get my link to post. Try this https://jet.com/product/detail/de537760d5344b13b6d104d4db3d99af?jcmp=pla:ggl:cwin_home_garden_a1:household_appliances_climate_control_appliances_space_heaters_a1_other:na:PLA_348544140_24223476180_pla-156775116300:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&ds_c=cwin_home_garden_a1&ds_cid=&ds_ag=household_appliances_climate_control_appliances_space_heaters_a1_other&product_id=de537760d5344b13b6d104d4db3d99af&product_partition_id=156775116300&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4JnCBRDQ5be3nKCPhpwBEiQAjwN1bv6ziFYlb9VXaK4iAN2lHrYjUfdX7kC8cyNCaYzXZWAaAiAq8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Edited December 6, 20169 yr by Gene Howe

My shop is in the basement, so anything I would mention would not be from experience. I do know that I produce enough firewood from my mistakes that a wood stove would be perfect for me. 

 

I used to teach Scuba Ice Diving. We used a propane flameless heater sort of like this-

 

Maybe something is available in natural gas

 

Gene and I were typing at the same time!!!

Edited December 6, 20169 yr by lew

Great minds....etc., Lew.

I didn't know there were infrared heaters small enough to do the garage. I will have to look deeper and see if I can find one with a thermostat.

The ventless heaters produce too much moisture (IMHO) to be useful. Besides, you also get some odor from the combustion. If this were my choice (and it is, sort of, since I'm planning the heat for my detached shop at the moment) there's no doubt....I'd go with gas forced air; a ceiling hung unit like a Modine Hot Dawg. My last shop was 32x24 and i heated it with a 45K BTU unit. Even better, you can those with direct venting (outside air for combustion) so the combustion chamber is protected from the fine dust getting into it and screwing with the electronics. Explosion isn't a concern, since the dust would have to be so thick you couldn't breathe in the room. You already have gas available making the choice even easier (in my mind). But......do the insulation thing, it will make a world if difference in itself.

I have used one like this for the last 6 years and they keep my 26'X 36' double garage shop comfy warm. I leave it turned on low 24/7 and when ever I go out there it is at least 65 degrees which I like for working temp. Then when I turn on the lights it warms up to around 69.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cuori-1500-Watt-Electric-Oil-Filled-Radiant-Portable-Heater-Grey-HD904-A7Q/205210318

Herb

 

I like it because it has no exposed elements that can catch finishing fumes or fine sawdust on fire and gives off no co2 or oders.

Edited December 6, 20169 yr by Dadio

Being that I live in So. California, I don't deal with temps that are really cold like other places around the country. My shop is a 3 car garage and there are times I am working out there in the colder months and need to take the edge off the cold. I use a small electric ceramic heater which works great when I am doing bench work. I can close the garage door when I use the ceramic heater which helps to maintain the temperature. If I have to do a lot of cutting and have the garage door open I have a propane heater that attaches to a BBQ tank with dual burners which puts out a lot of heat. I have used it for many years and it still works great. The heater attachment is called "Mr. Heater" and they sell them on Amazon.
 

39 minutes ago, Dadio said:

I have used one like this for the last 6 years and they keep my 26'X 36' double garage shop comfy warm.

 

@Dadio, Is your garage insulated? The going theme here is that I need to get things insulated to have any real benefit.

 

I like the idea of keeping it on low but I do keep my car, motorcycle and snow blower in there so as soon as the door (which is insulated) is opened all the heat will be gone. I seem to remember when I worked in the hangar, unless it was terribly windy the hanger doors could be opened to move aircraft in or out and we wouldn't loose much heat at all. And I am talking about huge hangars with 30 foot ceilings or so.

@Gene Howe,

With the walls covered in Drywall are you suggesting tearing out the drywall to insulate? 

Yes to the insulation. Also I don't park in the garage,the only time I open the doors is to move in material or move out some large project or tool.

You could turn it off when not in the shop and when working, and turn it on Hi to warm up the space fast. Not knowing where you live and the temperature range you experience, I live in the Seattle area and we have average 30-40degrees F in the winter with a few days below 20 degrees F sometimes.

Herb

23 minutes ago, ACR_SCOUT said:

@Gene Howe,

With the walls covered in Drywall are you suggesting tearing out the drywall to insulate? 

Unfortunately, yes. But, only the walls not abutting the house.  The ceiling can be blown in. 

Unless they are already insulated, the overhead doors are likely a lost cause. It's possible to retrofit them but, might not be worth it.

Don't know your locale but, if the winters are pretty cold, heating an uninsulated garage can get expensive.

@Gene Howe, That doesn't sound like much fun.

 

I live in the DC metro area. The house stay pretty comfortable. I have requested some companies to come out and give me some estimates.

@Allen Worsham,

I started out with one of those propane heater things. Between the sour throat it was giving me and the burnt hiny (I backed into it one day), I quickly disposed of that thing. My wife still makes fun of my about it.

You do have colder winters than we do. I lived at Ft.Meade for a few years and the winters are colder than here where I live now.

Propane is not my first choice, they say they do not give off emissions ,but I disagree, I get a headache when working around unvented ones. We used the torpedoes on numerous jobs and I would get terrible headaches from them.

Herb

We only use propane. Central heat for the main part of the house. One of those heaters I linked to in the laundry room and one in the shop. No odors, no headaches. But, I've worked in a mechanics shop with those torpedoes. That did stink and caused headaches.

You can insulate without tearing off the drywall. Attic is no problem.They cut a round circle in the drywall to blow in the insulation. Might need 2 holes per spacing. Patch the holes. go to work. 

@steamshovel

 

That sounds acceptable.