Garage heaters is the question ? They are and will be needed for the intermittment 2002/3 wintery days we get in Toronto CAN.

-is there a preferred model to get ? ( or does a "zaino" of garage heaters exist ) :-)
-what's your set up like , one or two of them ?
-raised above the ground ? If so? with what ?
-gas or natural gas used ?
-anyone get one professionally installed ? If so, by whom ?

any information would be greatly appreciated

sj2000

 

I'd like to know as well.

 

I have part time detailing business and I can detail during the winter in my 2-car garage using a propane heater which I bought from Home Depot. It's like those kerosene torpedo heaters without the nasty smell/burning eye sensation of kerosene and its safer. I hook it up to a propane tank, leave the garage door open about a foot and it keeps the garage nice and relatively warm. There are cold spots in the far reaches but I set it by the door and let it blow in. I believe it was around $129.00 and I have had it for 3 years.

 

Garage is attached to the house, so it's heated by the house central furnace. Keeps it nice and warm in the winter time. Let's me wax her all I want...

 

I was going to invest in those "outdoor patio heaters" that you can buy at walmart and also one of those leaf blowers to blow out any residual water.. ?

Do you think one would suffice in order to ensure a "sheet of ice" does not occur after rinsing.. ?

thanks again
sj

 

I wasn't sure from your earlier enquiry what exactly you were trying to do. It seems you only want something to warm up your garage periodically. I would tend to think a portable area heater would work quite well. See if one will heat the square area you are dealing with. I would suggest hanging it from the ceiling by a hook using a chain. This will keep the thing out of harm's way and away from any flammables. You must always make sure your cars fuel system has no leaks.
Just for your reference I've take a couple of pics of my heater and one of a friends. The first one is professionally installed and hangs from the ceiling with a natural gas feed. It has an automatic fan and the unit is controlled by a thermostat that you can set at whatever temp you like. This one is the most efficient design.


This next one is mine. It is a simple space heater standing on the floor. It is manually operated with no fan. It's just a burner and heats the garage up by convection and radiation. As the weather gets colder, I have to go and turn it up. Down when it gets warmer. I generally keep my garage at around 60-70*F. This has worked well for me for over 20 years.


Both are natural gas.
Propane is a hotter burning fuel so you can get more heat out of the same amount of fuel but if there is a propane leak, it will flow "downhill" and into your basement if you have any holes in your garage (attached that is) leading into the house. And guess what's in your basement - your furnace and hot water heater pilot light.

 

thanks for the info xviper. I will look into diff. natural gas heaters as well. I am only needing to heat the garage upon washing.

sj2000

 

Now, I know why your tranny isn't rough in the mornings

 

Good thread! I need to heat about 440 square feet periodically, fully detached building from our house, has electricity.

Would electric heat be worthwhile?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sj2000
[B]I was going to invest in those "outdoor patio heaters" that you can buy at walmart