Heating the Shop

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tomas

tomas

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
482
Location
Rio Rancho, NM
Well, after 39 years of marriage, my wife told me that the purpose of a garage is to hold cars! So I am in the process of finishing a new 12'x16' workshop/shed. It is free-standing but gets its power from the house (a whole different story). I am insulating it but I am still contemplating how to heat it.

What do you folks use to heat your shops? Gas, although an option, isn't very practicle since the line is on the opposite side of the house.

Thanks for any ideas.

Tomas
 
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I use a wall mounted propane heater tha is connected to a 100# tank.
Think I have about $200 invested. I got ny stove at the end of heating season and tank from crigslist.
 
If you do decide to go gas, I love my Hot Dawg. It's a great little unit.
 
just move your shop to Florida then you won't have to worry about heat, well maybe except that one week a year it gets cold.
 
Tomas,

My recommendation is a PTAC unit. These are the air conditioner / heater units you see in hotel rooms. They are very reasonable priced. I have one in my shop which is 20' x 26' and it works great. You get heat in winter and cool in summer. Make sure to get the right size for the size shop. You don't want to have issues like short cycling.

Mine came with a remote thermostat and a hand held remote control. Extremely easy to install. Mine is actually a PTHP which is the heat pump version.

Google PTAC and you will see lots of choices.

Dan
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I am going to investigate and see what will work best for our situation. When its done and I get it organized, I will post some pictures.

Tomas
 
What's cheaper (typically), propane/ gas or electric?

I'm wiring my garage now, and this made me think that perhaps I should be wiring a separate 15 or 20a outlet just for a heater....
 
I think it depends on where you live and your electric rates, but wherever I have lived electric has always been the most expensive way to heat. Here in Connecticut, it is (from least expensive to most expensive)

1. Oil
2. Natural Gas
3. Propane
4. Electric

There's always the wood stove option as well, but that's a lot more work.

BigguyZ said:
What's cheaper (typically), propane/ gas or electric?

I'm wiring my garage now, and this made me think that perhaps I should be wiring a separate 15 or 20a outlet just for a heater....
Click to expand...
 
Where I live my city has it's own Hydro Electric plant, so we're pretty self sufficient and off the New England grid. Electricity is cheaper than gas & oil and I even get a cheaper rate for being an all Electric house along with an off peak hour rate.:smile:
 
If you insulate well and caulk and seal everything good. It wont take much to heat a 12x16. Maybe a small propane wall heater (10.000 btu should be more then enough) Home Depot has a little vent less wall heater then just use 100lb tank should last for a few depending on how much shop time you put in.
Edenpure makes a nice electric heater its pricey but cheep to run, I,m sure one of them would work just fine also.
 
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