My report on garage heater

[Craig D Peltier]

I have had a 4000 watt 240 volt electric heater (13648 BTU rating) in my shop for maybe 4 months now. I use it every day. My garage is 3 stalls. The doors are wood with noticeable lite outside. The ceilings are 9 feet with insualtion, walls as well are insualted.
So id say the shop is 18x35. Temps here for the past 4 days have been 20 in morning 35 in day. My shop which does share a common wall with house is about 40-45 in morning on all days during winter. If I leave it running for 1-2 hours its up to about 60 and then as day goes on I can get it up to 70. Its quiet, it has a thermostat.
It cost $99 from Northern Tool item # 173004-1812. I got free shipping when I bought it.
Im happy with it, I didnt have 600-1000 to get anything real big or even 400 at the time. My electric bill went up about 30-40 a month. Its very light, I leave it on top of my jointer and it shares the plug with the TS.

Just thought Id let you know how well a $100 heater works for me. I also from time to time leave door open into house from garage, its laundry room so some heat does come from there.

[Lou Ferrarini]

Thanks for the info. I was getting ready to buy a propane heater for my basement shop, but I like this idea a lot better.

[Eric Haycraft]

Something to consider is what this will cost you in the long run as opposed to a gas option. A small gas garage heater will cost 5-600 dollars..but it may save you 100 bucks a year over an electric option.

[Craig D Peltier]

Something to consider is what this will cost you in the long run as opposed to a gas option. A small gas garage heater will cost 5-600 dollars..but it may save you 100 bucks a year over an electric option.
Each part of the country has different rates. I beluve gas here is a bit more pricey.
I wanted a Hot dawh heater but not enough funds.This has served me well.

[Brad Townsend]

I have a very similar situation. Shop is 20 x 30' with 9' ceiling and one 8' single insulated garage door. R19 in 6" stud walls and R30 in the ceiling. I heat it with a 5000w electric. The past several days, it has been -10 at sunrise with -25-30 degree wind chill during the day. I can get it to 60 and it's not the beach, but it's very comfortable for working. I leave it set at about 50 when I'm not in there. I'm sure it's impacting my electric bill, but not to an extreme amount. With gas prices around here, payback on a gas unit would be very far out, if non-existent.

[David Gunn]

Was there a big sale when you bought it? Their website shows it for $219.99 now. I have a one car garage/shop I work in, and I am looking for something to knock the cold out a little too.

[Craig D Peltier]

Was there a big sale when you bought it? Their website shows it for $219.99 now. I have a one car garage/shop I work in, and I am looking for something to knock the cold out a little too.

Its actually on sale right now for 90 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1049905_1049905

[rocky brown]

this heater is out of stock but i ordered a similar one for $79+ shipping- thanks op!

rb

[John Canfield]

My 30x50 shop (with a 16' ceiling) was numbing me to the bone the last few days. The temps outside were hovering around freezing for several days and my shop was about 38-42 degrees in the morning when I got started for the day. After three or four hours, my old body was not doing well with the cold.

I have resisted buying any kind of heater since winters here (Texas Hill Country) are fairly mild and not real long in duration, but I just got fed up with being cold and uncomfortable and I knew something needed to be done.

Off I go to make my rounds at the big box DIYs and Tractor Supply to heater shop. Nothing at the big "L" jumped out. Next stop was to see Homer. Found the heater section and the kerosene space heaters were on sale - $86, reg $125. Okay - maybe I should buy two of these since I have so much volume to heat.

I turned the corner and on the endcap aisle display was a forced air kerosene/diesel/heating oil 125,000 BTU heater on sale for about $200 reg ~300.

Wow - that puppy is coming home with me! Got it set up, poured about two gallons of diesel in the tank (tank holds 10 gallons and burns 1 GPH) and flipped the switch "on." Look out - it sounds like an MD80 spooling up for takeoff. Loud it might be, but in the space of ONE hour, it raised the temperature of my shop from the low 40s to about 55 degrees.

I was absolutely flabbergasted the heater could be that effective given the volume of my shop. My sole regret is I didn't buy sooner (of course it would have cost me another hundred bucks.)

[Eric Haycraft]

I don't mean to be such a downer today, but I feel I should warn you about those non-vented combustion heaters. When they burn fuel, one of the byproducts is water vapor. When this isn't vented outside, it has a tendency to raise the moisture content in the air and this can cause condensation on your metal tools which leads to rust. Be careful..If you notice rust forming on things, it is from the heater.

[Jim McDonald]

With lp reaching $2.00 gal. I have looked at alternative heating. It would seem that the break-even point with $.07 / kilowatt is $1.44 propane. So, for the time being, electric is cheaper...last month, electric bill was $100. higher, but that would only bought 50 gal. propane. I'm using 3 oil-filled radiator style in the rooms we occupy...propane is set to come on if temps fall too low for the electric to keep up...happy with the system so far....

[John Canfield]

Thanks - yes I am aware of the moisture problem with unvented propane and other fuel heaters, but our humidity is pretty low. Adding some moisture to the air shouldn't be a problem. In any case, the heater only needs to run maybe two or three hours a day to keep my bones functioning.

When I had the shop in Florida, rusting and mildew was literally a 365 days a year problem and I got real adept at dealing with 100% humidity and the accompanying rust.

Thanks for the head's up!

-=John=-

[Jason Scott]

I'm looking at the Dayton 220V 34000btu electric garage heater for my basement shop. They are 289.00 shipped, my Dad has one in his 2 car garage and it kicks on and warms everything up toasty in minutes.

[Dane Ball]

I just built my dream shop over the past year. Since winter has come I needed to heat my 24 X40 with 10' side walls and 14' center crest. I explored many options. Due to needing all my wall and floor space I chose the big max propane 75k BTU from Northern Tool. Wow!! This thing will go through some propane but it heats my shop to a comfortable 70 degrees even with todays high of 29. I am in North East Texas. Our weather is crazy. For me this was the best option. Just thought I would share my experiance with yall.

[Tom Leasure]

Guys,
You might want to be careful with those non vented propane & kerosene heaters. They work pretty slick but do give off a fair amount of carbon monoxide. :eek: Could be a real problem in a tight shop.

Tom L.

[Robert foster]

I also bought the Big Maxx 75,000 btu heater. I am very pleased with it. We have had -25 degree wind chill weather here in SW IA lately. I don't heat the shop except when I am in it. My shop is in a basement foundation with a low roof on top. That's another story. The ceiling is insulated with 4" fiberglass roll insulation and it doesn't get below 39 degrees without heat. When I go to work in the shop I turn the Big Maxx on and within 30 minutes it is 60 degrees which is where I set it. I think it uses plenty of LP but at least I have a place to go in my SAA.
I'll try to post PIX of my shop if I can figure it out.

Bob

[Leo Graywacz]

With lp reaching $2.00 gal. I have looked at alternative heating. It would seem that the break-even point with $.07 / kilowatt is $1.44 propane. So, for the time being, electric is cheaper...last month, electric bill was $100. higher, but that would only bought 50 gal. propane. I'm using 3 oil-filled radiator style in the rooms we occupy...propane is set to come on if temps fall too low for the electric to keep up...happy with the system so far....


Where do yo live? My LP is $2.60 in bulk and electricity is near 18¢/KWh

Connecticut

[Leo Graywacz]

My shop is 25 X 60 with 22' ceilings. I heat it with a LP fired 175,00 BTU modine style forced air heater. I set it at 45* during off times. During the winter it will reach 45*, so on morning startup I set the thermostat to 60* and in about 15-20 minutes it is there. This is with outside temps averaging teens in the morning and low 30's in the heat of the day.

[Sean Troy]

Guys,
You might want to be careful with those non vented propane & kerosene heaters. They work pretty slick but do give off a fair amount of carbon monoxide. :eek: Could be a real problem in a tight shop.

Tom L.
I've seen some of the kerosene heaters say on the packaging they are for shops, garages and indoor use. are they still dangerous ? sean

[Dale Lesak]

John, You need to put some overhead fans to move the heat back down. I'd bet that when you went up to 55º it was 60º or 70º 16' up high

[Dale Lesak]

A lot of the new heaters have a auto cutoff if things get out of hand. Gota read the spec sheet. Dale

[Pat Germain]

It is indeed best to be cautious with combustion heaters, but I don't think they are dangerous. I would make sure a fresh air source was available, install a carbon monoxide detector wherever one was in use and feel safe.

I used to live in Oklahoma where a lot of people use Kerosene heaters. Many of the houses there are old and uninsulated and most people can't afford to install central heat. Also, many people can't afford to fix their furnace when it quits. So, they run multiple kerosene heaters. You would think people would be dropping dead left and right, but I've never heard of it happening; not even in newly built mobile homes which seal up pretty well.

[Joe Chritz]

Assuming no inefficencies beyond what is normal with the units it takes almost 27 HwH (26.81) o equal one gallon of propane heat. That puts the break even point about .09 per KwH for me right now at $2.25 per gallon propane.

I will most likely go electric for the finish room because it only needs to be above freezing and gets waste heat from the main shop anyway. Then I can use the heaters to bring it up to temp when finishing.

There are some IR heaters that look pretty interesting.

Joe

[Tom Leasure]

I've seen some of the kerosene heaters say on the packaging they are for shops, garages and indoor use. are they still dangerous ? sean

Sean,
Any device that burns fossil fuel gives off carbon monoxide

[Michael Pfau]

John, I just bought the very same heater!! I have a 2 car garage, its been around 10 below to 0 in the mornings here the last couple of weeks. I put a block of wood under garage door, giving all of the 6 inches that the manual said for fresh air. Outstanding heater!! I burn kerosine,(burns cleaner) I love it. I can get my shop to over 70 degress in a hurry. I also watch the humidity, the longer the heater runs the lower the humidity drops. I can have at least 55 percent humidity when turning it on, and within a half hour, it will drop to 30 to 35. When it gets toasty I turn it off and my radiant heaters hold it in. This is the heater I was looking for !!

[kevin mcgril]

I too bought a propane unit which stunk up the garage, directions said to leave a door or window open for venting which kind of defeated the whole concept of heating an enclosed space. So I returned it and bought the 5kw electric one a couple of years ago. Maybe not as cost efficient as gas or propane, but for someone who uses it 2-3x a month, it is quick to heat, reliable, and no worries about the harmful fumes or introducing more flammable materials in the garage.

My dream shop would have radiant heat in the floors... ... someday....:D

[John Thompson]

Heavily agree with Pat and Tom on having a carbon monoxide detector. I used to have a kerosene heater (which heated great but..) till I got a blast for the C/M detector one day. And I cleaned the wicks as you should each week which was a PITA, IMO. My wife also hated the smell as it definitely penetrated to upstairs.

I am fortunate to have a 1/2" natural gas line going to a fireplace starter that goes between the shop ceiling and upstairs. I just tapped into it with a line and picked up a Spring clearance natural gas space heater at Lowe's for $119. It does an excellent job in the milder climate in Georgia.

Sarge..

[Bill Kingman]

I'm looking at the Dayton 220V 34000btu electric garage heater for my basement shop. They are 289.00 shipped, my Dad has one in his 2 car garage and it kicks on and warms everything up toasty in minutes.

Jason, where did you find this Dayton heater for $289? Best price I can find is $589. Thanks,
Bill

[Jason Scott]

Jason, where did you find this Dayton heater for $289? Best price I can find is $589. Thanks,
Bill
Bill

http://www.air-n-water.com/electric-utility-heater.htm

They also sell on ebay, great feedback and looks like a great product.

[David Gunn]

Its actually on sale right now for 90 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1049905_1049905

Craig, I am confused. In your original post, you listed part number 173004. Your link above thought goes to a different model number. See the difference below.

Your first model number listed:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927&issearch=173004

The model you linked to for $90:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927&issearch=173004

So which one is it you have in your shop?

[Craig D Peltier]

Craig, I am confused. In your original post, you listed part number 173004. Your link above thought goes to a different model number. See the difference below.

Your first model number listed:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927&issearch=173004

The model you linked to for $90:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200307927_200307927&issearch=173004

So which one is it you have in your shop?


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1049905_1049905 Its called the
Ouellet Heavy Duty Steel Electric Garage/Workshop Heater, Model# OCH4000WB

Order Today and Save $80.99