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How do you heat your garage/workshop?

5K views 60 replies 47 participants last post by  1outlaw 
#1 ·
Off-topic I know...but I'm just interested in how some of you keep your work spaces warm in these cold(Pennsylvania/Delaware for me) winter months, while trying to work on projects.

Any specific products that are effective? I have a pretty decent sized barn that is perfect and I have a workshop set up...but @&$! it gets cold trying to work on things...especially at night.

Thanks
 
#4 ·
#7 ·
Here is something like my dad and uncle used when doing drywall in the winter months in PA. He also used one of these in the house (I think he thought it was cheaper) when he built his house and it didnt have a fireplace. Mr. Heater Portable Kerosene Heater — 210,000 BTU, 6000 Sq. Ft. Heating Capacity, Model# MH210KTR | Kerosene Heaters| Northern Tool + Equipment Edit - they do make smaller ones.
these do work great...are they a fire hazard at all? Just because it's a wooden barn and wouldn't want to risk anything catching
 
#5 ·
Dress warmly, that's what I do. And I use a 500 watt halogen shop light to warm my tools. I have a kerosene heater in the house but I think it's a bit too small for my 24x24 garage. I thought about those propane force air heaters as I have a couple unused 20 lbs bottles around. Their reasonable in price. Will see after tax time.
 
#9 ·
Those double barrel stove kits are nice, I think Northern tool supply carrys those. I myself heat my house garage with a blue flame natural gas heater, my 30x40 I use a cast iron wood stove with a metal flue pipe run out wall. Build fire and give it bought 30 to get warm. I've also used a torpedo diesel heater, blows heat right under where your working
 
#14 ·
The salamanders are fine, but they put off a lot of carbon monoxide, they will kill you in a confined space like a barn or garage after a couple hours, but at least you won't feel it until it's too late. Any heat source that is not electric and not equipped with an exhaust vent should be used with a massive amount of caution.
 
#16 ·
I use an infrared heater similar to this one:

Infrared Heater, telescoping stand

It doesn't really warm up the garage but it will keep you warm if it's pointing at you. It will also heat up tools and my work bench pretty quickly. I bought mine from a friend for $75. I like that it doesn't have a flame so I don't have to worry about igniting gas fumes.
 
#17 ·
Since I'm getting a welder and putting in one 220 outlet, I'm also putting in another just for a heater. 110 volt heaters won't help outside of their immediate area or are stupid expensive for one that *might* take the edge off. Don't want to mess with propane and kerosene indoors. Relatively low end 220 heaters will heat my garage and then some. So that's what I'm going with.
 
#18 ·
I have 2 Holmes space heaters that make it plenty comfortable when cold. My garage/ man cave is where I spend most of my time even when not working on my TJ. Got my tv, PC, stereo and plenty of outlets and lighting. My garage is 24x14. Not very wide and fills up fast w/ crap! But I'm very organized and therefore manage. If to much CRAP builds up I move it to the sunroom till I'm done! Grrrr! During the holidays it's always the worst. Anyways I'm rambling. Space heaters work well and our electric doesn't change much.
 
#19 ·
I use a salamander all winter. It will take my 20x25 garage from 50 to toasty in about 10 minutes. I have a thermostat that piggy backs onto the plug and I let it cycle. I've never had an issue with CO. I used it for 15 years. I've been out there last couple of weeks building a gun safe, several evenings were at freezing (cold for So Cal.) Kerosene lasts for years.
 
#24 ·
I use an electric unit heater. They are expensive to buy and operate but they do the job.I have an insulated garage that is 32 x 28 and I use a 5KW unit and have the garage set at 55 deg. In my past 2 houses I had a 10 KW and a 7 1/2 KW unit heater. I don't know your ceiling height or square footage. The down side is that if you don't keep the heat on all the time all of the items in your work space will absorb the cold and radiate the colds until they warm up. Operating cost is about 60 cents per hour with the 5 KW unit at .12 per KW.
Google electric unit heaters.
 
#28 ·
I have a 240v 4000 watt 13600 btu small wall mounted unit from Northern tool that works really good Iin my 2 car garage. I start it 30-45 mins prior to any garage work and it heats up the garage about 30 degrees warmer than outside temp. It's discontinued now but was only $100. I did have to install a 240v outlet but that was easy since the main panel is on the garage wall.
 

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