Garage heating

[SeeGeeWhy]

I'm being lazy... has anyone done the calculations comparing setting up electric heat vs gas heat to warm up a garage?

Thinking about 4500W (15 MBTU/h) should do it...

But then I'd need to pipe in the gas and exhaust it plus fuel and electric costs to operate.

The electric would need a new dedicated circuit to handle the load. But no exhausting needed.

Intuitively the electric seems to be the way to go, and I'll do the numbers, but thought I'd ask hive mind for some feedback as well.

[DuffMan]

I don't know, but I just bought a Mr. Heater 30 - 60,000 propane heater for my garage to replace my garage door opener, last weekend, and it is awesome.
I have an unheated mostly uninsulated garage, and it warmed it right up for 2 days.
Don't know how I lived without it,

[bossy22]

I went with Electric. I have a triple garage, with two bays. Connected in the corner. So a double and a single and a half size wize. I use one of the double bays to work in, so I needed the heat there. It was going to cost me $2800 to put in a 60000 btu reznor unit heater in the back corner. Based on location and having to run gas and venting that was the quote, give or take, depending on company.
I ended up getting two Stelpro Spider heaters. 4000w each. They both run on one breaker. Have their own switch so I can run just one at a time. And I got a 240v thermostat installed. The thermostat has a 4 degree Celsius freeze protection, so even if it's off, if it gets really cold out, it will kick in. My garage is pretty well insulated, so I really only need one of the heaters, but I kick both on if I'm going to go and work in there. I'm pretty happy with the setup. It was under $1300 all in.
I'm not sure this is the most cost effective if I wanted it running constantly, but for my needs, it works great.
A good cheap option is a 4800w construction heater. You need a 30amp plug installed, and you are good to go.

[speede5]

It's like buying a gas or diesel, you pay now or you pay later.

I have a small 220 shop heater that I bought at peavey mart this year heating my 700 sq ft shop right now. It is set on the lowest temp setting and the 3000w selector, it can be set to 3,4, or 5KW. The garage is 2x6 and well insulated so it retains heat well.

It kicks in for 10 to 15 minutes every hour and keeps the shop at around 8 at ground level. Ten foot ceilings and it is noticably warmer if you get your head up there. I think I need a ceiling fan. haha.

For a short term solution, I think its great, cost me 150$ to install, yes I did my own wiring and already had a breaker, and even though it will cost close to $100 a month to heat the shop it's acceptable in my circumstance. (I rent the shop and am moving eventually)

If gas is available at the garage bite the bullet now.

https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Zone-.../dp/B009F1SWH8

[bossy22]

Right. It depends on your needs. I don't have my heaters running unless It's really cold out or I'm working in there, so they haven't once kicked on this past week. Even with garage doors opening for the vehicles.

Gas is the way to go if you plan to keep your garage at 10 degrees all through the winter.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Got a Lennox gas heater. About the size of a big microwave and it's awesome. I keep the garage at 4 degrees unless I'm in it and can get it to a toast 20 degrees in 5-10 minutes when I want to do something in the garage (it's a double).

Gas is (was?) much more economic / efficient than electric. I think I calculated the payback to be 3-4 years?

[REDVAN]

Agree with other posters.

I have a double garage (about 600sqft?) on my house and a 5000W electric heater.

Costs about $100 a month to leave it on at a low setting. It's poorly insulated and rarely opens (we park on the driveway).

I haven't run it much this winter because I haven't been out there, but in the long-run if you want a heated garage, I'd go for gas. It's more upfront cost, but gas heat is always going to be cheaper than electric heat.

[GreenLantern]

I've been looking into this as well. Since I have a basement suite, I want to be able to use my garage more often in the winter time, particularly having buddies over for beers. So for me Gas makes the most sense, I actually got it roughed in when we built the house. I also use both stalls of my garage daily.

My father in law uses half of his garage as a wood working shop, he uses electric and just turns it on when he wants to work out there. They rarely park in there unless it is a really cold night.

Really depends on the user IMO, but if I had to pick one I would still go with gas based on the research I have done.

[Sliver]

Yeah, I have an oversized double and on all the garage forums gas seemed to be the most economical in cold climates from what I read a few years ago. I keep it at 10 degrees all the time and turn it up to 18 or 20 when I'm hanging out in it. I have one of those ceiling mount Reznor units, which I bought unused off Kijiji for a smokin' deal.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I don't know, but I just bought a Mr. Heater 30 - 60,000 propane heater for my garage to replace my garage door opener, last weekend, and it is awesome.
I have an unheated mostly uninsulated garage, and it warmed it right up for 2 days.
Don't know how I lived without it,

My apologies if this warning insults your intelligence, or my reading comprehension is lacking,

But you need to be really careful using that thing in an enclosed space. They're not joking about the "adequate ventilation" thing. I have heard of/known a few people that got carbon monoxide poisoning. I have also heard of people who have nearly suffocated because the CO from the heater displaced most of the oxygen in the garage, or maybe a combination of the two. I'm not a doctor or chemist. But its generally a bad idea.

[Flames_Gimp]

https://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/i...im3/R-I5530808

got one of these (natural gas) 2 years ago and love it, set at 10c all winter don't even really notice much of a difference on the gas bill. 500sqft garage

[Locke]

I use one of these.



The smoke however, can eventually become off-putting.

[llwhiteoutll]

Another thing to consider is the cost of install.

With electric, you can run a new circuit under a homeowner's permit.

If you need to run additional gas lines, have to either get a contractor to do the work or you can pull the permit provided you are an Alberta certified JM gasfitter. The HVAC associated with it (venting), must be done by a contractor as the city does not issue homeowner's permits for HVAC.

[Flames_Gimp]

i had a gas fitter buddy run the line and install the heater for 1300 (including permit) heater and venting kit was about 1000 to give you an idea.

[White Out 403]

ppl heat their garages? jesus. must be nice to have money to burn

[Flames_Gimp]

costs like 20$/mth to keep my vehicle warm, well worth it