E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

Off-Topic => General Topics => Topic started by: Shoooter on April 26, 2017, 08:26:25 PM

Title: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Shoooter on April 26, 2017, 08:26:25 PM
How do you guys heat your shop . I want to run natural gas put there but it is going to be a real pain to get it there (detached shop) and expensive because of a few other things. So what does everyone do? My shop is 1200sq ft.

I dont want to burn wood or use a pellet stove.

Natural gas setup is expensive and might not work

I found a heater that can run on propane or natural gas. It is 100 000 btu. Has anyone heated a shop on propane? How long would a 100lb tank last if I wanted to keep the shop warm all winter?

Has anyone ran solar power to run electric heat like a baseboard heater?

Just trying to see what everyone has done.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: RUNCHARGER on April 26, 2017, 08:56:34 PM
In our moderate climate I just run a 220 volt contractor heater when I am working in the garage but mine is only 500 square feet.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Shoooter on April 26, 2017, 09:02:20 PM
I had one in my old shop . When I had it on low all the time my bill went up about 100 a month.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: RUNCHARGER on April 26, 2017, 09:26:05 PM
Yes: I just turn it on an hour before I start working. In one  of my shops I used an old oil furnace and burned diesel in it. That worked pretty well. Another good setup is those stoves that burn old oil, Then you want to canvas all your buddies for their used oil.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Cuda Cody on April 26, 2017, 09:45:42 PM
I've got a 500 gallon propane tank in the ground for the work shop.  Not sure it's the best way, but it works pretty good for what I need.  I don't run the heat much though.  Just enough to keep it about about 44 degrees in the winter when I'm not out there working and it heats up the 3,000 sf space to about 65 degrees in about 1 hour when I need it.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: rocketresto on April 26, 2017, 09:55:35 PM
I run a 220v heater for my 1800 sq ft shop, does an OK job but does get expensive in the winter.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: CudaMoparRay on April 27, 2017, 12:01:44 AM
My shop is my two car garage, so I heat it with whatever car I take out for a trip and take advantage of the 3 hours of engine heat with the hood open it gives me to work on my other car.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: soundcontrol on April 27, 2017, 02:20:56 AM
Garage is heated by a air/air heatpump, pretty much the same as an AC unit, it can also cool in the summer.
Seems to be the most cost efficient way of heating smaller buildings with few rooms here (Sweden, it's cold in the winter).

My house is heated in two ways, a big central placed wood burning fireplace made out of soapstone 2,5 tons heavy. A fire in that and the house heats up in 15 minutes and stay warm for 24 hrs. And also radiant floor heating built in to the concrete slab, floor pipes heated by a heatpump that reuses the heat in the outgoing ventilation air. Heating cost is around 200 bucks a month in the winter, nothing in the summer.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Aar1064 on April 27, 2017, 04:31:29 AM
My garage is about 950 sq ft. I use an infrared propane 30,000 btu heater mounted on wall and I can get through winter here in Tennessee with one tank full of propane. November thru March. Tank is a 120 gallon. I keep it on the lowest setting and it'll keep garage at about 65 degrees.

My garage is well insulated though so that helps tremendously. Have insulation in the walls as well as attic space. Garage doors are also insulated.

I bought it at tractor supply for about 2 bills.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Shoooter on April 27, 2017, 06:00:09 AM
Quote from: Aar1064 on April 27, 2017, 04:31:29 AM
My garage is about 950 sq ft. I use an infrared propane 30,000 btu heater mounted on wall and I can get through winter here in Tennessee with one tank full of propane. November thru March. Tank is a 120 gallon. I keep it on the lowest setting and it'll keep garage at about 65 degrees.

My garage is well insulated though so that helps tremendously. Have insulation in the walls as well as attic space. Garage doors are also insulated.

I bought it at tractor supply for about 2 bills.

What brand or model is it?
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Timbbuc2 on April 27, 2017, 06:02:52 AM
I purchased a window unit, heat pump. So I have ac and heat. Bought it from Lowes, I didnt have a window in my shop, so I installed it in a wall, it really does a good job. Plus I have to fans mounted in the ceiling to circulate .
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: rhamson on April 27, 2017, 06:54:33 AM
I run a Reznor propane unit. I have had it over twenty years. My shop is 1,700 sq' and the cost is around $500 dollars a year.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: 1 Wild R/T on April 27, 2017, 08:31:43 AM
Solar Power...... Well Ok, I let the sun warm it up... Just an advantage of living where I do.. :veryexcited:
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: fc7cuda on April 27, 2017, 09:01:29 AM
 :iagree:

Yeah, around here we just open the doors to heat it up.  :yes:

Seriously, I use a portable electric space heater.  Just move it to the area where I'm working.  Does great.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: JS29 on April 27, 2017, 11:23:22 AM
Central New, York what I say. Oil fired boiler with A hanging Modine unit in the work shop, hot water base board in the paint booth and office. I do however have A attached garage with A wood burning kitchen range that will not only heat the room, but I have baked pizza and cooked supper while working out there.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Bills Auto Works on April 27, 2017, 11:39:39 AM
Before the addition, my building was 3520 sq ft & is basically divided in three sections. I use two 38 foot radiant heat tubes (fancy name- gas fired, low intensity unitary heater) Vantage II by Roberts Gordon. One in the main part & one in the paint room. They are fired by propane & I consider them very efficient They heat the vehicles, equipment & floor NOT the air. I keep both of them at a minimum of 50 deg. The paint room is probably 40 x 26 with a 13ft ceiling & I can make it 90 degrees in there if I want to with one of these. They are made in any size you want & can even be made in a U-shape if needed.
Bill
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Aar1064 on April 27, 2017, 11:43:18 AM
Quote from: Shoooter on April 27, 2017, 06:00:09 AM
Quote from: Aar1064 on April 27, 2017, 04:31:29 AM
My garage is about 950 sq ft. I use an infrared propane 30,000 btu heater mounted on wall and I can get through winter here in Tennessee with one tank full of propane. November thru March. Tank is a 120 gallon. I keep it on the lowest setting and it'll keep garage at about 65 degrees.

My garage is well insulated though so that helps tremendously. Have insulation in the walls as well as attic space. Garage doors are also insulated.

I bought it at tractor supply for about 2 bills.

What brand or model is it?

It's a RedStone.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: cordodge on April 27, 2017, 12:45:25 PM
120'000 BTU natural gas furnace with ducting on one side with multiple openings, 30x50 Garage well insulated. I set it at 50* all winter and turn it up when I in here takes like 10 minutes to get to 70* also seems very cheap to run.

Bruce
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: jimynick on April 27, 2017, 09:06:45 PM
My 24X36 garage has a natural gas fired tube heater that runs the length of the shop and it'll put you out of the building it;ll get so hot! I bought it used for $150 and had to fix it, but they sell new here in Canada for approx. $1500 cad. The boys hooked up 2, 10" caged fans that blow along the tube and that helped a fair bit, too.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Swamp Donkey on January 12, 2018, 09:13:18 PM
My shop is 32x60 and it's been around -36c which is pretty much -36f for the last few days and I have a Navian heater.  It's having no problems keeping my Shop toasty and warm. In floor heat is awesome.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Chryco Psycho on January 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Floor heat is awesome , instead of freezing on the floor it is nice & warm & drys off moisture fast , no better way to heat a shop IMO
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: 1 Wild R/T on January 12, 2018, 09:18:14 PM
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on January 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Floor heat is awesome , instead of freezing on the floor it is nice & warm & drys off moisture fast , no better way to heat a shop IMO

I prefer to locate the shop somewhere that heat isn't needed..
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: RUNCHARGER on January 12, 2018, 09:28:21 PM
I agree on the floor heat, it is the best thing you can have I believe, heat rises up after all.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: dodj on January 13, 2018, 02:59:11 AM
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on January 12, 2018, 09:18:14 PM
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on January 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Floor heat is awesome , instead of freezing on the floor it is nice & warm & drys off moisture fast , no better way to heat a shop IMO

I prefer to locate the shop somewhere that heat isn't needed..
Good point, but i prefer a spot that doesn't shake. .? :D

To the op,
I use a reznor v3 propane heater.  It's hung from the ceiling so it is completely out of the way.  The t-stat is set for 5 degrees Celsius through the winter and i have a 400 gallon tank out behind the shop.  It's 45000 btu and my shop is 1050 square feet.  Heats up fairly quickly but i have never timed it.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Brads70 on January 13, 2018, 04:55:28 AM
Quote from: dodj on January 13, 2018, 02:59:11 AM
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on January 12, 2018, 09:18:14 PM
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on January 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Floor heat is awesome , instead of freezing on the floor it is nice & warm & drys off moisture fast , no better way to heat a shop IMO

I prefer to locate the shop somewhere that heat isn't needed..
Good point, but i prefer a spot that doesn't shake. .? :D

To the op,
I use a reznor v3 propane heater.  It's hung from the ceiling so it is completely out of the way.  The t-stat is set for 5 degrees Celsius through the winter and i have a 400 gallon tank out behind the shop.  It's 45000 btu and my shop is 1050 square feet.  Heats up fairly quickly but i have never timed it.

Just curious .... does that tank last the whole winter?  I ask as I'm thinking about a shop and weighing out my heating options? Also what does a 400 gallon tank of propane cost ?
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Chryco Psycho on January 13, 2018, 04:58:52 AM
Quote from: 1 Wild R/T on January 12, 2018, 09:18:14 PM
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on January 12, 2018, 09:16:11 PM
Floor heat is awesome , instead of freezing on the floor it is nice & warm & drys off moisture fast , no better way to heat a shop IMO

I prefer to locate the shop somewhere that heat isn't needed..

  :iagree: Which I have now done , just need to build a shop , might weld 2 sea cans together & make a shop that way
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: captcolour on January 13, 2018, 07:20:59 AM
Found a 2006 Reznor on Craigslist.  400,000 BTU which was a little big for 2,400 sq.ft but the only one local.  Parts are readily available if needed.  Converted it to propane and had a 500 gal tank installed.  Tank rental is $35/year.  Propane of course varies by region.  They filled it last February and haven't had to buy any yet.  I'm a weekend warrior so not on full time.  I don't have water out in the pole barn so it stays off when not there.  Heats up quick which is nice.  On 1/1/18, when I went inside it was 23F.  16 minutes later it was 62F.  I keep it around 60 when out there.

Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: 7212Mopar on January 13, 2018, 08:12:37 AM
Be careful and keep space well ventilated if you are using direct fired heater. My garage is not heated and I just put on layers of clothes working under the car. But don't get that cold where I am.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: GY3R/T on January 13, 2018, 08:25:52 AM
Where i live, i pay 2.3 cents a kilowatt hr.  So it's electricity all the way !
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: 303 Mopar on January 13, 2018, 08:27:31 AM
@CudaKat (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/cudakat_79) uses two Hot Dawg 75,000 BTU heaters to heat his 3100 sq ft shop, and loves them!   :banana:
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: dodj on January 13, 2018, 08:36:32 AM
@Brads70 (https://forum.e-bodies.org/mlist/brads70_12)
No the Tank does not last all winter. I usually get it filled twice per year at about $250-$275 per fill. My garage is 26'x40' w10' walls. 2x6 construction. Two 8'x10' insulated garage doors.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: Swamp Donkey on January 13, 2018, 06:11:31 PM
The last 2 winters my natural gas bill for the Shop was around 550 per winter.  Really quite reasonable imho.
Title: Re: How do you heat your shop
Post by: BIGSHCLUNK on January 13, 2018, 08:11:49 PM
Clean Burn waste oil furnace 180,000 btu, wish i'd bought the 225,000. Unless you really have a good supply of oil (we have already burned at least 600 gallons) I would not fecommend it