Heated Garage

[Dick W.]

Re: Heated Garage

I have built commercial shops in NC, VA, TX, and MD. They all required minimum of 84" from floor to the bottom of the firebox. I have witnessed the aftermath of a fuel leak in a shop with a furnace on the floor. It ain't pretty!

[Rick K.]

Re: Heated Garage

I recently retired from a major insurance company and I did not want any problems with them in the event of a fire. I chose a Sterling propane unit that is ceiling hung & it is rated "for use in automotive service" application.
It wasn't cheap at but it is very inexpensive to operate.
My ceilings are 12'6", walls are 2'x6" & lots of insulation.

[Dave F.]

Re: Heated Garage

My attached garage is 2600 SF, super-insulated (including under the slab); I heat it (photo below) with a ceiling-hung Reznor power-vented forced-air gas unit heater with electronic ignition (no pilot flame), and cool it with a 42,000-BTU Mitsubishi "Mr. Slim" mini-split A/C unit - only required a 3" hole in the wall for the refrigerant lines and condensate drain line (click on link below):

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1411059

I seem to remember you posting photos of your shop a few years back, making me want to ask you to adopt me

Nick,

I'm also about to have a heater installed in my garage (Ottawa winters can get chilly!) and have been talking to the HVAC contractor about options. His suggestion and based on what John Hinckley has in his garage (Reznor gas space heater), is for a separate combustion version of the Reznor heater (the firebox is completely sealed-off from the room being heated, draws air and exhausts to the outside). It's also electronic ignition (no pilot) and therefore there are no issues wrt solvent/paint use.

I agree with others' suggestion re: having the heater and/or air compressor in another room or shed for noise/dust control reasons, but it won't be possible in my case.

Good luck!

grant

For now, I roll my compressor out to the apron and close the door to block the noise. Not ideal but effective (I haven't used it in January or February when our winters are frigid).

Also check with your insurance company as most do not allow open combustion heating units in a garage be it for heating of air or water.

Another excellent point for consideration - you don't want to flirt with an insurance disaster.

[Martin N.]

Re: Heated Garage

NICK-

I know this is a little late for your case but maybe for future builds it'll be another thought. When I built my home (with attached garage & shop) I used hot water heat in the floor with 2 zones. The shop is seperated from the garage by a 6'-0" double hinged door. The shop is then air conditioned by running duct work through the sill plate of the house / shop with a damper to adjust the a/c. Works slick with NO open flame, odor or insurance issues.

Marty

[Phil D.]

Re: Heated Garage

I didn't see it mentioned before so I'll toss it in. My garage has a
heat pump "package unit". The whole thing is about twice the size of a typical residential outside unit and sits on a separate slab outside the building. Air enters the building via a 14" diameter duct that runs the length of the building dispersing through several vents and returns via a larger return vent at one end. There's no mechanicals inside the building and no open flame or ignition sources. Its been 107 degrees here lately and I so do love my garage a/c.

[Nick M.]

Re: Heated Garage

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will be sure to discuss many of them with my HVAC contractor.

[John H.]

Re: Heated Garage

Also check with your insurance company as most do not allow open combustion heating units in a garage be it for heating of air or water.

Wayne, there are literally millions of homes in the south and west without basements that have the water heater in the garage; how does insurance deal with that?

[Steven B.]

Re: Heated Garage

Wayne, there are literally millions of homes in the south and west without basements that have the water heater in the garage; how does insurance deal with that?

John, I have lived here in Texas a few times (got transferred alot) and had heating/cooling and water heaters, gas and electric, in the garage but mostly in the attics! 'Never been an insurance issue, it is common. I don't like the setup but it is accepted. More than once AC condensation has come through the ceiling from a clogged drain.