I am building a 40 by 50 insulated stick-built shop that will be 14ft tall. I do not have the money to heat the floor. I am going to use the shop for car storage and working on cars. For those of you with a shop, what kind of heat source would to recommend? I am pondering a wood stove (although there may be some insurance/safety concerns), gas heat, or electric heat. Generally, the winters where I live have 10-15ish days of below freezing temps. For the sake of car care, I am not sure if I should try to keep the shop relatively warm or if I can get away with heating it only when I am working in the shop. Thanks in advance.
Question About Heating a Shop
- Thread starter sy2873
- Start date
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
Since you'll have insulation, a cheap and relatively safe option would be to get 3 or 4 of the oil filled radiators for about $50 each and use only when you plan to be out there. It may take about an hour for them to get heated up good, but they put off a deent amount of warmth and are less of a hazzard than a wood stove or other type of portable heaters
Since you'll have insulation, a cheap and relatively safe option would be to get 3 or 4 of the oil filled radiators for about $50 each and use only when you plan to be out there. It may take about an hour for them to get heated up good, but they put off a deent amount of warmth and are less of a hazzard than a wood stove or other type of portable heaters
Brassmonkey
Cruzin' Mel Man
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
I use those all the time Cheryl. They are slow to get a place warmed up, but it is very even heat. Also, those heated floors are the best idea since hot apple pie.
I use those all the time Cheryl. They are slow to get a place warmed up, but it is very even heat. Also, those heated floors are the best idea since hot apple pie.
Sportmachines
Active member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
Should only be about $500 for material to do in floor. I did my garage, when i build the house. The Syclone loves the heated floors. I also enjoy it much better when laying on it.
Should only be about $500 for material to do in floor. I did my garage, when i build the house. The Syclone loves the heated floors. I also enjoy it much better when laying on it.
jollygreen1964
Donating Member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
I have a wall hung heater which is legal by code it is called closed combsution style, gets air from outside, I use what is called a milk house thermostat , which I keep at 50 degrees
works well.
I have a wall hung heater which is legal by code it is called closed combsution style, gets air from outside, I use what is called a milk house thermostat , which I keep at 50 degrees
works well.
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
Yeah, they will keep a place relatively warm when allowed to heat up fully. And they're pretty safe to use around kids / cats, and don't give off fumes & less likely to ignite anything
GarnetTy1473
Donating Member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
Solar or wind power. I saw a show on tv about a company that makes small wind turbines. Cost like $5-8k for the initial cost, then never have to pay anything again. Can't remember the company name, and google isn't helping. Friend has a decent sized detached garage all brick, probably around 30'x40'. His gas bill during the winter, for his house and garage is around $500/month. House is about 3k square feet.
Solar or wind power. I saw a show on tv about a company that makes small wind turbines. Cost like $5-8k for the initial cost, then never have to pay anything again. Can't remember the company name, and google isn't helping. Friend has a decent sized detached garage all brick, probably around 30'x40'. His gas bill during the winter, for his house and garage is around $500/month. House is about 3k square feet.
JKsSyclone
Active member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
My garage is 1280 sq/ft with 16 ft. celings. I have one of these....
I turn it on about 5-10 min before I am going to be working out there and its nice and toasty.
$289 for 125k btu or $389 for 210k btu at Lowes (I bought mine off season so it was cheap).
My garage is 1280 sq/ft with 16 ft. celings. I have one of these....
I turn it on about 5-10 min before I am going to be working out there and its nice and toasty.
$289 for 125k btu or $389 for 210k btu at Lowes (I bought mine off season so it was cheap).
'JustDreamin'
Dream: 6LV8 Turbo Bravada
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
As mentioned before, look seriously at putting PEX tubing in the floor. It typically costs very little up front for the tubing and manifolding to connect it all (you want the manifolds, because it's nice to be able to pressure test everything BEFORE there's concrete all around it, plus it'll help support the tube while they're pouring).
You can do in-floor heat with just a domestic hot water heater.
Advantages of in floor:
Nice even heat.
Concrete slab stays warm, so laying on it isn't so much "fun".
Possible bump in resale value.
You're not spending a bunch of $$$ heating the air at 14' off the floor.
Disadvantages:
Up front costs (tubing, maybe additional concrete pour expense)
System doesn't respond quickly (can't just bump the thermostat up 25 degrees and have much happen)
Much tougher to bolt stuff to the floor (high risk of hitting tubing).
Can't do cooling with this system.
'JustDreamin'
As mentioned before, look seriously at putting PEX tubing in the floor. It typically costs very little up front for the tubing and manifolding to connect it all (you want the manifolds, because it's nice to be able to pressure test everything BEFORE there's concrete all around it, plus it'll help support the tube while they're pouring).
You can do in-floor heat with just a domestic hot water heater.
Advantages of in floor:
Nice even heat.
Concrete slab stays warm, so laying on it isn't so much "fun".
Possible bump in resale value.
You're not spending a bunch of $$$ heating the air at 14' off the floor.
Disadvantages:
Up front costs (tubing, maybe additional concrete pour expense)
System doesn't respond quickly (can't just bump the thermostat up 25 degrees and have much happen)
Much tougher to bolt stuff to the floor (high risk of hitting tubing).
Can't do cooling with this system.
'JustDreamin'
bezerk
New member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
in my workshop i have gas heaters on the roof. 70% of the warmt is not the temp itselve you feel but the beams of the heat source. this way it will feel warmer and not put alot of energy in heating your garage. and the big advantage that once you put them on your got heat. and at night when it's freazing i have them set at 0 degrees the next day they start again at 7:30 and you got yourselve heat again
in my workshop i have gas heaters on the roof. 70% of the warmt is not the temp itselve you feel but the beams of the heat source. this way it will feel warmer and not put alot of energy in heating your garage. and the big advantage that once you put them on your got heat. and at night when it's freazing i have them set at 0 degrees the next day they start again at 7:30 and you got yourselve heat again
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
You guys rock!
I am starting to call around for prices on doing a heated floor installation. I am debating the upfront cost of the floor system versus the long term cost of paying the utility bills from a heater. When does it balance out or pay for itself? Thanks again.
You guys rock!
I am starting to call around for prices on doing a heated floor installation. I am debating the upfront cost of the floor system versus the long term cost of paying the utility bills from a heater. When does it balance out or pay for itself? Thanks again.
sharkbait
New member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
i dont mean to hijack ur thread, but i have a semi attached brick hous with the garage in the lowerlevel. last weekend we gutted the whole basement. it has a seperate zone from upstairs living apt. the ground floor where the car is is on a concreate slab. how complicated is a is doing a pex heat system over a concrete slab?
i dont mean to hijack ur thread, but i have a semi attached brick hous with the garage in the lowerlevel. last weekend we gutted the whole basement. it has a seperate zone from upstairs living apt. the ground floor where the car is is on a concreate slab. how complicated is a is doing a pex heat system over a concrete slab?
sparkwire
Donating Member
bezerk
New member
Re: Question About Heating a Shop
i think infra red heaters are way more cheaper if you don't life in it 24/7 i got in floor heat in the house. and i have to get it steady at 21c over here to be warm in it. if i had heat from above..serious but 16 degrees will sweat yout balls off and you have it in an instant.
i think infra red heaters are way more cheaper if you don't life in it 24/7 i got in floor heat in the house. and i have to get it steady at 21c over here to be warm in it. if i had heat from above..serious but 16 degrees will sweat yout balls off and you have it in an instant.