Shop/Space Heaters - Propane or Keroscene?

[GreenScoutII]

I don't know exactly what your budget is, but you might consider a permanantly mounted natural gas garage heater.

Of the types you mentioned, I would go with a propane torpedo type heater. I use one frequently on jobsites in cold weather. Propane is a pain to deal with due to the size of the bottles if portability is a concern, but it has far less odor than kerosene. Both propane and kerosene can get expensive in a hurry, but propane is a lot cheaper this year than last.

Another option if you have a detached garage is a small pellet stove. These are very efficent and wood pellets are fairly inexpensive. The downside is you must vent the heater to the outside and the initial purchase can be costly.

If you can afford it, a permanantly installed garage heater running on natural gas will be the cheapest to run in the long term and give the best results overall.

[Great-Kazoo]

unless your garage is insulated, neither one will be efficient over time.
my garage is insulated and last night the temp w/out heat was 40. i run a small portable propane one http://compare.ebay.com/like/120446652334
it keeps my garage (725 sqft) at a warm 55. with the insulation, 2) 52" ceiling fans and this heater going, 55 is t-shirt warm. i keep east and west garage door's opened up approx 1" and crack the sliding window the same, for oxygen replenishment. My heater is kept on the low setting and it does the job.
Kerosene smells, even using the odor free, cost more in the long run, and does not work for my needs. I have a 40lb bottle of propane and that usually last me all winter long.
your heating investment should be decided by how much you use the garage.
are you in there using it as a business, or just hobby, the usual working scenario? if in there 6+hrs a day then invest in an overhead propane or NG system. If you have a detached garage like mine (100' from the house) then consider a 100lb tank for your supply. I can't as i would have to trench NG line across the sewer line, with or w/out a permit it is a no go here.
try throwing used carpet or those 3x3 work mats on the floor. warm feet is 1/2 the battle.

ALSO make sure you have something to ground yourself to before handling powder

[Mtn.man]

might check craigs list, lot's of times people sell or replace a heater in home or? and then give away or sell cheap their old ones.

I can't really comment on which would be better as I have a little over 1200+ ' shop with radiant floor heat....

[gnihcraes]

Thanks everyone. Budget is $500 or less. Yes I've considered permanent propane or natural gas too. I'd rather at this time spend less money and use left over money for other toys. (guns and ammo )

I do want to be warm while reloading though... and other garage type projects. The garage isn't use for business or great lengths of time in most cases. I'd spend more time out there goofing around if it were warmer.

It is made of concrete block and not insulated. I started framing the walls this fall and insulating them, but ran out of time. I'll finish it up this spring or summer when I can remove everything and finish framing. I'll insulate the roof too, just don't feel like working around all the junk in there at this time.

I can get the natural gas line run over to the garage from the house meter without too much effort proabably, but I will have to run it underground for a minimum of 15 feet probably as the garage is detatched from the house by that distance. It would actually be closer to tap into the neighbors meter. ha. It's a rental, they won't notice....

I could get something Propane installed and work off a larger 100 gallon tank external to the garage or something like that. I live just a couple blocks from a major propane dealer and it wouldn't be much trouble to get the larger tank filled when needed. I need to check with them on what types of prices and equipment they could order and install.

Portability isn't required, but could be nice to have in the future.

In reality if I had the money, I'd just build a new shop on the vacant land and insulate it properly and install natural gas and new heating equipment. No money for that yet... stinks. (still dreaming though)

Thanks for the input... I'll do some shopping today and see what I come up with.

Keep the ideas coming if there are more.

appreciate it... Kc.

[gnihcraes]

I check craigslist now and then for heaters, there are a few out there. The prices are questionable sometimes, a beat up shop heater for not much less than a new one.

I like the radiant heated floor systems, I've installed those in my bathroom tile floors, but can't get that accomplished in the old garage.

I do have a few rubber type matts on the floor to keep the feet off the concrete...

[Great-Kazoo]

RE: 100lb propane tank

Unless you have enough clearence between houses you cannot install a propane tank outside. building and Fire code (depending on where you live) will put a crimp in that.
buy a 40 lb'er keep it outside your garage door and have a reddy heater inside. drop a small fan behind it and that will keep you warm. a 40lb tank should get you through the winter. maybe not this windy one, but should work fine.
the only thing that needs to be replaced if it craps out on you is the thermal coupler. they run about $15
this one is a good deal for the money.

http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/1524887108.html

[Ripper]

Check out this forum, they have a great string on heating and cooling garages.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

[gnihcraes]

great information and links... I'm checking it all out....

[rondog]

I found a guy on Craigslist that had bought a bunch of these for a great deal, and was selling them new in box for $50. Puts out beaucoup heat, but man, does it gobble the propane. Also, buildup of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can be bad news.



I've since had a Hot Dawg garage heater installed, and it works fine, but I wish I'd bought a bigger one. Permanent installation, natural gas, vented, no pilot light, nice unit. Just not big enough to suit me. Perhaps if I ever finish the insulation and drywalling.

[gnihcraes]

I picked up a small propane 50kbtu unit yesterday at lowes.



Seems to work pretty well. Noisy dang thing. I'll goof around with it some more today and see how well it keeps the garage warm.

Was going to buy the similar product at Home Depot, but apparently it's close to summer so they have removed all but the largest portable heaters from the shelf. What idiots. They said their stock had been moved to another store in Arvada, so I trek up there and they have no idea what I'm talking about... so Lowes got my money...

Thanks for all the input on this, I'll eventually look into one of these Hot Dawg units. I think my garage had one like this in it's past, there is a vent stack through the roof in one corner, so It would be an easy other than the gas line.

kc.