Radiant floor heating

[Spook50]

Curious about doing something up for the garage, and maybe for the shop (if I can't find a pellet or wood stove I like), but I don't want to tear into the foundation of either. Anyone know if there's something available I could put down that'd still let me drive vehicles over it and stand up to oil/chemical spills without damaging the heating system?

 

[Ebag333]

About the only thing you could do would be to sink tubing or heating elements into concrete. But you don't want to tear it up, I'm assuming, so you're better off looking for other forms of heating.

 

[Spook50]

I was afraid of that. Using floor heating would save so much space, but it wouldn't be worth it if I have to tear up the foundation to do it. My other option would be a wood stove or a pellet stove.

Probably go with the wood stove if the #18 cannon heater a couple hours from me is still for sale. Probably not as practical as a pellet stove, but it's got the classic Americana aspect to it, which I really dig.

 

[Ebag333]

If saving space is the primary requirement, have you considered overhead heat? You could also do a wall mounted split unit.

 

[Spook50]

If saving space is the primary requirement, have you considered overhead heat? You could also do a wall mounted split unit.

Not a primary, though it would be nice. I can't do overhead since my shop has hardly any overhead space as it is (central beam is just a hair over 7' from the floor). What do you mean by a wall mounted split unit?

 

[Ebag333]

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/CHH012CD-13B-Wall-Mounted-Mini-Split/dp/B0057H1QCW

Just grabbed one at random, no idea on that particular one.

 

[Spook50]

Something like this:
Amazon.com: CHH012CD-13B Wall Mounted Mini Split Heat Pump - 12,000 BTU: Kitchen & Dining

Just grabbed one at random, no idea on that particular one.

That wouldn't be a bad way to go if I could find something that'd effectively heat 576 sq. ft (24x24 shop). The insulation is okay (could be better, but still WAY better than the garage I had at my last place), so once it's warmed up it should be able to hold for a few hours during an average Spokane winter.

Whatever I get (which is the one thing that keeps me from being definite for the cannon heater), it'd be great to have it thermostatically controlled, so I don't get too damn hot in the shop. If I go the pellet stove or electric heat route, I'll definitely get something I can control via a thermostat.

 

[Ebag333]

A split unit should heat 576 sq feet no problem. They make different sized units for different purposes.

Probably not much a concern for Spokane, but AC wouldn't be horrible in the summer.

 

[fj404life]

May wanna look into a propane/ng unit heater.
I put a reznor in my 24x36 poorly insulated shop.
I dont leave the heat on, only crank it on when I am out there working.
Warms place up FAST. It can be mounted in a corner up tight to the ceiling.

 

[Spook50]

May wanna look into a propane/ng unit heater.
I put a reznor in my 24x36 poorly insulated shop.
I dont leave the heat on, only crank it on when I am out there working.
Warms place up FAST. It can be mounted in a corner up tight to the ceiling.

A Reznor would be great. I've looked a bit for a 208/240V electric unit that I could use just for when I'm actually out in the shop. Haven't done a whole lot of digging but if I could find one at a reasonable price that would handle my shop well I'd go for it.

 

[fj404life]

mr heater makes some reasonable priced unit heaters...not sure how they hold up compared to a reznor or similar.
I just rent a propane tank...usually end up filling once a year or so.

I also like the idea of overhead radiant heaters...but it sounds like that would not work with your low ceiling

 

[Spook50]

mr heater makes some reasonable priced unit heaters...not sure how they hold up compared to a reznor or similar.
I just rent a propane tank...usually end up filling once a year or so.

I also like the idea of overhead radiant heaters...but it sounds like that would not work with your low ceiling

Overhead radiant would be good too, but yeah my celing is way too low. Plus I could see electric radiant costing alot if I spend a lot of time in my shop during the cold months. A few times I've borrowed my buddy's propane torpedo heater and that worked alright. My only real complaint was the fumes from it. that was at a house I was renting though, so now that I actually own my place, I want a more permanent fixture. Whether it be a unit heater, wood stove, or a pellet stove.

 

[fj404life]

We have a pellet stove in the house...I like it there.
We only use it to supplement our cadet wall heaters. So we end up using about 1 ton or less a year.
1 Ton of good pellets is $220 last I got em. You need to store em somewhere dry as they can suck up moisture and be wrecked. It would take a LOT of room to keep a supply if it was your only heat source.
On the plus side it burns super clean. Hardly any smoke or ash. No dealing with splitting wood, and the mess. Ours does not have a thermostat...wish it did. When it pukes I will upgrade to a newer thermo controlled unit! Then I may use it more??

Reznor in the shop is hooked to a 150?? gallon propane tank. It hurts to fill $$$ but I dont have to very often! Once a year or so. It will take the shop from sub freezing to your taking your coat off in no time flat. What I dont like is all the tools/stuff your working on is still frozen. I need better insulation...basically just have a vapor barrier. Would be nice to hold the temp at 45 even when not out there...but it would break me the way it is now.

 

[Living in the Past]

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/CHH012CD-13B-Wall-Mounted-Mini-Split/dp/B0057H1QCW

Just grabbed one at random, no idea on that particular one.

These are a heat pump and depending on how cold it gets in Spokane may not be a good idea. Heat pumps work better at maintaining a temperature rather than trying to warm a cold space up when it cold outside. If it's cold outside and cold in the garage you will be waiting a very long time for it to warm up. Not really a good application a heat pump, they work better at maintaining temperature. Years ago when the heat pumps first started getting popular the biggest complain was you couldn't turn the thermostat down and night and have a quick recovery in the morning like the gas furnaces people were use to.

 

[Toyo FJ40]

May wanna look into a propane/ng unit heater.
I put a reznor in my 24x36 poorly insulated shop.
I dont leave the heat on, only crank it on when I am out there working.
Warms place up FAST. It can be mounted in a corner up tight to the ceiling.

Modine makes the Hot Dawg heater for garages. Can be mounted to the ceiling and is direct vent. They have a sealed combustion model that takes it's combustion air from outside too (good if you have a lot of dust). I've installed a few of them and people have all been happy with the heating. Works on a wall mounted thermastat so you can turn it off.

Modine Hot Dawg Heater

 

[Spook50]

Modine makes the Hot Dawg heater for garages. Can be mounted to the ceiling and is direct vent. They have a sealed combustion model that takes it's combustion air from outside too (good if you have a lot of dust). I've installed a few of them and people have all been happy with the heating. Works on a wall mounted thermastat so you can turn it off.

Modine Hot Dawg Heater

That wouldn't be a bad way to go. It'd save me having to lose floor space to a pellet stove and pellet storage, and the initial cost wouldn't be much more than a decent stove anyway. Only hurdle I can see is how I'd set up a propane tank for one. Granted the house is on a natural gas line, so if propane didn't work out, I could have a line extended out to the shop.

 

[spressomon]

I'm using 2'x8'x1" 220V radiant ceiling panels in my garage and they work great. They provide very quick heat when I don't want to keep them on. But I have them on thermostats if I do want to keep them set at a certain temp. I'm a wood and metals hobbyist and didn't want any kind of flame with dust, brake cleaner vapor, etc.