OT: Anyone considered a mini-split system for their garage?

[wkohler]

I had one of those heaters on a propane tank. It was in the explosion and didn't catch on fire. There was still propane in it even. No, I did not save it.

[davintosh]

^^^^Personally, I would not feel comfortable using that heating element and a 30 lb tank in an enclosed space.

It lacks basic safety features such as low O2 auto shut off.

I wouldn't exactly call my garage "an enclosed space". Drafty as a corn crib. It was a cheap solution that has come in handy, but I don't really use it often enough for it to be a huge concern. So far maybe twice this season is all.

This winter I'm using the Mr. Heater Big Buddy. It's portable, 18,000 btu's so it can easily heat the garage to 60 + degrees and uses dual 1 lb cylinders or you can attach a hose and hook it up to a 30 lb tank.

That looks like a decent option, but if I were going to do something different I'd probably opt for something that doesn't require a tank and doesn't sit on the floor. Maybe an electric heater like this one:



Mounts up high, doesn't clutter the floor, has a fan to move the warm air around, and no danger of CO2. There are also some wall-mounted non-vented propane/natural gas heaters that would work well for about the same money. Neither are likely to happen this season anyway; we'll see what next year brings.

[WilNJ]

The big difference in the OPs solution and the others offered is that he can maintain the garage at a desired temp even in an unoccupied setting.

[demetk]

Working in a cold garage in SD isn't much fun either. So far all I've used for supplemental heat is one of these;



No need for thermostats; if it gets it warm enough in there to keep water-based stuff from freezing, that's as good as I need it. Too bad most of its heat just goes up into the rafters of the garage. Using it does make me a bit nervous though. It's never left unattended.

I also used one of these temporarily when I needed some heat in the garage or in my unfinished addition but I always kept an eye on it. So, what are the products of combustion with them? I'm assuming since they're not vented, CO would be a concern.

The electric resistance heaters would be a solution when used with a thermostat but straight resistance heat is the most expensive heating option around here. A heat pump beats natural gas, propane and oil heating in terms of cost to operate. Natural gas heating would be my choice if I had that option but I have no natural gas lines around me. I do have propane though and even though it's an expensive option, I would consider using a small direct vented propane heater as an aux backup to the mini-split when it got bitterly cold.

Interested to see what others are using, so please post up.

[waynet1]

Interested to see what others are using, so please post up.

[Mark in Toronto]

Maybe an electric heater like this one:



Mounts up high, doesn't clutter the floor, has a fan to move the warm air around, and no danger of CO2. There are also some wall-mounted non-vented propane/natural gas heaters that would work well for about the same money. Neither are likely to happen this season anyway; we'll see what next year brings.

Yes, electric heat is a good option. Once the Big Buddy has warmed up the garage, I have two ceiling mounted electric quartz heaters to maintain a comfortable temperature.

The quartz panels are much more energy efficient when compared to conventional electric heaters.

[demetk]

Interested to see what others are using, so please post up.

bastard. I think I need to move there.

[davintosh]

Interested to see what others are using, so please post up.

Kaleighphourkneuns.

[Justin_FL]

bastard. I think I need to move there.

Err, unless you like sweating your ass off even at X-mas, it really is highly overrated!

I do need an A/C system in the garage.

[waynet1]

bastard. I think I need to move there.

Err, unless you like sweating your ass off even at X-mas, it really is highly overrated!

I do need an A/C system in the garage.

That is very true.
demetk, I would much rather be in your beautiful neighborhood and house tinkering with the heat in your garage then being here any day. I really dislike it here, but I dislike being cold even more. I wouldn't recommend living here to just about anyone, unless you're in the yacht industry, even then it is difficult.

Justin, you might want to try one of those free standing A/C units. I've seen them pretty inexpensive at Big Lots.

[demetk]

I wouldn't recommend living here to just about anyone, ...

Crap. That pic you posted looks a lot like heaven to me.

[waynet1]

I wouldn't recommend living here to just about anyone, ...

Crap. That pic you posted looks a lot like heaven to me.

Oh it's a great place to visit. Living here is a very different thing, it is a city with all the things that most people dislike about cities.
You just can't beat the weather though IMO.

[davintosh]

I wouldn't recommend living here to just about anyone, ...

Crap. That pic you posted looks a lot like heaven to me.

Oh it's a great place to visit. Living here is a very different thing, it is a city with all the things that most people dislike about cities.
You just can't beat the weather though IMO.

I've been told rats live in those trees. I haven't gone to the trouble of verifying that during my brief visits there, and not sure I'd even want to try. Besides, I kinda like the trees that lose their leaves in the fall then grow them back in the spring.