I'm looking for ideas/suggestions/lessons learned from those who've installed natural gas forced air heaters in their garages. I intended to go with an infrared radiant type heater but apparently I don't have enough ceiling height, even at 10'. Not enough clearance between the heater and vehicles. So, plan B is to install a Dayton 75,000 btu natural gas forced air heater. I have 960 square feet to heat. 24' wide by 40' deep.

Is there anything you would have done differently? Lessons learned?

Where would be the best place to hang the heater? I'm leaning towards mounting it dead center in the front over the garage door blowing the heat towards the back where the work area is. Only problem I have with this is that the exhaust vent would stick out the front of the garage. As an alternative, I could mount it in the front corner so I can run the exhaust out the side. This placement would require the shortest run of gas line from the house.

Any suggestions on running the gas line from the house into the garage? (detached).

Thanks!

Keith-
With 960 sf you are going to get cold spots and hot spots if you use just a hanging furnace with no ductwork.

For my 4 car garage, being the cheapskate that I am, I went to a place that they scrap out mobile homes. Bought one for $200. Installed the ductwork and have even heat for a total of about $450.00.

In my polebarn, I shot the wad and bought new. Put the ductwork on the ceiling (12' ceilings). To do THAT one over again, I would have put the ductwork ABOVE the ceiling.
2 shops SOUND nice, but it would be better to keep everything together. About 80' apart, and do I get exercise!

You could run the exhaust flue along the ceiling or in the attic space over to the back side of the garage if you want the roof to look clean on front.

If you mount it in the middle in the front, the 2 corners in front will be a little colder than the rest of the garage. If you want the heat to be more even, mount it in a front corner, aimed accross at the opposite corner.

I'd put it on the opposite side of your lift, so that when a car is up on the lift, it's not blocking the air flow to the rest of the garage.

It would be nice to be able to hang it where it will blow the heat where you think you might need it the most but it really kinda depends on how you intend to use it and in my opinion, it's not worth sacrificing a good operating flue that may not be where you want it to be a far as "looks" go.

By that I mean if you intend to keep the garage somewhat warm, it won't make much difference at all in where the unit is placed as far as hot spots/cold spots go but if you intend to let the area get cold and want to be able to have warm air quick then you probably want it to blow where you're going to be working.

What ever you decide, remember that the flue pipe must go at least 12" above ANYTHING within 4' horizontally and the pipe must be type "B"

I run a old house furnace in mine. I made a simple duct work piece that I can turn and point the heat in any direction. Of course with a house furnace it heat the garage to 80 in about 5 mintues when it's about 15degrees outside :thumbsup: As far as a gas line. I ran a flexible line that's buried underground.
here's a pic of my set up http://www.quickercad.com/64chevelle/garage2.jpg[/url]

I run a old house furnace in mine. I made a simple duct work piece that I can turn and point the heat in any direction. Of course with a house furnace it heat the garage to 80 in about 5 mintues when it's about 15degrees outside :thumbsup: As far as a gas line. I ran a flexible line that's buried underground.
here's a pic of my set up

hmm, only two supplies ?
doesn't look like enough CFM for the size furnace for proper heat rise temps.
You don't need the tee in the flue pipe, in fact letting cooler air into the flue at that point is not something you want to do.

You going to connect up that water heater?

well not sure about the CFM per heat rise...but it's seems to work fine....What if I ran rectangle outlets versus the ovals I got now?? ;) any gain with that??...(pot being stirred ) :D

The tee is capped at the bottom. so there is no "cold air" entering it.

And the water heater was waiting to go to the curb for trash pick up. :D No running water to the garage.........yet .

I run a Modine 100k BTU forced air unit in my 2 1/2 car garage.. Whith that many BTU's it doesn't matter where you put it, the entire garage heats up in no time at all...

Scott

I'm looking for ideas/suggestions/lessons learned from those who've installed natural gas forced air heaters in their garages. I intended to go with an infrared radiant type heater but apparently I don't have enough ceiling height, even at 10'. Not enough clearance between the heater and vehicles.
Thanks!

I have 10'8" ceiling and have a radiant tube heater mounted along the back wall at a 45 degree angle. This was the recommendation in the literature from two different manufacturers and also a company I had quote the install.
I've head it 8-9 yrs and never had any trouble with windshields 4-5 ft away or paints. It sure gives even heat, no air blowing. I back cars in if I have to work under the hood, otherwise the heater is behind and above my neck, other than that no problems.

I have a 45,000 BTU natural gas heater hanging from my ceiling.

When I mounted mine, I hung it in the rear corner so it blew warm air across my work area. It works out pretty good.

As far as hot and cold spots, I may have a couple spots that are cooler when I first crank it up, but that goes away quick and it heats rather evenly.

I do know I would go bigger than 45,000 BTU next time though. I have a 2 1/2 car shop and it heats it fine, but a 75,000 BTU would really heat it up. Although once I get working I need to turn it way down anyways.

Jeff

75,000 btu Reznor natural gas ceiling hanger, and man it heats up 700 sq. ft. garage in no time also keeps it at 50 all winter long. Very easy hook-up and vent system. Canadian winters are no problem! Ralph

yeah ralphie, but do you have AIR CONDITIONING????? :D

I used a 100,000 btu furnace from an apartment building, told the people that installed my home furnce what I had, they told me what I needed as far as ducts & plenum size & they built the plenum. I have 5 ceiling ducts (I used the round insulated flexible duct work) that blow warm in the winter & cold in the summer
http://www.pbase.com/shayfah/image/31187285 if you look past the motorcycles and towards the ladder, you can see it...... and the black line is from the condensor.

IF YOU USE A HOUSE FURNACE !!!!!!!!!!!
you need to elevate the unit off the ground so the pilot light is higher. I built a "shelf" and used lag bolts to secure it to the studs.

as far as where to mount it..... where its out of the way...... let the ducts direct the air for you

you need to elevate the unit off the ground so the pilot light is higher. I built a "shelf" and used lag bolts to secure it to the studs.


Good point, any open flame in a garage must be at least 18" above the floor.

I'm using one of the wall mount ventless units. Heat is fine - I only use it when I'm in there so humidity buildup is not a problem. It does have a fan built in which helps. If I had to do it again I would go with a vented ceiling mount forced air style.

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it!

Another question. I have 960 sq. ft. to heat. Would you spend the extra $60.00 and get a 90,000 btu heater or do you think 75,000 is adequate?

Hey OFBG there is usually to much hot air blowing round my garage to even think about air!!!! Ralph

75,000 btu Reznor natural gas ceiling hanger, and man it heats up 700 sq. ft. garage in no time also keeps it at 50 all winter long. Very easy hook-up and vent system. Canadian winters are no problem! Ralph


Ralph:

What does your vent look like? Does it exit out the wall or the roof? Is it a power vent? - I have a Reznor that I need to hook up but it came with no venting, It is a power vent. Could you post up some pics?

LK

When I replaced the furnace in the house with a more efficient style I put the old 1 in the garage. I set it up much like jblack. My garage is insulated and drywalled. It gets to 35 below here in winter and all I have to do is turn it on, let it run thru 1 cycle and the garage is warm as heck, shirt only temp. I only have it on pilot until I want to work in there.

Hey LK mine has a vertical vent up through the ceiling, i used double wall (B) vent to go through the attic and roof then single up to the top, has a draft cap on top. real simple and easy set-up, sorry pics will be slow in coming i just bought a digital cam and am tech. handicapped as to how to how all the goodies work so far. If you have any other ?'s ask and i'll try to answer them. Ralph

Thanks ralph. Is your heater a power vent? (should have a fan on it) - I think I can use PVC on mine but not sure.

LK

I didn't install it yet, but I think I'm going with a radiant tube style. My garage is 40X36 - three bays wide, two deep, 12 foot ceiling. None of those box styles will work for me (except one sized for a house). Plus I also do wood working in the same building and the open flame style is not good for dust or paint vapor conditions. I'll need two of these to warm the two main work areas. And it won't warm the entire space evenly, just make my work areas warm......

No its just a regular vent set-up with a big pipe up top. Works awesome though, i just fired it up again this week. Damn i guess that means winter is coming :( Ask for some heat/cooling experts to answer it for you i know we have some here. Ralph