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Professional Platteville, WI on Oct 06, 2011

I have a large garage, 30'x 40' here in Wisconsin.

I would like to build an enclosed heated area on the inside maybe 10'x 15' and 9'high ceiling inside of it for a work area rather than heat the entire garage. I'm thinking infrared propane heat, or electric of some type, and insulate the walls and ceiling to the maximum. No windows and one door. I want to heat this with the least possible expense incurred on the actual heaters and the cost of operating it yearly. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Eugene

3 Comments

KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

As a woodworker I would throw in a wood stove...you can find basic models on craig's lists for not too much...being in the midwest your access to firewood should be pretty easy. If you want to go with a more conventional approach a hard plumbed gas unit would also be very economical. In my unheated basement work shop I run a infrared heater that attaches to the top of a 20# propane bottle. I have two of these units. One in each area of my shop. Being portable I can put both units in ...»
the "big" shop when needed or move them about to meet my needs. The heater "top" was about 50 bucks...and I can fill a bottle for 12 buck...Since I'm there when I use these its easy to keep an eye on them. One of those would have no trouble keeping a 10 x 15 space warm

on Oct 06, 2011 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

If you insulate properly I would just use a electrical baseboard heater. Radiant heat works great, but it can cook you out fast as it heats objects rather then air. You can purchase radiant heat panels that run on electrical power that fasten to the ceiling, But I would suggest against that as well.
The cost of heating this will be determined on how you construct this room, how your going to ...»
ventilate it for breathing air, and what you plan to do with the room. If its a simple hobby shop type where you sit then using small electrical space heaters will be fine. if your moving about and using power tools creating dust, then electrical wall heater may be a better choice.
If you have no windows, you could construct on the wall an opening for a wall mounted heat pump unit that is like a window AC system. This will provide fresh air as well as provide heat for winter and cool air in summer.
But to keep expenses down, simply use electrical heaters.
How is the house heated? Perhaps you can run some of that heat from system to room to heat this as well.

on Oct 06, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

I ran an electric 240 volt heater in my small shop on a few projects a couple of years ago...It was a $200 higher end portable electric heater. After the project finished up I got my first electric bill....my normal $50 a month bill was well over $200 ....I can heat my shop for weeks and weeks using only 20 to 30 bucks with the propane heater....Electric heat is the most expensive route

on Oct 07, 2011 · Like 1