The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Let There Be Heat

Should have done this years ago, had overhead heat installed yesterday. Now to finish insulating.

John

John,

That looks awesome.

Let the year round fun begin!

Overhead radiant heat is a good solution for a retrofit.

Heated floor is the way to go if you can get it installed before the slab goes in. Laying on a warm floor is nice. And no cold feet.

You'll really like the radiant heat...I love mine! It warns up the surfaces including tools on the work bench.

If you have a lift under the heater, do not use it with a car on the lift as it could burn the paint...you need 3' of clearance minimum.

Mike B

We have radiant in our warehouse at work, it's definitely the way to go. It is so much more efficient than forced air or oil Brunner style system. Your going to be very happy with your decision.

Gas or electric?

Nice

Otto,

His pictures show a gas set-up. Super professional install IMHO.

Yes it’s a natural gas unit. I did hire out the installation and I’m happy with their work. I don’t have a lift, so for now it’s not an issue. It is mounted 15’ 6” above the floor which is more than enough clearance for normal work. I’m just thrilled to have heat. It’s been a “Want” for a long time.

Thanks for the compliments.

John

Duh! I didn't even see the gas pipe.

In my defense I was looking at it on my phone so the pictures were the size of postage stamps.

All good Otto!

I have to use my "tri-focals" just to see my laptop screen clearly (don't even ask me how I see pics on my phone - LOL).

John Lucas, I see you have easy access to your bicycle so you can get some exercise whenever you want!

Actually, I have a different one that I use while camping. My wife Theresa bought me that one over 35 years ago. It is just up there being stored out of the way.

John

I have my original Schwinn Varsity from 1967, it was stolen and recovered twice when I was a kid, no way I would part with it!

The heat set up looks nice but do you want to sell your building? I can have a flat be there tomorrow.

Are you doing that yourself?

Overhead radiation is really nice.

I only have a wood stove - takes forever to heat the whole shop, once it is cooled out for a week.

I saw a bunch of videos of a 120- bucks portable diesel heater that some guys use for their workshop.
I guess I can even use my waste oil in it, and it seems to put out a decent amount of heat.

Frank

Yes. My friend has a waste oil heater in his muffler shop. It can burn waste oil, diesel, kerosene, Jet A, etc. Of course he uses oil change oil.

It heats his entire 4000 sq ft shop in no time. His natural gas bill used to be $1200/month in winter, now it's zero.

Our County Sheriff’s garage uses a waste oil heater. Keeps the shop nice and toasty.

Yes, I will finish insulating it myself. I try and do most everything myself when possible.

John

Just about the time I had decided I wouldn't need to add heat to my shop Mother nature steps in and drops the temp. It's supposed to be in the teens over Christmas, I thought I lived in the South? I will be looking into an oil burning heater.

It'll prolly be warmer in Brunswick than Atlanta.

it's supposed to be 12 lo 29 hi on Christmas eve and similar on Christmas day.

I remember, as a kid, an old oil stove in the living room was the only heat that we had for the whole house. I remember that many of my aunts and uncles had the same thing. So, they must have put out quite a lot of heat. I'm in Indiana, and I've tried 2 different styles of 5000 watt electric hanging heaters. I would not recommend them because they take much too long to heat the shop up, and spin the electric meter much too fast. I personally think that a heat source needs a flame to be very effective.

How big is your garage? A 1000 square foot garage needs about 40,000 BTU or 12,000 watts to heat it. Of course there is a lot of things that can add or subtract to this number when calculating like location, insulation, ceiling height, windows and doors etc. Figuring about 10 watts per square foot, your 5000 watt heater sould be just about right for a typical 2-car garage.

Mike B