Garage heater recommendation NGC

[BSABEN]

It's time to put a heater in the garage. Space is about 20x20 and we have natural gas in the house. Any suggestions?

[trippah]

Probably need a bit more info, are you thinking workspace, can you risk flame? Is the garage still going to be used as a garage (major heat loss every time door is opened, is it insulated? 

If it's for comfort, I wonder if it does more harm to your car..seems like the chemical reactions of salt/ ice melt on car would be greater in warmer space;  as compared to simply warming up the car a few minutes before launch (a question which could sink into a oil thread I suspect). 

If your house heat is hot air, I would be a little worried about mice using the ducts as a highway into the house.  16 (F) here this am, so I watch and learn a bit from your question.  Good luck.

[blackcat]

Easy to use and it can warm up the space in a fairly small amount of time.

[BSABEN]

It is so I don't freeze when working on my bikes. I want a heater that could warm up the space quickly and is not loud or stinky. Garage is insulated

[Caffeineo]

I use one of the oil radiator type heaters for my garage. It will not make it warm but will keep it from getting below freezing. I keep it on high 24/7. Really does not cost much to buy or run. We are in the low 30's with highs in the low 50's. Just a light jacket in the AM to stay comfortable.

[Perazzimx14]

Modine Hotdawg model HD30AS0111 NG heater or if you want to KISS a $50 kerosene heater off of CL.

[Scott DeRoss]

https://static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/3UG73_4?$zmmain$

Great heater for my 20x22 garage. turn it on when you need it or keep it regulated how you want.

[JoeKirby]

I have a wall mount gas heater.  It is completely quite and no smell, not that I notice anyway. My garage is right around 900 sq.ft. with two garage doors, window and a walk-in door and it stays very warm. 

[Orange Guzzi]

I use one of the oil radiator type heaters for my garage. It will not make it warm but will keep it from getting below freezing. I keep it on high 24/7. Really does not cost much to buy or run. We are in the low 30's with highs in the low 50's. Just a light jacket in the AM to stay comfortable.

I used one of these in my 30 x 30 space.  Placed a box fan on one side to blow across fins.  Kinda worked.

I bought a 220 volt single phase unit from Rual King.  It will heat the cold garage up quickly and cycle on and of.  Paid less than $75 plus power cord. 

[Orange Guzzi]

For safety reason's I would avoid anything with flame. 

[Gliderjohn]

I have a shop/garage space of just under 400 sq.ft. insulted but with a 14' ceiling peak. I have one of the electric combination wall mounted heater/AC. Like the units you see in many motel rooms. It also has a "freeze guard" that keeps the space a bit above freezing in the winter. Works pretty well overall.
GliderJohn

[Idontwantapickle]

Ben, you didn't mention location, that would influence how much capacity you'd need. I use a PTAC unit, it is a heat pump mounted through the wall commonly used in hotel rooms. The downside is cost, about $750, but the upside is AC in the summer!
http://www.lgptac.com/ptac-units.aspx

Hunter

[Rough Edge racing]

For safety reason's I would avoid anything with flame.

  Not if it's done correctly... The National Electrical code is quite clear on this, at least for commercial garages....Anything that may produce sparks must be 18 inches or higher off the finished floor....To include all electrical outlets, lighting fixtures and motors... Other codes say the same about heating devices....This rule should be followed for a residential garage....
  A hanging gas fired unit heater  or gas fired radient heat is safe and what you see in commercial garages...

[Rod]

I'm in New England and my garage is about the same size. I have a gas line in the garage and I got an estimate for around $700 to put in a gas heater, but decided to just try an 240v infrared space heater first. I ordered this one from Amazon for about $120 and it does the job. Small and efficient.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XOZN7A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[blackcat]

  Not if it's done correctly... The National Electrical code is quite clear on this, at least for commercial garages....Anything that may produce sparks must be 18 inches or higher off the finished floor....To include all electrical outlets, lighting fixtures and motors... Other codes say the same about heating devices....This rule should be followed for a residential garage....
  A hanging gas fired unit heater  or gas fired radient heat is safe and what you see in commercial garages...

Exactly, I had a hanging gas fired unit for years and it produced no smell and was completely safe and efficient. And it's way cheaper than using an electric heating unit.

[Rough Edge racing]

Exactly, I had a hanging gas fired unit for years and it produced no smell and was completely safe and efficient. And it's way cheaper than using an electric heating unit.

  Yes, any type heater that locates the heating device in the garage is capable of giving off sparks...That would be electrical , or any type of gas or oil....
 The actual danger is gasoline fumes that collect at floor level....Normally not an issue if there no leakage and most residential garages are not that air tight.....
   Very few home owners give any thought to this...

[trippah]

Proof positive that you can learn new things..I always thought the fumes would collect at the ceiling; thank heavens I never tested my obviously wrong theory.

[Farmer Dan]

I heat my garage with a natural gas over head furnace.  Fan is a bit noisy when it kicks on but it warms the room up guick.  Just turn on the thermostat, nice and easy.

[steven c]

 I use one of these in CT. two car garage, insulated walls and door. works well though takes awhile to get the garage up to temp. I also use one of those tall quartz  heaters which works pretty good.

[LowRyter]

I got the cheapie space heater from Northern Tools that I hook up to a propane jug like I use on my grill. 

[redhawk47]

I'm in New England and my garage is about the same size. I have a gas line in the garage and I got an estimate for around $700 to put in a gas heater, but decided to just try an 240v infrared space heater first. I ordered this one from Amazon for about $120 and it does the job. Small and efficient.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XOZN7A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use one if this type. It takes the chill off  to a comfortable working condition although I think it is rated for a space half the size.
16 x 50 with high ceiling, well insulated with southern exposure and small windows. Rarely gets below 40F when not heated.
 

[Rough Edge racing]

Proof positive that you can learn new things..I always thought the fumes would collect at the ceiling; thank heavens I never tested my obviously wrong theory.

  Gasoline and some solvent fumes are heavier than air... In commercial garages and simlar locations anything below 18 inches is classified as one of several potential explosion situations requiring special devices...How fresh air is exchanged is also a factor. than can lessen the classification of explosion potential.
 The risk is not great in most residential garages, but shit does happen so it best to be prepared..Just like wearing protective gear while riding...
  And extinguishers of course....

[Markcarovilli]

I heat my garage with a natural gas over head furnace.  Fan is a bit noisy when it kicks on but it warms the room up guick.  Just turn on the thermostat, nice and easy.

Dan

Looks pretty comfy to me..

Mark

[fatbob]

Modine Hotdawg model HD30AS0111 NG heater or if you want to KISS a $50 kerosene heater off of CL.

+1 on the Hot Dawg. 15 years on mine, very little trouble.

[JoeKirby]

I heat my garage with a natural gas over head furnace.  Fan is a bit noisy when it kicks on but it warms the room up guick.  Just turn on the thermostat, nice and easy.

  Now that is a work space I could hang out in.

[Farmer Dan]

  Now that is a work space I could hang out in.

I have been known to fill the fridge with beer, turn up the 4 channel stereo and lock my self in for days at a time.  I enjoy getting lost in there.

[Yukonica]

Toyotomi oil heater is the first line of warmth. Next up is a Dimplex electric/oil portable if I just need the chill off in the shoulder seasons. If it gets really cold I'll resort to the wood stove. My shop houses the wellhead as well so I like to make sure it never drops too far below freezing.

[kirb]

Think about an IR heater, overhead if possible. It heats the 'things' and not the 'air'. Electric, gas... they are a little more money and takes less time to warm the things you are working on.

Doing things over again, I'd run heat tubing in the concrete floor of the garage. Warming the slab up is all you need for a warm environment...provi ded you insulated the walls and ceiling.