Shop heat

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
Thinking about heat options for the new shop. 2520 sq ft, ceiling ranges 16-21' high. It is divided into 3 partitions: (approx) 400sqft, 600sqft, and 1500sqft.

Going to do an LP Modine/Hot Dawg type ceiling mount heater in the main shop area. I am thinking about using a low set-point thermostat, and keeping the shop above freezing all winter, maybe set 40 degrees. Not so bad to handle tools, and can easily bring it up 20 degrees for work.

Anybody else doing this? I'm wondering what the annual propane consumption would be, just to maintain 40* or so.
 
I plan to do a waste oil heater. Built from an oil furnace burner. Seems easy enough to build and practically free to run.
 
I have a big wood burner in mine but never use it anymore. Now I just fire up the kerosene bullet and warm it up right quick.
 
FIRE!
 
Pros and cons of the kerosene torpedo heaters vs the propane ones? Had a kerosene one from northern tool that only lasted 2 winters and would rather not go through that again
 
CarolinaHD said:
Pros and cons of the kerosene torpedo heaters vs the propane ones? Had a kerosene one from northern tool that only lasted 2 winters and would rather not go through that again
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You got a dud we've used the same one for at least 10 years and carried it to job sites. It blows a big puff of smoke now and then starts up


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CarolinaHD said:
Pros and cons of the kerosene torpedo heaters vs the propane ones? Had a kerosene one from northern tool that only lasted 2 winters and would rather not go through that again
Click to expand...

Pros: None, really. Cons: Stinky, loud, expensive to operate, finicky if you don't fuel 'em right.

We tried to keep from hooking up to NG last year. I had two friends let me get free oil from tanks they weren't using due to recent switches to central air. Well, the oil must have been old already. It ruined my wick heater and our 55k Kero bullet. Fine by me, the NG is ultimately more efficient, better heat, and smells better. Probably cheaper, too, but we keep it set to about 55-58 when we're not there. We had problems at the old shop when there were big temp swings with the floor sweating and humidity getting high enough to flash rust any clean steel. We'll crank it up to 65 when we get in to knock the edge off. Before long, it's warm enough to cut it down to 60 and let it maintain.
 
My dad's shop which is similar to yours in construction but is 30*50, hardly ever sees below 40* in winter. Has to be several cold and windy days in a row to get it below about 45-48. A small salamander type heater is used to bring temp up to reasonable temp when working in there.
 
Futbalfantic said:
If I ever build my dream shop I plan on radiant floor heating and keeping it 60*
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X2.A buddy of mine has it hooked to an outside furnace and pumps warm water thru the concrete.You can work in a light long sleeve shirt when its 20 degrees out.
 
I would get a residential 95% furnace and mount it somewhere out of the way. Those celing mount units are only 80% when new. Which means 20 cents of every dollar is going up the stack. And as an added benefit the 95%+ units are vented with pvc instead of b vent.
 
Hoping to work out something like that....my neighbor does hvac, is looking for a unit for me...thinks he can snag a good take-off unit that's lost the a/c side.
 
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