Shop heaters. One big or 3 small?

[ebinmaine 67,419]

 

Our barn shop needs a fair amount of BTU for heat.  

We figure the absolute minimum at 60K to 70K. 

Likely it should have more but that's what we'll get.... for now.  

 

Insulation will be installed in the roof trusses as we get time and money. Not for the next several months. 

For this winter we're just looking to break the chil and get the interior temperature to about 40⁰ or above.  

 

 

 

I'm thinking about getting 3 heaters rated  35K +/- BTU, each. 

 

They could be wired separately and easily.  

Perhaps one upstairs, two down. Maybe all 3 on the lower level.  

 

I believe it should be beneficial for the heaters to be in 3 locations spreading out the heat.  

 

 

Thoughts. Comments. Questions. Suggestions??

 

 

[Horse Newbie 7,068]

If you’re gonna do it, I would suggest a central heating system with ductwork. That would definitely be the most efficient and spread the conditioned air better making the whole building more comfortable.

The only thing I would consider is maybe heating the upstairs separately.

I say that because I see you creating more dust downstairs, and you would not want, say grinding dust circulating up into the dojo…

Edited November 13, 2023 by Horse Newbie

[ebinmaine 67,419]

16 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

suggest a central heating system with ductwork

In our area this would cost several thousand dollars.  

 

The above mentioned heaters are less than $300 each, installed with wiring and breakers. 

 

EDIT. Corrected pricing.  

Edited November 13, 2023 by ebinmaine
Corrected pricing.

[ebinmaine 67,419]

24 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

The only thing I would consider is maybe heating the upstairs separately.

I say that because I see you creating more dust downstairs, and you would not want, say grinding dust circulating up into the dojo…

I like the logic here.  

[WHX?? 48,814]

27 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I like the logic here.  

 

[c-series don 8,687]

I agree with two down and one up. Even though heat rises you may not need to heat the upstairs, then you can just use the two downstairs or if you’re just going to be upstairs you can run just one. Here on Long Island we have some of the highest electric rates in the country so electric heat is not really a good option. 

[oliver2-44 9,729]

Here's an option.  Install one of those size fixed heater upstairs, and one downstairs. Get a 3rd  one that you put a heavy extension cord on so you can move it to help heat one corner of the downstairs or upstairs more. 

If theirs one area downstairs that your going to be working in more, temporarily wall off the area with a tarp hung from the ceiling joist to hold the heat in that area a little more.

[ebinmaine 67,419]

8 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Here on Long Island we have some of the highest electric rates in the country so electric heat is not really a good option. 

 

 

It isn't exactly cheap here either. 

 

But:

We would LOVE to use firewood.... 

Unfortunately, Using ANY solid fuel is out. 

 

Using propane is out. WAY too much initial investment. 

 

Diesel/K1/Oil also out. 

[c-series don 8,687]

@ebinmaine for the money part we heat our house with wood via a Vermont Castings wood stove. People have often asked me why I don’t heat my shop/garage with a wood stove. My answer is this: When I work in it in the winter time it’s generally only for a few hours at a time. So I need instant gratification which comes in the form of a gas fired heater, and if it’s really cold I’ll run a diesel/kerosene torpedo heater. I think by the time a wood stove got the area warmed up I’d be done with what I had to do or it would be bedtime! 

[Horse Newbie 7,068]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

In our area this would cost several thousand dollars.  

 

The above mentioned heaters are less than $200 each, installed with wiring and breakers. 

 

 

I definitely see your point !

[lynnmor 7,305]

A radiant type of propane or electric heater would be cheap and efficient, use multiple units if needed.  They direct heat towards the small area you are in with no need to heat the entire building, radiant heats people and things.  Of course heating the entire building wall to wall and top to bottom would give the most comfort, but for occasional use these heaters work for me in my barn that isn't insulated.

[Bill D 1,916]

We put a Fahrenheit FUH 724, 7,500 watt heater in my Dad's insulated 2 1/2 car garage with 9' ceilings. That heater can take the garage from 20 to 60 degrees in an hour.  Great heater with no glowing red coils to start a fire.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Bill D

[ebinmaine 67,419]

16 minutes ago, Bill D said:

We put a Fahrenheit FUH 724, 7,500 watt heater in my Dad's insulated 2 1/2 car garage with 9' ceilings. That heater can take the garage from 20 to 60 degrees in an hour.  Great heater with no glowing red coils to start a fire.

 

This space is 24 x 40 x 12.  

Seems like two of the BTUs you used would do well here.  

 

 

[Bill D 1,916]

54 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

This space is 24 x 40 x 12.  

Seems like two of the BTUs you used would do well here.  

 

 

Agreed.  Unfortunately they are expensive heaters.  If you do buy them they can be controlled by a remote mounted thermostat if necessary.

[Ed Kennell 38,130]

I try to have my winter projects in my small heated basement shop.       But if I do have to work in the uninsulated pole barn, I use radiant propane heaters.   Works fine if you are not moving around.

 

You could just buy a half dozen WH tractors with P220 Onans.   Instant heat when needed.    

[charging10 233]

I had a Modine 30k hotdawg ceiling mounted natraul gas heater mounted in my 24x24 workshop over 20 years ago, works great and heats up my shop fast, only downside is floor is still cool if I lay under a tractor working, but doesnt bother me.

[JoeM 7,873]

11 hours ago, lynnmor said:

They direct heat towards the small area you are in

 

And might want to think about parting out a work area even temporary for the winter. 

[peter lena 8,608]

@ebinmaine https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/mechatronics-fan-group/F8025E24B3-FHR/5424700?u  in addition to the heaters  of your choice , have these helpers quietly move air about . find them on line . plug and move air . many electronic shops , have piles of them , used for electronic cooling boards . Pete

[ebinmaine 67,419]

21 minutes ago, JoeM said:

 parting out a work area even temporary for the winter. 

 

We've talked about that. Definitely a possibility to hang a couple tarps dividing the front half from the back.

 

[Racinbob 11,050]

Eric, if I remember correctly you ran a dedicated 200 amp service to the barn, right? 

Can I ask where you're getting the units for that price? It takes a 10k watt unit to get 35k BTU. I've been looking at a 10k unit for my garage. It's 26'x36'x10' and well insulated including the overhead doors. I believe I could get by with one unit but the only thing I've seen in that price range are 5k watts. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Racinbob

[Rob J. 1,941]

If your shop is mostly open plan I’d go with one big heater. If you have high ceilings you may go with a ceiling suspended unit. These heat up fast. I keep my heat set at 40 when I’m not in the shop. A 500 gallon LP tank lasts me the winter. It’s probably not the cheapest way to go but it’s easier than wood on this old man. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Rob J.

[squonk 41,067]

High ceiling. Put in ceiling fans cause that's where all the BTU's are gonna be! 

[ebinmaine 67,419]

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

Eric, if I remember correctly you ran a dedicated 200 amp service to the barn, right? 

Can I ask where you're getting the units for that price? It takes a 10k watt unit to get 35k BTU. I've been looking at a 10k unit for my garage. It's 26'x36'x10' and well insulated including the overhead doors. I believe I could get by with one unit but the only thing I've seen in that price range are 5k watts. 

 

Good catch Bob. 

They're $221 each plus wiring and breakers.  

 

I edited my post.  

 

[ebinmaine 67,419]

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

200 amp service

Ours is 100 amp dedicated.  

[Racinbob 11,050]

9 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Good catch Bob. 

They're $221 each plus wiring and breakers.  

 

Well, nuts. I thought I was about to save some coin. 

 

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Ours is 100 amp dedicated.  

 

That could be a problem Eric. A 10k watt unit will pull just over 40 amps. One would be fine.