Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Calendar
Go Back   NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > Restorations, Fabrication, Tool and Shop Tech

Notices


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 01-28-2018, 03:07 PM   #1
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Heating garage, best option?

The other day I realized I should look into a way to heat the garage. The garage size is roughly 20x25, and about 8' high (500sq ft). (This is not my main work garage some members may have seen) This attached garage currently is a disaster and will be torn down and rebuilt in the spring. It will be fully finished, drywall/insulation/insulated door etc.
The goal would be to keep the garage at a minimum of 55° year round. With the ability to get to maybe 75° in the winter if needed. It will mainly be used for car storage.
Im thinking I should do hot water baseboard heating like in the rest of the house. The current boiler(gas) is old and will get replaced in a year or so. A larger unit is needed anyway. At that point the garage zone would get tied in. It would have its own thermostat and all. From the boiler to where the new zone would be is maybe 10'-15' away only so not a big deal to plumb it in.

Electric baseboard heat seems like it would be too expensive to run throughout the cold seasons. A gas fired forced air unit in the garage is another option but i just don't feel like it fits what Im looking for.

Anyone have experience with a real heated garage?

Last edited by V; 01-28-2018 at 03:08 PM.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 03:54 PM   #2
Anti_Rice_Guy
The Mayor / 2009 Member of the Year / Moderator
 
Anti_Rice_Guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northwest
Posts: 8,866
iTrader: (1)
Social Networks:

Are you going natural gas when you replace boiler next year?
__________________
1995 Z28 Convertible A4 13.78 @ 100 (CAI, high flow cat, catback, 160 thermo, hypertech, Strano springs, Koni yellows, sway bars, 3 pt. UMI SFC)
2018 Sea Doo GTX - 3 cylinders and das boooooost
Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen View Post
Is English your 2nd language? Did you graduate high school? Your posts make my head hurt.
Team FARM
Anti_Rice_Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 04:17 PM   #3
Blackbirdws6
Lord of the rings / 10 Second Club / Meet Coordinator
 
Blackbirdws6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Millstone Township, NJ
Posts: 6,361
iTrader: (3)
If you have natural gas available, I'd recommend an overhead forced air heater. I have a unit pulled from a shop when they went for a more efficient unit. It's oversized but gets the garage comfortable in about 5 mins lol. I have it connected to a wireless thermostat so I can preheat and obviously set the minimum temp with ease.
__________________

97 T/A Ram Air Convt
Forever dyno queen / 777rwhp 662 rwtq @ 17lbs / 10.2 @ 140

'24 Corvette Z06
17 Sierra 2500HD Dmax
81 Turbo TA
Blackbirdws6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 04:17 PM   #4
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anti_Rice_Guy View Post
Are you going natural gas when you replace boiler next year?
Yes, it is currently, and will remain natural gas.
Current boiler is 40+ years old. No issues yet, but slightly undersized as it is(3 zones). Replacement would be mainly to avoid a pending failure.

I also thought about radiant floor heating since the whole slab will be getting poured new. So that's another viable option.

Last edited by V; 01-28-2018 at 04:19 PM.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 04:23 PM   #5
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6 View Post
If you have natural gas available, I'd recommend an overhead forced air heater. I have a unit pulled from a shop when they went for a more efficient unit. It's oversized but gets the garage comfortable in about 5 mins lol. I have it connected to a wireless thermostat so I can preheat and obviously set the minimum temp with ease.

I am not sure what the clearance specs are for those heaters. Finished height of the garage is still actually unknown pending architect/engineer drawings. Currently the garage door is 6.5' high but we will be trying to fit a standard 7' door. That means working with existing grade and allowing for a deck to be built on top of the garage and not too high so that the deck blocks existing low windows. So basically, The finished garage height could be as low as 7'. Dropping the slab below grade would allow for higher, but then we have to deal with french drains and sump pump which i'd like to avoid.

Last edited by V; 01-28-2018 at 04:23 PM.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 05:41 PM   #6
MDSheds_SS
11 sec club
 
MDSheds_SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Woodbridge
Posts: 834
iTrader: (1)
Social Networks:

If you go with a gas fired unit keep venting it in mind. Some of the newer units can be vented out the side of the garage, other out the roof in b-vent. (Double walled flue pipe) if a chimney isn’t close by. There’s many different makes and sizes (BTUs) available.

If your going with a new boiler and want to add a zone. Definitely add a pump not a zone valve and put in a hanging fan coil unit. Hot water unit heater. For the garage your going to want something with a fan, so when the door opens and closes it will get back to temp faster. Baseboard is nice but it will take a while to heat up after you open the door to pull a car in or out. Set it all up on a zone controller with priorities. Very cheap and easy to install.

Radiant flooring is nice, but mixing valves and material can get expensive.
Also can go with a ductless split system. Very efficient and work great heating and cooling. That size garage you would probably need a unit that takes 220v 20amp breaker.
__________________
99 Z28 Trick Flow 215s milled to 61cc 228/232 Cam Fast 102 built 4l65e trans 4000 converter 12 bolt 410s Electric WP deleted PS/AC Dyno & Track tuned
2015 ATS Coupe. AWD 2.0 Turbo
2012 2500hd Silverado with LTZ 20s on 35x12.5x20
86 Buick GN Lesabre 1 of 117 (4-Sale)

Last edited by MDSheds_SS; 01-28-2018 at 05:54 PM.
MDSheds_SS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 09:29 PM   #7
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Are one of those fan coil units ok to leave on 24/7? as in set with a thermostat.
During the winter, I may only go into the garage a handful of times, and almost never open up the garage door. There will be a 36" door on the side of the garage. I just want the ability to have the garage maintain a set temperature when it gets cold outside. The garage will be more of a showroom/storage type place for my 2 '88 Trans Am GTAs. One is a future project(long term) and the other randomly comes out for car shows only.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2018, 08:49 AM   #8
MDSheds_SS
11 sec club
 
MDSheds_SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Woodbridge
Posts: 834
iTrader: (1)
Social Networks:

You can hook them up to a regular thermostat, which will control the pump. The fan is controlled by a pipe temp bulb, once the pipe is warm enough it turns the fan on. And shuts off after it hits set point. You can set that pipe temp low if you want the fan to run all the time, or wire it hot and just cycle the pump on and off. I’ve seen it done both ways.
__________________
99 Z28 Trick Flow 215s milled to 61cc 228/232 Cam Fast 102 built 4l65e trans 4000 converter 12 bolt 410s Electric WP deleted PS/AC Dyno & Track tuned
2015 ATS Coupe. AWD 2.0 Turbo
2012 2500hd Silverado with LTZ 20s on 35x12.5x20
86 Buick GN Lesabre 1 of 117 (4-Sale)
MDSheds_SS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2018, 12:18 PM   #9
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Ok. I'll definitely look into that and talk to my hvac/plumbing guys. But it would be a constantly on type of deal to maintain a 60° or so temp during winter. Summer temp i don't care about since ill have 3 windows to throw an ac unit in if i really need it.
The garage currently leaks water and is crumbling. Not a true "attached" garage but built against the house. The rebuilt garage will be similar but sealed up and well insulated.

In my other garage, i use a small propane heater to get it up to temp when i need to work in there, plus it stays 50°+ as it is anyway. That garage is about 20x35 and 9.5' ceiling.

Last edited by V; 01-29-2018 at 12:20 PM.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2018, 12:51 PM   #10
MDSheds_SS
11 sec club
 
MDSheds_SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Woodbridge
Posts: 834
iTrader: (1)
Social Networks:

HVAC is my 7-3 gig, so if you have any other questions I will answer as best as I can, however I feel like all HVAC guys love to tell you the next guy is doing it wrong and there way is better. So pick an choose what you like. I go with simple and reliable.
__________________
99 Z28 Trick Flow 215s milled to 61cc 228/232 Cam Fast 102 built 4l65e trans 4000 converter 12 bolt 410s Electric WP deleted PS/AC Dyno & Track tuned
2015 ATS Coupe. AWD 2.0 Turbo
2012 2500hd Silverado with LTZ 20s on 35x12.5x20
86 Buick GN Lesabre 1 of 117 (4-Sale)
MDSheds_SS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2018, 05:26 AM   #11
3.4 grape of wrath
 
3.4 grape of wrath's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Howell,NJ
Posts: 537
iTrader: (2)
Quote:
Originally Posted by MDSheds_SS View Post
HVAC is my 7-3 gig, so if you have any other questions I will answer as best as I can, however I feel like all HVAC guys love to tell you the next guy is doing it wrong and there way is better. So pick an choose what you like. I go with simple and reliable.
Just drop the HVAC part and you got it right.
__________________
94 CAMARO
TURBO 3.5 LITER
12.573 @ 107.29 1/4 MILE
8.021 @ 86.38 1/8 MILE
BEST 60' 1.781
3.4 grape of wrath is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2018, 10:12 AM   #12
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
iTrader: (12)
Well, I work for an electrician(about a year now doing it professionally, I ran and wired my first 220v 14 years ago, and done numerous electrical jobs between then and now) and the things that I've seen that previous "licensed" guys have done is amazing. Many times a previous guy truly did not do something right, and either they didn't know or didn't care. Usually its not caring. When I did the 220 line, I downloaded the current NEC code manual at the time and read for a few days before I even bought any materials. I even recently worked with a guy who claimed 11 years experience but several times I called him out of stuff he did wrong(ie. bonding a neutral in a junction box to fix an open ground). He didn't like that. Towards the end, we were getting callbacks on 90% of the jobs he went out on. Needless to say though, he no longer works with us.

With the garage rebuild, I will be doing the electrical mostly myself and I'll personally know just about all the trades working on the job due to working with them in the field previously. So I do kinda trust what they say.

With the coil fan unit, it seems like it could be done after the garage is completed. That was/is my main concern. If stuff needs to be done prior to pouring the slab or closing up walls, I want to prepare for it. Sticking a copper pipe or two through the wall at a later date is no big deal. The basement with boiler etc, is on the other side of the wall.

Last edited by V; 01-31-2018 at 10:13 AM.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2018, 10:21 AM   #13
LTb1ow
Mongo the Meet Coordinator
 
LTb1ow's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 16,900
iTrader: (8)
I plan on tossing an overhead 220v electric unit in my garage at some point. With a simple oil electric space heater I can maintain the temp decently in there.

Biggest improvement for mine, insulate the crap out of the walls, and ceiling, then seal it up well with sheet rock. That in itself cut down the wind chill immensely, and also stabilizes the temps.

That being said, my garage can be toasty, but the concrete slab is always frozen. If you can swing the in ground heat, do it.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by KirkEvil View Post
repo bigals turd gen and part it out to a loving home
LTb1ow is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

  NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > Restorations, Fabrication, Tool and Shop Tech


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Sponsor List














All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.