Gas space heaters?
- Thread starter Scrums
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Hi Chris
If it is a fixed output model I'd consider a rethink- if possible go for a variable output one where you can turn the output up and down. The reason is that having to constantly turn the heater on and off instead of adjusting the output up and down is a royal PIA. Be careful where you site it - if it manages suck in any combustable dust, vapours, etc it will rapidly turn into a flame thrower. Lastly these beasties generate a lot of extra water vapour, so be prepared for cold ceiling spots such as stone joists, steel RSJs, etc to turn into "drip spots" as the water vapour generated by the heater condenses back into water - beneath those is not a good place to leave work in progress.
BTW what is your floor area/height to eaves? Is the heater going to be big enough?
Scrit
If it is a fixed output model I'd consider a rethink- if possible go for a variable output one where you can turn the output up and down. The reason is that having to constantly turn the heater on and off instead of adjusting the output up and down is a royal PIA. Be careful where you site it - if it manages suck in any combustable dust, vapours, etc it will rapidly turn into a flame thrower. Lastly these beasties generate a lot of extra water vapour, so be prepared for cold ceiling spots such as stone joists, steel RSJs, etc to turn into "drip spots" as the water vapour generated by the heater condenses back into water - beneath those is not a good place to leave work in progress.
BTW what is your floor area/height to eaves? Is the heater going to be big enough?
Scrit
Hmmm....well it's only going to be on for a few hours a day. Was a bit worried about the naked flame - hadn't considered that for the fan to push air out, it had to suck it in, together with anything else that's floating around!
Total cubic footage is about 10000 - on the hotspot stove site it seems to say that requires 15kw - which is 51000 btu as far as I can make out.
this is the one I was thinking of:
http://www.northerntooluk.com/products. ... o=1461151E
....doesn't look like it's adjustable though.
Maybe this, then - but it looks like full power or 2/3rds power only - not very adjustable.
http://www.worldofpower.co.uk/acatalog/ ... cials.html
Total cubic footage is about 10000 - on the hotspot stove site it seems to say that requires 15kw - which is 51000 btu as far as I can make out.
this is the one I was thinking of:
http://www.northerntooluk.com/products. ... o=1461151E
....doesn't look like it's adjustable though.
Maybe this, then - but it looks like full power or 2/3rds power only - not very adjustable.
http://www.worldofpower.co.uk/acatalog/ ... cials.html
andycktm
Established Member
Hi scrums,
i've got a 35,000 btu in a single garage 20'x12' it's quick heat in a local area maybe 8'square 1/2 hour at a time(1/2 on 1/2 off) is enough.But with the quick temperature change it causes condensation on cold solid objects (eg cast iron :shock: ).How much of this is down to water in the propane? and warm air hitting cold objects i don't know.Hence half an hour is a compromise,but still i could'nt go in the garage without it.(It's warmish after half an hour and condensate free ).
It's also got a nice internal flame which if it had a longer lead i could burn all the shavings off the floor :lol: ONLY KIDDING :wink:
i've got a 35,000 btu in a single garage 20'x12' it's quick heat in a local area maybe 8'square 1/2 hour at a time(1/2 on 1/2 off) is enough.But with the quick temperature change it causes condensation on cold solid objects (eg cast iron :shock: ).How much of this is down to water in the propane? and warm air hitting cold objects i don't know.Hence half an hour is a compromise,but still i could'nt go in the garage without it.(It's warmish after half an hour and condensate free ).
It's also got a nice internal flame which if it had a longer lead i could burn all the shavings off the floor :lol: ONLY KIDDING :wink:
Have you thought instead about having a couple of smaller radiant type wall heaters? At least with those you don't have to worry about them turning into blow torches.
The thing about controllability is that a 51,000 BTu/hr unit should warm up your place well on a cold day, but it all depends on how quickly your unit returns to ambient temperature. I used to inhabit a northern lights unit where the temperature could drop by 6 to 8 degrees (Celsius) in about 30 to 40 minutes. My initial heaters were adequate, although without variable regulators, so I'd find myself turning them on and off five or six times a day some days. Also the downside to gas heaters like these is that the heaters need to go off before you start spraying - just when you need to put heat in to supply warmed make-up air :roll:
Scrit
The thing about controllability is that a 51,000 BTu/hr unit should warm up your place well on a cold day, but it all depends on how quickly your unit returns to ambient temperature. I used to inhabit a northern lights unit where the temperature could drop by 6 to 8 degrees (Celsius) in about 30 to 40 minutes. My initial heaters were adequate, although without variable regulators, so I'd find myself turning them on and off five or six times a day some days. Also the downside to gas heaters like these is that the heaters need to go off before you start spraying - just when you need to put heat in to supply warmed make-up air :roll:
Scrit
RobertMP
Established Member
We used propane blow heaters for heating the factory. A 145000 btu heater was enough for a 3000 sq ft workshop. With a 20ft roof height though ceiling fans to bring the hot air back down were essential. heat rises and you get hot air at roof level and cold feet.
Once we installed a paint shop the propane heaters were very unpopular. The fumes from the paintshop passed through a flame become very irritant and the guys would rather be cold than sore.
We had 'easyheat' models from clarks and they came with variable regulators. They went from barely warm to quite scary. Prolonged use at high output freezes the bottle so we had a T unit to run it from 2 bottles. Used to get through about 4 47kg bottles a week in cold weather on that one heater and there were 3 heaters in use! Bottles were about £28 each then (but I could be wrong as I didn't do the ordering).
My little home workshop (single garage) I heat with a butane bottle heater. I always have a fan blowing over where the heat rises and the result is even heating. I insulated the roof and walls so the lowest setting is enough and it has lasted for ages
Once we installed a paint shop the propane heaters were very unpopular. The fumes from the paintshop passed through a flame become very irritant and the guys would rather be cold than sore.
We had 'easyheat' models from clarks and they came with variable regulators. They went from barely warm to quite scary. Prolonged use at high output freezes the bottle so we had a T unit to run it from 2 bottles. Used to get through about 4 47kg bottles a week in cold weather on that one heater and there were 3 heaters in use! Bottles were about £28 each then (but I could be wrong as I didn't do the ordering).
My little home workshop (single garage) I heat with a butane bottle heater. I always have a fan blowing over where the heat rises and the result is even heating. I insulated the roof and walls so the lowest setting is enough and it has lasted for ages
paulm
IG paulm_outdoors
Hi Chris,
I use an oil filled rad for background heat and an electric fan heater for topping up as required.
Together with a bit of insulation is more than adequate even in the coldest weather and a large workshop.
Also very importantly, safe and no condesation, both major considerations in my view.
Cheers, Paul.
I use an oil filled rad for background heat and an electric fan heater for topping up as required.
Together with a bit of insulation is more than adequate even in the coldest weather and a large workshop.
Also very importantly, safe and no condesation, both major considerations in my view.
Cheers, Paul.
The downside of non-vented space heaters occurs once the space cools down. High relative humidity turns to cold and clammy - with loads of condensate, and any timber store will also draw in some of that moisture. Better to go for an electric heater or some form of flued heater, and insulate every surface you can as best you can.
Thanks for the tips guys, shelved the Gas space heater now on the grounds:
a) Condensation b) Naked flame c) Cost, even a small 15kw one would have drunk approx 1kg of gas/hr, which equates to £1/hr at least.
Have ordered an industrial 3kw fan heater - slightly cheaper initial outlay, running costs about 36p/hour on full blast obviously won't heat the whole place, but enough warmth to allow me to work would be good.
Chris.
a) Condensation b) Naked flame c) Cost, even a small 15kw one would have drunk approx 1kg of gas/hr, which equates to £1/hr at least.
Have ordered an industrial 3kw fan heater - slightly cheaper initial outlay, running costs about 36p/hour on full blast obviously won't heat the whole place, but enough warmth to allow me to work would be good.
Chris.
