Another heating thread ...is it getting cold? Over the summer we converted our double garage to a workshop for the business. It's time to think about heating. DO you guys have any suggestions or advice? We've been toying with the idea of the infra red heating but welcome any advice at all. Like I say, it's double garage sized, two of us work in there. There are 4 work stations ...2 sewing tables and 2 cutting tables. I guess a good balance between running costs and efficiency is what we are looking for. Many thanks in advance!!
This is what we've been looking at... http://www.qvsdirect.com/HLX-1.5kW-Electric-Infrared-Heater-C-w-Quartz-Lamps-Brackets-pr-16682.html
Before you start to think about heating you should turn your attention to insulation, you can not have too much insulation ,walls , floor andf especialy the roof/cieling. electric heaters era cheap to buy and install , but electricaty costs about 12p per KW hour. A gas fierd heating system may cost a couple of grand to install ,but will cost about 5p per KW hour to run, and you have the choice of radiators or underfloor heating.
We've raised the floor, all insulated, so got a wooden floor. The walls are next, plasterboard and celotex. One of the wall is connected to the house with a door to the house, so connecting to the house central heating may be an option ...don't know what the boiler will think of that lol!! We have blocked and insulated one garage door but want to leave one accessible ...will seal it up during the winter temporarily though. So you think that heater may be a winner? K+ for helping out
How about a wood bruner. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOODBURNER-PATIO-GARAGE-WORKSHOP-HEATER-MULTI-FUEL-/300790801813?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item4608876595&_uhb=1#ht_1194wt_1346
I think after i posted of the smoke smell on your jobs so it might not of been that good a idea but the house one should help.
You should be able to create a seperate zone for heating your workshop using your existing heating system, that way you can heat the workshop with or without the heating being on in the house. A good plumber will work out the heating requirements for your workshop. and then he can tell if you have the spare capacity to add the extra rads. Linking into the existing system maybe straight forward or it may mean tearing the house apart to get to the pipework . you can look up a -gas safe- registerd heating enginer on tha Gas safe website.
I use a gas hot air, looks like a jet engine, bit noisy though, a friend of mine has an old engine oil heater, burns the oil in a tray on the bottom, not instant heat, but takes the curse off, and gets rid of old engine oil at the same time
yep, waste oil burner, will also burn heating oil, diesel etc. any local garage would give you waste oil. if its for a business you may have to register it with the local council but its been a few years since i looked in to it
Don't use the infra red heaters. Very expensive to run and only direct heat. Warm under the heater but nowhere else. You want a gas space heater, these things are relatively cheap to run and warm the place up fast: http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/1702973046155805483?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&q=propane%20space%20heater&biw=320&bih=416&sa=X&ei=TUB5UJrQOqq80QWqm4HwCQ&ved=0CGUQ8wIwAw#hsecverview
Gas space heaters are ok, but they do release a lot of moisture into the air. If your materials or work are affected by moisture don't use one. They do also release C02 and C0 into the room, this is not usually a problem in a draughty garage or workshop, but may be an issue if you have created yourself a sealed room within your garage. Your best option is to take off your existing CH system. If this is not an option and your insulation is good, go for electric heating. The temporary blocking of the garage door that you want to use is essential. I have done this before with a lightweight frame filled with cellotex, easy to move if you make it in 2 sections.
i worked for a major haulage contractor in Dorset , no names but his yard was a walk away from Blanford Forum , refused to supply anything inc. any form of w/shop heating, said "everytime you open doore to bring in/ remove a truck all the heat i would have paid for goes out the door " but then , the pits were full of water , 240 volt leccy was used,and if you asked for a "manufacturers tool" for a specific job detail , you were told to fabricate it , >wimp that i am , i packed that job up after a couple of month.
Yeh get it insulated well , and heat blanket the doors exits etc, thats where most heat goes and cold comes in.Have a look at possibly putting a warm air system in ,its expensive but you can tailor it to your needs ie keeping certain areas warmer and workers happy. And you will only need one unit ,with poss a recirc system.
