Garage Heater Recommendations

[1964FarmFreshC10]

I've been working on my new 64 C10 since i got it a few weeks ago trying to get it ready so i can at least enjoy it with my boys this summer and damn its been COLD in the garage.

For context I live about an hour north of Toronto so as you can image it gets a bit chilly over the winter. I am hoping to do work cleaning and painting the frame and upgrading the suspention next winter so will definitly need some type of heater both to keep me from dying and to let paint dry properly.

Can anyone recommend a good/safe heater for a standard 2 car garage with no insulated doors? I've seen some interestign 120v electric heaters at some car shows recently but they are pricey.

[Dead Parrot]

Insulate first, then worry about a heater. And not just the doors. A lot of garages, even fully attached ones, were often built with little to no insulation.

Unless Canadian standards are way different the US standards, a 120V electric heater won't make much of a difference. Most are limited to a max of 5000BTU. By comparison, I have a 17,000 BTU electric in my shop(240V). My shop is about two cars wide and fairly well insulated. Plus the single car door is also insulated. It takes that heater a couple of hours to get the shop to heavy coat not needed levels when the outside temps are 20~30F outside.

Probably best to leave painting until warm season. Indoor painting needs a lot of fresh air to keep you safe and that brings a lot of cold air into your warm shop. Even a small rattle can paint session for 3D printed things can leave my shop smelling bad for a long time unless the door is open. I normally wait until the outside temps are above the minimum temp on the paint can then open the doors before painting.

[1964FarmFreshC10]

Thanks all good points!

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Insulate first, then worry about a heater. And not just the doors. A lot of garages, even fully attached ones, were often built with little to no insulation.

Unless Canadian standards are way different the US standards, a 120V electric heater won't make much of a difference. Most are limited to a max of 5000BTU. By comparison, I have a 17,000 BTU electric in my shop(240V). My shop is about two cars wide and fairly well insulated. Plus the single car door is also insulated. It takes that heater a couple of hours to get the shop to heavy coat not needed levels when the outside temps are 20~30F outside.

Probably best to leave painting until warm season. Indoor painting needs a lot of fresh air to keep you safe and that brings a lot of cold air into your warm shop. Even a small rattle can paint session for 3D printed things can leave my shop smelling bad for a long time unless the door is open. I normally wait until the outside temps are above the minimum temp on the paint can then open the doors before painting.

[Shortnwide4x4]

For a 2 car garage the only thing other than an actual furnace would be the biggest diesel heater you could buy. Amazon sells some fairly decent ones that wont break the bank. I bought one this year and used it on the coldest days of the winter we had ( 1 hour south of T.O. ) it takes the bite out of the air, but dont expect to work without a coat at -20. lol

[4u2nv]

You are not that far from me and I know what it's like to try and get anything done in the cold garage
You got natural gas running to the house ?
There is really no way of making it cheap to get some decent heat and like they say insulate the doors and whatever first or your pissing away your heat.
I ended up installing a hanging propane furnace in my 24x24 and it does the job

[Rickysnickers]

I have something similar to this. I don't think you would want or need one this large though, for the size of your garage.

https://protemp.us/products/product-...ed-air-heater/

[LS short box]

My shop work area is 20x30 feet. 2x6 walls fully insulated. Blow in insulation in the ceiling. Insulated overhead door.
I have propane hanging heater. Modine 60K btu. Bought it in 2007 and it has been flawless. Runs off a 320 gallon propane tank separate from the house propane tank.
Prior to that I had a electric hanging heater. It was ok but I find the Modine does a much better job.

[scottofksu]

I keep my 3 car, high ceiling Nebraska garage at around 60 all winter long with a cheap diesel heater from Amazon. I cut a small hole to the outside for a boat passthrough for the exhaust and supply the heater about a gallon of diesel every couple days. I have tried electric and propane as well but have found diesel to be the cheapest, most effective solution I have tried.

[grumpyolddog]

I am working on my small shop, 18x22. it's 400 square feet I am going with a mini split we had a heat pump installed in the house in 2023, it works very well. Heat in the winter and a/c in the summer. The one I am looking at is $800.00 on amazon,9100 btu I am two hours west of Toronto.

[c30]

I remember running a kerosene torpedo heater in a barn shop many years ago.
Those things will kill you in an enclosed space and I never want to smell that smell again.
What I've done since is to use a regular updraft furnace. Typically, just sitting on the floor with a filter on the return. Put a plenum on top of it so you can divert the supply air to wherever you need it. Vent it properly.
Natural gas or propane. Mount a thermostat wherever.
I have a friend in the hvac business. He often changes out furnaces that are older. Usually, he just scraps them.
Find a used 50 to 60000 btu furnace for free or cheap. The older ones have less BS in the control system and are more reliable.
It's 65 degrees in my garage right now and 25 degrees outside. I'm good.
Mine has electronic spark ignition, no pilot light.
Just remember to warm up the shop real good and turn off the furnace if you are doing any spray painting.