Garage heater

[Gumby]

If we only still had our pool up, that would of been a good idea. tried heating it once using the filter to pump the water through a car rad over a fire, bad wood or something as it just clogged the fins with smoke resin of sorts aka didn't work long.

[JellyBeanDriver]

Originally Posted by 72 K20

That's why I think I would run an LP water heater.

Agreed. Electric is 'more efficient' (nearly 100% of the energy is converted to heat) however the price of electricity is not cheap. Not out here anyways (calif)

We had neighbors that replaced their nat. gas water heater with an electric only to replace it again with gas after their electric bill came 30 days later.

[JellyBeanDriver]

Originally Posted by Gumby

If we only still had our pool up, that would of been a good idea. tried heating it once using the filter to pump the water through a car rad over a fire, bad wood or something as it just clogged the fins with smoke resin of sorts aka didn't work long.

There's other 'designs' out there for wood fired water heaters (coil of copper in the fire pit - makes sure the water pump keeps running).

For our Softub (hot tub with no real heater) I use this portable propane water heaterWorks very well. Going to set this up for the horse trailer too for showers on the road.

[Scott>72-GMC]

I'm thinking of using this idea but maybe just large coil of copper tubing instead of radiator. Still work the same?
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[bcj67chevy]

It would work, but the more surface contact area the better. Plus a used radiator you could get cheap. Either way let us know how it works.
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[bcj67chevy]

We sure have a lot of iowa members on this post. Not that iowa isnt the best or anything.
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[Scott>72-GMC]

Well I need a garage door first no sence heating an open space lol
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[PanelDeland]

CAUTION!!! if you use a gas water heater,there is either a pilot light or a spark ignitor.If you are using it in a garage,keep the fuel out. A spilled gas can or small fuel leak could rapidly become a full fledged fire.

[Scott>72-GMC]

Very true^
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[terry b]

Not so the new water heaters have a vapor screen that keeps it explosion proof. Code says you keep the bottom of the water heater at least eighteen inches above the garage floor. this is a federal code for all fifty states. The water heaters were changed because in the warmer states the water heaters are in a closet in garage.

[bobs409]

Originally Posted by Gumby

I just stuff rags in the cracks of the garage door so its nice and air tight and just run the car for a while. Gets nice and toasty but makes me sleepy.

[terry b]

Ya but at least you turn a nice shade of red.

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

CAUTION!!! if you use a gas water heater,there is either a pilot light or a spark ignitor.If you are using it in a garage,keep the fuel out. A spilled gas can or small fuel leak could rapidly become a full fledged fire.

I had a nice wood stove for my garage but this^ is all i could think about and i sold it
nobody ever intenionally spills gas on the floor it just happens sometimes and those fumes they will travel across the floor and whooof! fried grease monkey

around her alot of guys have the moblie home furnaces in there garages. I gotta find one someday

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by JellyBeanDriver

A bit confused.
Electricity heats water, pump pumps water through radiator, blower blows through radiator.

The heat is generated by electricity but instead of directly heating air, you're heating water instead first.

Doesn't seem efficient, nor direct. It works, and the cost was low, but are there no electric heaters that heat the air for about the same price?

Okay, not 220V ones, but a few 1500W 110V units should do the job too. I'd think it would be a bit less expensive to run too without the water pump, nor the need to raise the temp of the 40 gallons of water up first.

I would think the radiator system would have far more advantages...clean, and dust-free, plus, when the room's up to temp, the heater would still retain heat better vs the fan-forced electric that would have to start all over when the door gets opened.

BTW-a good source for free or nearly free squirrel cages is the oil and gas furnace installation companies. Often old furnaces are pulled and given to the scrap man. Most of those guys are quite happy to get above scrap value.



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[donut]

Clever. Similar in principle to hot water baseboard.

My father had an attached single bay garage. Inside, the PO of the house, had installed an enclosed radiator from a school and tied it in to the hot water baseboard system of the house. 2 valves to isolate the rad and a drain valve on it, so it could be drained and not freeze up. For quicker warm up, a small fan blowing through the radiator.

He used it for his woodworking, kinda nice to walk into a 50-60 degree shop when it's snowing outside. If need be, stuff could be moved and he could still get a car in there.