Hot Dawgs.....

kevin

Just came from a home where the HO has a garage that she uses as an art studio. She had a Modine hot dawg heater (Gas fired) put in and realized that in her work she uses a lot of paint thinner, solvents, etc. and started to wonder if there is a flash fire danger here... asked me to look at it and give her my opinion. I dont see an open flame, but I realize it has to get combustion air from somewhere...does she need a seperate ventilation system to suck out the fumes? tia... kpc

keith

factory sealed combustion

would be the way to go. Probably would not want the association with anything modified from its original factory spec. or use group.

Cosmo

Technically,

The flammable cans have to be stored in a ul approved cabinet that is sealed, and vented to outside. I think Modine might have a sealed combustion model, I installed a Reznor heater that was sealed, but that was a 200,000btu model. Why not try to upsell to some hot water baseboard, heated by a dedicated water heater? You can always add a towel warmer in the bathroom...

Cas

kevin

i would not...

modify anything at all with the heater it self. I am just wondering if there is a fire danger w/ the heater as she is using the solvents while cleaning brushes and painting on canvas.I could not see an open flame inside the unit as it was running from my vantage point.I would like an opinion from someone who has worked w/ them because I have not.I would be bummed if something happened of the flash fire nature. kpc PS this unit has already been installed by someone other than myself.

kevin

the garage..

is not that big, detached from the house, no bathroom...otherwise yeah I would try to have them break up the floor and put in radiant...she is just an art student.

Cosmo

I can't find a model

Small enough for a garage, besides from what you say she probably couldn't afford new equipment. I don't know what to say, I would'nt want to be the one to say it should be alright. I don't know if you have any hydronics available on the job, but I have a hydronic fan/coil I got cheap (dented) from my supplier, I use it to heat my garage (pex w/ quick-connect fittings so I can take it down in summer). An exhaust fan, w/ intake located near hot dawg might also help, but then you are taking on liabilities if something happens.... That's all I got Kevin, but I'm sure you already thought of all that...sorry if I could'nt help.

Cas

kevin

Thanks for...

your input Cas...kpc

Floyd

do a search in Grainger for

separted combustion.....
they have a number of unit heaters that are sealed.
the smallest is 100,000
that may be too big.
there also are a number of furance companies that make a direct vent
40,000 furnace, I would think that that would work also.

Floyd

Gary Fereday

Modine's \"Hot Dawg\"

On their web sight shows it mounted high up near the cieling of a garage. Volital petroleum fumes are usually heavier than air. Hence the "up high" mounting. If there is a concern by the H/O she may be better off to install a small exhust fan near the floor, and use it when cleaning brushes. She could also get her local fire Dept. to pass judgement upon her garage. To CYA the fire dept. has the last word! anyway,bigugh

Brian (Tankless) Wood

This may be

an option, Kevin.

Three wall mounted models, 5,600-8,400 & 14,000btu.

Sealed comb, direct vent, and the heaters come supplied with mounting brackets and special flue.

No electricity needed.

Let me know if I can help.

Cheers, Brian.

tombig

Unit Heaters

Armstrong Air (Bellevue, Ohio) makes a cute little (12" tall) power vented unit heater 30&40 input but it's not sealed combustion. They also make an 80% furnace with a sealed combustion chamber and PVC intake. Sealed combustion will prevent fire/etc.. but a caustic environment will corrode the heat exchanger in a few years from the air side anyway. Good luck, Tombig

Steve Ebels

The Hot Dawg

Is not sealed in any way shape or form. It's just a power vented unit heater with a hot surface ignitor in it. They draw all combustion air from the room they are hung in.

kevin

Yes...

I realize this....is there a real flash fire danger as someone would be using paint thinner or mineral spirits in a 20 x20 room as this was firing to heat in the winter? kpc

Steve Ebels

Concentrations

Would have to be right for it to happen but it's a chance I wouldn't take in my own home without some precautions. Ventilation would be the key word here. Just a combustion air inlet and a very small exhaust fan (think on the order of a 30 to 50 cfm bath fan) to keep the levels from building up would probably do it.

kevin

thank you...


that's what I needed to hear.