What Type of Heat for Workshop?

Joe Brix

would be those ceiling mounted infra-red radiant tube heaters. I think nat gas and propane are your only options on these in the US. Checkout:
www.reverberray.com

David_23

What type of heat for workshop

I built a 1000 sf workshop in an uninsulated barn with drafty single pane windows. In the winter temps go below zero at night and single digits during the day. Windy too. I can make the place bearable using a 120,000 BTU kerosene "salamander" type heater, but that is loud, does not heat the space evenly and constantly needs to be refilled. I want to put in a "proper" heating system. I only use the place a couple of hours per day, so I need something that will heat up the space quickly. Currently I have no propane tank because the house furnace is oil. I would appreciate suggestions as to what type of heating to consider for this workshop. Thanks in advance.

THP_6

Insulation

Insulation this year will be cheaper than gas or oil. For quick heatup and leave set up. The simplest thing would be a unit heater type set-up.

B. Tice

shop

We use mobile home furnaces for workshops. On a cottage base. Sealed combustion, easy venting too.

Dirk Wright

Yeah, any point source @ 120,000 BTU/hr is going to produce uneven heat. You can make it more even by adding insulation. BTU output that high requires a real furnace or boiler of some kind with a distribution system. I think radiant heating would be best, with multiple sources, assuming the ceiling is high or non-existant.

Tundra

I agree with THP. Work on the envelope first. I have tried pushing heat into a shop like that myself. I also only used it a few hours a week. It was an expensive way to go.

David_23

Thanks everyone for the input. I have been avoiding insulating because I like the way the walls look inside the old barn! Also I already have tools and stuff hanging from the walls...

kevin coppinger_4

my only concern,,,,,

with the IR heaters is if it will be used as a wood workshop the ingnition hazard around with sawdust accumillation....that would be bad. I guess you have to choose looks or comfort....kpc

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thp_7

right on

That was a trip. Must have hit the wrong button. Direct vent unit would be nice. Also having the fan come on quick to keep the heat exchanger cool to avoid a dust explosion. I think that is what I said before the malfuction.

Christian Egli

The idea we’re all thinking of, but no one says out loud

A nice set of hot steam radiators. They come on very quick and very hot for lots of heat delivery in the form of radiation. You come in your shop, flick the light on, flick the steam on, and you’re in business. Too hot already? Just turn it off. The condensate returns to the boiler, and as long as the boiler does not freeze your piping is safe.

Your place is drafty, so any hot air scheme won’t do as you’ve proved yourself with the salamander torpedo burner. To heat with kerosene you’d be much better off with a wick type kerosene burner. The ones Koreans and Japanese use a lot for home heating. Kerosun is one brand.

As stated by Kevin and thp, gas radiant tubes are dangerous. For radiant gas heat, I was once explained at a show that the ceramic radiant burners are not so much a fire hazard, and there are wood working shop models that have a screen to further promote safety. The screen works like the cages at the zoo that keep the ferocious animals away from the public. Just don’t poke you’re fingers through… I don’t really know how safe built-in radiant burners are in a combustible dust environment.

Maybe you could just use portable radiant gas burners. Stow them away for the summer and keep them clean of dust.

One ideal way to heat a shop is through radiant floors. It’s safe, very efficient in a drafty situation. It’s got one drawback for you, it’s not all that quick for partial occupancy schedules.

Lastly, you’ve certainly got plenty wood waste to burn, why not install a wood stove? It would suit your work time. A stove, like a steam radiator, comes on very quick and emits lots of radiation, plus, like a steam radiator, it adds charm.

Just thinking out loud.