Natural gas heaters are a great heat sources for warming garages and take up very little space.
The single gas heaters can warm up to 550 square feet or 2 car garage. They offer clean and efficient source of heat. They are compact, lightweight and space saving units. They are ceiling or wall mounted with thermostat or manual control.
They can operate even during power failures. They are easy to install devices. Most of them do require ventilation or a chimney. They come in models of 25,000 BTU/hour to 40,000 BTU/hour. They get fuel from the natural line of gas at home like LP.
They come in two types: forced air and the infrared ray. Forced air models use blue flame to warm the garage. It is similar to blowing air like a conventional furnace. The downside of this is they stir up sawdust. It usually takes longer to reheat these models. It requires 45,000 BTU to heat a two to 2 1/2 car garage, and 60,000 for a three car garage.
It can be installed in the corner, near a gas line and an electrical outlet (needed to power the blower). They are less expensive compared to infrared models.
On the other hand, infrared ray models warm the floor and objects first before heating air. The objects heat the air. These are low intensity infrared heaters. It can heat a two to 2 1/2 car garage with 30,000 BTU, and for a three car garage, 50,000 BTU is suggested.
Infrared heaters should be installed a minimum of 7 ft. above the floor. It should also hang down a minimum of 4 in. from the ceiling. Infrared models are more expensive than forced air types.
Advantages of Natural Gas Garage Heaters
•They are self contained heat producers and need no boiler.
•There is abundant fuel supply.
•There is no need for electricity supply.
Disadvantages of Natural Gas Heaters
•When using propane gas or natural gas, it gives off a byproduct from the fossil fuels.
•It is risky if it is a DIY installation wherein a chance of gas leak is there.
•These heaters are not portable. They remain where they are installed.
•The effect of the natural gas price instability
Hot water heaters
They are also known as steam unit heaters. They transfer heat from the hot water to the air. It is more efficient when it is forced by a fan. The hot water flows thru a radiator coil blown by the fan. Heat is absorbed by the air and warms the temperature.
They come in two models: the vertical and horizontal type. Vertical units placed in the ceiling blows warm air down space. They are usually used in larger spaces. Horizontal units are placed along walls and blow air. They are usually used in smaller spaces like garages.
Benefits of fan forced hot water unit heaters in garages or workshops:
•There are no odors and no byproducts of combustion.
•Easy to maintain.
•Horizontal units have adjustable louvers to help direct warm air
•Durable with corrosion resistant paints
•Compact and lightweight for simple installation.
•The fan is an air circulator during summer.
Drawbacks of fan forced hot water unit heaters in garages:
•If there's failure, water can freeze in the garage.
•A home boiler system is mandatory.
•Hot water piping is required to make water flow from boiler to heater.
•More complex controls because of heater and boiler
•Fan forced units move large volumes of air which can kick up dust.
For more information on garage heaters please visit our website http://www.garage-heaters.net/
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