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Workshop heater...
Dave Bailey - 29/12/14 at 05:44 PM

Well I'm now ready to take the engine out to sort out the oil leak. Problem is that the garage is so bloody cold... Had a quick look in machine mart today but so much choice... So looking for some advice on electric or butane heater and info on how to get hold of a VAT free voucher.....


Thanks
Dave B

r1_pete - 29/12/14 at 06:07 PM

I bought a 2KW Stanley fan heater from Screwfix, it takes the chill off, but you couldn't say it blasts the heat out.

Butane/Propane create lots of condensation, with most of us working a lot with clean bare steel, rust will form very quickly.

BenB - 29/12/14 at 06:17 PM

I'd go electric purely because with propane / butane you need to ensure lots of ventilation to avoid CO poisoning and leaving the doors open when you're trying to stay warm is slightly counter-intuitive. I suppose an electric CO meter (with PPM dial) might allow slightly less ventilation but the water vapour would still be a problem..... I've always just gone for Dickies thermal boiler suits and a hat... Ambient temps aren't so important unless you're painting...

Dave Bailey - 29/12/14 at 06:19 PM

Hadn't thought about the thermal option.....

Dave Bailey - 29/12/14 at 06:20 PM

I'm think a Honeywell 3kw electric is going to be the way to go....

Just need to get a machine mart vat free ticket for tomorrow....

Dave B

davidimurray - 29/12/14 at 06:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
I bought a 2KW Stanley fan heater from Screwfix, it takes the chill off, but you couldn't say it blasts the heat out.

Butane/Propane create lots of condensation, with most of us working a lot with clean bare steel, rust will form very quickly.


I bought the same one. Took the garage from 0 to 7 degrees in 2 hours, but then the car/bike/mill/lathe must absorb some of that heat. It doesn't blow hot air - it's more of an air warmer - but on the plus side that makes it great for painting.

pmc_3 - 29/12/14 at 06:28 PM

I've just had the vat free email with code, if you want to order it online I'll u2u the code to you. Pete

Dave Bailey - 29/12/14 at 06:33 PM

Thanks for the offer Pete.... Very much appreciated.... I will trawl the various options on the website and send you a u2u if I finalise my selection....

Once again many thanks....

carlknight1982 - 29/12/14 at 08:16 PM

I have 2 2.5kw panel heaters they work great but man do I know there on when I get the bill

theduck - 29/12/14 at 08:24 PM

I'd be looking at the infrared heaters like they use outside pubs

stevem427 - 29/12/14 at 08:39 PM

Sorry to hijack the thread. But can anyone tell me when using a propane heater, why does it create so much condensation. And what would help to reduce it. Cheers Steve.

ste - 29/12/14 at 10:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevem427
Sorry to hijack the thread. But can anyone tell me when using a propane heater, why does it create so much condensation. And what would help to reduce it. Cheers Steve.


Burning hydrocarbons will nearly always produce water.

propane is C3H8 + oxygen (air) 5,O2 = HEAT + (carbon dioxide) 3,CO2 + (water)4,H2O

if the flame is orange not blue, the orange of a flame is glowing carbon where it hasn't been burnt fully so you wil get carbon monoxide produced too.

GCSE science this

Dave Bailey - 30/12/14 at 10:39 AM

Pete once again thanks for the offer.. I bought in the end a used Rhino 2.8kw infrared heater off eBay.....

Thanks
Dave B

motorcycle_mayhem - 30/12/14 at 03:09 PM

I've tried most...

The best options to date have been:

Clarke propane non-fan assisted infra red thing. Incredible heat output, but the normal issues with water vapour.

Currently using the Creda CSQ45. It's like being under the sun. Wow.

ianhurley20 - 3/1/15 at 06:35 PM

My garage is as leaky as a sieve as far as air is concerned - I use a propane heater from lidl with a 19kw output. Heats the place up almost immediately and disperses any condensation by the draughts. Must say in winter I don't spend long periods of time inside the garage - get something done and out, suits me fine

Irony - 4/1/15 at 03:56 AM

I've tried everything as well. I've had bar heaters, fan heaters, and propane heaters. The electric ones just cost to much to run, propane made it rain in the garage. My old garage I had a little pot-bellied stove with a stove pipe running diagonally across the room. That was by far the best option, awesome heat, cheap to run and you could even boil the kettle on it. In my new house the oil fired central heating boiler is in the garage so it keeps the temp up.