Adding heat to the garage work area

[Philpug]

I’m wondering if there is a way to install a pull down screen or partition to mostly isolate the work bay from the rest of the garage. This would contain your heat better and decrease operational costs.

We have toyed with it.

 

[Philpug]

We have toyed with it.

Garage Curtain for Dust Protection and Heat Retention — Third Stall Woodworking

Third Stall Woodworking gets its name from where I do my woodworking; the third stall of my garage. Creative, I know. The problem with working in my garage is that there are other things in there besides lumber and tools to get covered in dust. Most frustratingly my vehicles. My lawn equipment also

thirdstallwoodworking.com

 

[Philpug]

The more I look at it, the more I think a divider/curtain is the way to go. Curtain will be 9x17 and will tuck into the section between the two doors when not in use. Now, do a cable curtain ($) or a track system ($$$)? This will allow us to do the smaller heater.

 

[Andy Mink]

The more I look at it, the more I think a divider/curtain is the way to go. Curtain will be 9x17 and will tuck into the section between the two doors when not in use. Now, do a cable curtain ($) or a track system ($$$)? This will allow us to do the smaller heater.

View attachment 199873

Start out with some moving blankets on a curtain rod setup. Cheap and warm.

 

[Jwrags]

Since heat rises I would think you would want whichever system goes all of the way to the ceiling to limit heat loss. The problem I see with a curtain rod is it will need to be supported in the middle which then diminishes the ability to move the curtain all of the way to the end. However, moving blankets are a great idea since they are thick.

 

[KingGrump]

Amazon have some light duty ceiling mounted tracks with roller hooks that can span up to 18'.

For a heavy duty setup, go unistrut with roller hooks.

 

[Tom K.]

I don't have a curtain, but rather an actual dividing wall. When we bought the house, one of the stalls was walled off, which I thought was stupid.

Turned out I loved it, and I continued the wall when I expanded the garage. Walls make great places to hang things.

With a heater on each side, I keep the workshop side at ~50 and the car side between 40 and 45.

In your circumstances, I think a curtain would be great, and definitely allow for the smaller heater.

And save me $50!

 

[chris_the_wrench]

The more I look at it, the more I think a divider/curtain is the way to go. Curtain will be 9x17 and will tuck into the section between the two doors when not in use. Now, do a cable curtain ($) or a track system ($$$)? This will allow us to do the smaller heater.

Not trying to get all building science on ya, but whats above the garage? Living space, attic, roof? Open attic could be a easy candidate for abit of insulation upgrade. The wall(s) of the side of your garage your primarily concerned with is an exterior wall or interior wall? And garage door, is it insulated?(possibly another moving blanket against that surface?). Floor, did they put down any insulation before slab was poured? If not could you stand to build a 1” thick insulated platform over the cement floor? Or stall matts to insulate?

Basically Im trying to say if you have this isolated space, you maybe able to improve its ‘building envelope’ with some additional insulation so you may not have to pour as much btu’s into the space.

 

[Ogg]

I am usually old school but the application of the new split units for heat and A/C has blown my mind. Add in what @chris_the_wrench said about proper insulation and you would be looking at a minimal energy cost for heat and cooling.

 

[Tom K.]

I looked into a mini-split heat pump system when I installed garage heat, and it was tempting, but at 5X the cost, I had to pass.

Skis to buy, doncha know!

 

[johnnyvw]

How cold does in actually get in your garage without any added heat? I had the 7500w unit in my one car garage and it would warm it up pretty good even when it was below freezing out. I'm assuming (maybe incorrectly) that the Reno area doesnt get quite as cold as NE PA. You may want to give it a try before going to the trouble of rigging up a curtain system. Unless you really like it toasty...

 

[Fuller]

Not trying to get all building science on ya, but whats above the garage? Living space, attic, roof? Open attic could be a easy candidate for abit of insulation upgrade. The wall(s) of the side of your garage your primarily concerned with is an exterior wall or interior wall? And garage door, is it insulated?(possibly another moving blanket against that surface?). Floor, did they put down any insulation before slab was poured? If not could you stand to build a 1” thick insulated platform over the cement floor? Or stall matts to insulate?

Basically Im trying to say if you have this isolated space, you maybe able to improve its ‘building envelope’ with some additional insulation so you may not have to pour as much btu’s into the space.

Agreed. Let's turn this little heater upgrade into a full fledged reno project! " More complicated - more expensive is my motto!

Not really, but there is wisdom in taking steps to limit the size and cost of the heat source and putting some investment into the building envelope- especially insulating the roll up doors.

 

[Tom K.]

Agreed. Let's turn this little heater upgrade into a full fledged reno project!

Nah, this is Ski Talk, the land of excessive quivers, and....

@Philpug has only one garage. One!

Time to build an auxiliary garage/tuning shop to really flesh out this project!

 

[BS Slarver]

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Time to build an auxiliary garage/tuning shop to really flesh out this project!

Best suggestion yet!

 

[Philpug]

Time to build an auxiliary garage/tuning shop to really flesh out this project!

We have two sheds already.

 

[Bill Talbot]

Granted we are coming into Spring but as a Summer project will be adding heat to the SkiTalk work center.

We will run a dedicated 220 to the work space and thinking about two 7500w ceiling heaters directed to the area. I am looking at two of these...

It must not get very cold out there. I run a 75,000 btu diesel salamander in mine!
I can go from 20 degrees to 60 degrees in just minutes....

 

[x10003q]

The mini splits come with a '30% of the cost' tax deduction on the Federal return up to $2000. A mini split might not cost much more and it will use less electricty over time.

Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Air Conditioning

Designed for life, inside and out

discover.mitsubishicomfort.com

 

[Jwrags]

The mini splits come with a '30% of the cost' tax deduction on the Federal return up to $2000. A mini split might not cost much more and it will use less electricty over time.

Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Air Conditioning

Designed for life, inside and out

discover.mitsubishicomfort.com

Probably fully deductible as a business expense.

 

[Andy Mink]

All natural heat.