Question:
I am looking to install a radiant garage heater.
Why?
My two-yr. old daughter's bedroom is above the attached garage and is
tough to heat in the winter here in Northern Illinois.
I like to work in the garage in the winter months without freezing my
butt off.
I need somewhere to smoke my cigars in the winter while maintaining
(relative) peace with the wife.
Considerations
I'm looking for a natural gas fueled system.
Initial costs of installation and ongoing operational costs?
Noise (as I said the baby's room is located above the garage)?
I consider External air combustion a must for safety reasons.
Need horizontal venting through garage wall (brick wall).
Need low-profile ceiling mounted unit (need to maintain floor space
for all the crap in my garage).
While I liked some of the characteristics of radiant systems (heating
fixed objects within the garage rather than heating the air contained
in the garage), I have decided to go with a forced air unit for the
following reasons:
1) I don't like the idea of a red-hot pipe running around the
perimiter of my ceiling which could come in contact with all the
aforementined crap in my garage.
2) I want to maximize the storage capacity of the garage by utilizing
shelf space where the radiant heater pipes would otherwise be located.
3) Its difficult to place radiant heater pipes away from the overhead
garage doors when they are opened.
4) I am concerned that the radiant heating sytem would not provide
even heat throughout the garage (hotter near combustion end than at
exhaust end).
I am considering a REZNOR unit (Model SFT, 60,000 BTU) which uses
external combustion air and is a low-profile unit.
My garage is a 3-car size at approximately 6,500 cu. ft. and is pretty
well insulated (drywalled throughout, connected to house on two walls
and ceiling, insulated garage doors, and brick exterior)
Is anyone familiar with the REZNOR unit?
Are there opinions on other units I might want to consider?
Are there suggestions on where to purchase this (or other recommended
units) at the lowest cost?
Am I missing anything?
Answer:
Reznor is a pretty good unit but i think they don't have a close
combustion type burner on any of their models. They have external
venting but still use the air in the room for burning.
Now one suggestion is use a Van Guard or Cozey warm or Glow warm pannel
Ray heater. They use Natural gas and burn at about 3000 degrees and
give off inferay heat . Most all are 99.9% fuel effencent and needs no
venting to burn good or operate. It is legal to use with no vent in
most all states. You can get them up to 30,000 btu rating. I think they
sell them at low's stores and home depot. You only have to get gas line
run to it and you install it yourself.
