Expert: Bill Brainard - 10/21/2005

Question
I am anticipating my first western Pennsylvania winter in my newly purchased home. I have an integral garage but it has no heating vents and I assume it will get pretty cold. The garage is about 800 square feet and I have installed a fairly nice workshop area--the rest of the garage houses my two cars. The garage is well insulated and has a finished ceiling.

I would like to use a safe, low cost heat source for the times I use the shop. Ive looked at a few propane heaters but I understand they use large volumes of gas. Do you have any recommendations concerning the advantages/disadvantages of using propane-vs-electric-vs-whatever in my situation?

Thanks for your help

Carl Meyers

Answer
You are in trouble now.  There are 100 or more ways, to do what you ask.  Propane heaters are good. I do not like to work in a space heated by a space heater. I get head achs & upset stomach. or Do you mean a vented heater?? I would get a "Hot Shot" propane heater & ceiling mount it. Then vent it through the roof. Bet it doesn't get as cold as here in Montana. (-40 every winter) There is another way to go. Find a used kerosene heater (like a Kero Sun)(look for a 105,000 BTU model). Start it up an hour before starting work & it will heat it up a lot. Hope this helps.