wagner Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 My family is thinking of getting my dad a garage heater as a suprise early christmas gift. I was leaning toward a torpedo k1 style heater. What are some of the units used by the members of CR? How many BTUs should I be looking at? This is for a space about the size of a 3 car garage. It does not need to make it the tropics, but warm enough he can get "Monzilla" ready for the track next year. Pleas try to keep this thread useful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianZ06 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I have a ventless propane wall heater that works very nice. It has 3 burner settings, radiant heat no blower it heats up my 2 car on single burner when its in the 20-30 degree temp just fine and its very safe to leave on all the time. You would have to plum it into your natual gas source or propane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59689&highlight=pdqgp+garage+heater I put my thoughts on some here. Love mine. 2.5 car garage and it can go from 50-70 in a very short time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirks5oh Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 i have a hot dawg unit in our 3 car garage which is completely insulated. not sure how many btu's but it is obviously a vented gas unit--this is the first winter we'll have it working. in my big shop i have a modine unit, that i think is 100k btu, but i'm not sure. its huge and has no problem heating the 36' by 52' garage to 70 plus in the dead of winter here in wisconsin without breaking a sweat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolrayz Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I have a wood stove that I use most of the time. I also have two propaine heaters, one is the single sunflower radiant type that just attaches to the 5 gal bottle. It works good for spot heating if I am only doing some bench work on a short term basis. The torpedo works great for heating the concrete floor. I tip the heater on its nose and direct all the heat on the concrete under the car. It doesnt matter if it is 80 in the shop, if your laying on the floor you will be cold without heating the concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboRust Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 i use a salamander/torpedo style in a 3 car garage and it works great.. if its super cold or you've just got out there just point it towards you about 10 feet away.. you'll be in a tshirt when its 10* outside. its the best purchase i've made for the garage, next to my big ass air compressor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I use radiant propane works good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTHER91 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 Just get one that will run alt fuel like dizzil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboking15 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I use a 75k btu kerosene torpedo heater and it would keep a 4 car garage that wasnt insulated all that well around 60 -65 degrees in the middle of winter. Best part was that it could run kerosene diesel and certain fuel oils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck531 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I'm still trying to find someone who can repair a 50,000 BTU Torpedo . Anyone have any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 i have a 150k btu torpedo heater.. heats my 2 1/2 car garage to like 80+ degrees in the dead of winter in 10 min. i also have a regular round kerosene heater i think its like 20k btu... so after its 80 in there i kick the torpedo off and leave that one running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skulls Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I bought one from sears ( maybe a mistake ) got the only one they had , it is propane and last winter i was going thru a tank a day . But my garage is not insulated . I am not a very big fan of propane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted September 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I'm still trying to find someone who can repair a 50,000 BTU Torpedo . Anyone have any ideas? Call Sunbelt Rentals they might be able to do it. If they can't, they might be able to let you know who can. Thank you all for the information on this subject. Seems the torpedo might be the way I go just to make easy on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted September 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 Next question, best place to buy a torpedo heater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 Very interested in this thread... How much fuel do these heaters consume? I would only need it for a few days a month, but I would probably get more repairs done in the wintertime if I had one... Also, can you hot-water-bucket wash their car in the wintertime and use a heated garage to dry it without the water freezing on the car? Has anyone done it before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWW$HEEET Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 just get one of those 6hp motors from harbor freight and turn it on. the exhaust is pretty warm and they're like $100. make sure the doors are air tight. jk we use a kerosene torpedo jobbie and that thing is hot as shit. Heats a 2.5 car well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolrayz Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 My 80,000 btu torpedo burns at the most a gallon of propaine an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted September 24, 2010 Report Share Posted September 24, 2010 I bought this heater for my dad 2 years ago. Works great in a 40x24 garage. Won't allow you to wear shorts in February, but it knocks the chill out of the air. http://www.lowes.com/pd_245179-88644-RMC-LPC80L_0__?productId=3261953&Ntt=propane+heater&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FVa%3Dtrue%26Ntt%3Dpropane%2Bheater I personally just use a torpedo heater if I ever need heat. I usually just bundle up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagner Posted October 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 I was looking at something like this: http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Heating-Venting-Cooling-Heaters-Portable-Heaters/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xqdZapxy/R-202300873/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 Anybody have experience with this brand? I really could not find any reviews on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 I have a Ready Heater in the 50,000 BTU range. It heats my 20 x 20 (2 car) garage decently. The only downside is that once it gets to a decent temp, the fumes are starting to get to me. KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirks5oh Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 you could probably do a vented gas unit for less than $1500 and be completely done with any b.s. associated with a torpedo heater. turn it on, turn it off--whatever you want. both of mine are set up with a thermostat to keep a constant temp in the winter---my shop because i don't want my cars to get cold. my attached garage because we have bedrooms above the garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 Very interested in this thread... How much fuel do these heaters consume? I would only need it for a few days a month, but I would probably get more repairs done in the wintertime if I had one... Also, can you hot-water-bucket wash their car in the wintertime and use a heated garage to dry it without the water freezing on the car? Has anyone done it before? You could. The problem would be the ground being heated enough to wash. I have a detached apartment garage (so no insulation or common heated wall), and Im slowly trying to come up with a potential plan to get some heat for the winter. Ive got a 18v NOMAD power washer thing that is AWESOME for washing anywhere (even a garage), and could use a propane heater im sure (weak electicity), but the issue is catching all the water before it freezes the bottom of the garage door....im leaning towards plastic sheeting lol. Ill park on a baby pool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted October 8, 2010 Report Share Posted October 8, 2010 i think im actually going to do a wood burner this year.. either inside, or build one outside and duct it into the garage with forced air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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