Radiant heat garage floor - retrofit??

[Sparks67]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

The problem with infrared heaters that glo red hot is that they also heat you... and I don't know about how you guys feel but when I'm working on stuff I don't like to be heated... I want to work in a warm vs cold environment. So placement of this type of heating is really important. Think sitting in a restaurant with a infrared heater too close to you...

When my shed gets past 70* I open a door if I'm doing anything 'active'. It's just too warm to work. I also think below 60* is just as uncomfortable.

There is different brands, but Modine and Detroit Radiant tube heaters don't glow red. They are low intensity infrared heaters. Which are sealed units. They are vented to the outside. Which make it perfect for garages, body shops, and most buildings. My friend's dad has been using them since 1990. Typically, he runs his around 55* to 60*, but he has heated it up past that temperature during painting. (The above companies are commercial products, so they go by distributor. Which means they don't have installers. Your local plumbing/heating contractor will be your installer. )

There is another type called High Intensity infrared, which is open flame, and usually a box type unit. So, this is the type that you might be thinking about. Also, Mr. Heater has one for the home garage. The biggest problem with them, is that unit is not vented. So, you will about pass out on the floor.

Jeff

Garage Dog 65 here is the links, but your local plumbing/heating contractor will do the installing, and he can get the units at a discount.

http://www.ultimategarageheater.com/

http://www.modinehvac.com/v2portal/p...ntent2_013.htm

http://reverberray.com/


Steam heat can be done, but realize that you are heating a 200 gallon water tank. I recently went to tankless water heater for hot water, but not sure it be efficient for the garage. Perhaps Solar instead of natural gas. Just not an option in ohio, because it is overcast. Anyway, Modine has that option too.
(Typically, I see the infrared radiant heaters in body shops. Steam heat might cause rusting of the bare metal parts on the car.)