Propane garage heater question

Please don't boot me off the forum for this post. My liability insurance company would lose their minds if I put a wood stove in the shop.

I worked about 30 hours in the shop over the past weekend and I'm still feeling a little poor from the occasional burp of stink from the kerosene heater. It doesn't do it often and I burn the wick clean as the instructions suggest but the smell really gets to me. I need to either spend some money or give it to Uncle Sam, soooo.... I'm thinking spend.

Most garage heaters have some serious clearance specs and I only have an 8' ceiling so I kinda need a wall mount. Propane prices are down right now and I get a good employee discount from my regular (or irregular) job so I'm leaning toward propane. Blue flame heaters don't do well in dusty conditions and they heat the air instead of the things in the room. I've usually got a ventilation fan going moving the dust outside which is why I'm leaning toward radiant heat.

Looking at this one: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200485121_200485121 or something similar.

Shop is around 650 square feet and very well insulated. It does have 2 overhead doors and a regular door that aren't sealed up perfectly tight. Left it that way so the air could be exchanged some with the vent fan moving the dust outside.

Anyone have experience with this type of heater or maybe another option I missed?

 

I had the nat. gas version and it created a lot.....a LOT, of moisture.
Gave it to a BIL. I don't think he has it anymore.

 

That's not good news.

I have radiant heat in the shops at work but they are vented and very little moisture issues at all. Do you think that would be the difference or is it something with this heater itself?

 

I've seen that in construction as well, natural gas and propane do produce alot of moisture.
It's great for the humidity in that area but bad for things that don't do well with sweaty air

 

i tried a portable propane unit and it worked but overnight everything ( cast iron woodworking machines ) had surface rust from the temp change and moisture

i only do it now when i must get a job done

 

Yup...propane will make everything wet if ran long enough. I gave mine away and went 240volt electric for that reason. Its also got a Thermostat and wattage selection from 3k to 5k watts.

 

What about a pellet stove? They have smaller clearance requirements.

 

One of the things I'm trying to avoid is giving up any more floor space than I have to for a heater. Shop is way too small now that the business has grown.

Maybe I'll just stick with kerosene for now until I figure out what to do.

Thanks for the tips.

 

Bret,
Just happened to notice your post and I have had experience in propane and natural gas "space heaters" in rental properties that I own. I am not a huge fan of the ventless. To me the exhaust smell still hangs around. I have used vented units and have had very good luck with many different units. The best vented units I have had are the Rinnai vented wall heaters. Hands down not like it on the market. Also, nothing like it price wise either. But, maintenance free performance.

 

What about an IR tube heater? I have one in my garage/shop and it works really well. No moisture issues and it heats objects (me) quickly with no noise. Pretty efficient too. Lots of brands out there too.

http://www.ultimategarageheater.com/choosing-a-garage-heater/propane-infrared-garage-heater.php

 

Thanks Marty and Fanatical1.

I will most likely be going with a vented heater to help with the moisture and keep the smell down. I have looked at the the IR tube heaters, we have them in the shops at the resort, but with the clearance they need from the ceiling I would have to duck under them to move around in the shop. Ceiling is only 8' and the ones I looked at needed 30" or more.