Heating A Cold Garage - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Mavman · 11-05-2005, 04:32 PM

For my Winter/off season projects

I have an attached half underground un-heated/un-insulated one car garage measuring 18' long x 9' wide that is cold in the summer and freezing in the winter.

While not looking for anything permanent....I would like to occasionally heat it for a few hours at a time in order to:

Do some maintainence and attach aftermarket accessories and maybe some modifications to my motorcycle and possibly some minor work to my cars.

Any help, suggestions or methods....ie what size or type of Electric/Gas/Kerosene heater ect to use would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS

,

Mav

Ranger_b0b · 11-05-2005, 04:43 PM

Cost Wise, Its probably best to get a "salmander" heater...Probably not the right name, but thats what we call em here. Burns kerosene looks like a tube. A medium sized one is about 100,000 BTU, which will warm a 26 x 30 garage in about an hour to comfortable levels. Could also look at a natural gas wall mounted unit, more expensive, less BTU's but safer.

**Clint** · 11-05-2005, 06:55 PM

You might want to look into insulating it, at least with some foam panels. It'll take a ton of energy to keep it warm, otherwise. A kerosene ready-heater will do nicely if you want something portable. Kerosene doesn't make nearly as nasty of fumes as a portable propane blast heater does, so you can run it quite a while without clearing the building.

Electric won't work at all unless you insulate well. They don't put out enough heat to catch up in a cold building. Wall/ceiling-mounted natural gas or propane are best for long-term use. They'll put out next to nothing for fumes.

fundyrider · 11-05-2005, 09:00 PM

I have a detached unheated double car garage, like you, I wanted to tinker with the bike during the winter, the cheapest fix for me was to build a 10 by 8 foot room, nothing fancy, 2x4 walls, sheetrock on the inside, vapour barrier and pink insulation, and a 1000 watt heater. It didn't need exterior cladding because it's inside the garage. I keep the room just above freezing and if I decide to work on the bike I'll jack the heat up so I can work in comfort.
Last winter I spent a lot of hours getting to know my bike, this year I plan to change brake and clutch fluids, remove wheels and have new tires installed, clean and lubricate everything.
It's funny, I despise working on my car but love working on the bike, go figure.
Peter

Dwayne Hicks · 11-06-2005, 05:24 AM

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about problems like that in the winter!

RampageRider · 11-06-2005, 08:02 AM

My brother uses a electric space heater, one of those oil filled jobs, it puts out a lot of heat. He also put in pink fiberglass insulation to help keep in the heat.

St0nkingByte · 11-06-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fundyrider

...Last winter I spent a lot of hours getting to know my bike, this year I plan to change brake and clutch fluids, remove wheels and have new tires installed, clean and lubricate everything.
It's funny, I despise working on my car but love working on the bike, go figure.
Peter

I'm the same way. I hate working on cars but the bike is no problem. I think the biggest difference is on the bike you can reach most everything you need to without much trouble and if you can't its pretty quick and easy to do what you need to get at it. I grew up working on cars alot and would always get burned by those awful Chilton's manuals where you start on an innocent eight step project and step five says go do this forty step procedure in a different chapter, arrgh!

Mavman · 11-06-2005, 02:31 PM

Thanks for the reply's

Rowdy...thanks for point out the fumes issue.....I was considering propane, but if kerosene doesn't offend quite as much. For now, I'll probably go with one of those Salamander/torpedo type kerosene forced air heaters mentioned and keep the garage door partially up since the garage has no other ventilation-(had to board/seal up the window due to some thief trying to get into my house via that access.

I'll also look into insulating walls next year as I will no doubt be getting more involved with projects such as those I mentioned.

THANKS again everybody.

stevie c · 11-06-2005, 09:15 PM

Like Rowdy said, insulation is a must have.
Another type of heater to consider, once insulation is in place is a tubular heater. They are fitted inside a piece of drainpipe and can be mounted anywhere. they can be left on so you always have background heating to keep the damp and cold at bay.

Here is a link to a couple of sizes so you can see what I mean,

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...bular_Heaters/

Pinhy · 11-07-2005, 09:08 AM

heating your garage in Florida;

1- wait a week and it will get warm outside
2- open garage door
3- roll bike into driveway
4- sweat while working on it
5- mutter about it being too hot
6- go back into garage (warm one)
7- close garage door
8- relax on couch in airconditioned house

.

Mavman · 11-07-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinhy

heating your garage in Florida;

1- wait a week and it will get warm outside
2- open garage door
3- roll bike into driveway
4- sweat while working on it
5- mutter about it being too hot
6- go back into garage (warm one)
7- close garage door
8- relax on couch in airconditioned house

.

May it snow 6 feet on your house and freeze for a week!!!

Pinhy · 11-07-2005, 11:24 AM

is that voodoo or some dark magic? haha

i dont think i have to worry about snow here in Tampa so your curse is null and void.

.

Mavman · 11-07-2005, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie c

Like Rowdy said, insulation is a must have.
Another type of heater to consider, once insulation is in place is a tubular heater. They are fitted inside a piece of drainpipe and can be mounted anywhere. they can be left on so you always have background heating to keep the damp and cold at bay.

Here is a link to a couple of sizes so you can see what I mean,

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...bular_Heaters/

hhhmm, thanks Steve, I had never seen such a thing before....I'll look more into it.

Mav

**drgibson** · 11-07-2005, 02:17 PM

Warming a Garage in Texas;
1. Turn on Floresent Lights.

stp1971 · 11-07-2005, 02:24 PM

SmartA$$es!!!!!!!!! All of 'em!!!!! Just Kidding. I bought my dad a radiant heater that looks like one of those dishes. It puts out alot of heat but it loses alot of it everytime the door is opened. So what I did was use the radiant heater and I turned a fan on behind it. It blows across the radiant heater and it helps to circulate the heat alot quicker.

In my other garage I have used kerosene heaters numerous times but I also monitor them to make sure they do not catch fire, etc. Nothing suxs more and is worse on your back than working on a cold cement floor,,,I can feel my back aching now,,,Ouch!!

Mavman · 11-07-2005, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgibson

Warming a Garage in Texas;
1. Turn on Floresent Lights.

Due in the mail-(hopefully soon) from my parents scrap books are MAVERICK pictures....I wonder where I should post them....hhhhmmmm.

**drgibson** · 11-07-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mavman

Due in the mail-(hopefully soon) from my parents scrap books are MAVERICK pictures....I wonder where I should post them....hhhhmmmm.

Hmmmm you might try These places.

www.redneck.com
www.iwannabeamustangwhenigrowup.com
www.amcpacer.net
www.uglycars.com
www.fordmistakes.com
www.carsthatgobumpinthenight.org
www.cars-chip-foose-wont-overhaul.com
www.carsleastlikelytobestolen.com

Pinhy · 11-07-2005, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgibson

Hmmmm you might try These places.

www.redneck.com
www.iwannabeamustangwhenigrowup.com
www.amcpacer.net
www.uglycars.com
www.fordmistakes.com
www.carsthatgobumpinthenight.org
www.cars-chip-foose-wont-overhaul.com
www.carsleastlikelytobestolen.com

thats just wrong! funny...but wrong...

.

Mavman · 11-07-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgibson

Hmmmm you might try These places.

www.redneck.com
www.iwannabeamustangwhenigrowup.com
www.amcpacer.net
www.uglycars.com
www.fordmistakes.com
www.carsthatgobumpinthenight.org
www.cars-chip-foose-wont-overhaul.com
www.carsleastlikelytobestolen.com

ok, jokes on me. But yeah...I have to agree, that's funny.

Pinhy · 11-07-2005, 02:53 PM

you AND sean.....i believe it was him that liked them too??

.

11-05-2005, 04:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ranger_b0b Clunked into first gear Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: '82 Suzuki GS650L Location: Sparta, MI (-85.69978/43.16359) Posts: 221	Cost Wise, Its probably best to get a "salmander" heater...Probably not the right name, but thats what we call em here. Burns kerosene looks like a tube. A medium sized one is about 100,000 BTU, which will warm a 26 x 30 garage in about an hour to comfortable levels. Could also look at a natural gas wall mounted unit, more expensive, less BTU's but safer. __________________ Mike aka IronHorse of Hell's Beergut MC He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. - Benjamin Franklin '82 GS650L - Rescued July 05 - Resuscitated Aug 05 www.myspace.com/mike_hiler

11-06-2005, 05:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dwayne Hicks Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2003 Bike: 2003 Honda CGL 125 Location: South Africa Posts: 857	I'm so glad I don't have to worry about problems like that in the winter! __________________ I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here. Its 106 miles to Chicago. We have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we're wearing sunglasses. Hey, psycho, we're not getting back together. Now get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up.

11-06-2005, 08:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
RampageRider Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: 05 Red M50 Location: Iowa, riding in the Rain! Posts: 782	My brother uses a electric space heater, one of those oil filled jobs, it puts out a lot of heat. He also put in pink fiberglass insulation to help keep in the heat. __________________ . "Grow up, what a waste of a good time, if Peter Pan can do it so can we............... " 05 Red M50 (mine) 97 Yellow Honda Rebel (her's)

11-06-2005, 09:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
stevie c Sit speling cheker Joined: Mar 2004 Bike: GSX-R 600 K1 Location: Northants,UK Posts: 1,631	Like Rowdy said, insulation is a must have. Another type of heater to consider, once insulation is in place is a tubular heater. They are fitted inside a piece of drainpipe and can be mounted anywhere. they can be left on so you always have background heating to keep the damp and cold at bay. Here is a link to a couple of sizes so you can see what I mean, http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...bular_Heaters/ __________________ Stevie C '02 Gixer 600 K1,Yellow and Black (fastest colour!), always beats red ones!! Why put off until tomorrow what you can get someone else to do for you today.

11-07-2005, 02:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	Warming a Garage in Texas; 1. Turn on Floresent Lights. __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

11-05-2005, 09:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
fundyrider Seat Tester Joined: Oct 2005 Bike: Honda ST1300 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 73	I have a detached unheated double car garage, like you, I wanted to tinker with the bike during the winter, the cheapest fix for me was to build a 10 by 8 foot room, nothing fancy, 2x4 walls, sheetrock on the inside, vapour barrier and pink insulation, and a 1000 watt heater. It didn't need exterior cladding because it's inside the garage. I keep the room just above freezing and if I decide to work on the bike I'll jack the heat up so I can work in comfort. Last winter I spent a lot of hours getting to know my bike, this year I plan to change brake and clutch fluids, remove wheels and have new tires installed, clean and lubricate everything. It's funny, I despise working on my car but love working on the bike, go figure. Peter

11-07-2005, 09:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pinhy Doesn't think you're funny Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05 Boulevard M50 Black Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,210	heating your garage in Florida; 1- wait a week and it will get warm outside 2- open garage door 3- roll bike into driveway 4- sweat while working on it 5- mutter about it being too hot 6- go back into garage (warm one) 7- close garage door 8- relax on couch in airconditioned house .

11-07-2005, 11:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
Pinhy Doesn't think you're funny Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05 Boulevard M50 Black Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,210	is that voodoo or some dark magic? haha i dont think i have to worry about snow here in Tampa so your curse is null and void. .

11-07-2005, 02:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	SmartA$$es!!!!!!!!! All of 'em!!!!! Just Kidding. I bought my dad a radiant heater that looks like one of those dishes. It puts out alot of heat but it loses alot of it everytime the door is opened. So what I did was use the radiant heater and I turned a fan on behind it. It blows across the radiant heater and it helps to circulate the heat alot quicker. In my other garage I have used kerosene heaters numerous times but I also monitor them to make sure they do not catch fire, etc. Nothing suxs more and is worse on your back than working on a cold cement floor,,,I can feel my back aching now,,,Ouch!! __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

11-07-2005, 02:53 PM	#20 (permalink)
Pinhy Doesn't think you're funny Joined: Dec 2004 Bike: 05 Boulevard M50 Black Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,210	you AND sean.....i believe it was him that liked them too?? .

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