any heating-air pros on here?

NPHuskerFL

My final advice is keep it simple. This really doesn't need to be complex. If you need help you've got my digits brother. But, again FWIW if it's just for heat I'd stick with radiant whether it be 220V, 120V or gas makes no real big difference as there are positives and negatives on each (but, electrical would be the simplest IMHO).

henapple

I didn't figure this would be so difficult. I'm really only wanting to keep the area around 45 degrees. I'm not sure I want anything running constantly. My twin burner propane heater gets it toasty quick. I just want to keep it from freezing. The upstairs has a large intake in the hall and supplies 2 bdr, bonus and 2 bths

Little Steven

SkinnyV said:

Little Steven said:

I agree. Not only will it not steal hot air but it won't screw up the cold air return.

Just like an egg, air out=air in, can't vent heat into a room unless you have a return. It is very hard to drive heat down, unless you have in plenum fans. I like the infrared heater idea as suggested by @jhl192. 

Is this true? I have a register in the basement on the ceiling and it drives down the heat just fine...the room gets so hot we actually keep it closed. There is no return air I can see, the furnace is in the room right next door so is the air it grabs on while it runs count as the return? We have 2 returns upstairs and that's all I see.

By upstairs do you mean a floor above the ground floor? It's important to have cold air returning to the system. The air that the actual furnace draws is combustion air not the air in the system. That is more or less a closed system. That's why people in the north need air makeup systems.

@henapple it might be possible to run a radiator from your hot water system controlled by a solenoid valve for when you are in there if there isn't a lot of demand at the times you are in there. You could just pull the rad out of one of the pickups you have up on blocks in the front yard.

henapple

The unit is electric. Don't know if that matters. The HOA made me move the trucks behind the house.

GASGUY

Recommend you look into heaters by a company named Rinnai. They sell both vent free and direct vent unit. Great for maintaining temp in area. If you want heat when using the garage, go for a simple vent free space heater and hang on wall. A few hundred dollars, but I would warn you against vent free if you store a lot of tools, collectable cars or motorcycles. The moisture from vent free heaters will eventually build up and cause pitting to metal. A lot has to do with amount of heat loss in the garage area. More heat loss means moisture will escape as well. Low heat loss should use a direct vent heater like the Rinnai, or to save money Empire Comfort Systems makes good, but less expensive DV heaters for garages.

SkinnyV

@Little Steven‌ in Seattle we have basements and that's where out master bedroom is. The ground floor would be upstairs and has 2 return air registers.
I don't even open the heat vent in the basement master because the radiant from the furnace seems like plenty in the basement. I've had guys come out and never say anything and it been 8 years so I think we are fine.

dldawes1

@HENAPPLE   Good luck Bro !!!

I'm not a pro, but I don't think adding an 8" round flex duct to channel some air down to your cave will hurt anything unless your unit is already sized too small. Run a 6"...all you're trying to do is knock off the chill.IMHO.

fishlessman

ive been thinking of just putting a vent from the first floor down to the basement and using a small blower fan to move the air down, no cutting into a furnace just pushing heat from one floor down. i heat with a coal stove, my boiler is shut off because its to pricey for the propane to heat the house.

SkinnyV

I cut an additional vent in a play room in the basement that was on an existing run for the upstairs, it works just fine when open.

Let me add I am no pro and know of no negative effects this can cause on the system if any

henapple

I guess another question is would it actually do any good?

henapple

Well, my a/c guy said it'd be fine to do but recommended a garage heater.. so I'm searching.

SGH

@henapple‌- If you would wear more than bacon you wouldn't be cold Just saying Uncle Apple.

theoldguy

nolaegghead said:

220 volt radiant heater ceiling mounted with a remote thermostat and a ceiling fan.  Don't F with gas or your HVAC system.  220 volt is more efficient, although you could do it with 120 volt.  You're welcome. 

<br/ Agree totally. Keep it simple. Don't even think of running your house unit into the "garage". Your codes must be a lot different than here if that's allowed as that is a huge issue for possible CO coming into the house from a running vehicle. Cheers tog (retired plumber) and tired

henapple

There are no cars parked in this garage. Stopped by the company that installed the unit when we built the house. He said it'd be fine to drop an eight inch vent in. He also suggested a radiator type heater. Not sure what I'll do.

shtgunal3

Holy **** dude stop over thinking it. Put a damn 220V radiant heater in there and turn the damn thing on low when you're not in there so **** don't freeze. Damn that was easy, now move on.

shtgunal3

Sorry I've been drinking again. B-)

henapple

Picked up a garage heater today, finally. Looks like it'll handle the job. Unfortunately it's 220 so I'm trying to find a guy to run it for me....maybe @shtgunal3‌ since he's a smartass. Trade you one bag of OO.

NPHuskerFL

Tony I could talk you through it over the phone. It's really not that complex.

shtgunal3

henapple said:

Picked up a garage heater today, finally. Looks like it'll handle the job. Unfortunately it's 220 so I'm trying to find a guy to run it for me....maybe @shtgunal3‌ since he's a smartass. Trade you one bag of OO.

) I'd come help you in heartbeat buddy. One bag of OO and some cheap beer.

Little Steven

henapple said:

Picked up a garage heater today, finally. Looks like it'll handle the job. Unfortunately it's 220 so I'm trying to find a guy to run it for me....maybe @shtgunal3‌ since he's a smartass. Trade you one bag of OO.

Just give me a call.

caliking

I haven't read every post, but have you thought of something like this, hooked up to . safe heater?
http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Heating-Cooling-Programmable-Thermostat/dp/B000E7NYY8

I used one of these to brew beer during the winter in Iowa.

Canugghead

Little Steven said:

henapple said:

Picked up a garage heater today, finally. Looks like it'll handle the job. Unfortunately it's 220 so I'm trying to find a guy to run it for me....maybe @shtgunal3‌ since he's a smartass. Trade you one bag of OO.

Just give me a call.

+1  Glad I did when I needed to test a couple of 220V commercial appliances in my laundry room   Thanks again bud!

SkinnyV

N

henapple

Somehow I did it. Got the heater at Northern Tool. A friend sent a sub contractor over to install it but being a great guy, he walked me through it. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Thanks to @NPHuskerFL‌ and Lil Steven for offering to help. You were right it really wasn't hard.

NPHuskerFL

Nice heater unit Tony. And quite frankly anytime I can help family and friends I like to do just that. Will await the "plated" pics