Heating the garage

[Baboontyme 2888]

I'm having an issue with some pipes that were run inside my garage wall that go up to the new addition master suite above the garage freezing. I've already had my useless builder send his sub out to put more insulation in the wall and that didn't solve the issue. The plan now is to figure out the best way to heat the garage for the few times a year when temps dip into the teens and single digits. 

There are a number of solutions out there, from natural gas to electric. I have been using a propane gas buddy and it's not great. I'm currently looking at some ~ $250ish electrical units that run off of a 240v. I would need to get an outlet installed, probably another 3-400. 

Anyone have any recs or experience? Trying to keep this cost effective. I don't need heat in the garage for any other purpose.

[thunderlounge 8476]

I have one of these in my garage for similar concerns. Works fine.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Heat-Storm-Tradesman-1500-Watt-Electric-Outdoor-Infrared-Quartz-Portable-Space-Heater-with-Tripod-Wall-and-Ceiling-Mount-HS-1500-OTR-TRI/324948785

[RDCanecutter 26928]

Are the pipes freezing next-to/inside the foundation?

[thunderlounge 8476]

They haven’t yet.

You can also get some heated pipe wrap, if you can get to it and could plug it in somewhere.

 

[Baboontyme 2888]

5 hours ago, thunderlounge said:

I have one of these in my garage for similar concerns. Works fine.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Heat-Storm-Tradesman-1500-Watt-Electric-Outdoor-Infrared-Quartz-Portable-Space-Heater-with-Tripod-Wall-and-Ceiling-Mount-HS-1500-OTR-TRI/324948785

The wall mount option is definitely interesting. Maybe because I've been running this gas buddy but how hot does it get? No fire hazard? I have some garage/industrial shelving in front of that area now that would sit pretty close to that wall and I would worry that someone would put something too close to it. 

1 hour ago, RDCanecutter said:

Are the pipes freezing next-to/inside the foundation?

Foundation is poured wall for a basement and yes the wall that they ran these up is a foundational wall. 

[Baboontyme 2888]

For reference when they had the wall open. They're pex and they did insulate them. The other side of this wall is a half bathroom. Just past the pipes is where the front of the house "ends".

[drt 647]

I have used incandescent work lights to add heat to the garage in the past. Put it next to the water heater and the plants we bring in. Granted I’m in Texas so it’s not often but it works surprisingly well. 

[Bill Brasky 1631]

buy some heat trace and only turn it on as needed 

[Baboontyme 2888]

1 hour ago, Bill Brasky said:

buy some heat trace and only turn it on as needed 

I'm not tearing that wall apart and putting it back together. The odds of my builder doing it without a lawsuit being involved are none to none. 

[Jkwellborn 7071]

I mean, you could get a couple of heat lamps and shine them on the wall.

[thunderlounge 8476]

Is there a way to heat from the half bath on the other side?

The bench you mentioned being in the way could be an issue with a lot of different heater setups.

 

[RPM 26682]

Thinking outside the box / hold my beer. Get a small heater, vent it into the space (knock a hole in the drywall) at the bottom with a vent at the top. These work great, have one in my wellhouse.

Edited yesterday at 12:07 AM by RPM

[Bevo&Pevo 5531]

14 hours ago, RPM said:

Thinking outside the box / hold my beer. Get a small heater, vent it into the space (knock a hole in the drywall) at the bottom with a vent at the top. These work great, have one in my wellhouse.

I would go with this option and might add a timer if you felt uncomfortable about it running all the time.  You could get a temp gun for spot checks and peace of mind.   We used to have a similar set up in our water well shed.  Remember heat rises, so forcing air into the wall near ground should allow to heat everything above.  

[Pato del Muerto 53607]

The above sounds like a great idea. 
 

my other idea was to throw some heat tape in there through the half bath outlet box cutout, and either wire it directly to the outlet feed or have the plug just hanging out. 
 

of course, adding the 240 and running a whole garage space heater gives you the option to warm up the entire garage when you want, for drinking alone or Xmas present assembly or whatever. 

Edited 15 hours ago by Pato del Muerto

[tx 3 putt 78789]

Vornado Whole Room Heater and Fan

$50 at costco 

[thunderlounge 8476]

Not going to cut the mustard in a garage, unfortunately.

 

[Elvis 3438]

I'm an insurance adjuster and a contractor.  Call me when you file your fire claim.  Don't leave your dog in the garage.

 

 

[UT_OB1 2267]

23 hours ago, RPM said:

Thinking outside the box / hold my beer. Get a small heater, vent it into the space (knock a hole in the drywall) at the bottom with a vent at the top. These work great, have one in my wellhouse.

You could skip the middle step and just go ahead and light your house on fire. That will keep the pex from freezing. 

[Gil Bang 26263]

mini-split?  That way you get AC in the summer

[Jkwellborn 7071]

mini-split?  That way you get AC in the summer

Really, that’s probably the easiest thing for him to do. I’d still probably rip out the wall and insulate the hell out of it all. I may even lease the stuff exposed to the heated garage to help. Of course, you could get a small air handler and put in there for the heat side of it. Probably wouldn’t take but a .5 ton type unit.