Heating the garage

[Baboontyme 2891]

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 8496]

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 26969]

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

[thunderlounge 8496]

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 2891]

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 2891]

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 1632]

buy some heat trace and only turn it on as needed 

[Baboontyme 2891]

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 7081]

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

[thunderlounge 8496]

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 26688]

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 Wednesday at 12:07 AM by RPM

[Bevo&Pevo 5534]

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 53629]

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 Wednesday at 04:53 PM by Pato del Muerto

[tx 3 putt 78848]

Vornado Whole Room Heater and Fan

$50 at costco 

[thunderlounge 8496]

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

 

[Elvis 3442]

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 2270]

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 26286]

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

[Jkwellborn 7081]

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.

[smuggs 9402]

Mini-split is the answer. It will resolve the frozen pipe issue and condition your garage for year-round drinking. Do not underestimate the awesomeness of a ~70 degree garage in the middle of August.

 

 

[Baboontyme 2891]

Ha if I needed AC in the garage in summer I probably wouldn't be having this issue. I am in Michigan. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am looking for least invasive and cheap yet safe. Running an electrical heater to a 240 is still the leader in the clubhouse. 

I remembered last night that when the plumber came out that ran the lines when they froze up last year, he thought that the area that was freezing was likely the area above the garage ceiling and below the floor of the addition. Something about drafts getting in there. I'm not sure how accurate he was but he definitely knows more about this than I do. There's no way for me to reach that area without completely tearing out the garage ceiling and that is not happening. I've been through hell with an 18 month remodel that ended in May so I'm done with anything that resembles construction for a long time. 

Hopefully heating the entire area below and above would be enough if it is indeed that area in between that's freezing. 

[thunderlounge 8496]

Have you tried letting the faucet drip?

Since you said it’s not that often, maybe that’s the way to go. 

[Updawg 2391]

He’s team no drip

[Baboontyme 2891]

1 hour ago, thunderlounge said:

Have you tried letting the faucet drip?

Since you said it’s not that often, maybe that’s the way to go. 

This has happened twice. The addition was completed last winter. It got very cold once afterwards, which is when we identified the problem, had the plumber/builder/insulation people come back out to "fix" the problem. I discovered last week that it was, in fact, not fixed. I definitely got the faucets dripping trying to thaw them and prevent refreeze. I was hoping for something a little more permanent going forward. 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 5006]

Cut little pet door in the wall and find a cat to live in there. The body heat should keep it warm enough to prevent freezing. 

[Bevo 13939]

I still think the minisplit is the best idea. A 12,000 BTU unit costs about $1000 and they aren't difficult to install. It will add value to the home and it is easy to control to make it comfortable or just enough to prevent freezing. So just do it right once and never have to fuck with it again.