rossow (mn)
Member
Advice needed: I have an upstairs room in my attached garage. It measures 20x12 with an 8-foot ceiling (angled up from a 3-foot kneewall. The room is heavily insulated (12" ceiling, 8" walls, 8" floor). I'm thinking of heating the room for occasional winter-workshop use a few hours at a time. I'll need to bring the room temp up from an unheated temp often around 0 F. to a tolerable 55 F. or thereabouts. My two options are a wall-vented LP heater or a 220V electric heater. The LP heater would cost $1,200 to $1,800 installed by my regular propane supplier; it would always be on with a standing pilot. An electric heater I can wire and install myself for less than $500. I know electric heat in my area (southern Minnesota) isn't as cheap as LP per hour of use, but the initial price difference is pretty severe. I'd like LP, but that installation price is causing me pause. Which way would you go for occasional, not necessarily constant, heat? Any personal experience with this type of application? All advice appreciated.