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Author Topic: Looking at outdoor heater options  (Read 9446 times)

68bucks

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Looking at outdoor heater options
« on: March 31, 2020, 12:37:43 PM »

I'm looking at options for heating a work shop. Its 35'x40' with 12' ceilings, all insulated.  I would like to have a heating system that is outside the building to avoid taking up floor space inside and I think my insurance company would like that. I have looked at boilers and forced air system. I don't plan to heat the building 24/7 only when I plan to be out there a while so this would be intermittent use I guess. So I'm interested in suggestions. Is an outdoor system a bad idea? I was thinking FA would heat up a lot quicker. A single supply duct and return duct with a simple grate on the wall where it comes through would probably suffice to heat it up pretty well.

I have considered a boiler but it would need antifreeze in the system. It would be easier to run a couple water lines through the wall to an exchanger and fan of some sort. I'm just not sure this is a good application for a boiler though. It would take longer to heat up I assume and I don't know how it would like the heating cycles over time. Any insights or ideas that you may have would be appreciated. Thanks
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mlappin

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Re: Looking at outdoor heater options
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2020, 07:50:16 PM »

Is the shop not close enough that you could heat your home as well?
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Re: Looking at outdoor heater options
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2020, 04:55:12 AM »

I don't now who all is making hot air outdoor furnaces anymore. Do your research, I haven't seen anyone on here that has been running one.
As marty suggested we do quite a few hooking up to a house and shop, only warming the shop up when you're actually  working in it. An oversized blower heats up pretty quickly.
With a boiler antifreeze would depend on where you live. In the south you could probably let the pump run. Up north it's too risky. You'd want a boiler with really low water volume so it heats up quick, a C150 would be a possibility. It holds 60 or so gallons. 
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Re: Looking at outdoor heater options
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2020, 07:53:13 AM »

I'd love to heat the house with the same boiler but they are a good 350' apart. I'm in Northern Ohio so I'll have to have anti-freeze for sure. I have found a few hot air units including Air Stove made here in Ohio. I think I will eventually put a boiler on the house too but I just don't see where I can put a unit to service both buildings. What are your thoughts on heat cycling on these outdoor units especially boilers? How quickly do you think a low volume boiler would take to heat up enough to make good heat. It's not like I would need instant heat but I'd rather not wait 3 hours or something to get hot air. I do know it would be a lot easier to poke a couple of small pipes through the back wall than figure how to run a couple 12" ducts through the wall.
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