revtothelimit - motorbike forum

My garage is cold. It’s a breeze block plus brick construction, insulated and plasterboard. And it’s cold.

I don’t use it in the colder months, hotter months it is my office. I need to make that all year long - so it must be heated.

Electric heating cost a fortune to run, solar won’t heat it. To install a log burner, whilst the cosiest option by far, is £3k. So I thought a diesel heater.

Anyone here used one? Are they as crap as the reviews suggest? Garage is 5x6 meters. Want it warm.

Look on you tube, there are some cheap blown air ones that seem good...

Put a jumper on.

fingerpuk wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:37 pm My garage is cold. It’s a breeze block plus brick construction, insulated and plasterboard.

What thickness of insulation and on what surfaces? What is the floor construction? If it's concrete, is there insulation in the slab?

KungFooBob wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:08 pm Put a jumper on.

Aye, that's the Yorkshire way

The Chinese ones seem to get reasoable reviews on another forum I'm on. The actual output is less than that stated and don't muck about with the exhaust seems to be the consensus.

Could you fit a secondhand domestic central heating boiler?

There's also these things: https://ljacksonandco.com/product/devil ... el-heater/

cheb wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:22 pm There's also these things: https://ljacksonandco.com/product/devil ... el-heater/

The device exhausts inside the building, and doesn't require an external chimney? Or is that just how they're shown in the publicity pics?

Get one of them gas heaters that take the calor bottles, like what your nan had in her mid terrace in the 70's before she had central heating installed.

https://www.diy.com/departments/4-2kw-g ... 762_BQ.prd

KungFooBob wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:43 pm Get one of them gas heaters that take the calor bottles, like what your nan had in her mid terrace in the 70's before she had central heating installed.

https://www.diy.com/departments/4-2kw-g ... 762_BQ.prd

They generate a lot of water/humidity. Unless you're going to heat the fabric of what's described as a cold garage and put in ventilation you're inviting condensation/damp. (Not to mention the CO2 levels). It's a from me.

Stick with the diesel its dry heat. I have a Chinese one waiting to fit in my camperbus. A mate has one in his workshop and that probably the size of a two car garage with open roof space and its quite warm. You will need a 12v supply as well as diesel.

mangocrazy wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:18 pm

fingerpuk wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:37 pm My garage is cold. It’s a breeze block plus brick construction, insulated and plasterboard.

What thickness of insulation and on what surfaces? What is the floor construction? If it's concrete, is there insulation in the slab?

50mm of insulation (Kingspan) on the internal walls behind the plaster.

Concrete slab is the floor. Tempted to fit a raised floor.

cheb wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:14 pm The Chinese ones seem to get reasoable reviews on another forum I'm on. The actual output is less than that stated and don't muck about with the exhaust seems to be the consensus.

Could you fit a secondhand domestic central heating boiler?

Detached. No option to run gas. Needs an off grid solution. I’m hoping I can power a diesel heater with a car battery and maybe a small solar charger on that.

Get a log burner and get some extra man points

I might be wary of log burning due to the fineable detrimental effect on air quality and health.

fingerpuk wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 8:15 pm

mangocrazy wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 6:18 pm

fingerpuk wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 5:37 pm My garage is cold. It’s a breeze block plus brick construction, insulated and plasterboard.

What thickness of insulation and on what surfaces? What is the floor construction? If it's concrete, is there insulation in the slab?

50mm of insulation (Kingspan) on the internal walls behind the plaster.

Concrete slab is the floor. Tempted to fit a raised floor.

50mm Kingspan on the walls is good. What about the roof insulation? Heat rises and all that... A raised floor would help, especially if you can incorporate insulation. There is a particular grade of extruded polystyrene (XPS) that can withstand heavy loads and is waterproof:

https://www.insulationshop.co/50mm_sund ... board.html

mangocrazy wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 9:53 pm
50mm Kingspan on the walls is good. What about the roof insulation? Heat rises and all that... A raised floor would help, especially if you can incorporate insulation. There is a particular grade of extruded polystyrene (XPS) that can withstand heavy loads and is waterproof:

https://www.insulationshop.co/50mm_sund ... board.html

Loft space is boarded out with 12” of insulation rolled on top. Good shout on the floor. I think sorting the floor will be a huge help.

Wood burner is a no go, due to regulation on minimal flu length and this being a listed building in conservation area the planning and dealing with the council killed that dream. Fab. My neighbours are curtain twitchers so a temp install myself will not go unnoticed.

mangocrazy wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:30 pm

cheb wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:22 pm There's also these things: https://ljacksonandco.com/product/devil ... el-heater/

The device exhausts inside the building, and doesn't require an external chimney? Or is that just how they're shown in the publicity pics?

I think that's just a publicity pic. AIUI the exhaust goes outside.

Decided to try the diesel heater. Will install it outside in steel box, drilling holes to get air in will be fun.

fingerpuk wrote: Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:51 pm Decided to try the diesel heater. Will install it outside in steel box, drilling holes to get air in will be fun.

They heat a garage very well. I've an all in one unit in the garage at the moment and its drying it out nicely.
It's the second one I've used, the other is in the van, and they've proved to be very reliable. I just run it on diesel and nothing else.