Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Garage Heater Recommendations

The wife and I just moved into a new house. It has a 3 car garage. I haven't measured it; but, I speculate it to be about 25'x30'. I love my wife. She informed me she wants it to be heated. Hesitantly, I agreed. Anyway, we are starting the search so I would like recommendations from others here. What have you used? What do you recommend? Based on negative experiences, what should I avoid? Thanks in advance.

I am thinking about heating my garage as well, only mine is a 2 car. I have the option of natural gas and the line is right outside the garage so I'm going to start there, but given my breaker box is in the garage I could run a 240v as well.

In our 3 car garage I had a Mr heater natural gas radiant heater installed in two opposite corners. Got them from Menards. Northern Tool & Equipment also carries them. Like them so far. Much better than anything forced air in my opinion.
Two 40,000 btu units mounted as close to the ceiling as specs allow. Model MH40NG.

100000 btu mr. Heater ceiling mount would be my choice.

First thing I would do is make sure it's insulated and sealed at least as well as the house. I'd also make sure no carbon monoxide or other dangerous fumes have a way to exit the premises. Get those taken care of and the heating source isn't as big a concern.

Heating it for what reason?

Because you want to be comfortable changing your own oil? Does she change the oil or swap out the brake pads?

Or, I don't like to be cold going from the heated cocoon of the car to the heated cocoon of the home?

Would a kerosene/diesel 500,000 kbtu salamander do for those brake jobs? That's what me and mrs slumlord use. Try to get the job done before you get dizzy and your eyes start burning.


If just for no real reason, what about a gas or propane overhead radiant heater?


Or that much square ftg, maybe a separate hvac zone, 1-1/2 ton gaspack.

First off what heats the house? Assuming its an attached garage an extension of your home heating system to the garage might be easiest and cheapest. Our place has a natural gas boiler with modern 'radiators' for lack of a better term in every room of the house. The garage is plumed with one of these units which works great. I keep the heat way down in the garage ~ 45 degrees just enough so it doesn't freeze as the doors have about zero insulating value (wood).

I have had a Modine in my garage for 14 years. Changed out a thermocouple once. My gas bill went up 18.00 a month after I installed it.

Get a couple wood burning heaters!

For my wife, she wants the warm and comfy car and the warm move to the heated cocoon you mentioned. The ancillary benefit to me is working on the motorcycle, the boat, the truck, the tractor and just spending time out there scratching myself with nobody else around. Ya, I can do it in the ten degree garage; but, if the wife really NEEDS it, I'm in. Outdoors is number one. Outside the house in the garage is one of the next best things.

To answer another relevant question, the house is heated by both forced air gas and hot water heat. The hot water heat is not the sub-floor stuff they put in nowadays. The house is 28 years old and that hot water heat runs through baseboards.

Don't forget to have the wife cut, and carry the required wood!

Sounds very similar to our set up. I'm thinking it would be worth a call to someone in the business and see what it would set you back to extend a water line off the boiler set up into the garage and go that way. Like I said back there that's what we've got it works good. I've got a 20x20 garage with two very small base board style units just like in the house. If that's a bust some good other gas options mentioned here.

Do they salt the roads in the winter in your location? If so, parking a car with road salt on it in a warm garage really accelerates the rust. Of course, if you buy new vehicles often it won't matter.

Or you could make sure your vehicle has a military grade aluminum body.

Same here in an insulated shop.

Bought a used one off craigslist from a guy in GF. Every so often they have to replace heaters in building at Malmstrom so I got a nice, reasonably new unit for a couple hundred dollars.

Put in a propane tank because we don't have natural gas.

That Modine unit is the way to go!

My shop garage....steel framed.......insulated.......30 deep 50 long

R19 ceilings & walls.......came with steel garage package

walls beefed up.....4x8 rigid insulated sheeting 3/4" thick

then framed a 2x4 wall against that.....then added R13 rolled batting

Then sheeted it over with 1/2" OSB (wafer)...heat......the only way to go

NG radiant tube heater....this is 'U Tube type' (extendable) vents out north wall

Keep thermostat set about 68* all winter......2 insulated roll up doors/one walk through

Gas bill currently runs $63/month for house & garage..but just added NG stove in basement

another pic.......

enough space for two Tacoma's......Teryx SxS....Chevy 2500HD......storage...benches.......tools

small beer fridge.......even an ole washing machine for dog beds....old towels etc......

another must......2' high stemwalls......

That's the best choice.
Using ceiling fans helps too.

Modine are great units,they also have a "Hot Dawg" line which is very versital in mounting,and smaller profile.

I have a Modine Hot Dawg, 60,000 BTU, natural gas powered heater, in my 25' X 50' shop. Had it for 6 years now. Love it. I seriously thought about going wood, because we have unlimited access, but I'm so glad I didn't. Very nice to go out to the shop 20 minutes early and flick the heat on, comeback, and go work in 60 degree temps. Especially when outside, its in the teens.

With a temp comfortable work space you'll spend way more time there and enjoy it. You won't regret heating the garage, if you like working in it.