Electric garage heaters ?

[oldspark]

Interesting. I had thought the woodstove prohibition was only for garages on the thinking that there may be stoves gasoline or other volatile chemicals in a garage that could get ignited. I certainly see a lot of barns and even large shed workshops around here with stovepipes.

Yep does not seem to be a problem here either, do they allow you to have a welder in the shop, seems like more of an issue then a wood stove.

 

[Swedishchef]

In the town where I live, most people have bigger garages (or shops, whatever you want to use as a name) than they do houses. My garage is not big. And it is well insulated. I bought a great heater and it takes no time to heat the place...

http://www.ouellet.com/residential-heating-specs-usa.aspx?i=56

I didnt want to lose storage space for clearance issues in my garage. PLUS it would have cost me about $600 for a stove and another $600-$700 in stove pipe, chimney, etc. That is a pile of electricity....especially at the low cost where I live.
Andrew

 

[oldspark]

Our rates are high here, any thing electric raised the bill dramaticly.

 

[Swedishchef]

Our rates are high here, any thing electric raised the bill dramaticly.

Average of about 7 cents /kWh here

 

[Highbeam]

Two things. The county/city or other AHJ can prohibit the garage stove and your insurance company can prohibit a garage stove. They can also both interpret what a garage is. To you it's a shop, to them it may be a garage.

Finally, the insurance company has no duty to accomodate you. If they say no then you must choose to buy insurance elsewhere. Even if the insurance allows it, an illegal installation (if unpermitted it is deemed illegal by your AHJ) will give your insurance company the right to deny your claim.

You need both insurance AND AHJ to agree to allow it. You want protection from liability should your shop burn and somebody be hurt. Even the firefighter that dies while trying to put out your shop can ruin you financially since you are "at fault" due to your illegal installation.

 

[oldspark]

Well I know a guy who collected insurance for a shop that burnt up and it had a wood burner in it so I just assumed it's not a problem in this area.

 

[Highbeam]

Well I know a guy who collected insurance for a shop that burnt up and it had a wood burner in it so I just assumed it's not a problem in this area.

That's a chance I'd take on a 5000$ shed. It's not a chance I'd take on my home, shop, cars, or on the medical expenses of the people hurt as a result of the fire.

You'd hope that all parties involved would be able to find that something legal caused the fire but I know fire marshals and when they can't figure it out they will blame it on the stove or electrical. I bet lots of people do their own unpermitted electrical work in barns too, that's another big risk that you don't realize until it is too late.

 

[oldspark]

Not hand cuffed by that stuff here in the middle of no where, you seem angry, not my fault things are different here in the mid west, many parts of the country I could not stand to live.
By the way I am not taking a chance on any thing but you make it sound like I am, my insurance company knows what I have.

 

[oldspark]

"That's a chance I'd take on a 5000$ shed."
Where the hell do you get a $5000 shed, way more then that tied up in it, my SIL (who has a wood burner in his) has way more money in his then I do.

 

[oldspark]

So high beam do yu have a wood burner in your house, I guess I dont get where you are coming from, like I said you seem angry about something.

 

[Highbeam]

So high beam do yu have a wood burner in your house, I guess I dont get where you are coming from, like I said you seem angry about something.

Of course I have a stove in my house. Permitted and legal and insured. My shed does not have a stove and I am bitter about it. In my case, state farm is the insurer and a large company, they refused to allow a stove in an outbuilding. The value of the buildings is one thing but the liability you have in the injury or death of people is far larger. Even after you sell the home, the liability follows you if you leave the stove in place.

Ever heard of ignorant bliss? If you really thought it was acceptable to have a stove in your barn then why don't you get AHJ and insurance approval in writing? You may think you have the answers but that is only because you have never asked the questions.

 

[oldspark]

"Ever heard of ignorant bliss?"
I love the smell of condescending in the morning.
All I did was tell you some have collected insurance for a fire in a shop.
Dont have one in my shop but am going to call insurance company before I install it.
Not sure why you think your part of the world is the same as every where else, codes and regulations vary a lot from state to state.
You said you were bitter about it-no shiit.

 

[Highbeam]

"Ever heard of ignorant bliss?"
I love the smell of condescending in the morning.
All I did was tell you some have collected insurance for a fire in a shop.
Dont have one in my shop but am going to call insurance company before I install it.
Not sure why you think your part of the world is the same as every where else, codes and regulations vary a lot from state to state.
You said you were bitter about it-no shiit.

Dude, you shot three rapid fire posts at me and then gripe that I responded?

I'm bitter but knowledgable due to my experience on this. We're talking about national fire codes and national insurance companies, your location is not that special.

 

[Swedishchef]

What ever happened to the talk about electric garage heaters?!

 

[oldspark]

3 posts because I did not take the time to put it into one, I did not gripe cause you responded, did you read my post, you seem to think I dont have a clue and stated as such, they collected insurance on a fire in a shop so where the hell was the fire marshal in that?

 

[oldspark]

What ever happened to the talk about electric garage heaters?!

What electric heaters?

 

[oldspark]

Just got off the phone with my insurance company, THEY have no problem with it what so ever and no raise in price.

 

[Ashful]

(crickets...)

 

[Pallet Pete]

(crickets...)

What happened while I was away ? Wow. So here is the thing guys solid fuel is banned in my county for a garage my style. I just had the inspector and fire marshall out for an inspection. It's a no go unfortunately. I can only install natural gas or electric heat. Looks like I will finish insulating the doors and install an electric heater probably a 7500 watt.

Pete

 

[Highbeam]

It's a no go unfortunately.
Pete

At least you asked and know the real answer before spending money.

7500 watts is decent heater. 240 volts means it is a 31.25 amp appliance and that means you need a 40 amp circuit. 8 gauge romex will do it. This will be similar to an oven circuit in your house.

 

[Swedishchef]

Did ya decide on a heater? Check out the type ones I mentioned. I find it works great and is fairly efficient!

GOod luck!

Andrew

 

[Mr A]

I think the ban on a solid fuel heat source could have something to do with flammable vapors from vehicles and equipment, stored solvents, paint, etc. Even a NG water heater in a garage can be dangerous,pilot light igniting fumes. Most gas water heaters are on a raised platform now, but that wasn't code before many had to learn the hard way. Unfortunately, learning the hard way is how most building codes are upgraded.

 

[Highbeam]

I think the ban on a solid fuel heat source could have something to do with flammable vapors from vehicles and equipment, stored solvents, paint, etc. Even a NG water heater in a garage can be dangerous,pilot light igniting fumes. Most gas water heaters are on a raised platform now, but that wasn't code before many had to learn the hard way. Unfortunately, learning the hard way is how most building codes are upgraded.

In my county, I can still install a woodstove in the garage but it must be elevated 18" just like a gas water heater for this reason. 18" to flame, spark, or glow is their actual comment.