Garage stove suggestions

[Jason_in_AK]

I'm planning on putting in a super insulated garage this summer so I don't have to have my truck plugged in all the time. I was originally going to put a wood stove in the garage, but then it occurred to me I could reduce a lot of potential heat loss by putting in a pellet stove that could vent through the wall instead, leaving me with an unbroken ceiling. The dimensions are probably going to be 16x28 with a 10 foot ceiling. What I'm looking for is a low-maintenance, large hopper capacity stove that can keep the garage at 30-40 or so when it's below -70 outside, (yes, it really gets that cold here!). It doesn't have to be pretty.

Also, is 5-6 foot clearance from the front of the stove to the vehicle going to be enough room, or should I perhaps make the garage a little longer?

I appreciate any suggestions and advice.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I don't think code will allow you to do that.

But in any event do a heat loss calculation to find out how many BTU/hr you'll need then go from there.

 

[Scoop]

You might be able to do it in Alaska. God they shoot wolves from planes there.

 

[Jason_in_AK]

Exactly which part will code not allow you to do? There are actually no building codes here at all, but I want to try and keep things to code for resale value anyway.

 

[buildingmaint]

Garage + car = GAS , GAS = gas fumes , gas fumes + wood burning stove = FIRE , OR BOOOMMMMMM.

 

[Jason_in_AK]

Hrmm, just read some other stuff about it that suggests insurance doesn't cover solid fuel burners in garages. Oh well.. still not shooting any wolves though.

 

[Scoop]

Hi Jason. Sorry for that bad attempt at a joke.

 

[Jason_in_AK]

No worries.. aerial wolf hunts are one of the only things I hate about my state

So now I'm thinking I'll put something like a Toyo/Monitor oil heater in the garage to keep it just at or above freezing in the winter, (I can't imagine there would be a problem with those, but somebody please tell me if I'm wrong), and put Pex in the foundation for the glorious, (but probably distant), time in the future when I can afford to move to a wood boiling system with heat pumped in from another building.

It does seem odd to me that things like propane heaters and dryers with open flames are kosher, but pellet stoves are not.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

solid fueled heaters are taboo in garages , nfpa-211 specifically states that, which is why insurance companies (who read such codebooks) are reluctant to underwrite for that due to the "boom factor" posted above. that said its neglected in many cases though if a fire happened insurance would probably drop you if they paid and possibly wouldnt even pay then drop you anyway.

 

[Mr Whitfield]

What about the gas water heater with a pilot light, and a gas furnace I have both of these in my garage, I not park a car in the garage, but I do have a pellet stove. I do not store any flammables in my garage..

 

[Scoop]

No Fire -- No problem.

Don't give an insurance company an excuse not to pay your claim.

 

[pegdot]

What about the gas water heater with a pilot light, and a gas furnace I have both of these in my garage, I not park a car in the garage, but I do have a pellet stove. I do not store any flammables in my garage..

That's exactly what I've been wondering. Gas appliance with a constant pilot light is okay but a wood burning appliance is not???? :-S

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

I don't think it is the fact there is a fire is the problem. It sounds like more of an issue with not being able to shut the fuel supply off and quench the fire. I've never looked into it in detail as I haven't had the urge to put such a device in a garage. The prohibition is for solid fuel appliances which actually covers more than just wood burners.

 

[Burn1]

So now I'm thinking I'll put something like a Toyo/Monitor oil heater in the garage to keep it just at or above freezing in the winter, (I can't imagine there would be a problem with those, but somebody please tell me if I'm wrong), and put Pex in the foundation for the glorious, (but probably distant), time in the future when I can afford to move to a wood boiling system with heat pumped in from another building.

It does seem odd to me that things like propane heaters and dryers with open flames are kosher, but pellet stoves are not.

I hope to heat my garage before next winter. Right now it'll probably be oil or propane, but I had considered pellets. I wasn't aware of the rules/code against solid fuel burning. Everyone I know that has heat in their garage, has a woodstove. I don't want to deal with firewood.

This is the propane fired unit I have in mind, and am leaning towards--Modine HotDawg

(broken link removed)

 

[Jason_in_AK]

I don't think it is the fact there is a fire is the problem. It sounds like more of an issue with not being able to shut the fuel supply off and quench the fire.

Hadn't thought about the no easy shutoff factor.. that makes sense.

 

[HD41]

I'm planning on putting in a super insulated garage this summer so I don't have to have my truck plugged in all the time. I was originally going to put a wood stove in the garage, but then it occurred to me I could reduce a lot of potential heat loss by putting in a pellet stove that could vent through the wall instead, leaving me with an unbroken ceiling. The dimensions are probably going to be 16x28 with a 10 foot ceiling. What I'm looking for is a low-maintenance, large hopper capacity stove that can keep the garage at 30-40 or so when it's below -70 outside, (yes, it really gets that cold here!). It doesn't have to be pretty.

Also, is 5-6 foot clearance from the front of the stove to the vehicle going to be enough room, or should I perhaps make the garage a little longer?

I appreciate any suggestions and advice.

I bought a propane ventless heater to heat my garage and then found out they had to be vented in some manner and so I returned it. My bedroom was above the garage and I didn't want to take the "big sleep". Northern has through the wall heater propane or natural with blowers and thermostat 18000 BTU for $499. This should keep the chill off. If you need greater capacity, consider through the wall heaters used in campers and mobile homes. You might find one used. My garage is in the basement and it had a zone for the downstairs but the oil furnace always overheated the rest of the house. My solution was to modify my system so 90% of the heat goes to the garage. I run my stove 24/7 but when I want to work in the garage in milder weather I shut down the pellet stove. I only heat the garage "as Needed", The 130000 BTU furnace doesn't even breath heavy to warm things up.