What should be gas heaters for a garage

A private garage is a place for storing a personal car and a workshop where spare parts are stored and minor repairs are organized. Units of garage buildings have central heating, and it is possible to lay electrical connections only in rare cases. All this forces users to look for some other source of heating, one of which is a gas heater for a garage.

Specifications

The main characteristics of gas heaters for garages include:

• type of device (infrared, convector, catalyst, etc.);
• developed thermal power in watts;
• installation method (wall or floor);
• dimensions and weight;
• life time.

Each of the indicators under consideration fully characterizes a particular model and helps to choose a unit suitable for a garage.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of gas heaters for a garage, operating from a separate cylinder, are:

• compactness and mobility;
• low cost of the equipment itself and fuel for it;
• availability of energy sources;
• environmental friendliness (no combustion waste);
• ease of use;
• long service life (15–20 years);
• the speed of heating the room.

The operational safety of this heating method is not in doubt if the necessary precautions are taken when using gas, which imply the organization of effective ventilation (forced or natural).

It is possible to consider the danger of an explosion of a gas mixture as a disadvantage of the considered units only if the rules of their operation are violated.

Varieties of gas heaters

According to the method of installation, the known samples of gas heaters are divided into wall-mounted models and mobile floor-standing units. The first ones are made in the form of a convector designed for main mixtures, which are dominated by light methane. They will need to bring a separate channel with fuel and equip the chimney.

According to their structure and principle of operation, industrial gas heaters are divided into the following types:

• convectors;
• infrared devices;
• heat guns;
• catalytic devices.

Each of these options has its pros and cons and requires separate consideration.

Infrared heaters (ceramic appliances)

The operation of IR devices is based on the principle of the thermal effect from the action of e / m waves of a certain frequency. Infrared rays without delay spread through the manned room and heat the surfaces in the way: walls, ceilings and furnishings. From them the accumulated heat is transferred to the air.

The source of radiation in such a device is an open gas flame or a ceramic heating element that receives energy from the combusted fuel. The generated IR rays are collected in a special reflector and spread in the desired direction. The advantages of infrared gas equipment include:

• independence from the power grid;
• compactness and efficiency;
• noiselessness of work;
• ecological cleanliness.

The disadvantage of such heaters is the impossibility of heating large areas (narrow focus of thermal action).

For small spaces, propane IR emitters are optimal, made in the form of ceramic ovens with a built-in cylinder or as compact gas-heated panels. Both devices are equipped with oxygen and gas leakage sensors, and also have automatic fire protection. Their capacity is sufficient to heat garage premises ranging from 4 to 40 sq. meters.

Convectors

Gas convectors for garages differ from other models by the presence of a ceramic / steel heat exchanger. This heating element is first heated with an open flame, and then gives off heat to the outside due to air convection. In its lower part, there are openings for the flow of cold air, and on top are the same ones for the exit of hot jets.

Convectors heat the room to a comfortable temperature for a long time, but they do it very efficiently - with minimal fuel consumption. Their advantages include the combustion of gas in a closed chamber and, as a result, the impossibility of the ingress of combustion products into the room. Gas convectors are mounted on the walls of the garage, in which a hole is made in advance for the chimney.

Heat guns

This type of heater is considered the fastest in terms of the speed of heating garage spaces. Heat guns have two versions, the first of which is based on the use of a built-in fan. An active electrical network is required to connect.

The second version of the product works due to the thrust generated by the combustion of gas. The power of such a heater is significantly lower, but in this case, you can do without electricity. The efficiency of use of both modifications depends on the quality of insulation of the garage structure. If the heated garage is not insulated at all, it makes no sense to count on a quick and good heating of the room.

Catalytic heaters

In IR heaters of this class, heat is generated due to the effect of catalysis - gas oxidation on a heated platinum-coated surface. In this case, an open flame as such is not observed, and propane is almost completely utilized. Indicators of efficiency and thermal power almost do not differ from those for infrared models.

The main disadvantage of catalytic devices is a short service life, since the catalyst installed in them is designed to operate for no more than 2–2.5 thousand hours. At the end of this period, the heater is simply thrown away. It is usually enough for one winter season.

Rules for choosing gas heaters for a garage

To choose the right gas heater for your personal garage, you should take into account the specific operating conditions. If you have to stay in the garage for a long time, it is best to purchase a convector. When, according to the working conditions, it needs to warm up quickly, it is wiser to use a heat gun.

IR heaters are ideal for maintaining a comfortable room temperature throughout the day. When evaluating catalytic devices, it is important to take into account their high price, which is justified by fire safety and minimal oxygen combustion. Ceramic models are characterized by a low price and long service life.

Safety engineering

Gas heaters belong to devices, during the operation of which it is important to comply with the following safety requirements:

• it is not allowed to cover the working part of the device with cloth things, which are sometimes hung out to dry;
• the garage must be ventilated;
• when using the unit, do not remove the protective grill from it;
• it is not allowed to direct heat radiation at flammable liquids, as well as at cloth and paper objects.

If the operating position of the unit is specifically stipulated in the user's manual, it is not allowed to change it to another placement option.

Overview of industrial models

Gas equipment, like a diesel heater for a garage that runs on diesel fuel, is not recommended to be done on your own. Experts advise purchasing industrial devices from a trusted manufacturer. The international holding Ballu Industrial Group with representative offices in 6 countries, including Russia, China and Japan, has established itself well in the domestic market.

Another well-known company Kovea from South Korea specializes in gas equipment, almost half of which is sold in the Russian markets. The well-known Swedish concern Timberk, which produces modern water heaters, as well as thermal and climatic equipment, is equally popular.

An example of a model specifically designed for a garage is the TGH 4200 X1 ceramic heater with a floor stand. HPV GmbH is not such a company known to most Russians. A sample of her products is a portable infrared heater “4200 ZS” with a power of 4.3 kW.

Homemade gas heaters for the garage

The main advantage of such a device is that it does not require expensive branded parts. In this case, it is possible to get by with the accessories available at the disposal of any garage owner.

Preparation of materials

To make a gas heater, you will need to prepare:

• branded burner with a valve;
• a sheet of tin of a suitable size;
• scissors for tin;
• electric drill with a set of drills;
• riveter and rivets to it.

To make a protective grill, you will need a piece of a fine-mesh metal mesh of the desired shape.

Assembling the structure

The structure is assembled as follows:

1. The outline of the future housing of the heater with four rectangular ears is drawn on the sheet metal blank.
2. According to the marking, a workpiece with cuts that do not have burrs is cut out.
3. The torch is bolted to the tube-shaped housing with lugs.
4. The ears on the other end are used to fix the safety net.

As a result of assembly, a heater with sheet metal walls and working ends is obtained.