A new shop in the making #22: A real test of the infrared gas heater

Bob Looks like a great deal. Is it propane, natural gas or electric? And what has been your experience in operating cost.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

i will never moan when it gets to -1c/f again lol how do you manage in that weather mate

andy

-- cut it saw it scrap it

Kason, It’s a N/gas uit.
I haven’t checked my gas bill yet as this was the first cold snap this year. I put in a high efficeincy furnace in the house a few weeks ago too so it will be difficult to compare with last year.
The reports I have read suggest a 30 -40% reduction in natural gas usuage for the equivalent BTU output.

With the insulation etc. I am expecting to heat the cold months like this for about $35-$40 and less as it

warms. That’s what the president of Calcana told me I should expect right now.

Pommie, at the risk of bringing out “coldest day” war stories I will tell you that it was -73 Dec 15th 1964 . With the wind chiil, at the air base where I was working, it hit -90.
How do you cope???? I don’t know.
There’s no snakes or mosquitoes that’s for sure.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

It sure sounds like a good deal, Bob. Let us know how the cost comes out.

-- Thos. Angle

you know its cold when?.......................you have to slam the truck door because the latch is frozen and the hinges, which are also frozen, break, and the whole door is at your feet, and then you spit on the frozen door that has fallen off your frozen truck and the spit hits the window like a golf ball….....................and the window shatters …......I’m not personally fond of the cold but there are parts of Canada that get pretty darn cold and I am quite sure that the expression “freeze the balls of a brass monkey” came from some tall ship sailer who couldnt believe his eyes as he approached the shores of Canada in the winter.

If there is one good thing about heating bills right now, its that the price of fuel has dropped so I pray that I might stay gainfully employed because I have the same kinda heat system you have Bob.

Cheers

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Ever since 1999 the temperature of the winters have been getting colder.
I am beginning to wonder about the truth about global warming.
If these “experts” are wrong about the warming we are not concentating on the best solutions for increased carbon dioxide levels such as population controls through education and better use of our resources.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

1964 – was this not about the time that the scientists said that we were heading for another mini-ice-age in the next 50 years or so? Well you have to ask yourself the question what do the scientists really know?

The temperatures here in Finland used to be really cold up until 3 years ago – now the winter temperatures have risen a good 10°C. Great for the heating bills, but terrible for the environment – bears are coming out of hibernation in January, due to the warm unstable conditions.

Back onto your heating of the shop – It really sounds like a cosy place to be holed up in the winter – unfortunately my ceiling is not high enough and we have no natural gas to supply the heater, just electricity (and at 0.25€ [$0.35] a kW/h) which is too expensive, I will just have to stick with the wood burner.

You have made yourself a wonderful workshop, I am happy to see that you got all your equipment installed, before “She who must be obeyed” got a foot hold inside – are you still planning the window boxes for outside?

A great series of blogs, filled with information and some humour – thanks Bob

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

Sounds like a great heater Bob.Glad it’s working out ok for you.Had to chuckle at the “no snakes or mosquitoes” :-)

-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?

Tony:
At the risk of starting a climate debate, we had a few odd years over the last 40 or so that would lead you to believe that there was a dramatic change taking place but it seems that the weather is pretty much cyclical and bring us 2-3 years of this and then that.
Probably of more consequence today is the very rapid escalation of humans on the biosphere. Each will need a shelter and a steady stream of plant and animal materials to survive. Right now in Canada the Boreal forest is at risk due to pests not normally found in North America. That is a huge impact on the “carbon dioxide filter”. Too bad about the difficulty getting decent fuel prices in your area Tony. I think wood burners are definitely your best bet given the circumstances.

DustyGirl:
I am really pleased with is device for a shop as it responds so quickly and is very energy efficient.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Just noticed Roxul in the HD here in Brandon. Why did you choose this over the traditional pink stuff?

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

Hi Mark:
Roxul is denser and thus more noise proof. It is also fire rated which the pink is not.
So, I keep my neighbours happy from machine noise and my insurance down with the extra fire retardant protection.
It’s a lot easier to put in too with the more rigid batts.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Thanks, I think I need to do some more research on this…

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!