Space heaters in garages
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 309
Likes: 172
From: Western New York
Space heaters in garages
I live in a suburb of Buffalo, NY. Blizzard last week and 50's 5 days after. Does anyone reccomend using an electric space heater in garage to keep Temps above freezing for bike storage? I have a 2 1/2 car garage with a drop ceiling and walls are insulated. An electric space heater has to be better than $450 to store at the dealer, right? If you know of a brand or certain one, suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
Popular Reply
Jan 1, 2023, 06:30 PM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 2,109
From: Masshole
Why do you have to heat your bike? Makes zero difference. Throw it on a tender and ride it when it's warm, rinse and repeat.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,281
Likes: 3,418
From: Idaho Panhandle
I live in Idaho. It stayed around 15F-25F for several weeks and we’ve had well over 4’ of snow. The difference here, we get 3”-6” every 12 hours when we have snow. Clear and cold in between.
We have a two car garage, insulated by 1990’s standards. I use two oil filled heaters at 1/2 power setting(750 watt) and half dial heat setting. Only other factor is our water heater is in an alcove connected to the garage.
My wife leaves and returns about once a day. Rapid air cooling, but does not cool the structure so it warms back quickly after the double garage door closes. My garage stays at 40F. Warm enough to work in. Temps rise to about 50F when air temp outside rises to 32F+.
I have milk house heaters, propane heaters, kerosene heaters, but prefer the slow constant temperature controlled oil filled heaters. My bike is on a carpet runner that I got from Home Depot. It is covered loosely with an old bedroom queen size sheet to keep dust off yet allow it to breath.
Oil filled heaters are low and slow. Designed to be on. The other advantage to me is when I come in the side door, my gloves and wool cap get thrown on one heater and if my shoes/boots are wet, the sit on top of the other one. Next time I go out to shovel, gloves are warm, boots are dry and warm.
Im not saying this is the best solution, but it is mine. This is the same system and units I used in my older home, only partially insulated garage. I had the milk house heaters(2) if I needed extra heat while working on projects. Haven’t needed them in this circa 1990’s garage. Bikes, tractor with plow and snow blower take up my half, wife’s car the other.
In the big blows, when power goes, I use my wilderness tent kerosene heater.
If I tried something different, I’d try the mica heater. But my oil heaters are likely to be working long after I’m gone.
We have a two car garage, insulated by 1990’s standards. I use two oil filled heaters at 1/2 power setting(750 watt) and half dial heat setting. Only other factor is our water heater is in an alcove connected to the garage.
My wife leaves and returns about once a day. Rapid air cooling, but does not cool the structure so it warms back quickly after the double garage door closes. My garage stays at 40F. Warm enough to work in. Temps rise to about 50F when air temp outside rises to 32F+.
I have milk house heaters, propane heaters, kerosene heaters, but prefer the slow constant temperature controlled oil filled heaters. My bike is on a carpet runner that I got from Home Depot. It is covered loosely with an old bedroom queen size sheet to keep dust off yet allow it to breath.
Oil filled heaters are low and slow. Designed to be on. The other advantage to me is when I come in the side door, my gloves and wool cap get thrown on one heater and if my shoes/boots are wet, the sit on top of the other one. Next time I go out to shovel, gloves are warm, boots are dry and warm.
Im not saying this is the best solution, but it is mine. This is the same system and units I used in my older home, only partially insulated garage. I had the milk house heaters(2) if I needed extra heat while working on projects. Haven’t needed them in this circa 1990’s garage. Bikes, tractor with plow and snow blower take up my half, wife’s car the other.
In the big blows, when power goes, I use my wilderness tent kerosene heater.
If I tried something different, I’d try the mica heater. But my oil heaters are likely to be working long after I’m gone.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,887
From: Newcastle, OK
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,534
Likes: 8,369
From: Inland NW
Do you have 240v in your garage? You could add easily enough, and go with one of these:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...1888_200631888
I have a 3 1/2 car garage, and actually have a gas furnace out there to heat it.
I have always had heated garages, the investment is worth it, not just for the bike.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...1888_200631888
I have a 3 1/2 car garage, and actually have a gas furnace out there to heat it.
I have always had heated garages, the investment is worth it, not just for the bike.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 543
From: SC
Heater
Do you have 240v in your garage? You could add easily enough, and go with one of these:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...1888_200631888
I have a 3 1/2 car garage, and actually have a gas furnace out there to heat it.
I have always had heated garages, the investment is worth it, not just for the bike.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...1888_200631888
I have a 3 1/2 car garage, and actually have a gas furnace out there to heat it.
I have always had heated garages, the investment is worth it, not just for the bike.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
I keep two cars and my Heritage in my 2.5 car garage. It stays fairly warm in winter due to waste heat from the house. All the walls have insulation. 10-ft + ceiling. Two walls are interior. Garage doors leak and have no real insulation. During the recent cold snap (got to -5 with severe wind chill) the garage temp got to 30F with interior house at 71F. No reason to heat it all the time. When I want to work or play (have a golf simulator) in the garage I use a propane heater like the one shown below. Have used it for about 5 years and no CO issues.
Mr. Heater 30000-BTU Portable Outdoor Propane Tank Top Propane Heater in the Propane Heaters department at Lowes.com
Mr. Heater 30000-BTU Portable Outdoor Propane Tank Top Propane Heater in the Propane Heaters department at Lowes.com
Trending Topics
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 5,889
From: Knoxville
Batteries don`t like extreme cold and will age quickly even with a trickle charge applied. Also, he said something about a hot water heater in an alcove connected to the garage.... Don`t know if that would be affected by the cold, unless there was no heat around its connected piping.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 734
Likes: 319
From: Rochester NY
I put a good cover on mine and add a 60 watt old school light bulb under it. Keeps condensation down and gives enough warmth that I'm not getting a new battery every other year. I've gotta plan for what to do when old bulbs go instinct.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 309
Likes: 172
From: Western New York
I will not take out bike if it even gets in to the 60's. The roads are usually white, covered in salt. Made that mistake once. Haha. Very difficult to wash. It's an entire production lol... bikes sweat alot with temp fluctuations. Once it's put to sleep, it stays that way until April or May. Sad, but that's what we do up here.