Heating The Shed...Method?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
The drop lightwould be my choice also and I plan on giving it a try this season.Never had a heated area and never had a problem other than condensation.And that is not really a problem,spring time is always clean up time anyway.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
I wouldn't worry about condensation. Where would the moisture come from? The colder the temperature, the drier the air is. Just hook up the battery to the tender, and let her hibernate! She'll be fine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
If the bike is a 2007 or up......start it up Dec 1st and get it to full operating temp, then drive it into shed, shut it off, jump out and slam the shed doors shut...should stay warm in there until April...[8D]
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
ORIGINAL: IronLegend
I have a 15'x11' (I/D measurement) shedthat has a cement slab floor with insulatedwalls and ceiling (pink fiberglass). I would like to heat the interior enough for the winter while the bike is stored in it.
Currently there is no heat source and I don't want to use wood, natural gas or fuel oil.I have one of those small black ceramic electrical heaters and a 5-fin oil filled electric heater that I was considering using. Do I have any other options...what are some of you doing in this regard or do I have the dealer store it for me attheir place? Tks.
Tom
I have a 15'x11' (I/D measurement) shedthat has a cement slab floor with insulatedwalls and ceiling (pink fiberglass). I would like to heat the interior enough for the winter while the bike is stored in it.
Currently there is no heat source and I don't want to use wood, natural gas or fuel oil.I have one of those small black ceramic electrical heaters and a 5-fin oil filled electric heater that I was considering using. Do I have any other options...what are some of you doing in this regard or do I have the dealer store it for me attheir place? Tks.
Tom
I don't get it? If it's just to keep the motorcycle warm I wouldn't bother. Dry is important, warm isn't a big deal.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 408
Likes: 5
From:
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
Line the slab with a thick mil plastic to keep moisture in concrete, cover bike and run a drop light under the bike and plug it into a timer so the sun keeps it warm during the day and the light kicks on..say about 6:00 pm and goes off at 9:00 am.......Keeping the shed on a thermal setting will only run constantly, is the inside sheetrock'd? mucho importante!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
Ironlegend, you don't say to what temperature you want to heat it too. I notice from your registration that you are in Ontario, so you probably get some cold temps like we do in Minnesotathat some of the previous people who have replied don't have experience with.
11x15 shed is the size of a bedroom, and with three exposed walls plus one more with a door in it, 1500 watts isn't going to keep up if you want it warm enough to stay above freezing. If you are just storing it, and not working on it, the ideas of putting it on a piece of plywood, to get it off the cement, put a cover over it, and the trouble light with an incandescent light bulb under it, will work great. Plug in a battery tender and you're good to go. Make sure you lay the light on something fire proof.
As others have said, the problem will be moisture in the spring coming up through the floor if it does not have a vapor barrier under the cement. To deal with that, take the cover off and just run a household box fan on low, pointed at your bike, for the couple of weeks you'll have before the ground thaws and the moisturewill no longer a problem.
I have a 22x24 fully insulated shop, and have a 12' run of electric wall heater on one side, and an overhead radiant heater on the other side over my workbench.
Here's is a calculator you can use. To get a 40 F degree rise in temps, using "average insulation" and assuming an 8 foot ceiling, you will need at least 7000 watts!
http://www.heatershop.com/btu_calculator.htm
11x15 shed is the size of a bedroom, and with three exposed walls plus one more with a door in it, 1500 watts isn't going to keep up if you want it warm enough to stay above freezing. If you are just storing it, and not working on it, the ideas of putting it on a piece of plywood, to get it off the cement, put a cover over it, and the trouble light with an incandescent light bulb under it, will work great. Plug in a battery tender and you're good to go. Make sure you lay the light on something fire proof.
As others have said, the problem will be moisture in the spring coming up through the floor if it does not have a vapor barrier under the cement. To deal with that, take the cover off and just run a household box fan on low, pointed at your bike, for the couple of weeks you'll have before the ground thaws and the moisturewill no longer a problem.
I have a 22x24 fully insulated shop, and have a 12' run of electric wall heater on one side, and an overhead radiant heater on the other side over my workbench.
Here's is a calculator you can use. To get a 40 F degree rise in temps, using "average insulation" and assuming an 8 foot ceiling, you will need at least 7000 watts!
http://www.heatershop.com/btu_calculator.htm
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
Manyuseful responses which got me re-thinking what I originallyintended to do. I'm assuming the existinginsulation would be insufficient as itwould bethe thickness required for a 2x4" framed wall with the shed exterior being 1/4" plywood and the interior is chipboard (aspenite). There is a small fuzebox in there containing 2 x 15amp. fuses for power distribution.
I didn't intend to do any work to the Harley over the winter, just storage and given the addedfact of electricity cost it would probably would have beencheaper to store itwith someone who provides heated storage for a couple hundred dollars or so till May/08.
What I think I will do now is park it in the shed on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood, take the battery inside the house for the winterand monitor the charge occasionally, cover the Harleywith a breathable cover I have and lay an incandescenttrouble light under it for a bit of warmth.
Thanksall.
Almost forgot, would a 60W bulb be sufficient for the purpose?
I didn't intend to do any work to the Harley over the winter, just storage and given the addedfact of electricity cost it would probably would have beencheaper to store itwith someone who provides heated storage for a couple hundred dollars or so till May/08.
What I think I will do now is park it in the shed on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood, take the battery inside the house for the winterand monitor the charge occasionally, cover the Harleywith a breathable cover I have and lay an incandescenttrouble light under it for a bit of warmth.
Thanksall.
Almost forgot, would a 60W bulb be sufficient for the purpose?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
this might sound odd, but I like to drink beer while I tinker with my bike, so why not put a fridge in your shop. The fridge puts off some heat, that will keep your bike warm, and it will put off some cool, that will keep the beer cool. the heat coming off the bottom of the fridge is great to dry your boots and leathers after a wet ride. And it's a great place to store stuff that you want to keep dry and cool. ymmv
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Heating The Shed...Method?
Did anyone mention or consider that when you heat a shed that has cold metal in it that all the condensation is attracted to the cold metal?! Therefore any moisture in the air will collect where you don't want it to..
I don't keep the heat on in my garage constantly but on occassons I do heat with one of thoes propane so-called ventless heaters... and when I do, I've noticed the "sweat" condensation collecting on all the metal and glass objects..
A fix for me is to run a de-humidifier during the heating times and after for a day to even things out. Bike covers etc keep dust off but won't stop the moisture..
DONT START THE BIKE in the winter unless you intend to ride it... and er do some maintenance... I know it's hard to keep from starting but you must remain calm...
I don't keep the heat on in my garage constantly but on occassons I do heat with one of thoes propane so-called ventless heaters... and when I do, I've noticed the "sweat" condensation collecting on all the metal and glass objects..
A fix for me is to run a de-humidifier during the heating times and after for a day to even things out. Bike covers etc keep dust off but won't stop the moisture..
DONT START THE BIKE in the winter unless you intend to ride it... and er do some maintenance... I know it's hard to keep from starting but you must remain calm...