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Infrared Tube Heater in Uninsulated Shop

troubleshooter | Posted in General Questions on

I have an uninsulated shop at our CO vacation home and don’t want to spend the money (yet) for insulation and insulated doors. I do need to work in there on occasion during the winter months. If I place an infrared tube heater at the 14′ level it should have a radiation pattern of 28′ or greater. Since these heaters will heat the floor an objects first wouldn’t this heater be good for this purpose?

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Replies

  1. walta100 | | #1

    I think it will work well for you but understand the higher you mount the heater the less heat you will feel and anything to close may get to hot.

    Walta

  2. Expert Member
    Akos | | #2

    I've worked often in shops heated by fuel fired tube heaters. They do work quite well, just don't get too far from under it. The 28' wide pattern is optimistic.

    1. troubleshooter | | #3

      Thanks. The manufacturer claims 1.8 to 2.2 x your height= area covered so if the heater was 14' high should be approx 28'.
      Having said that my bay down the center of the shop has a 12' wide door so I work in that area. If I can heat an area lets say 16-18' wide that would be fine. The equipment I am working on would be warm and the area on each side would be too.
      I hope too much heat doesn't rise up but if it does I could mount a tarp above the heater. Center section is 20' tall, sides are 12'- a typically western style barn like this
      https://www.barnsandbuildings.com/barns/the-western/

      I have a 75k btu torpedo heater there but it only heats the small area directly in front of it. Also built a nice wood stove with stainless steel secondary combustion tubes but same thing- only heats your front side not your back. Hoping the infrared tube heater will heat the slab, the equipment and me - like the sun

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