Shop heaters

nowires · Nov 9, 2014

SO I am on the search for heaters and came across these. I just don't know is it is worth spending the extra for the 93 efficient heater

http://www.qcsupply.com/shop-by/brand/modine/propane-heater/modine-effinity-93-model-ptc.html

http://www.qcsupply.com/shop-by/brand/modine/propane-heater/modine-hot-dawg-heater.html

From what I have tried to figure out it would save me about $5 per 1,000,000 btus. It seams like it would take 10 years to pay for the difference.

1982cj7 · Nov 9, 2014

We had a choice like that for our home furnace but the salesman told us you have to clean and kind of tune them up to get the 93-95% efficiency out of them. We went with the lower one and have only had one problem in 15 years.

dfowlkes · Nov 9, 2014

1982cj7 said:
We had a choice like that for our home furnace but the salesman told us you have to clean and kind of tune them up to get the 93-95% efficiency out of them. We went with the lower one and have only had one problem in 15 years.

The non condensing unit will lI've much longer

Trail Beast · Nov 9, 2014

dfowlkes said:
The non condensing unit will lI've much longer

True
For a Shop heater, it wouldn't be worth the extra expense of the 90%+ unless sidewall discharge venting is your only option.
Are you running LP? It might be worth the extra, to save LP.

I have a couple used Reznor, 75K btu unit heaters for sale $350 ea.
They've got electronic ignition, & run on natural gas. They could be converted to propane with a kit. The kits usually run about $150, & an hour to do the conversion.
Installed, I would typically sell for around $2500K with venting and gas supply up to 50' from the appliance to tie in.

How big is your shop?

Out of the choices you listed there. The Hot Dawg is a better unit for head room in a shop.

Murkman · Nov 9, 2014

I just installed a 100,000 btu Dayton unit heater. Got it new off EBay for $595.00. It shipped for $65.00. I get to see how well it really works later this week. The idea is to keep the shop 50ish (2500 sg ft with 14' ceiling.

dfowlkes · Nov 9, 2014

Trail Beast said:
True
For a Shop heater, it wouldn't be worth the extra expense of the 90%+ unless sidewall discharge venting is your only option.
Are you running LP? It might be worth the extra, to save LP.

I have a couple used Reznor, 75K btu unit heaters for sale $350 ea.
They've got electronic ignition, & run on natural gas. They could be converted to propane with a kit. The kits usually run about $150, & an hour to do the conversion.
Installed, I would typically sell for around $2500K with venting and gas supply up to 50' from the appliance to tie in.

How big is your shop?

Out of the choices you listed there. The Hot Dawg is a better unit for head room in a shop.

You can vent 80%ers out the wall with a tjurnland style vent kit

Trail Beast · Nov 10, 2014

dfowlkes said:
You can vent 80%ers out the wall with a tjurnland style vent kit

Power vented, or a 90* outside the building, but not horizontal termination.

War-Jeeper · Nov 12, 2014

I think in a shop the regular one would be fine, i just put a 98.7% furnace in my house though but it gets used all the time my shop heater barely ever gets turned on just not worth the extra coin and hassle of the drain for it

Trail Beast · Nov 12, 2014

War-Jeeper said:
I think in a shop the regular one would be fine, i just put a 98.7% furnace in my house though but it gets used all the time my shop heater barely ever gets turned on just not worth the extra coin and hassle of the drain for it

The reason 90% efficient + have a shorter life span is due to the corrosion of the moisture it harvests during it's burn. The seals, or parts that support them fail.
80%er's are more reliable, but still have to deal with ambient moisture corrosion.