Alright, let’s talk about these LP ceiling heaters. My journey with them started out of sheer desperation, really. My workshop, which is basically my oversized garage, used to be a no-go zone for about half the year. I mean, freezing. You try working on anything when you can’t feel your fingers, right?
First, I went the route everyone tries – those little electric space heaters. Plug ’em in, they glow, and they make a tiny bubble of warmth about six inches around them. My power bill, though? That thing went through the roof. It was ridiculous. I was spending a fortune to basically heat the air directly in front of the heater and nowhere else. Something had to change.
Figuring Out the “LP” Part
So, I started looking around, asking folks, reading up. Wood stove? Nah, too much mess, dealing with wood, the smoke, all that. Then someone, I think it was my neighbor, mentioned propane heaters. Specifically, he said, “You thought about an LP ceiling heater?” LP, liquid propane. Ceiling mounted. That got me thinking. Getting it off the floor sounded like a great idea – more space for my actual work, less chance of knocking it over.
Why LP, though? Well, running a new natural gas line out to the garage was going to be a massive, expensive project. And like I said, electric was already killing me. Propane seemed like a decent middle ground. Get a tank, hook it up. More oomph than electric, more manageable to install than natural gas for my setup.
The Great Heater Hunt and Installation Fun
Then came the fun part: picking one. Man, you wouldn’t believe the options. Radiant, forced air, different BTUs… it was a bit of a head-scratcher. I just wanted something that would, you know, heat the place without burning it down or costing me an arm and a leg every month. I eventually settled on a forced air unit, figured it would spread the heat around better in my drafty old garage.
Installation. Oh boy. I’m reasonably handy, or so I thought. Mounting the sucker to the ceiling joists was the first challenge. You gotta make sure that thing is secure. It’s not light. Took me a good afternoon of measuring, drilling, and a bit of swearing, if I’m honest. My wife just stayed inside, probably wise.
Then came the LP line. Now, I’m all for DIY, but messing with gas lines, even propane, makes you a little nervous. I double-checked, triple-checked every connection. Used that soapy water stuff to look for leaks. It’s not something you want to get wrong. I actually had a guy who knows his stuff look over my shoulder for that part, just to be safe. Peace of mind, you know?
And ventilation! That’s a big one. You’re burning fuel, you need to get rid of the exhaust. Almost overlooked how critical that was. Had to figure out the best way to vent it outside properly. Don’t skimp on ventilation, folks. Seriously.
Living With It
First time I fired it up? Magic. The whole garage actually got warm. Not just a little patch, but the whole space. I could finally work out there in a t-shirt in January. Game changer, absolute game changer.
It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. Let’s be real.
- It makes some noise. The fan kicks on, you hear it. Not deafening, but it’s there.
- Propane isn’t free. It definitely uses fuel, especially if you’re trying to heat a poorly insulated space from freezing. I quickly learned that insulating the garage better was just as important as the heater itself. That was another project it kicked off.
- There’s a bit of maintenance. Keeping an eye on things, making sure the vents are clear, that sort of stuff.
But honestly, after a couple of winters with it, I wouldn’t go back. The ability to use my workshop year-round is huge. It’s made such a difference to what I can get done. It wasn’t just about installing a heater; it was about reclaiming a part of my home, making it usable. Funny how one problem, a cold garage, leads you down a path of learning about BTUs, gas fittings, and the importance of a well-sealed window. You just kind of stumble into these things and figure them out as you go. That’s the way it usually works for me, anyway.