Workshop Heater: Heaters and their Suitability For Workshop Heating

How Natural Gas Heaters Work:

The unit heater is activated when heat is necessary. The fuel comes from your natural gas line or propane tank, and it flows through a gas valve into the unit. Inside, a spark or pilot flame ignites the fuel which produces a flame in the heat exchanger. Once the heat exchanger reaches its preset temperature, a fan turns on and forces space air through the now-warm heat exchanger.

The air that comes into the heat exchanger takes on the heat from the exchanger, making the discharge air temperature warmer. As fuel is burned, by-products of combustion leave through a vent pipe which might also be called a chimney or flue pipe.

Natural Gas or Propane (LPG) unit heaters, Which are the best for Garages & Workshops?

Advantages of gas or propane unit heaters in garages or workshops:

• Efficient: Gas and propane unit heaters are highly efficient, which means they can quickly heat a space, ideal through the winter months.
• Convenient: These heaters are easy to install and use, and they come with a variety of features to customize the heating experience.
• Safe: Unit heaters are safe to use and have a number of safety features, such as an automatic shut-off if the flame goes out.
• Durable: Gas and propane unit heaters are built to last, making them a wise investment for your garage or workshop.

Disadvantages of gas or propane unit heaters in garages or workshops:

• Costly: Natural gas and propane units tend to be more expensive than electric heaters.
• Requires Ventilation: Unit heaters must be vented properly, which can add to the cost and complexity of installation.

Overall, if you’re looking for a highly efficient, convenient, and safe heating solution for your garage or workshop, then gas or propane unit heaters are the best choice. Whether you choose natural gas or propane depends on your budget and preferences, but both offer excellent performance and convenience.

Workshop heater Unit

Workplaces and garages that use gas and propane for heating units exhaust air in a horizontal direction into the room. Airflow may be adjusted vertically by rotating the adjustable louvres. Horizontal louvres are available from most major manufacturers, allowing for side-to-side airflow adjustment.

Venting types and heat exchanger designs for gas and propane unit heaters can be divided into numerous categories, depending on the type of venting and heat exchanger design:

There are several types of flues:

Natural draught

Natural draught unit heaters are a good choice for some workshop heating because they're low cost and have a compact design. The term natural draught refers to a heater that vents naturally, without the assistance of a fan. A natural draught heater uses the air in the garage or workshop for combustion. The products of combustion rise out of the unit heater through a flue pipe to the outdoors. Natural draught workshop heaters are often less expensive than others because their flueing costs tend to be lower; however, you must ensure that all following conditions exist:

1) If your workshop or garage is under a negative pressure, you will experience safety issues and your products of combustion will not vent properly. This happens when air is being exhausted from the space without any replacement source of make-up air or combustion air.

2) Flue pipes must be routed a specific way for natural draught warm air heaters to function properly because they rely on hot air rising. It is better to route the flue pipe vertically through the roof of your garage or workshop, though horizontal flueing is much more difficult. If you choose to go through the roof, it can become expensive since you need to seal the hole in the roof completely so no weather gets in. You must also follow the manufacturer’s detailed installation instructions carefully.

3) It is crucial that the air in your workspace is clean if you plan to use a natural draught flued workshop heater, since the air inside the heated space is necessary for combustion. If you would feel comfortable lighting a match in your workshop or garage, then it should be safe to run this type of heater. However, if there are any dusts or fumes present which could catch fire (this is common in woodworking shops), select a separated combustion design as explained below.

Fan assisted or Powered flue Workshop Heaters

A fan assisted or powered flue warm air heater unit is like a natural draught heater with an incorporated flue boost fan. When the demand for heat arises, the booster fan activates to ensure that combustion products are properly fanned.

The most frequent and popular style of gas and propane heating equipment for workshops and garages is a boiler assisted heater, which requires no booster fan. Horizontal flueing is quite simple. Most flueing in a workshop or garage is done via the sidewall to avoid expensive roof changes. Gravity flued units are being phased out by several major manufacturers, who are instead using power ventilated ones as standard.

Room Sealed Workshop Heaters

Room sealed garage and workshop heaters are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Whereas traditional heaters rely on space air for combustion, room sealed heaters are sealed from the surrounding area. This means that they are more efficient and cause less pollution. Room Sealed warm air unit heaters also have two flue pipes, which helps to remove any products of combustion back outside quickly and efficiently.

With this combustion design, you no longer have to worry about using up all the air in your space. Therefore, Room Sealed unit heaters are great to use in a woodworking shop because there is usually a lot of dust that could easily ignite with an open flame. Not only does it make life easier, but these types of heaters are also slightly more efficient due its ability to not consume the heated air around it for combustion purposes.

Many manufacturers provide a concentric flue kit to improve heater efficiency. With this, you only need to penetrate your roof or wall once. The exhaust gases from the heater preheat the cold external combustion air, resulting in warmer air.

Workshop Heater – Options and Accessories:

A workshop heater may be equipped with a wide range of options and attachments to meet your unique demands and requirements. Wall-mounted thermostats, high-volume fans, air deflectors and flue caps are all typical accessories used in workshop and garage heating. If you're unsure what to get, consult our knowledgeable sales staff who will recommend the best buy, most appropriate device for your needs.

Installation Overview:

1. Heating systems for workshops can be hung from the ceiling or installed directly to the wall. Flexiheat can supply appropriate brackets for either choice. Alternatively, we may construct a floor-mounted model.
2. Install the gas or propane (LPG) pipe work
3. Remove and replace the flue pipe.
4. Connect a low-voltage wall thermostat to the heater.
5. The dryer's electrical connection to the warm air heater is changed when this occurs. This is generally 24 volts of power in workshops and garages.

If you’re looking for an easy and efficient way to heat your workshop, then a natural gas unit heater may be the right choice for you. Contact Winrow Ltd today to learn more about our products and how they can benefit you.