Mini split for shop

[will-max dairy]

Personally I would not ditch the propane completely
There will be days the minis will not keep up

You might not need to go all in with the big radiant tube heaters, for your "emergency heat" though.

As stated above, a heat tape, or something like that can be the emergency method for the water.

Or...my personal choice for emergency heating in shop areas and such are those little radiant heaters that sit on a 20lb propane tank. Also handy for spot heating yourself if you're working in a cold shop. You just need to make sure there's a little fresh air to be had.

They're also a good example of how energy dense natural gas, LP gas, kerosene and such are... the little radiant heaters that I have, that sit on a 20lb propane tank are good for 36K BTUs... and they cost under a hundred bucks, but they'll drain a tank in 10 hours on that setting... I usually run them on the 9K BTU setting and use them just to keep me warm... not the whole shop.

These, and just about any other natural or LP gas radiant source, will also work when the electricity is out..which I'm sure you know... I only mention it as another reason why my emergency heat is something other than a bigger heat pump, another heat pump or a heating coil inside a heat pump.

I give the little 20lb heaters bonus points for giving use to the two 20lb tanks that we have around the farm... one for the gas grill... one for the torch in the shop (as propane is more economical for cutting and heating than acetylene).

 

[joeysmith]

You might not need to go all in with the big radiant tube heaters, for your "emergency heat" though.

As stated above, a heat tape, or something like that can be the emergency method for the water.

Or...my personal choice for emergency heating in shop areas and such are those little radiant heaters that sit on a 20lb propane tank. Also handy for spot heating yourself if you're working in a cold shop. You just need to make sure there's a little fresh air to be had.

They're also a good example of how energy dense natural gas, LP gas, kerosene and such are... the little radiant heaters that I have, that sit on a 20lb propane tank are good for 36K BTUs... and they cost under a hundred bucks, but they'll drain a tank in 10 hours on that setting... I usually run them on the 9K BTU setting and use them just to keep me warm... not the whole shop.

These, and just about any other natural or LP gas radiant source, will also work when the electricity is out..which I'm sure you know... I only mention it as another reason why my emergency heat is something other than a bigger heat pump, another heat pump or a heating coil inside a heat pump.

I give the little 20lb heaters bonus points for giving use to the two 20lb tanks that we have around the farm... one for the gas grill... one for the torch in the shop (as propane is more economical for cutting and heating than acetylene).

Yea main reason I'd keep them is they are already installed

 

[NDIHC]

Those make me woozy feeliing after working under one for a few hours

We have those at work. The one in my bay is basically turned off because I get too much heat from the one next to me. Today I checked the temperature of my bench, which is below part of the radiant heat in the next bay. My infrared thermometer showed 90 degrees F. The heat remains concentrated directly below the unit and I can't tolerate too much heat. Makes me feel sick and dizzy.

 

[joeysmith]

We have those at work. The one in my bay is basically turned off because I get too much heat from the one next to me. Today I checked the temperature of my bench, which is below part of the radiant heat in the next bay. My infrared thermometer showed 90 degrees F. The heat remains concentrated directly below the unit and I can't tolerate too much heat. Makes me feel sick and dizzy.

Very well could be that
Not really sure
Took awhile to make the connection that it was making me feel funny