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My usual oil filled rad is leaking so I need a replacement but want to keep energy costs down. I’m only heating the mancave for short periods - turbo sessions. Usually I’d turn on the oil filled rad 90 mins before a workout to get the temp to about 10 degrees.
My mancave is an unlined breeze block out building / shed with single pane windows and a plastic corrugated roof. There gaps in the blocks so I’m not leaving the heating on as it’ll be terribly inefficient - and please don’t suggest structural changes as it’s coming down next summer to be replaced by a proper extension.
Anyway, for such short term heating is another oil filled rad the way to go or would a convector running for a shorter period ultimately be cheaper to run pre- workout?
Expanding foam in all the gaps as a starter.
Then look at draft excluders around the doors.
I'd probably just buy another oil radiator if you don't use it enough to justify expensive renovations
Infrared patio heater? Just switch on when you go out have it on while warm up switch off as soon as you are up to temp. One like they have in pub smoking areas. Got a couple at work for instant heat in a couple of the cold areas.
I reckon the convectors warm the air up faster than oil rads so for a quick warm up may work better for you as you maybe wouldn’t have to turn it on an hour and a half beforehand. I’m guessing you turn the heater off once you start a session, I’ve always had more problems being too hot than cold even in a shed with the door open.
I’m guessing you turn the heater off once you start a session, I’ve always had more problems being too hot than cold even in a shed with the door open.
That’s right, bearing in mind I’m asthmatic I’m just getting the shed to a point to 10 degrees, which I’ve found to be a comfortable start for a turbo session and then the heater goes off.
Our garage sounds of very similar construction, with some horrendous gaps around the double wooden doors and around part of the window frame.
I don't turbo down there, but I have a 5ft fish tank down there that needs to stay above 15C.
The garage has basic tarparlin sheet or two batoned to the walls and on top of the tarmac floor. A large, heavy duty sand sack hangs just inside the double doors. The external filter gives off a bit of heat to the garage air, while the tank has an internal filter and a 300W that rarely turns on set at 18C... The tank is wrapped in multiple sheets of bubble wrap and some blankets, arranged in a way I can partially dismantle easily to open the lid and feed the Mexican livebearers daily.
The only time I've had a temp crisis in there, despite a few nasty winter spells for Southampton, is after one time I forgot to turn the tank heater back on after a water change and an unexpected nippy night.
Oil filled rads are not the best for a quick uplift of temperature - they're more suited to being on for hours.
A simple convector heater is much more suitable for your situation and just as efficient.
Get two fan heaters. One of the bathroom ones that are wall mount and mount that one above you blowing down onto your back / neck and one facing up. Only run them when your in there.
Warm up before you go out there? A wee body weight work out, get a sweat going.
MTFU?
No wind chill, no need for thermals.
😉
I used to use the turbo in the garden when it was hovering about 0 degrees. Just dress up as if for a bike ride and strip down when you get warmer. The lack of any cooling airflow on a turbo is one of the major drawbacks; as your body temp goes up your heart rate climbs and messes up carefully thought out zones.
Put a jumper on and get going!
Do you avoid going for a ride outside unless the temp is above 10c? Seems a bit mad to heat a shed just to go and ride your bike in it.
Sigh.
No, im riding measured intervals in winter temps of sub 10 degrees. As mentioned im asthmatic, so hitting rapid exaggerated breathing in the cold and damp sub 10 degrees has me on my knees.
Sealing up gaps is the most important thing, that way you're just warming the garage, if it lets breezes through then you have to warm the entire world.
+1 for halogen/infrared type heat lamps- rather than heating the air, they heat what they're pointed at, which can be you. Though, with asthma I'm not sure that'll work as well as it normally would
Left field solution (sure that's what we're here for 🙂 ) I'm assuming you need to heat the air hitting your lungs until your body gets up to temp? How about a cycling mask? As I struggle to breathe through my nose I use one when winter commuting to heat the air, otherwise I end up with a horrible cough for the cold season.
Might be worth a shot, and can double up for supermarket shopping 🙂 otherwise fan heater probably the best option.
Oh dear! I think kryton was right in thinking all he needed was a cheap convection heater but I see we are now into fetish wear😷😀
With. A forum name of “Rubber_Buccaneer” I’m just surprised you weren’t in there before me 🙂
Pretty much set up the 'whats the coldest mancave available' there with bare walls, single skin roof, and ill wager a concrete floor.
Insulating closed cell foam mats take care of the floor, and even hanging old carpets off the walls will provide much better insulation.
If you arent concerned about cost a 1/2kw heater blows warm air around and does well to heat up medium sized spaces. There are smaller less wattage heaters.
And as above, fill any gaps/cracks and banish those draughts.
Insulating closed cell foam mats take care of the floor.
Got those already, and blinds at the windows which were primarily to hide the bikes from anyone who gets into the garden.
Well, I have a some ready mix mortar, so yes I should order a trowel and this’ll give me a little job to learn during half term, when I have the week off.
It has been suggested to leave the Oil filled rad permanently on the frost setting but as said above, this feels like heating the outdoors and won’t be cheap.
I just some washing in the tumble dryer, warms the garage up a treat.
Leaving heating on in uninsulated building for occasional use = daft.
Convection heater will be slightly quicker (for same power) as it's not heating the oil.
In terms of sealing draughts, careful you don't then get issues with condensation
insulating a building that is being heated for ~20 minutes a day is fairly worthless - blocking drafts is good, but the amount of heatloss in a small period of time is low. I'd also suggest trying a patio heater, or just a fan heater pointed at your face (if thats the only bit of you where the temp matters)?
Just make yourself some nice warm toast when you get out there.
Fill the gaps as first port of call.
Fan heater for your sessions.
Not much point doing owt else if its coming down next year.
Pretty much set up the ‘whats the coldest mancave available’
Negative captain.
We had wriggly tin roof - beats the plastic for 'coldest possible'. Coupled with breeze block walls - with big gaps. One wall had been knocked up from studwork and 6mm ply - rotten, of course wood (yes, with more gaps).
Neighbours shed, placed in shed/fence/shed arrangement, helpfully discharges water (no gutters) onto ground in tiny alleyway gap between the two - right next to the wood wall, so the ground is perma-damp too. Their fence goes rotten on a regular basis, and their shed not looking too clever in places, neither.
Ah, hadn't realised OP was asthmatic. I don't use heating in my garage and it's detatched, single skin brick. I just start with the cooling fan off or on low, then put it up to speed as once going I sweat buckets (short and t-shirt).
Fan heater switched on for a few minutes will take the chill off.