Snug & cozy

[Eddie Zedder]

As the Zed will be SORN for the winter months I was thinking that I need some background heat in the garage to keep the frost at bay and drive off moisture. So has anyone used one of these tubular heaters? Are they safe to put directly under the car? Will it cost a fortune to run? Any alternative suggestions will be welcome.

I am also looking for a electric fan or lpg heater for when I am working in the garage, but it will need to be fairly compact as space is at a premium, so any suggestions for this would also be welcome.

Bryan.

 

[DavidM]

As the Zed will be SORN for the winter months I was thinking that I need some background heat in the garage to keep the frost at bay and drive off moisture. So has anyone used one of these tubular heaters? Are they safe to put directly under the car? Will it cost a fortune to run? Any alternative suggestions will be welcome.

View attachment 24291

I am also looking for a electric fan or lpg heater for when I am working in the garage, but it will need to be fairly compact as space is at a premium, so any suggestions for this would also be welcome.

Bryan.

Is your garage damp? If not, your car should be fine in the garage without heat, except when you are working on the car. My garage is dry and cold over the winter months and the Zed seems fine with only light bed sheet coverings to keep the dust off.

Heaters:
http://www.safetyliftingear.com

 

[GazHyde]

The Zed Shed has an oil filled electric radiator like this which works well enough. Not sure I'd want to pay for it to be on all the time though...

 

[Grumps]

Any small heater of any description generally cost a small fortune to run. In our first house back in 1994 we only had a coal fire down stairs so we bought two plug in electric heaters. They cost us 7p an hour to run each. Doesn't sound much until you add it up! And obviously with the hike in fuel prices in bet you'd be at 20p+ an hour to run now.

 

[t-tony]

Bad thing with having a small heater to use even only while you're in the garage is it will cause more damp than it gets rid of. I have a small heater in my garage as you saw but I don't use very often and my garage is quite draughty so it doesn't create damp and I use my car every day. Your car will be fine, just make sure the antifreeze is up to strength.

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

I have a carport, think it might be a waste of time plugging a heater in!

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Thanks for the replies and advice folks. In really cold weather the garage is like an ice box, so much so that I have had pots of emulsion freeze. The intention was to use the tube heater (190w thermostatically controlled) as background heat when the temp is below freezing. TBH I would probably better off insulating the roof before chucking money down the drain, but that would mean emptying the roof space to get at it and that's not going to happen before next summer!

It reminds me of '70's winters when me dad used to bung a paraffin heater under his Morris Oxford in the evening, in the hope it would start the next morning!

 

[t-tony]

Ford Anglia at our house Bryan, but much the same.

Tony.

 

[oldcarman]

We've used electric block heaters since the 40-50's. We had a young adult from out eastern Canada stay with us on an exchange program back in the 90's. After watching us gas up at the depot he finally had to ask what the cord was for that we plugged into our house was for! We told him that the fuel needed to be electrically charged over night or it wouldn't ignite in the engine come morning. The other lad we had from northern Alberta just grinned because he knew all about block heaters. 99% of vehicles wouldn't start in -40 or lower without the engine and oil being warmed first. JIM

 

[Mint]

...190w thermostatically controlled...

I don't think your garage would ever get warm enough to switch the heater off Bryan. Unless your garage is very well insulated and draught free you will only be warming up outside. So your heater would be on all the time.

190 watts = 1kWh used in 5.26 hours so about 4.5 kWh per day. Don't know what you're paying for your electricity but I don't think it would be cost effective.
As @t-tony says make sure your antifreeze is up to scratch and leave the Zed alone. That's all I do apart from having the battery on trickle charge.

 

[oldcarman]

At 190w output you would likely be just as well off to put a hair dryer close to where you're working as they put out a lot more concentrated heat whereas the 190w is more of a radiant heat and as @Mint says it would all be lost. I personally use a propane heater for short periods with a blower which heats up a small area long enough for me to do whatever. My shop is 54'x30' and I'm just about finished insulating and will heat it with wood pellets. JIM

 

[pgunter]

Easy way to keep the zed warm.... Drive it .lol.. The residual engine heat will keep the garage warm.

 

[Grumps]

I haven't taken mine off the road this year although I'm still not convinced I've done the right thing. But in previous years I put it under the carport, leave it in gear with the handbrake off, disconnect the battery and lock the gates behind me. Come to it in March, connect the battery and it's started first time every time.

 

[pgunter]

Been out in my little zed this afternoon 15c at one point. Top off. Loving it.

 

[t-tony]

Lucky you, I was fitting a clutch in an Astra.

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

Lucky you, I was fitting a clutch in an Astra.

Tony.

Don't be cross Tony wony!!! That's my job!!!