After sifting through reams of information, comparisons and browsing through several stores, you finally decide to purchase a gas heater for your garage. However, apart from the actual cost of the equipment, a huge expense which almost everyone on a budget dreads is the cost of installing the heater. Especially in developed countries, the cost of labor skilled enough to perform this job can set you back by a pretty stiff amount.

However, unlike what most people believe, it is actually possible to install a gas garage heater by yourself, using only a few tools and a few supplies from the local hardware store. While it is not the easiest of tasks a few tips and pointers can help you perform this job in a competent way and ensure you have a good time as well as save some money!

Below is a step by step guide to help you perform this installation:

1. Decide Where You Want To Place The Heater:

First, you need to figure out the best place to set up your gas garage heater. This is because the process will be greatly varied depending on how you place your heater. For example, if your heater is mounted on a platform fixed to the ground, it is much easier and cheaper to perform, but it takes up a lot of space and may not be suited for those with a small sized garage.
A ceiling mounted gas garage heater requires you to buy some specialized equipment like a block and tackle which is necessary to lift the heater to the height of the ceiling- especially if it’s a one-person job. However, this allows for more space in your garage since it is pretty much out of the way and fixed to the ceiling. If you regularly perform manual installations or like to keep your house in shape by yourself, investing in a marine block and tackle is a good idea, since it allows you to perform several jobs by yourself.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the blower or fan of the gas heater should always face in the direction of maximal heat loss. This mostly translates to the side which has the door, or in case your garage is attached to your house, the wall farthest from your house. The best place to fix the heater is a corner where the diagonal flow of the heater

2. Take Measurements:

Before you start purchasing things or planning how to go about the process, it is imperative that you understand how much work you have cut out for you.

Gas heaters require an outlet for the vent to let out the exhaust gases, without which the garage will be filled with poisonous fumes.

The size of the vent duct will be dependent upon the diameter of the vent flange on your gas heater.

Measure the size of the heater, the height from the ground, the distance from the roof etc.  to enable calculations regarding the quantity of materials you will require for the exhaust funnel, the amount of duct tape, screws, bolts, nails, rope and other miscellaneous equipment that you may require and get it all from the store in a single go.

This allows you to save time, gas money and may also help you get a better price at the store due to purchasing a large number of supplies at a time

Make sure to buy high-quality products since a gas garage heater is a long-term investment. Any issues that arise due to the usage of low-quality materials have the potential to be very expensive later on.

3. Set Up The Frame:

The frame design depends upon the location where you want to set up the heater, and this is the only place where your process will vary depending upon whether you want the heater on the ground or fixed to the roof.
If the heater is to be set on the floor, create a platform about 18 inches off the ground using wood or steel, which should be strong enough to hold the weight of the heater. Ensure that the electric and gas connections can be put to the left and the right of the heater fan.

If the heater is to be roof mounted, which is preferred by most people, then screw up two-by-sixes (dimensions of the wooden planks used for supporting the heater) across the load bearing beams and ensure that they are strong enough to hold the heater up.

4. Lift The Heater To The Right Spot:

Wrap two cargo belts or straps vertically across the heater such that the weight can be equally distributed across both of them and attach both of them to the lower end of the block and tackle which you have purchased.

Fix a two-by-four plank to the two-by-sixes which you installed earlier- exactly at the center. Attach the marine block and tackle to this plank at the exact spot where you require the heater to be fixed. Now, you can easily pull up to an 80-100 pound heater to the roof courtesy the pulley mechanism which makes the job extremely easy and safe.

5. Fix The Gas Heater:

Now, use a couple of heavy-duty, industrial grade clamps to hold the heater to the two-by-sixes. If you are not satisfied with the position of the heater, you can move it around a bit before you fix the clamps since the block and tackle will hold the heater up for you and enable minor changes in position.

Drill holes through the specified places into the planks and insert carriage bolts from the top. Next, fix a washer and a nut from the bottom and use a wrench to tighten each bolt. You can remove the clamps now.

6. Set Up The Exhaust Vents and Pipes:

Use double walled exhaust pipes to ensure that they don’t heat up from the outside despite the hot gases within them. Attach an L- shaped flue directly to the back of the furnace where the exhaust is. Make sure that the open endpoints directly to the roof. Use clip-on flue pipes for ease of set up and accuracy. Use a plumb bob to mark the point exactly above the center of the pipe on the roof and mark it using a marker.

Now use this point as the center to draw a circle which has a diameter 0.1 inches more than the flue pipe. Use a drill to punch a hole through a point on the edge of the circle. Now, insert the bade of the jigsaw into the hole you just drilled and cut out the whole circle.

Insert a long flue pipe through this hole and fix it to the L- shaped flue pipe attached to the heater and fix the vent cap onto the end of the pipe to prevent water from entering the pipe.

7. Finishing Touches:

Complete the electrical connections and connect the heater to the gas supply. Use the recommended gauge and diameter of pipe for this purpose to ensure safety and required pressure. Use high-quality sealant and joint compounds to ensure that there are no leakages. Make sure to test for leaks before you switch on the heater.

Use a good waterproofing compound to seal the gap between the roof and the exhaust pipes both from inside and outside.

Conclusion

Following the steps mentioned above is not the only way to install a gas garage heater, but it is very easy, convenient and economical for a single person to do so. The job definitely becomes a lot easier if you have help, but even if you are alone, the job is still doable using the instructions provided above.