mgarvie wrote:
I'm getting ready to finish the inside of my garage here in Central
Illinois. I want to be able to heat it comfortably to work in it during the
winter. Figured I should think about heat before I do the wiring and
drywalling. I first thought about using natural gas, but figured electric
would be better when using chemicals and such. Just wondered what other
people out there are using and what to avoid. Any advice?

In most places natural gas is cheapest to run, but more expensive to
install.

Most of the time the chemical concentration is not likely to be high
enough to cause issues. If you want to be really careful you can get
direct-vented gas heaters where the combustion air is drawn from outside
and the exhaust is vented directly outside. This costs quite a bit more
than a standard unit.

If your ceiling is high enough, you might want to consider a radiant
heater. These are available in gas or electric, and have the advantage
that they heat the objects in the room rather than the air. That way it
makes you feel warm even if the air is cooler.

Lastly, you should certainly consider insulating the walls/ceiling, with
vapour barrier on the inside. If you do insulate, you will also want to
vent the attic area if it isn't already.

Chris