Damonjames Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Hey all, So I recently converted my garage into a practice room. The garage is attached to the house and single brick construction. My part is lined with plasterboard (stuck on walls, and two layers screwed to rafters) and has been great the last couple of months but it is starting to get cold! So cold I had to buy a small fan heater, which does the job nicely. I didn't think too much of the cold until I brought my bass into the house to show a friend something and within a couple of minutes it had a thin film of condensation on the body. Should I be concerned about my gear getting too cold, I also keep my amps, stereo and recording desk in there so don't want to ruin it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 (edited) It's not the cold that is the problem [i]per se[/i], but humidity. As you have found, when you bring cold gear into a warm environment, condensation forms. [size=4]This can cause electrical connection problems and mechanical problems such as rust and corrosion and is really not very good for wooden instruments either. Plus the inevitable tuning issues...[/size] If you can get some sort of low-level background heat in the room such as a storage heater, then at least you'll have some sort of residual warmth in the room which will reduce (if not entirely solve) the problem. But running a fan heater constantly will cost you a small fortune. Edited November 10, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Get a greenhouse heater. That will keep the cold out and are cheap to run. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parasene-Superwarm-4-Paraffin-Heater/dp/B001C8VZEY/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parasene-Superwarm-4-Paraffin-Heater/dp/B001C8VZEY/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madshadows Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 This might be good for your problem, think they are cheap to run [url="http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4153733.htm#pdpFullProductInformation"]http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4153733.htm#pdpFullProductInformation[/url] John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Can you get any insulation in anywhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 [quote name='madshadows' timestamp='1384118509' post='2273030'] This might be good for your problem, think they are cheap to run [url="http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4153733.htm#pdpFullProductInformation"]http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4153733.htm#pdpFullProductInformation[/url] John [/quote] Not so much. One of those on constantly, 24/7, for... say 4 months of winter, is gonna cost you over £500. That's using an approximate price per kWh of 15p... depends on your tariff/supplier of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Just looked at the link,no! Halogens are only really for human/living occupants designed to heat people/animals rather than air, they were first used for drying horses where you cant heat an open stable. It needs to be something like a storage heater as discreet says or maybe an oil filled radiator left on low then turned up when anyones uses the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 As luck would have it, there is a radiator in the kitchen which is on the other side of the wall, hopefully I can get someone to T off that, and we need to put a bigger radiator in our bedroom upstairs, so there will be a spare radiator kicking about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iconic Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I tee'd off another rad' too worked a treat. have you insulated the roof void between rafters? Have you still got the original garage door? If so fit some double glazed patio doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) As someone who owns a badly insulated conservatory with a radiator connected to the main CH system, I'd think twice before doing that Consult a heating engineer first is my advice Edited November 11, 2013 by Geek99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Old carpet attached to the walls and floor works well as an insulator, meaning your radiator will be more effective. Helps soundproofing a bit too. Defo insulate the roof space as a priority. Heat rises and all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle psychosis Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 If you're going to be keeping expensive gear in there then get a professional in and do it properly. Insulation, heating, the works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmaxblues Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I use an oil filled rad with a thermostat, cheap and cheerful, background heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Try something like this but I don't accept any responsibility if you burn your house down! [url="http://www.permaculture.co.uk/videos/heat-your-room-8-pence-day"]http://www.permaculture.co.uk/videos/heat-your-room-8-pence-day[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 [quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1384171078' post='2273427'] Try something like this but I don't accept any responsibility if you burn your house down! [url="http://www.permaculture.co.uk/videos/heat-your-room-8-pence-day"]http://www.permaculture.co.uk/videos/heat-your-room-8-pence-day[/url] [/quote] On my ipad your link opens a page full of warning messages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 [quote name='molan' timestamp='1384183719' post='2273654'] On my ipad your link opens a page full of warning messages [/quote] and on IE 8 (granted IE 8 hates just about everything on th internet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 [quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1384184101' post='2273662'] and on IE 8 (granted IE 8 hates just about everything on th internet) [/quote] And on Chrome. Maybe it's not a browser thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I just tried it and the host server is down because of the traffic. This is the same video on Youtube: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Definitely insulate as much as you can... As others have said, especially the roof space I recently converted my garage too I laid laminate flooring, on top of Foam insulation board and it feels much warmer underfoot.... I'd think twice about using parafin type heater There's always a risk of fire, but just as importantly there are also fumes to consider I think you'd need vents installed..... Could be wrong there - but check first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Parafin heaters or calor gas things give off moisture,lots of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethFlatlands Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 [quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1384188234' post='2273728'] I just tried it and the host server is down because of the traffic. This is the same video on Youtube [/quote] Interesting, might be worth a pop. I wouldn't leave it unattended though, and it means a trip to the dreaded Ikea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 [quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1384211094' post='2274170'] ...it means a trip to the dreaded Ikea. [/quote] Tea lights are widely available. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Candle-Ikea-Glimma-Tea-Light-Candle-Pack-Of-100-38mm-Wide-/221268705464?pt=UK_Candle_Holders&hash=item3384a480b8"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Candle-Ikea-Glimma-Tea-Light-Candle-Pack-Of-100-38mm-Wide-/221268705464?pt=UK_Candle_Holders&hash=item3384a480b8[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1384215951' post='2274218'] Tea lights are widely available. [/quote] They used to be, but I think my wife's recently cornered the market... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 [quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1384115276' post='2272963']The garage is ....................... single brick construction. My part is lined with plasterboard (stuck on walls, and two layers screwed to rafters[/quote] If you really mean single brick then you've got a long way to go. That's far too thin a barrier; plasterboard "stuck" to it won't make much difference. You'd need - at least - to build an internal wall. If you mean concrete breeze-block walls then they're great for cavity wall insulation. Loft insulation up above. (Done it recently, most DIY places will have deals on just now). Rather than high wattage heaters, liquid fuel etc, you used to be able to get electric powered, low wattage oil filled tubular heaters - for frost prevention in greenhouses. For whatever reason they're not as easy to find as they were, but I have a couple of 60watt heated electric towel rails which work the same way. They don't cost much to run & have a large area putting out warmth. The condensation is caused by extreme temperature changes. Caused by either/both your equipment and your body's presence creating heat & then dropping down to nothing when you eventually leave the room to cool down. You need to make the inside as constant a temperature as possible, using a heat source that costs will cost you, to keep it going more or less permanently because you're losing too much heat thru the thin walls - and as has already been said, through the floor. You're adapting a building that wasn't designed for the purpose you're putting it too, it's not easy - and not quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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