Brewing in garage with propane burner?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DVoors, May 15, 2015.

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  1. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    I plan to brew this weekend and I already have all my ingredients, equipment cleaned, and I'm ready to go, but I just realized the weather forecast is calling for storms. I usually do my mash and prep-work in the garage, but I've always heated up the strike and sparge water and conducted the boil on a turkey-fryer propane burner outside on my driveway. Since it will likely be storming this weekend, I'm wondering if I can safely use the burner inside my garage? Do I have to worry about the heat potentially damaging the ceiling (if the burner is on the ground), or is there enough space that this will be a non-issue? Thoughts? Have any of you used a propane burner inside or in your garage, and if so, have you ever had any issues or caused any damage to your ceiling? I imagine it should be fine, but I figured I should ask if anyone else has tried this before I give it a go. Thanks!
     
  2. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,915) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    My dad routinely brews in the garage with a propane burner. He has not had any issues with the ceiling and the heat. Just make sure to have good ventilation (partially opened door, fan circulating air, open window if you have one) while the gas is on.
     
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  3. Henderson1897

    Henderson1897 Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2015 Wisconsin

    Shouldn't be a problem with the ceiling, but you will want the door open to keep air movement for CO. I've done it and many friends have done it as well, with no issues. Can't say it enough though - be aware of CO. Safety first.
     
  4. carteravebrew

    carteravebrew Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Colorado

    I have brewed in my garage a couple times, no big deal.

    I also do most of my brewing on my back covered patio. The ceiling on that is maybe 7' (I can reach up and touch it standing flatfooted). Brewed well over 100 batches under it with no issues (and it's white).
     
  5. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    You should be horrified of CO. Colorless, odorless, it just lulls you to sleep, then death. If I were you, I'd have a crapload of functioning CO monitors throughout the house. I have a rippy little Darkstar burner and in their instructions they are very clear to not use the unit anywhere near the house.
     
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  6. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    As someone with 4 separate OSHA certs and having completed a few dozen client specific safety training events, I want to relate to you an important concept in the world of safety and risk management.

    Do not assume that it is safe because you are not aware or you have done it before without negative consequences. There is no relation to threat of an accident and your personal experience. In other words, if you are waiting for someone on BA to tell you "Don't do it. I burned my house down" or "My brother died from CO poisoning", that probably isn't going to happen but it does not mean the action is safe.

    100,000 btu's of open flame burning in your dwelling is not a good idea. Don't put your BBQ in the kitchen either.

    Should you be worried about burning the ceiling or CO poisoning? If you are asking the question then you already know the answer. It is a risk. You really want to ask yourself the level of risk you are comfortable with, not just for you but for your family and neighbors too. I have my own personal level of risk taking, your fire inspector has a much different assessment. But I also drive a lot of miles over the speed limit.
    Risk acceptance.

    Cheers.
     
  7. corbmoster

    corbmoster Pundit (848) Dec 15, 2014 Texas
    Trader

    Carbon monoxide detectors are cheap enough. I would keep one plugged in around foot level. As others said: colorless, odorless, you would never know you were in a precarious situation to begin with if it accumulates. If you keep cars in there and work on them, there is another excuse for a CO detector.

    I think if you have an 8 foot ceiling you should be ok. Especially if the ceiling is drywall. You may want to suspend a thermometer near the ceiling to have an idea of whats going on there. We did this in the Navy in the engine rooms (I was not an engineer, I just had to go down there sometimes).
     
  8. HopVol

    HopVol Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2015 Tennessee

    I always brew in my garage. Three tier setup, too big to move around. My hot liquor tank burner is about 4 feet from the ceiling and haven't had any problems.
     
  9. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Garage door and other door/window fully open...burner placed on concrete floor at garage door opening and never left unattended...caveat emptor
     
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  10. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I used to brew in the garage with just the back door open (a couple feet from the burner). The CO monitor never beeped, but it beeps immediately if I start the car before I open the garage.
     
  11. mugs1789

    mugs1789 Zealot (611) Dec 6, 2005 Maryland

    the voice of reason taking all the fun out of lighting fires in the house....
     
  12. Mag00n

    Mag00n Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2008 New York

    living on the edge

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. are_doubleyou

    are_doubleyou Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2014 Illinois

    I use a Bayou burner in the garage every time with no issue. I'm honestly a bit afraid to take it outside because of possible contaminations and wind hindrance.
     
  14. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Any safety professional will tell you that it's not a good idea to have an open flame in a garage where you may have gasoline cans stored (or other flammables), and in many jurisdictions it is a violation of fire codes to have an LP tank inside a "living area" (I don't know if a garage space fits the definition of a "living area") so you, and anyone else who is reading this thread, are on your own if you take the risk to do it.
     
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