When Mark signed the lease on his first workshop space, he thought he had it all figured out. The location was right. The layout worked. The price fit his start-up budget.
There was just one problem.
It was freezing.
What followed is a story I see play out again and again with new space owners—a cold garage, rushed decisions, hard lessons, and ultimately, a smart heating setup that turned an unusable space into a productive workshop.
Reznor UDX 60,000 BTU Propane Unit Heater
This is Mark’s real-world start-up journey—and what other new business owners can learn from it.
❄️ The Starting Point: A Garage That Looked Better on Paper
On paper, the garage checked all the boxes:
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Detached structure
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High ceilings
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Enough square footage for tools and inventory
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Affordable rent
In reality, winter exposed the truth.
The initial problems:
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Temperatures hovered near freezing
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Tools felt stiff and unreliable
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Working hours shortened drastically
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Space heaters barely made a dent
Mark was burning time and morale before the business even gained traction.
🧠 The Wake-Up Call: Heating Isn’t Optional Infrastructure
At first, Mark tried to “get by.”
He used:
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Portable electric heaters
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Insulated clothing
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Short work sessions
But productivity suffered. Projects took longer. Mistakes increased.
That’s when he realized something critical:
Heating wasn’t a comfort upgrade—it was core infrastructure.
📐 Step One: Understanding the Space (What Changed the Plan)
Before buying anything, Mark slowed down and assessed the space properly.
Key discoveries:
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High ceilings meant heat loss was faster than expected
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Garage doors leaked more air than walls
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Square footage alone underestimated heating needs
This ruled out:
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Residential space heaters
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Wall-mounted electric units
The space needed business-grade heat designed for workshops.
🔥 Choosing the Right Type of Heater (Why Unit Heaters Won)
After researching options, Mark focused on ceiling-mounted propane unit heaters.
Why they made sense:
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No floor space lost
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Strong heat output
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Fast warm-up times
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Designed for garages and workshops
Propane also worked well because:
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Natural gas wasn’t available
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Propane offered installation flexibility
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Fuel delivery fit his location
One option that matched his needs closely was the Reznor UDX 60,000 BTU propane unit heater.
💰 Budget Reality: Making It Work as a Start-Up
Mark didn’t have unlimited funds. Every dollar mattered.
How he kept costs in check:
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Chose proper sizing (not oversized “just in case”)
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Did space prep and mounting planning himself
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Paid a pro only for gas connection and venting
He avoided the common trap of buying the cheapest unit—and instead focused on long-term operating cost.
🛠️ Installation Day: What Went Right (and Why)
Installation wasn’t rushed—and that made all the difference.
Key installation decisions:
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Mounted the unit centrally for even airflow
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Maintained proper clearances
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Followed manufacturer venting guidelines
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Installed a basic, reliable thermostat
Manufacturer guidance reference:
👉 https://assets.reznorhvac.com/download/70bf0584-5ed1-11ed-ae02-0016e1e579b9
Everything was tested before first ignition—not after something went wrong.
⚡ First Light & First Heat: The Turning Point
When the heater fired up for the first time, the difference was immediate.
Within minutes:
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Air temperature stabilized
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Cold corners disappeared
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Tools felt usable again
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The space finally felt “work-ready”
But the real impact showed up over time.
📈 The Results: What Changed After Heating Was Solved
Productivity
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Longer work sessions
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Fewer interruptions
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Better focus
Equipment
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Tools operated smoothly
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Less moisture buildup
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Reduced wear
Costs
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Predictable monthly fuel expenses
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No emergency heater purchases
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Fewer lost workdays
Heating turned out to be one of the highest-ROI decisions Mark made early on.
🧯 Safety & Peace of Mind
Mark didn’t stop at heat alone.
He added:
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Carbon monoxide detectors
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Clear heater clearances
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Seasonal inspection routines
General safety guidance:
👉 https://www.cdc.gov
This gave him confidence—not just warmth.
🌡️ Seasonality Lessons Learned
The first winter taught Mark valuable habits:
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Pre-winter inspections matter
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Steady thermostat settings save fuel
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Vent checks after storms are critical
By the second winter, heater prep was routine—not reactive.
🚫 What Mark Would Do Differently (If Starting Again)
Mark admits he waited too long.
His biggest takeaways:
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Don’t underestimate heat loss
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Avoid temporary “fixes”
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Install heating before winter hits
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Treat HVAC as infrastructure, not an accessory
Those lessons saved him money later—but could’ve saved stress earlier.
🧩 What Other Start-Ups Can Learn from This Story
This case study highlights a pattern I see often:
Cold spaces don’t fail businesses overnight.
They quietly slow them down—day after day.
Start-ups that address heating early:
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Work more consistently
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Scale more confidently
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Avoid emergency spending
🔚 Samantha’s Final Reflection
Mark didn’t just warm up a garage—he stabilized his business.
The moment his space became reliably heated, everything else improved:
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Workflow
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Equipment performance
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Confidence
If you’re standing in a cold workshop right now, wondering if heating is worth the effort—this story is your answer.
Warm spaces don’t just feel better.
They work better.
And for a start-up, that makes all the difference.
