The 3 Best Ways to Heat Your Garage

Gauging the heat: solutions to ensure you get the most out of your garage space in the summer and winter

Lots of homeowners want the freedom to work in the garage year round, but the creeping cold of the winter makes it impossible for most.  If you’re among the many who enjoy tinkering around in your ‘cave’, and want the square footage for more than parked cars and storage, you’re in good company. But what happens temperatures drop?

It’s a hassle to bundle up! And the cold can leave you feeling unmotivated to get layered up and frustrated due to the amount of runny nose, tissue blowing interruptions you’ll be taking. So what can you do about it? Well, for starters can hang up that bulky coat you’re wearing. This article will take you to garage paradise, sans tuques and gloves.

If you’re interested and serious about heating your garage, remember to consider your specific needs when shopping around, and any possible permits or inspections that may need to take place prior/after installation. When it comes to heating garage space, there are lots of options available; lots of ways to fit the project into your budget. Let’s find out what’s right for you!

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Heating your garage: some options and potential concerns

Insulation

When choosing to insulate your garage, plan to use a minimum R-value of 19 for both in the walls and garage ceiling. Properly insulating your garage space may be all you need to keep cozy during those cold days. But, if you need a little more, there are a few heater options you can choose from.

Extending your home heating system

This solution is typically the cheapest and easiest for most homeowners. Prior to this set-up, make sure your furnace or heating circuits used can handle the amount of output that will be needed to heat your garage space. An HVAC expert from Appleby Systems can help you decide if your furnace can handle it 

Heaters

If you decide to use a heater in your garage, make sure that the walls and ceiling are properly insulated (see above). This can save you money and frustration. Also, choosing a heater size will depend on some factors, like: square footage of the garage, height of the ceiling and insulation used. Don’t buy a heater then do your renovation. Discuss your renovation and the heater you want with a professional. Your best heater options are…

Kerosene heaters:

• Easy to start
• Known to significantly improve the comfort level inside a garage unit
• Proper ventilation needs to be addressed due to odours and fumes
• Gauging temperatures can also be difficult, as many models generally do not come with a thermostat

Gas heaters:

• Generally, the most economical choice
• Heating units can include temperature controls in manual or thermostatic
• Can be vented (also known as forced-air) and ventless (or, known as infrared systems).  Forced-air units take longer to heat an area, are cheaper to install, but are not ideal if you are planning on doing any painting or staining in your garage space.  Infrared tube heaters are more expensive to install, but typically cost less to operate, and are ideal if you are using your space for mostly woodworking projects as they do not stir up dust.

The options mentioned above are just a few efficient solutions to help you beat the cold weather while enjoying your garage workspace. Whatever your budget, you are sure to find a heating option that matches your specifications, giving you the freedom to leave your coat on the hook.

Request a quote on garage heating solutions from one of our experienced technicians today.