Keeping Your Garage Heated

Many of us use our garage as not only a place to keep our cars safe, but as a storage room or even a workshop where you can do all of your DIYing. However, it’s hard to utilize your garage if it’s the same temperature inside as it is outside. If your garage is too cold to utilize, don’t worry were here to help you figure out how to keep your garage heated all year long.

Top Options for Heating a Garage

Check out the list below to look at the pros and cons of four common garage heating options. We’ll discuss whether each option is a good candidate for DIY instillation, and with that information you should be able to come to decide the best way to heat your garage.

1. Installing Better Insulation

Installing better insulation is a simple, cheap way to keep the winter cold out of your garage. Insulate your garage door and windows, and install a weather strip to the exterior doors. You’ll probably still need to wear some layers while you work, but insulation will keep your garage much warmer than the outside.

Pros: 

• Insulation and weather stripping are typically very affordable.
• No ongoing costs once installed.
• Installation is simple and straightforward.

Cons:

• Not a good choice for areas where temperatures regularly dip below freezing.
• You won’t have control over the exact temperature in your garage.

2. Hook Up an Electric Space Heater

Electric space heaters for your garage are really just bigger and more powerful versions of the portable units you might use to warm up your office or bedroom. If floor space in your garage is limited, you can even find electric space heaters that can be mounted on the wall or from the ceiling.

Pros:

• Current energy-efficient models typically won’t raise your electric bill that much.
• Can also be used inside the house if needed.
• No ventilation required.

Cons:

• Can take longer to heat up a garage than other options.
• Might be difficult to use in garages with few outlets.
• Will be less effective in an uninsulated garage.

We recommend looking into a heating system that can be controlled by a thermostat. It’s easy to forget about a heater out in your garage after turning it on. Using a thermostat is safer and can save you some money on your energy bill because you won’t be using more electricity than you need.

3. Install a Ductless Mini-Split System

A ductless mini-split system is made up of an air-handling unit, which is installed inside a room, and a compressor located outside. These two components are connected by a conduit. The entire system is powered by electricity.

Pros:

• Lots of flexibility for placement. Can be installed along the floor, mounted on a wall or suspended from the ceiling.
• Many models come with a remote for easy control.
• A great choice for heating a garage you want to use as an additional room.
• Some units can also provide cooling in hotter months.

Cons:

• Upfront costs are much steeper than for most other garage heating options.
• Filter must be cleaned monthly since debris can build up in a ductless system.
• Not the best at really cranking up the heat. In very cold climates, you may need supplemental heat.

In most cases, an HVAC professional should install your system.

4. Add Radiant Heating:

Radiant heating systems are installed under a floor or as panels in the walls or ceiling. The system uses infrared radiation to heat a surface itself rather than the air of the room. There are several different types of both floor and wall/ceiling radiant heat systems, so do your research to see which type is best for you.

Pros:

• Very low operating costs once installed.
• Extremely quiet.
• Floor installations heat a space more evenly than other options. This avoids creating spots that are significantly warmer or cooler than the rest of the garage.

Cons:

• Are expensive to install upfront.
• Installation is an involved process, especially for floor systems.
• Moisture may build up on the surface where the system is installed.

This garage heating option should always be installed by a professional who has experience with radiant heating. Two big things come to mind when it comes to garage safety and heaters: sawdust and flammable vapors. Neither one of these mix well with heaters. If you do woodworking, we always recommend checking in with heater manufacturers to see which products can be safely used in your garage.

We hope you found this post helpful when deciding which option will work best for you and your garage. Remember, if you need to dispose of any old junk laying around your garage, call us at Waste Solutions 123!