Looking for tips on how to heat your garage? Here’s a quick guide to walk you through.

Are you looking to add or replace a heating system in your garage?

Regardless of whether your garage is attached or detached, you have quite a few options for heating your space. You just have to look at the costs involved and what type of heat source would best suit your needs.

Heating your garage means having more living space.

There are 4 main types of heat sources for garage heating systems: electric, natural gas, wood, and fuel oil.

Why should I heat my garage?

A lot of people think that heating their garage is a moot point. If you don’t spend a lot of time in your garage, this may be an easy conclusion to come to.

However, if your garage is an entry point in your home, it might be worth the effort. Even if it seems like it’s an unnecessary amount of work, it isn’t.

Here are 3 things to consider:

  • If there are any poorly-insulate water pipes running through the garage, they need to be better protected from freezing. A heater can solve this problem in the cold winter months.
  • If your garage isn't heated, you're letting cold air into the home. Not only does that make it less comfortable, but it makes your heating system work that much harder to get to the right temperature setting.
  • Those who do enjoy working in the garage might be missing out on a lot of valuable hobby time during the colder months. With some type of heat source, you can use the space year-round.

Before I buy…

If you’re looking into a heating system, here are some important questions to answer so that you know which system will be best.

How big is the space?

The most important question is how big the space is going to be. After all, not all heat sources are created equally. You don’t want to end up with a mega heater in your garage, or worse, with a system that doesn’t provide much heat at all. If you know how much heat you need, it will be easier to buy the right system.

How much and in what ways do you use the garage?

Is the garage mostly for storage? Do you only park the cars in there? If you aren’t investing a lot of hours in the garage space, you might want to consider a cheaper heating option that’s just enough to keep the room comfortable. If you do spend a lot of time out there, you should upgrade to a mid-range system, at least.

Do you also want to consider cooling systems for the summer?

If you live in a climate that sees a lot of summer heat and humidity, you might end up not being able to use the garage in the summer months, either. If you can keep it a little cooler and control the humidity, it may be more useful or enjoyable as a space in your home.

4 Options I could consider

Option 1 – The Classic Wood Stove

A lot of people who live in remote areas rely on wood or corn stoves as their primary form of heat.

Wood stove garage are great but you have to respect your insurance standards.

Detached garages are ideal for this type of heat because they are further away from the home and therefore pose less of a fire risk to the rest of the property.

Some areas have regulations about what type of wood stoves you can use, such as pellet stoves and slow-burning models.

Always make sure that you use clean, dry firewood to heat your garage. Those old two-by-fours from your last project might seem like good fuel, but these treated materials are going to put off a lot of chemicals and won’t provide a long-burning source of fuel.

This stove also needs to be cleaned regularly, with the chimney cleaned out every few months or so.

Option 2 – Propane and natural gas

If you already use natural gas in your home, adding it to your garage should be easier than you think. This can be done with the direct-vent system, or you can go with an unvented system.

Natural gas direct vent system.

The direct vent system is, by far, one of the most popular ways to heat a garage. If the lines are already there, this system is efficient and filters out all dangerous odors and emissions. This is also the most effective system for cold climates that need a little more heat.

Option 3 – What about electric heating systems?

Electric heating offers a few different options for your garage.

You can find portable heaters if you just need something for a small space or you don’t want to install a large system. Baseboard heaters that can be permanently installed are also available to help you heat your garage space. Systems are available in various voltages, too, making it easy to find the perfect size for your space.

2 types of electric heat sources

Electric heaters are a great choice because they offer easy installation and operation. There are also no need to bother with filters, a chimney and cleaning it, and other hassles. You will have to pay electricity for the heater use, of course, so make sure that you look for a heating system that isn’t going to cost you a small fortune.

Electric heaters can really be installed just about anywhere. Most commonly, these are built into walls or the ceiling, but there are plenty of ways to go about it. You can also choose where you want the heating system to go, based on your intended use and your personal preferences.

If you are going to install your heater on the ceiling, make sure that it sits flush at a 45-degree angle pointing at the floor. You should also install the unit as far away from the garage doors as possible. That way, it won’t be letting heat escape and wasting valuable money.

Option 4 – Maybe just extend our HVAC system?

Extending your existing system can be a cost-effective approach to heating your garage.

If you already have a central furnace in your home and have confirmed that it can handle the extra power, you might as well save the money and use what you have.

If, however, you can incorporate this into your existing HVAC system, you can also get savings on your energy usage in any room in the house.

What about my garage door?

The garage door is essentially the fourth wall to another universe. You should make sure that your door is weathertight, and that it looks its best.

You like this look? These are Standard+ Classic MIX Design, 9' x 7', in Desert Sand Color garage doors

This is why having a properly insulated garage door is so important to stand up to both heat in summer and cold in winter.

Do you know your garage door R value and U value? Are you sure they are good enough for your garage to keep the cold outside? Learn more about the 2 most popular types of insulation used for garage doors.

Your garage door might need to be refreshed or repaired before adding a heating system to your garage. It might need new weather seals.

If you are not sure, here is 25 reasons to choose a Garaga garage door. In the end, you have to be sure you have the best garage door to really appreciate the benefit of your heating system.

Want to know more about one or another of these door models?

Then contact a GARAGA dealer in your area.

They are indeed experts in garage doors. They have extensive experience and they love helping you find the perfect garage door system at the right plus for you.

Find the door of your dreams already? Ask us a quotation by email.

You’d like to shop online a bit first?

You can browse our residential photo gallery. Do you like interactive design apps? If so, grab your smart phone and try our Design Centre. You’ll have fun building your dream door.

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