The 5 Best Ways to Heat Your Garage in Winter
How to Heat a Garage
If you use your garage as a workshop, cold weather can keep you from DIYing for months every year. But there are plenty of ways to reclaim your workbench. We’re here to help you figure out how to heat your garage so you’ll never again have to hang up your tool belt for the winter.
“We hear from people needing to heat their garage for all kinds of reasons. Your garage may be a great place to keep your garden thriving during the winter months. We’ve also heard from professional woodworkers who use our heaters for drying sealant and other projects that go smoother with a warmer temperature.”
Lena Crocker | Cadet Heat
How to Heat a Garage for Year-Round Use
In the tables below, we’ll look at the pros and cons of five common garage heating solutions. We’ll also cover whether each option is a good candidate for DIY installation. With that information in hand, you’ll be able to decide the best way for you to heat your garage.
1. Install Better Insulation
What Is It? If you tend to have mild winters, you can keep your garage at a comfortable temperature by simply insulating your garage door and windows, and weather-stripping exterior doors. You’ll likely still need to wear some layers while you work, but beefed up insulation will keep your garage much warmer than the outside.
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DIY Friendly? Yes! According to Lena Crocker of Cadet Heat, “Adding insulation is an easy project for most DIYers that with will help limit heat loss and keep your garage warmer.” Most homeowners will have no trouble adding insulation to windows and weather stripping to doors. Insulating a garage door is a bit more involved, but still very doable for the average DIYer.
2. Hook Up an Electric Space Heater
What Is It? 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.
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DIY Friendly? Very - heating your garage with an electric space heater is as simple as finding a good spot and plugging it in.
Pro Tip: “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.”
Lena Crocker | Cadet Heat
3. Fire Up a Combustion Space Heater
What Is It? Combustion space heaters use a fuel source such as kerosene or propane to create heat. Most need to be run on a specific fuel type. However, there are models that can run on multiple types of fuel, giving you the flexibility to buy whichever is currently cheapest.
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DIY Friendly? Yes - just like with an electric version, all you need to do is set it in place and fire it up.
Safety Concerns: Combustion heaters produce carbon monoxide. They should never be used without cracking your garage door several inches and/or opening windows to create ventilation. They should also never be used inside your home. Even in well-ventilated garages, you should install a carbon monoxide detector for added safety.
4. Install a Ductless Mini-Split System
What Is It? A ductless mini-split system is made up of an air-handling unit, which is installed inside a room, and a compressor which is located outside. These two components are connected by a conduit. The entire system is powered by electricity.
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DIY Friendly? Only if you have advanced DIY and electrical experience. In most cases, you should hire an HVAC professional to install your system.
“It is important to hire someone who is familiar with your specific heating system. For example, when working with electric heaters, we recommend using a licensed electrician. That way they are sure to be very familiar with electricity rather than a general contractor.”
Lena Crocker | Cadet Heat
5. Add Radiant Heating
What Is It? 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.
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DIY Friendly? No – this garage heating option should always be installed by a professional who has experience with radiant heating.
A Word of Caution for Woodworkers: “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.”
Lena Crocker | Cadet Heat
Take Your Garage Heating Project to the Next Level
Once you’ve decided on the best way to heat your garage, use these guides to make the most of your newly revamped space:
