Should I Heat My Garage?

Normally when you think of a garage, you don’t think of heat and air conditioning.

Most garages are unheated, whether they are attached to the home or separate. There are, however, reasons to consider “Should I heat my garage?”

Why Should I Heat My Garage?

When it’s cold outside, your garage is also cold, and dashing from the car to the home is uncomfortable. Heating your garage allows you to travel from the warmth of your home to your car without bundling up to the max. It also increases the interior temperature of your car for added comfort.

Since a garage may share a wall with an interior wall of the home, an extreme difference in temperatures can cause the attached room to feel colder. In addition, every time the door to the garage opens and closes, heat is lost to the outside, increasing fuel costs.

Cars and equipment stored in the garage operate better and have a longer life when they are not subject to extreme cold. And car batteries are more likely to start when not frozen. Chemicals, paints and oil fare better as well.

A number of homeowners have a workshop in their garage where they can work on projects like home and auto repairs and crafts. Heating the garage not only enables comfortable access in the dead of winter, it also allows work on chilly evenings for those who like to work on projects year-round.

Homeowners sometimes convert their garage into additional living space for a family room, in-law suite or extra bedroom. When a heating system is already in place, this process is much easier. In addition, while renovations are taking place, the space is much more comfortable and accessible.

A close up of a heater with a flame coming out of it.

How Can I Safely Heat My Garage?

Should I heat my garage? How can I do so safely?

The easiest way to heat a garage is with a portable heater, but these are not recommended due to safety reasons. They can easily cause a fire with their proximity to textiles and chemicals, and can be forgotten or left unattended inadvertently.

And do not include your garage into your home’s duct system and furnace. Regular furnaces aren’t designed to work properly in lower temperatures.

Options to safely heat your garage include:

Unit Heaters
Forced-Air Units
Infrared Heaters
Convection Heaters
Ductless Heating and Cooling
In-Floor Heating
Radiant Electric Ceiling Panels.

Most come with controls to regulate the interior temperature. Forced-Air Units blow warm air, so if woodworking is a hobby, it may stir up sawdust.

Don’t Overlook Garage Insulation

Heat will quickly dissipate from your heated garage if your ceiling, walls, and garage door are not insulated. There are a number of ways to insulate your garage including:

rolled fiberglass insulation (batt and blanket insulation)
blown-in and sprayed-on insulations

Natural fibers like sheep wool insulation can also be used.

Ask G&S Garage Doors

If you are asking “Should I heat my garage?” and would like to review heating options, please contact G&S Garage Doors. We can give you ideas on how to insulate and heat your garage yourself or do the job for you.

In the meantime, check out our full line of garage doors and our array of garage door openers. G&S Garage Doors is proud to serve homeowners throughout Northern Virginia.

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