5 Effective Ways to Heat Your Garage This Winter

Many homeowners are choosing to install garage heaters for practical safety concerns. Do you need to heat your garage? Here are the top reasons to heat your garage. Many items like appliances, pipes, and vehicles in your garage cannot withstand temperatures below freezing. For example, your car won’t start in the morning if parked in a chilly garage.

The freezing temperature can harm automobile batteries and other parts. Additionally, if the pipes are exposed to the unheated garage, they can freeze or burst, causing leakage. You may create a secure environment for your valuable belongings by installing a heating system and ensuring enough insulation.

Some other safety features you might want to think about are moisture detectors, which will notify you if there’s flooding, and a smoke detector or fire suppression system, which will alarm you in case of fire. Following are 5 effective ways to heat your garage.

Propane Heater

When looking for a way to heat your garage, you will find many options, such as a propane appliance. Propane is a cheap way to heat your garage that also gives off a lot of heat. You can get a big or small propane heater, depending on what you need.

When you add fuel to this heater, it starts warming up your space immediately. The unit usually has a setting for automatic or manual ignition. Because they are cheap and easy to move, they are a great way to warm up your space.

Radiant Ceiling Panels

The radiant ceiling panels are an excellent primary heat source in the winter. These 1-inch-thick panels can be mounted on the ceiling to save energy. They quickly heat up and cool down just as quickly.

The heating panels warm solid objects instead of air, for example, furniture or car. Energy efficiency is improved by 15% when compared to radiators. There is no need to turn the air temperature as high as it would be with radiators in order to get the same level of comfort; this saves money and reduces energy consumption.

For example, if the air temperature in a room is 18°C, radiant heating panels usually make it feel like 21°C. The air is healthier with radiant panels because dust, pollutants, bacteria, and viruses don’t get spread around like forced-air systems.

Also, the panels are out of harm’s way because they are on the ceiling. People don’t have to worry about running into them or getting burned. The drawback of using a ceiling heater is that it can provide uneven heat. At times the room is not properly heated at a lower surface. Moreover, its maintenance is expensive.

Wood Stove

If used properly, a wood-burning stove may be inexpensive to heat your garage in the winter. However, you’ll want to take the same precautions with your garage stove as you would with an indoor wood-burning fireplace.

First, ask your local government to see if any permissions are required. Then, verify with your insurance provider to ensure that installing a wood burner in the garage for affordable heat would not violate your homeowner’s policy. You may order a wood stove from a local hardware store once you have obtained the proper approvals.

Once installed, clean your chimney and flue regularly or contact an expert. Otherwise, you run the danger of being exposed to hazardous gases.

Window Heat Pumps

Window heat pumps are self-contained systems that heat and cool a single room. They are not expensive, so you can install them to heat your garage on a budget. They are compact and user-friendly. Window heat pumps are the simplest to install ductless ones.

Window heat pumps make little to no noise and will last long if properly maintained. You may link your window heat pump to a window AC thermostat, also known as a smart AC controller, to make it smart. Intelligent triggers are used to keep your preferred temperature and humidity levels.

If your garage lacks windows, you may install a through-the-wall air conditioner. The main difference between it and a window unit is that the through-the-wall heating system is meant to be installed in a wall rather than a window. Window heat pumps are more efficient than ceiling heaters because they can warm the entire room rather than a limited area.

Radiant Floor Heater

Radiant floor heating is simple to use since it can be regulated by a thermostat. Temperature and time may be regulated with the click of a button, just like a furnace. They are also compatible with smart WiFi thermostats, which increases their usability.

Because radiant floor heating is installed beneath your flooring, it frees up space that traditional radiators would have occupied. Moreover, traditional radiators must be set to 149-167 degrees Fahrenheit to properly heat a space. Floor heating systems only require an effective temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Radiant floor heating is a risk-free alternative to conventional radiators. You no longer have to be concerned about your pets or children being injured by sharp edges or scorching surfaces. To install floor heaters, the current flooring should be removed. This requires relocating existing furnishings before beginning the installation procedure and replacing them when it is complete.

Things to Consider When Selecting a Heating System

Garage Size

Finding out how big your garage is can help you figure out how much heat you’ll need. However, even if your garage is large enough, it won’t get warm if you choose an inefficient heater. Similarly, if you choose a unit that is larger than your needs, it may overheat and reduce the comfort level you experience.

Maintenance

Garage heaters need regular maintenance for optimal performance and extended life. An electric space heater or a portable heat pump is a good option if you don’t have much time for AC maintenance. However, premium heaters require additional care, such as frequent cleaning and inspections.

Portability

Depending on your needs, you may choose between a stable heater and a mobile one. As there is no need for permanent wiring or plumbing, portable units are flexible in location and setup.

However, their bulky footprint and protruding connections might be a safety hazard. Permanent options are also available, such as radiant floor heating or extending ducting into a garage.

Noise Pollution

It’s recommended to read the product description carefully since some garage heaters emit a lot of noise. Choose an electric heater if you value peace in the workplace. You should also compare the noise levels and choose the noiseless one.

Safety Features

A major concern when using a heater for a garage is that it may be unsafe. To prevent accidents, it’s important to search for safety features like overheating and tip-over protection.

The heater’s overheating protection and tip-over switch both activate when the heater is accidentally toppled over. In addition, since wall-mounted and portable heaters are often installed where children and dogs can readily reach them, a cool-touch option is another crucial safety feature.

Smart Controls

You don’t have to supervise your garage temperature hourly or daily with smart climate control devices; just set the program once and forget about it! Making weekly plans would also reduce the need to go to your garage to switch your heat pump on and off.

That’s why Danley’s Garages is #1 in Chicagoland for detached garage construction. Speak to a specialist and get a free quote today.