Best Way to Heat a Garage or Workshop

Why do you want to heat your garage or workshop?

There may be a few reasons you want to heat your garage.

If you have water pipes running through, then heating a garage will help to stop water pipes from freezing over.

Also, if you use the garage as a workshop, then you’ll be spending lots of time ion there. If you’re working you don’t always want to be constrained by bulky and heavy clothing, as that can not only be cumbersome, but also dangerous, particularly when working with hand tools.

Another reason may be to stop heat loss, particularly if the garage is under the main roof of the house. If the garage is kept warm then heat will not escape from the house through the garage.

But, before rushing out to buy a heater for your garage or workshop, there are some important considerations to be made. Blindly shelling out for the first heater or stove you see could well be a waste of money and not deliver the results you are after.

This article will cover some of those considerations, identify some resources to help you understand your heating needs, and review some different types of heaters suitable for garages and workshops.

Questions and considerations for choosing a heating system for a garage or workshop.

The following is a list of considerations (in no particular order) you might like to work through before committing to purchasing a garage heater.

How quickly do you want the garage to warm up?

Some people say time is our most precious commodity. Some heaters will take a long time to get going. For instance a wood burning stove will need to be started, then watched very closely as the kindling size is increased before the larger firewood logs can start to burn.

Where as some other types of heaters, such as gas or electric, can start pumping out hot air instantly.

So how much time will you wait (waste) for the temperature to warm up before it is comfortable to spend time in the garage?

Do you use your garage as a workshop, forced air might not be good for finishing and painting as it moves dust around?

What do you do in the heated area. If it is a workshop what type of work is performed. Some types of work are a better if there is no direct air flow.

For example, a wood work shop contains a lot of wood dust. If you are applying a finish to a finished piece the last thing you want is dust to be blown all around and spoiling a shiny smooth finished lacquer.

How much space is available?

Some heaters can take up a lot of floor space. Additionally some heaters, like wood stoves, also require a lot of space around them so that object too close do not come into contact.

You definitely don’t want to let a car get too close to a hot wood stove. It will peel the paint off before you know it.

Does the garage need to also be cooled in summer?

What about in the summer. If you spend a lot of time in the garage, does it get too hot in the summer. Maybe you would appreciate the ability to cool the garage or workshop down a bit as well. This can then mean you might want to spend more time in there working on what you love, rather than hiding in side during the heat of the day.

If so, then maybe you would need to consider a reverse cycle air conditioning system.

Does your home currently have a ducted HVAC system?

Why add new when you can expand on existing. If your home already has a ducted HVAC system, then maybe the best way to achieve heating (or cooling) is by expanding the system already installed in your house.

This can be a cheap option to solve the cold winter garage problem.

You can make the heating system far more efficient if the garage is insulated

Controlling the temperature of a room is significantly more efficient and cost effective if the room is insulated. Garages and workshops are no stranger to insulation. Wills and ceilings can be insulated, windows can be double glazed, doors can have seals upgraded, and even garage doors can be insulated to prevent temperature leaks.

Garage doors can be made from wood, which is a much better insulator than metal. Alternatively, there are insulation panels which can be applied to a garage door to make it more insulated.

For more tips on finding air leaks you can check out this article on how to get the most heat from a wood stove.

The Benefits Of Insulating Your Garage;

• Keep your garage at a comfortable temperature year-round,
• Save money on your energy bills,
• Feel more comfortable working in your garage, and
• Improve the overall energy efficiency of your home.

For a few extra dollars, insulating your garage or workshop just make so much sense.

Noise

Retreating the the garage or workshop for a project can be a great way to blow off some steam. If like me you enjoy the peace and quiet of working on a project then you might not like the noise that comes with some heaters.

Propane heaters can make a loud burning sound, wood stoves will occasionally pop and crackle, and heaters with strong fans can make a whooshing noise.

Don’t forget there are some significant safety considerations to take into account also.

Are you storing flammables in the garage?

Flammables and flames are two things that do not go together.

Do you store solvents, fuels, or paint? If so be very careful with the type of heating system you buy.

What about if you paint in the garage. Spray paint can ignite against very hot surfaces, even flameless heaters.

Can the garage be easily ventilated?

Some heaters will produce harmful gasses, like carbon monoxide. And these heaters will also usually burn oxygen from the surrounding area.

Ventilation must be considered with any heater that uses flame to heat. i.e. wood, gas, diesel, kerosene type heaters should all be used in well ventilated areas.

Consider a carbon monoxide detector / alarm

Ventilation might not be enough, and it can be easy to forget to open that window or vent if you are occupied with other things.

If using a flame burning heater in a garage of workshop then a carbon monoxide alarm is a must have. Don’t skimp on your safety.

Make sure you talk to insurance companies before you install

Lastly, what does you insurance company think about you new garage heating system. You should contact them before you purchase to see if you policy will not be void in the event of a mishap.

Always make sure any heater is installed to regulations, and where required by a licensed contractor.

Types of heaters that could be used in a garage or workshop

As we break down the common types of heaters for a garage or workshop you will see there are many options. The choice for you might be obvious, but will be dependent upon your specific needs and expectations. Different needs require different solutions.

Hopefully the below heater type analysis will help you in your journey towards heating your garage or workshop.

Barrel stove

A barrel stove is a 55 gallon drum (or similar) converted into a wood stove, and is a popular choice for heating workshops among DIYers. Lets face it, if you spend any time in a workshop building masterpiece projects, you may as well build yourself a barrel stove as well.

Barrel stoves put out a lot of heat, particularly if they are a double barrel stove.

Barrel stoves are good for large areas and are relatively cheap for a garage or workshop heating system. They will get very hot, but need room around them so other items do not get too hot.

Pro’s

• Get hot,
• Rustic DIY appeal,
• Cheap,
• Firewood can be cheap,
• Good if you don’t want air blowing around, and
• Good for larger workshops.

Con’s

• Large, take up a lot of space,
• Time a long time to start and come up to temperature,
• Must install a chimney / flue,
• Must ensure ventilation,
• Need space to store fire wood,
• Will burn skin if you accidently touch it,
• Should not be used near flammables, and
• Temperature control is not finite.

Recommended for;

The DIY’er with a large workshop in very cold areas, and plentiful access to fire wood.

Bullet heater

Bullet heaters a liquid fuel powered heaters uniquely cylinder shaped (like a buller of torpedo). Usual fuel is propane, kerosene, or diesel, and popular on construction project sites.

Bullet heaters are a good option for a job site so long as there is adequate ventilation.

Bullet heaters and portable and can be moved around from job site to job site. They create heat quickly and direct it towards where you want the heat, good if you mainly spend time in a specific area of the workshop.

Pro’s

• Create a lot of heat,
• Cheap to purchase,
• Quick to setup and produce heat,
• Can direct heat into a specific area of the room, and
• Portable.

Con’s

• Can use a lot of propane (diesel might be better for cost effective running,
• Must ensure ventilation,
• Needs power to operate fan and igniter, and
• Should not be used near flammables.

Recommended for;

Contractor job sites, and large ventilated workshops.

Convection heaters

Convection heaters rely on displacing cool air with warmed air to create air currents. As a convection heaters warms the air, the air rises, drawing cooler air towards the heater which is then warmed in an ongoing cycle.

Although there are different types of convection heaters, we will focus on analysing electric style convection heaters for heating a garage.

Convection heaters might be a good option for a wood working shop, where there is plenty of dust that you don’t want blowing around in the air.

Pro’s

• Don’t take up too much space,
• Are quiet to operate,
• Very easy to use,
• Safe to use around flammables, pets, young children etc,
• Ventilation not required,
• Portable, and
• Don’t use a fan so dust and debris is not blown through the air.

Con’s

• Not always good for large areas, and
• Can take a while to heat an area.

Recommended for;

Low cost solution where dust disturbance must be kept low.

Split ductless reverse cycle air conditioner

Split ductless reverse cycle air-conditions consist of a wall mounted head (inside a building), and a heat exchanger pump (outside). These units create either cool or warm air, and are one of the most common ways to heat and cool a home.

Split air condition systems are a great option for a garage or workshop. As the name suggests most people buy them for air conditioning or cooling, but in reverse mode they will also provide heat. They provide lots and heat and can do it quickly.

Best of all, split air conditioning systems are usually wall mounted. So they dont take up any valuable floor space.

Split air conditioning system can also be set on a timer, and even operated remotely, so your garage or workshop can be toasty warm and ready for you as soon as you get home.

Pro’s

• Do not consume any floor space,
• Quick and easy to operate,
• Quick to produce heat,
• Provides cooling in the warmer months, and
• Does not require ventilation.

Con’s

• Filters will require very frequent cleaning if your workshop creates any dust,
• Uses a lot of electricity, operating for extended periods may become prohibitively expensive over time, and
• Requires installation by licensed contractor.

Recommended for;

Double garages or large workshops, where floor space is at a premium, and would benefit from cooling in warmer months as well as heating in cooler months.

Window heat pump / air conditioner

A window heat pump / air conditioner is similar in function and performance to a split ductless reverse cycle air conditioner. The key difference is the window heat pump / air conditioner is a single unit whereas the split ductless reverse cycle air conditioner consists of two units.

A window heat pump / air conditioner is often mounted in a window, and also often mounted through a wall.

Pro’s

• Do not consume any floor space,
• Quick and easy to operate,
• Quick to produce heat,
• Provides cooling in the warmer months, and
• Does not require ventilation.

Con’s

• Filters will require very frequent cleaning if your workshop creates any dust,
• Uses a lot of electricity, operating for extended periods may become prohibitively expensive over time, and
• Requires installation by licensed contractor.

Recommended for;

Double garages or large workshops, where floor space is at a premium, and would benefit from cooling in warmer months as well as heating in cooler months.

In floor heating

In floor heating, now were getting serious. There are two types, electrical or hot water powered. In floor heating involves running heated water pipes in a floor, or electrical wires under a flooring surface which is then heated by electrical current.

Electrical is the easier of the installations. Electrical mats or wires can be set into floor levelling and is not usually practical for a garage or workshop.

Water powered, otherwise known as hydronic radiant floor heating is best laid before a floor is installed. It is possible to tear up a floor, but that’s a very expensive route to take.

In floor heating is great in that it takes up no space, and is ultra quiet, and provides an even amount of heat in an area ( so long as the heat tubes are run evenly through the floor).

Pro’s

• Do not consume any floor space,
• Heat evenly,
• Does not require ventilation,
• Are quiet to operate,
• Safe to use around flammables, pets, young children etc,
• Ventilation not required, and
• Don’t use a fan so dust and debris is not blown through the air.

Con’s

• Expensive,
• Difficult to retrofit, and
• Takes a while to heat up.

Recommended for;

Where space is a premium, and dust disturbance must be kept low, and installation can occur during construction.

Heated ceiling panels

Heated ceiling panels are becoming more popular. As the name suggests heated ceiling panels are mounted in the ceiling. They are a form of electric radiant heater, whereby an electricalcurrent powers an internal heater that warms an exterior surface. As convection forces air to flow over the surface the air aroind the heated ceiling panel is warmed.

Like air conditions or in floor heating, heated ceiling panels take up no floor space. So in a small area, so heating ceiling panels can be an option where floor space is at a premium.

Heated ceiling panels a radiant heaters, therefore they do not have a fan making them very quiet, and they also won’t kick up any dust and debris.

Pro’s

• Do not consume any floor space,
• Does not require ventilation,
• Are quiet to operate,
• Safe to use around flammables, pets, young children etc, and
• Don’t use a fan so dust and debris is not blown through the air.

Con’s

• Takes a while to heat up.

Recommended for;

Garage converted to workshop, where space is at a premium, and dust disturbance must be kept low.

Infrared heater

Infrared heaters emit infrared light that is felt as warmth when it reaces an object. Infrared heaters work just like the sun, when an object is shaded by another object the infrared light cannot reach the shaded object, therefore it is not warmed.

Infrared heaters only warm objects in the direction the heater is faced. They will not warm the surrounding air, therfore the air humidity is not altered. This also means they will not heat an entire room. Essentially the infrared heater throws heat out rather than conventional heaters that blow heat outwards.

Additionally infrared heaters provide instant heat as soon as they are powered on.

Pro’s

• Cheap
• Instant heat,
• Relatively small,
• Can be installed on ceiling or wall, or can be portable,
• Does not require ventilation,
• Are quiet to operate,
• Safe to use around flammables, pets, young children etc, and
• Don’t use a fan so dust and debris is not blown through the air.

Con’s

• Won’t heat the entire garage or workshop, and
• Electricity can be expensive in using for extended periods.

Recommended for;

Small garages or workshops where heat is required in a particular area only.

Portable electric space heater

A space heater is a small portable heater that is designed to heat a small area or single room. It is usually lightweight, heat is generated by an electrical filament, and it has an internal fan. A space heater will typically be the cheapest heater type in this list.

Operating a space heater in a small workshop or garage is probably the first stop for many people who don’t spend a lot of time in the garage during winter.

Pro’s

• Cheap,
• Portable,
• Easy to use,
• Very safe,
• Small, and
• Can be used as a fan for cooling (subject to controls).

Con’s

• Might be under powered for most garages or a large workshop,
• Fans might blow dust around a workshop, and
• Ventilation not required.

Recommended for;

Single garage or small workshop seldom used in winter.

Ceramic space heater

A ceramic space heater is very similar to a portable space heater described above with the key exception that the filament is replaced with a ceramic disc. The ceramic disc is heated and it holds more heat thereby making it more effecient.

The ceramic space heater is electrically powered, small, portable, cheap, and has in inbuilt fan.

Pro’s

• Cheap,
• Portable,
• Easy to use,
• Very safe,
• Small,
• Can be used as a fan for cooling (subject to controls), and
• Ventilation not required.

Con’s

• Might be under powered for most garages or a large workshop, and
• Fans might blow dust around a workshop.

Recommended for;

Single garage or small workshop seldom used in winter.