What Temperature Should I keep my Garage in the Winter?

Good temperature conditions undoubtedly play significant roles in the productivity of individuals. Depending on the time of the year and the regions of residence, individuals always strive to establish favourable temperatures that would be perfect for their stay, and a garage is no exception. Besides, people use garages for different purposes ranging from storage to workshop, making it even harder to choose a standard temperature, especially during winter. Therefore, most individuals always seek answers to the question; what temperature should I keep my garage in the winter?

The best temperature for garages in winter is between 15oF to 40oF in inland states and 50oF to 65oF for the garages located in the coastal regions. Thus, the garage’s location is fundamental for the mechanics and the garage owners in establishing the proper temperatures during the winter period.

Heating the Garage During Winter

Regardless of the garage location, the winter seasons are always associated with too much cold, and if you are using your garage as a workshop, you will find it hard staying in it for a long time. The impact is reduced productivity and individual performance, resulting in clients’ dissatisfaction due to delays or reduced quality of work output.

However, this should never be a worry to the mechanics or the homeowners anymore. I have delved into perfect ways to help you heat your garage during the winter. The processes will help you keep perfect temperatures in your homes or garages during winter and at low costs. The various methods to heating garages include;

Installation of an Insulation Material

Perhaps the most proper and cost-effective way to keep your garage within the perfect temperatures during winter. The insulation of the garage windows and doors can help you keep your garage at a comfortable temperature. Insulation helps keep the cold air outside and keep your garage warm on an average of 10 to 12 degrees during the winter without even using the heating units such as thermostats if you have them installed in your garage building.

The best aspect of this practice is that the process is simple and less intimidating, even if you do it yourself. However, one precaution that you need to have in place is to take the measurements of your doors and windows when buying the insulation kits. If your garage has two doors, you may consider purchasing an Anco Complete Garage Insulation Kit from the Amazon website. However, you may need an additional kit if you have more than two doors.

Numerous advantages characterize the insulation method. For instance, the installation process is straightforward. Also, once the insulation kit has been installed, there are no ongoing costs while the insulation and the weather stripping are affordable. This makes the method the most ideal for heating garages during the winter.

Use an Electric Space Heater

Another excellent choice to keep your garage warm during winter is the use of the electric space heater. These units are more powerful and robust than the portable heaters and can help you obtain the desirable temperatures you need not only in your garage and also in your bedroom or office. In addition, you can choose to save on space if there is limited space in your garage by mounting the electric space heater on the wall or from the garage ceiling.

Various advantages also characterize the heating method. For instance, the electric space heaters are energy-efficient; hence no fear of spending much on electricity. The space heater can also be used inside the house and does not require ventilation.

Combustion Space Heater

Unlike the electric types, the combustion space heaters use fuel sources such as kerosene or propane to produce heat. When purchasing a combustion space heater, you must consider the type of fuel it uses. Some models are specific to kerosine or fuel, while some can run on multiple types of fuel. The practice provides you with the flexibility to choose the model you deem best and pocket-friendly.

The advantage of using this model to heat your garage during winter is that it can continue to heat your garage even when there are power outages. The combustion heater is also cheaper compared to the electric model. However, it has a limitation in that it can be noisy when burning fuels.

Installation of a ductless mini-split system

One of the primary approaches that moist DIYs have not been keen on but has proved vital in keeping the garages warm during the winter periods is installing the mini-split system. The mini-split system comprises the air-handling unit, installed inside a room, with a compressor located outside. The two components are linked through a conduit, and the whole arrangement is powered through electricity to help bring the desired heat to the garage premises.

The system is advantageous as it brings tremendous flexibility for placement. You can install the system along the floor, suspend it from the ceiling, or even mount it on the wall depending on your floor space or convenient location. Also, this system is characterized by ease of control as it comes with a remote. Most importantly, you get a two-in-one tool that can also provide cooling during the hotter months.

Consideration of the Radiant Heat

Radiant heat is another significant consideration to keep your garage warm during the winter period. However, this solution effectively builds a new garage for those who intend to replace the old concrete floor with a new one. The installation of the radiant floor heating system is done when you are pouring the garage floor, and this makes it perfect for the new garages or when re-installing the concrete in the garage floors.

Insulate your garage door

Perhaps the most overlooked method in keeping a garage warm in the winter. Most garage doors are made from thin metals, with the inability to keep the warm air inside and the cold air out. In the winter, the garage door can be a primary heat loss source. If you do not effectively insulate your garage door, even the other heating sources installed in the garage cannot work effectively as much heat will be lost through the doors.

You need to insulate your garage door to help prevent the cold air from outside penetrating the garage. The insulation of the garage door will ensure that the inside temperature is maintained on an average of 10 to 12 degrees warmer.

A video showing a step by step process of heating a garage during winter

Common Areas of Air Leaks in the Garage

The air leaks and heat loss in the garage can occur through certain primary sections. As a garage homeowner or a DIYer, you need to identify these areas within your garage and ensure that they are effectively insulated. Such areas include;

Ceilings

Most garages have incomplete ceilings with only rafters overhead. Such garages will expose individuals to severe cold during the winter as much heat is lost through the ceiling to the outside environment and cold air also gets through the leaks into the garage. Therefore, you need to control and reduce the heat loss through the ceilings through insulation or adding wall-board.

Walls

Heat loss significantly occurs through the walls. Unfortunately, most garage owners plan to heat their garages but fail to insulate the walls, which results in most of the heat being lost to the outside environment through the walls. Thus, it is essential for any individual who intends to heat the garage to install an insulation unit such as the fiberglass batt insulation between the wall studs.

Moreover, when choosing the insulation material, ensure that you consider the thickness of your garage wall and then read the instructions to get the material that would be a better fit. You also need to check for the gaps within the areas where the wall meets the floor and then utilize a foam sealant or caulk to ensure that all the gaps are appropriately sealed.

Windows

If you can notice gaps in the windows in your garage, it is apparent that there are existing gaps that you need to seal. You can protect your garage against the cold air by installing a plastic covering over the windows. However, you can also choose to fix a plastic wrap that is both easy and affordable to install.

Garage Doors

The garage door is another leeway to the cold air getting into the garage. The garage doors always take the most considerable portion of the wall, which means much heat can be lost in the gaps under and around the door. Also, if there is no appropriate insulation material in the door, the heat can pass right through it.

As a garage owner, you must ensure that you have sufficiently added insulation material to your garage door. You may also consider replacing the old doors with the new insulated ones to help keep your garage warm during the winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most efficient way to heat a garage?

The most effective method of heating a garage in winter is through the in-surface radiant heat. The system generates heat through infrared radiation. Apart from its ease of installation and affordability, the method, unlike with the other systems, heats a surface and not the air around it, making it perfect for the garage.

Can a Space Heater Heat Garage?

Both propane and electric space heaters form the primary recommendations to the most efficient heating a garage during the winter mentioned in my article. A portable space heater can be an efficient way to heat the garage and your home during the cold seasons.

Based on the amount of heat you want to add to your garage, the space heaters are the perfect fit for the garage as they come in almost every size, which can fit both your garage and budget.

Where should a heater be placed in a garage?

Another significant question that most garage owners and DIYers always seek is to determine the appropriate location for the heating sources in a garage. The garage heaters should be installed in the coldest corners of the garage and directed towards the center. The installation will ensure that the whole room is evenly heated.

Should you Insulate a Detached Garage?

A detached garage, like with the other garages, should be insulated. The effectiveness of the mechanics is realized when they work in a garage that is not freezing in the winter and roasting in the summer. In addition, when a detached garage is insulated, the rapid temperature swings in the building can be managed even if no other installed additional cooling or heating source is introduced.

Conclusion

Choosing the right heat source for your garage can help you avoid the cold during the winter and enhance an individual’s performance all year round. Unfortunately, the question of, “what temperature can I keep my garage in the winter?” has been a primary impediment to establishing the desired temperatures within the garages and homes. Even more challenging, individuals have sought the most desirable and affordable ways to ensure appropriate garage temperatures, some seeking them in vain.

However, in my article, I have researched and delved into the most basic methods to help keep your garage within the favorable temperatures of 15oF to 40oF for the garages located in inland states and 50oF to 65oF for those in the coastal regions. Also, I have elaborated on the insulation processes and heat sources to help keep your garage warm in the winter. This is also coupled with the common areas within the garage susceptible to air leaks that you will need to insulate to prevent heat loss from the garage.