Tips for Heating a Garage in the Winter

Planning on using your garage space this winter? Heating a garage isn’t just about comfort. Small spaces plus inadequate ventilation could spell trouble if you’re not careful. Here are some options for keeping your space warm, what you should avoid, and how Jones Services can help. 

Choose a Safe Form of Heating   

Propane heaters, for example, use gas that can leak and quickly fill your garage with carbon monoxide. Electric space heaters might seem like a safer option until you consider that they’re responsible for about 1,700 home fires every year according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Wood stoves are another carbon monoxide risk, plus they emit soot and ash into the air that you breathe in.

Ductless heaters, on the other hand, offer the convenience of a space heater without the fire or air quality problems that other home heating solutions present. And unlike radiant heat, which takes time to work, ductless provides instant heat whenever you need it. 

Insulate Your Garage 

Most garages don’t really have good insulation. Others don’t have any insulation at all. This lets heat escape, making it harder for your system to maintain the desired temperature and rapidly increasing your energy bill.

If this is your situation, consider including the cost of insulating your garage into your budget. Even though the upfront cost is higher, you’ll save more money in the long run. Plus, it will help keep your garage cooler in the summer too. Your air conditioner won’t have to work so hard to beat the summer heat when there’s enough insulation to keep cool air from escaping. 

Get Enough Ventilation 

When deciding how to heat your garage, ventilation is a key consideration. If the heater you choose produces combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide, you need good airflow to prevent the buildup of harmful gasses.

Be sure to open your windows and doors often to let fresh air in. In the case of a wood burning stove, you should have an intact chimney to funnel the smoke outdoors. Soot and ash can still get in your air, but you’ll be protected from the most harmful compounds.

Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms are critical for the early detection of gas or smoke in your air. Since carbon monoxide is both colorless and odorless, the only way to know it’s there is with an alarm. This is especially important if you have an attached garage, since your home is at a higher risk of catching on fire if it gets out of control. 

Practice Good Fire Safety 

It’s also crucial to practice good fire safety in your garage. Many people keep flammable components in their garages, like gasoline and cleaning chemicals. It’s a good idea to keep these items in approved containers in a fire resistant cabinet. You should also keep them away from sources of ignition, like your electrical panel.

Speaking of electrical, make sure your system is up to code. Look for problems with your wiring or signs your system could be getting overloaded, like flickering lights or tripped breakers. And if you do have an attached garage, consider a fire resistant door or walls on that side of the space. This can help prevent fires that do break out from spreading to your home.

You should also have an extinguisher on hand, so you can put fires out quickly before they get out of control. Avoid doing dangerous activities in the garage like smoking or burning candles. Make sure your family members understand these safety guidelines and know how to operate the extinguisher or escape from the garage if it’s on fire.

Call a Qualified Heating Expert for Help

Heating your garage space can be tricky sometimes depending on the layout of your space and what options are available to you. At Jones Services, we can help you get clean, affordable heating in any room of your home with a ductless mini split. Ductless heating systems offer superior energy savings and safety, all while delivering the precisely-controlled comfort you want.

Contact us today to learn more about how you can save money and get reliable heat in your garage or to set up a time for our technicians to come to your home for a quote. Call now at (845) 289-8532 or fill out our short form and our team will get back to you as soon as possible to answer all your important questions about heating a garage for less.