How to Safely Heat Your Garage

Add insulation

No matter what type of heating system you decide to use, if your garage is uninsulated (or barely so), all of the warm air that you create is going to seep right out. The solution to this is to install some insulation. You can buy fiberglass insulation and roll it right around the perimeter of your garage. Cover it with drywall or paneling to hold it in place. You can also purchase an insulated garage door. These measures alone will make a huge difference in how warm your garage stays on cold days. As a side benefit, good insulation will help your garage from getting too hot on summer days, too.

Use an electric space heater

If you aren’t going to be spending a lot of time in your garage, an electric space heater or two can be all that you need to keep your newly insulated garage toasty warm. You could go with baseboard heaters or simply get the type that stands alone. You should not leave a standing space heater unattended, and it’s important to get the type that will shut off on its own when knocked over, particularly if you have children or pets. You won’t want to leave the baseboard type on for a long period of time, either, mostly because they will use up a lot of electricity.

Use a forced-air gas heater

This is a special type of heater that is sold specifically for garages. You will likely need someone to help you install this unless you are exceptionally handy, because you’ll need to vent it outside, and you’ll also need a fuel source (natural gas or propane) as well as electrical access. These are very good at getting your garage nice and warm, but be forewarned that as the name would imply, they do blow air. This means that if you’re working on anything dusty or painting, it might not be the best system for you.