One of the major concerns people might have with heating their garage is cost. The good news is there are numerous ways to heat a garage to fit almost any budget. Options include gas forced air (unit heaters), electric forced air, direct vent wall heaters, infra-red tube heaters and vent free heaters. Prices can range from $450.00 to $2,500.00(installed), depending upon garage size and the type of heating appliance. (The author of this article strongly recommends an appliance that is CSA approved for residential use. Portable propane or kerosene heaters in an attached garage are not safe, especially in the presence of gasoline cans, solvents and other products that may pose a fire hazard should there be a spill on the garage floor. A permanent heater mounted high on the wall or suspended from the ceiling offers the best safety and places the heater out of the way of vehicles and people passing through).

One of the most affordable and popular heaters on the market is the Heatstar H25N vent free garage heater by Enerco. This is an infra-red radiant heater designed specifically for residential garages and small shops. It is vent free, safe, and requires no electricity. Simply hang the heater and run the gas line and you're done. Other heaters are more expensive and require additional labor. These include forced air in both gas and electric. Gas forced air heaters (also called unit heaters) are ceiling suspended and require a flue to the outside and 110V electrical power, while electric forced air heaters require no venting at all, yet require 240V electrical hook-up.

Larger detached garages or shops may best be suited to a gas infra-red tube heater, which also requires an outside flue. Unlike forced air heaters, however, vented tube heaters operate on the principle of infra-red (radiant) energy and are much quieter and more efficient to operate. And because tube heaters do not blow air, drafts are virtually eliminated, creating a more comfortable environment.

As for operational cost, the most practical thing the homeowner can do is insulate. Insulate well! That's easier to do prior to sheet rocking the walls, but even glued on foam or blue board can make a dramatic difference in cutting down heat loss. In addition, an inexpensive door seal (available from most garage door suppliers) can cut down on infiltration of cold air from the outside around the perimeter of the overhead garage door. Also, any leaks from man doors and windows to the outside should be sealed. A well insulated garage can cut heat loss by at least 90% compared to an uninsulated garage. This means that your heater will not need to run all that often to maintain comfort and the cost to operate can be just pennies a day.

Regardless of one's reasons for adding heat to the garage, there are now a host of practical and affordable heating solutions to do it. There are several companys in the U.S. who specialize in garage heating. They can be very helpful in sizing and recommending a system suited to the homeowners specific requirements.

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