Heating a garage

[millhouse11]

I'm looking at different heaters for my garage since I will be working in it a few hours a day throughout the year. Does anybody have any recommendations? Radiant? Forced air? Minisplit heat pump? I would like something that's simple to get installed, and efficient to run. I will be running my bike shop in there, so if it's cold out, I'd like to be comfortable.

[calgarygeologist]

I have electric baseboard heat in my garage and I wouldn't recommend it. My garage is 24x24 and well insulated and the electric heating is expensive in the winter. At one point in the winter I was heating to 17 degrees and for that month my bill increased from around $300 per month to just over $1000. I would recommend a natural gas heater if you can easily get a gas line to your garage. Otherwise I would recommend a propane heater with a larger tank outside of your garage. This is what I have been considering but haven't gotten around to upgrading.

http://www.ultimategarageheater.com/...age-heater.php

[8 Ball]

I would recommend a unit heater. It's basically a hanging forced air furnace, but has a low profile. Radiant heat is not typically recommended for residential applications

[V]

I have a woodworking shop, so I needed radiant heat without kicking up dust all the time.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by V

I have a woodworking shop, so I needed radiant heat without kicking up dust all the time.

Ya, it depends on the application. A wood shop would be different from a bike shop/ mechanic shop etc

[Northendzone]

I am assuming you are going to insulate and drywall the ceiling? Or are you just looking to warm it whIle you are working in there.

My father in law has one of those gas heaters in his garage, warms it up to about 15c in about 10 minutes in the winter. He has one of those gas blower type heaters. Sweet setup for sure

[mikephoen]

I installed a Calcana heater in my garage a couple years ago. The garage was already finished and well insulated, and I'm really happy with the heater. The only weird thing is Calcana doesn't do their own installation. I had to hire done independent heating guys to do the install, after picking up the heater myself.

It was around $3000 installed I think, so a little expensive, but I have nothing but positive things to say about it. I keep it around 11 or 12 in the winter, warm enough that I can work in there with a long sleeve shirt comfortably, and the heating costs are quite reasonable.