What Is The Best Way To Heat A Garage In Radnor, PA?
There are plenty of portable options for heating a garage, but they’re not always practical. And they may cost a lot to run. A mini split, while expensive upfront, will do the job and barely impact your energy bills in the future. They also provide other benefits.
Whether your garage is a rec room, a workshop, or storage with climate control needs, you have a few different choices for keeping it warm in the winter. But, which one is best for your home?
Much of it depends on what you’re using it for. Then, the budget becomes an issue: How much you can spend upfront and how much you want to pay each month during the winter on your utility bills.
This article will review just why it’s challenging to keep a garage warm in the winter. Then, we’ll weigh a few options.
Many times, our recommendation is a ductless mini split. And, you’ll see why when we get to that entry. But, not every solution works for every home. So, we’re also giving the others a fair shake.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about how a particular installation will look and work in your Radnor, PA home — or anywhere on the Main Line — call us today for a free consultation!
Why A Garage Is Tough To Heat
The biggest reason it’s tough to heat a garage is that there’s no ductwork in there! Since builders don’t consider it living space, no one adds a vent from your heating system to treat it.
But, there’s another reason: The garage door.
Your walls have insulation between the rafters. That keeps the heat inside. On the other hand, the garage has one “wall” that’s not only uninsulated. It’s also quite drafty. Heat escapes around the openings and hinges.
So, as you consider a heating source for this part of the house, you may also want to think about insulating or sealing off the garage door. If you’re not using the space to pull cars in and out, this can make a big difference.
Read More: How Can I Add Heating To the Bonus Room Over My Garage?
Four Ways To Heat A Garage
Extending Ductwork
Space Heater
Baseboard Heaters
Heat Pump Mini Split
Extending Ductwork
We usually don’t recommend extending ductwork, but it is a possibility: An HVAC contactor can build out another run, so the heat from your furnace reaches the garage. It makes sense on the surface: You already have a heater, so why not put it to use here?
Well, there are a few good reasons why not.
First, your furnace size and strength are based on the area it’s treating. It may not be strong enough to accommodate a few hundred more square feet while still keeping the rest of the house warm.
You’ll also weaken the circulation throughout the entire house. Another opening means more static pressure in the system.
Finally, there’s no thermostat in this part of the house — and remember, it’s a drafty room! The thermostat will shut off your heater when the living room or dining room is warm enough. But, odds are, the garage will still be chilly.
With this setup, you’ll never get the warmth you need.
Space Heater
Space heaters are inexpensive and don’t require any installation. But, they’re limited in how often you can use them safely. And, they can be quite expensive to run,
Space heaters are a fire hazard. Items too close to them can get too hot, and if they tip over, they can start a fire. As a result, you can only use them when you’re in the room. Otherwise, you risk major damage.
That makes them suitable for workshops or if you’re only in there for short periods. Otherwise, you’ll want to make a bigger investment in safety and efficiency.
Baseboard Heater
Baseboard heaters are a good bet for heating a single room in your home. That includes the garage. These units are relatively inexpensive — you can pick up a top-of-the-line model for under $300.
There’s some installation work, but it’s pretty straightforward. It’s mostly mounting it to the bottom of the wall and running an electrical line. After that, you get strong heat that’s also quiet — no rush of air or anything like that.
Really, the only drawback is that they require a significant amount of electricity to heat the coils. And, over the past decade, another solution has surpassed these.
Heat Pump Mini Split
We recommend going with a heat pump mini split for heating a garage — or any single room in your home. The upfront cost is high. But, for the price, you get unmatched performance and other benefits.
We install an air handler in the garage and run a few lines through the wall to a heat pump outside. The lines transfer heat in and out of the house, and the indoor unit circulates the treated air.
What makes it so great is that it’s super energy-efficient: It costs a fraction of what the other systems cost to run. As a result, you’ll barely see any change on your electric bill.
Read More: PECO Smart Ideas Rebates For High-Efficiency Heating & Air Conditioning
They also provide exceptional comfort, particularly in a large open space like a garage. Each air handler has sensors and small fans to detect cold spots and send warm air right to those areas.
And, like baseboard heaters, they’re whisper-quiet. Unlike those units, however, mini splits offer heating and cooling. So, you’ll get air conditioning as well from a single unit. That makes that upfront cost a little easier to manage.
You can learn more about mini splits in our learning library. In particular, here’s a breakdown of their cost, what they look like, and their benefits.
Mini Split Installation In Radnor, PA
For more than 50 years, John Cipollone, Inc. has been the trusted name for heating and cooling in Radnor, PA, and across the Main Line. Today we specialize in high-efficiency systems, including mini split installation. You can click the button below or call us at (610) 446-7877 for your free consultation.