Matt Lane

New build, attached - 3 cars, 24 x 36. What's the best solution for heat in your opinion? Cost/benefit factored in?

Realistically, this will be more of a storage/projects garage than lots of time spent wrenching, just want to be able to keep temps reasonable and comfortable over the winter. I'd expect one of the bays will have a car (with snow) coming in and out - not sure what's the best temp and solution for that either.

Thanks in advance for any ideas - figure in our climate, there must be a 'better' solution already thought through for these parameters. Thanks in advance for sharing.

Cheers

Matt

Brian 162

I would say in floor radiant heating, but it would be the most expensive. That's provided you haven't poured the concrete slab.

bcrdukes

You've probably already thought of this, but in case you haven't, by adding heating, you may want to consider how sealed/closed off your garage is to avoid critters hiding in there throughout the winter.

I had some raccoons hiding in the tool shed next to my garage as it was well insulated but not heated (because Vancouver.) Luckily, they never made it inside the garage and did not destroy the tool shed, other than using it as through fare to the next garage over.

993GT

unless a lease/short term ownership, separate the winter driven car from the heat for winter.. hot/cold cycle is rust city
forced air/radiant/floor all work well being new build/well insulated... long term I'd say forced air/furnace

rileyracing1

I put a small commercial unit natural gas heater in my last garage and it was pretty much instant heat from the word go .

wc11

Most efficient and cost effective way is forced air gas. I have a Reznor ceiling mounted unit in a 3 car garage (upper right) . Yes we have cars in/out over the winter.
Garage is fully finished. (insulated walls, ceiling and doors) Keep the garage at about +10 and control with a Nest thermostat. Have notice little to no difference in heating bills.

wildcat077

Matt,

My garage is 24 x 32 with a 10 ft ceiling and the last thing you want to heat it with is electricity, the hydro bill is a real kiler
in the Winter.
There are more cost effective ways to heat , i'm sure somebody has a modern solution to this ...

911 Rod

Insulate it well and it should stay just above freezing without heat because it is attached. If you are not spending anytime out there.
Otherwise gas / forced air.
Or both.

Mark in Baltimore

Matt, check out Mitsubishi's mini splits with the hyper heat option. They are 100% efficient down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit and use minimal energy. I have one and just love it.

JTT

When I built my garage a couple of years back, I got a great deal on a mini split heat pump, so went that way. I LOVE it. In fact, liked it enough that this past winter, I installed two in my house.

petee_c

My garage is about the same size, if I ever get around to insulating and finishing it, I will be looking for a used NG house furnace and installing it on a platform in the corner of the garage... Apparently if you talk to the right people, they can be had for cheap.

I would set the thermostat to 5C and bump it up to 15C if I was working on a vehicle...

911 Rod

Waste of time and money. The brunt of the costs are the venting and gas hook up. A house furnace takes up a ton of floor space and has been replaced for a reason. A proper hanging NG furnace is what is needed and takes no space.

Matt Lane

Thanks again everyone for the great advice and ideas. So many things to think through on a project like this, always appreciate real-world recommendations!

Cheers

Matt

petee_c

I was told I can get a used house furnace for $100...... I can get mine for free if we upgrade our AC sometime... Our current furnace is over 90% efficient and 30 yrs old!

I'd have to measure it and see, but I can probably put it on a platform in the corner about 5' off the ground and store the recycling/garbage underneath.....

I'm nowhere near there yet,.... still just a dream... I'd have to investigate the costs of a ceiling unit...

Matt's is a new build, so a ceiling unit would likely make sense.

Crazy Canuck

In floor radiant run by a boiler. Heat your basement slab as well. If you have a pool the boiler can heat it in the summer via a heat exchanger.

If you insulate well enough (under slab to provide a thermal break, R40walls, R60 roof and use triple pane windows with Low E gas between panes along with the right coatings to allow thermal energy but not UV to fade things inside the house and you will not need to run a furnace other than to circulate the air.
This is what I did.