Did you know that the coldest day in the documented history of Minnesota happened on February 2nd, 1996? A temperature of -60 degrees Farenheit was measured in St. Louis County, near Tower, MN. With temps that low, a person can get frostbite in five minutes or less. Yikes! 

Luckily, recent years in Minnesota haven’t seen temperatures quite so frigid… but that doesn’t mean the degrees won’t dip. Staying warm and keeping your home comfortable are number one priorities for any local, which is why we’re covering one of our most-asked home heating questions in today’s post: how can I safely heat my garage? 

This question is popular in Minnesota because of our especially low temps and because it can be forgotten in lieu of other main home heating. Here are 3 ways to heat a garage, safely.

Insulate Your Garage

The easiest way to make an interior space warmer is by improving its ability to retain and hold onto heat. You can do this in a few different ways:

• Check what type of windows are in your garage and get them replaced if they aren’t double or triple-pane. Single-pane windows have single-pane insulation. Windows are uncommon in garages, but when they are used, they’re frequently not as heavy-duty as they could be.
• Check out the material your garage door is made from. Your best option for a garage door in a garage that’s been heated is steel, aluminum, or fiberglass in combination with polyurethane foam. 
• Make sure weatherstripping is doing its job. Weatherstripping can wear out and, when it does, it’s easy to forget to replace it. Check on the weather stripping used along the bottom and sides of any doors in your garage. Replace it as necessary. 
• Add more fiberglass batt insulation to the outside walls of your garage. This is self-explanatory: you can use the same type of insulation used for interior walls on exterior ones. If your garage doesn’t hold heat well, a little extra insulation can go a long way.

Safely utilize space heaters.

There are different kinds of space heaters most commonly used. Namely: electric, natural gas, and liquid fuel garage heaters. They each have their own pros and cons, but in a garage, you’re going to want to avoid liquid fuel since they release carbon monoxide, which can be dangerous in enclosed spaces. Electric space heaters are best used in the garage because they have safety features like self shut-off, ideal for small spaces.

Space heaters are less risky now than they’ve been known to be historically because they’re no longer built with open elements. That doesn’t mean they don’t have risks if left unattended. That’s why it’s important to remember that space heaters should only be used in areas you’re also occupying. You can’t leave one going in your garage overnight to keep it warm in the warning if you don’t want to invite a risk, however minimal, of fire or other incident.

Invest in a central HVAC extension.

If you already have a central heating system and air in your home, you can extend it to your garage by adding ductwork. This is ideal for anyone who wants safe, consistent heat in their garage but can’t be done DIY. If you’re interested in extending your central heating and air to your garage, you should call a professional to get a quote on an addition.

When you live in Minnesota, you know how truly, unbelievably cold winter can get. A heated garage can help you make life just that much easier and more comfortable. There’s really nothing that compares to not having to start your car early in the morning before getting in. If you’re interested in getting professional help heating your garage, schedule an appointment with the team at Welter Heating.