Water heating in the garage: features, requirements and do-it-yourself connection methods

Do you need heating in your garage?

It is necessary to organize a garage heating system, at a minimum, for the following reasons:

at temperatures below +50C it is uncomfortable to carry out maintenance work;
with prolonged exposure to negative temperatures, the performance qualities of oil and some other technical fluids deteriorate, which leads to difficulties when starting the engine and accelerated wear of parts;
In a heated garage, the air is drier, which reduces the risk of body corrosion.

It is not necessary to heat the air in the garage to the same high temperatures as in the living room - +150C is enough to implement all the tasks assigned to the heating system.

Features of water heating in the garage

The difficulty of a warm hangar lies in its inconsistent operation. If the heating is turned off for a long time, the circuit may break due to freezing of water in the pipes.

The main feature of water heating in a room is to warm it up to a temperature of + 5-8 0C. This will provide the necessary warm-up to the car and prevent the development of metal corrosion.

Advice! Filling water heating pipes with antifreeze will prevent rupture of system elements when the garage is not constantly heated.

The scheme includes:

boiler;
radiators;
line for supplying hot water and discharging cooled water.

The boiler's job is to heat the water that moves through the pipes to the heating radiators. The cooled liquid is returned to the boiler in reverse and the circuit is cycled.

What should be considered at the preparation stage?

A garage made of metal, brick, concrete or sandwich panels is a structure with high heat loss. If you do not provide reliable thermal insulation , then you will be heating the street. It is best to arrange external insulation of the garage, but if this is not possible, then you can get by with internal insulation. Not only walls, but also gates and floors need thermal insulation.

The heating system must be safe . A lot of flammable liquids and objects are stored in the garage, so the organization of heating must be taken with full responsibility:

at the planning stage , make a diagram of the garage , on it you need to mark the storage location of fuels and lubricants. This warehouse should be located as far as possible from the heating device and located at some elevation. The plan also marks the place where the pipe exits through the ceiling or wall, unless, of course, the selected heating system provides for the organization of a chimney. It is also worth noting wooden surfaces near heating equipment - they are covered with sheets of galvanized steel. Don't forget to make room for a fire extinguisher. If a system using flammable fuel is chosen, it would be a good idea to provide space for a box with asbestos fabric;
the floor and walls near the heating device should not be flammable;
the heating system must not be left unattended;
electrical wiring must be grounded;
it is important to provide reliable ventilation so as not to become another victim of carbon monoxide poisoning;
It’s better not to store all the junk in the garage that doesn’t have a place at home - it’s these things that become food for fire;
It is better to smoke outside or, at least, as far as possible from heating appliances;
electrical systems are not suitable for damp areas;
It wouldn’t hurt to install simple smoke detectors to protect your own property and neighbors’ garages.

Fire safety of garage heating

The garage belongs to the category of fire hazardous premises. The reasons are the car itself and the fuels and lubricants stored inside. Therefore, here are some recommendations regarding the heating system in the garage:

If there are surfaces made of wood near the heating device, they are covered with sheet iron or brickwork.
Fire protection is carried out where the chimney passes through the wall or ceiling.
Flammable materials are stored away from heating sources at a low height from the floor.
A fire extinguisher and a fire blanket are essential fire extinguishing equipment in the garage.
the heating at night . This does not apply to garages, the heating systems of which are powered by the heating of the common house.

Wall cladding with metal and brick near the stove Source tisam.ru

Criteria for choosing a heating system for a garage

If the garage is attached to the house, then it is unlikely to freeze due to the heat transfer of the building. In this case, it is best to connect the garage to the general water heating system of the house . The load on the boiler will be higher, so it is optimal to immediately arrange heating for the garage and living space in order to select the right equipment. The number of radiators in a garage depends on its size.

However, it is not always possible to connect a garage to a home heating system, even if it is attached to a building. What can we say about those garages that are located far from home. In this case, it is necessary to equip an autonomous heating system , which is selected taking into account the following factors:

cost of installation and operation;
availability of a particular type of fuel. For example, in areas where there are frequent power outages, the option of heating with a convector or heat gun is definitely out of the question;
complexity of installation;
required heating power. Heating a large garage with electric heaters is, to say the least, stupid;
Fire safety;
operating features. For example, solid fuel boilers require constant supervision and frequent loading of fuel.

A few decades ago, almost the only possible way to warm the air in the garage was a potbelly stove. Fortunately, today there are many much more convenient and practical options.

You can create heating in the garage with your own hands in the following ways:

water heating with boiler;
use of gas heaters;
use of solid fuel and diesel boilers;
electric heating;
air heating;
exhaust furnaces.

Let us repeat, there is no ideal option - it is selected in each individual case, taking into account a lot of factors.

Methods for water heating of a garage

The choice of fuel significantly influences the heating scheme in the room. The frequency of operation of the circuit should be taken into account. If the garage is located far from the house and is not heated daily, then during severe frosts the pipes and radiator may rupture. At the design stage, you should carefully consider the type of boiler and type of fuel.

There are several types of fuel:

gas;
solid fuel (coal, firewood);
liquid fuel (used technical oil);
electricity.

Attention! Solid and liquid fuels require additional storage facilities for storage.

The choice is made based on the cost of fuel and autonomy.

Water heating in a garage without electricity

The most common fuel in the private sector is gas. The advantage of this type is its low cost and availability. Gas heating does not require constant monitoring. With an uninterrupted gas supply, continuous heating is ensured.

However, if the gas pipeline does not pass through the area in which the building is located, they choose a different type of fuel, since it is very expensive to install a gas line.

A gas boiler for autonomous heating is not a cheap pleasure, especially when it comes to heating a garage

Liquid fuel is a low-budget type. The big disadvantage of this heating option is the need for a place to store used oil. You will need a large number of barrels or canisters and a place where you can store all the supplies. This is a fire hazard.

If you have a boiler for liquid fuel, you must constantly monitor its filling level, so you will have to visit the garage often to prevent the heating pipes from bursting

A solid fuel boiler will help you set up water heating in your garage using wood, coal, garbage or pressed briquettes. This option is suitable if the owner can visit the hangar every day and throw a portion into the firebox. After all, in the garage it is enough to ensure a positive temperature; there is no need to warm up the room too much. If a new portion of fuel is not added in a timely manner, the system may freeze and the pipes may burst.

A solid fuel boiler requires a constant portion of fuel, otherwise the system will cool down

For the hangar, you can install water heating using a potbelly stove. This oven is designed for a room up to 30 m2.

Water heating in the garage from electricity

An electric boiler is the most optimal option for a water heating scheme in a room. There is no need for an additional pipeline or storage area to store fuel.

An electric boiler provides reliability and comfort and does not require additional installation of a chimney or supply

Advantages of an electric boiler:

compactness;
reliability;
does not require installation of a supply line;
does not require the construction of a chimney;
the device is equipped with a safety system: in case of overheating, the system will turn off;
can operate on battery power during an emergency shutdown;
In the event of an emergency power outage, the boiler will start working on its own.

Despite the high cost of electricity, the choice of this heating scheme is optimal, since it is enough to warm the air in the room to positive temperatures, and little fuel is required.

No. 1. Water heating system

The water heating system is organized in the garage by analogy with residential premises. The coolant is heated in the boiler, and then it passes through pipes and radiators, uniformly heating the entire garage room. After the heat supply stops, the pipes remain heated for another couple of hours. This is the main advantage of this system.

The main disadvantage is the complexity of the organization. In addition, the water in the heating circuit may freeze, so if the system will not be used in the coming days, it is better to drain the water. On the other hand, frequent water changes lead to rapid corrosion of pipes and radiators. To avoid this problem, it is better to use metal-plastic equipment. It is better not to use ordinary water in the heating system - it is replaced with antifreeze , a non-freezing coolant.

The complexity of the arrangement results in another drawback - the high price. The most economical way to heat a garage is to connect its circuit to a home boiler. The cost of general heating will increase, but it will still be cheaper than organizing an independent heating system.

If it is not possible to connect to your home system, you will have to install a separate boiler. It can run on different fuels. The following types of boilers are used in the garage heating system:

An electric boiler is the easiest to install, extremely safe, but expensive to operate. Even if you are not worried about electricity bills, you should not use such boilers in areas with frequent power outages, power surges, or in regions with severe windy winters, because the wires may break, which will ultimately lead to freezing of the water in the system. If you do not manage to drain the water in time, the pipes may burst;
gas boilers They are used extremely rarely in garages, since not everywhere there is access to a gas pipeline. If the gas pipeline runs nearby, then you are very lucky - gas heating is inexpensive, and such systems are quite simple in terms of operation. The main thing is to follow safety precautions;
boilers for liquid and solid fuels. You can choose a stove that runs on wood, coal, diesel or waste oil - it all depends on which resource is more accessible in your case. Solid fuel boilers require constant monitoring and frequent loading of fuel. Pyrolysis and pellet units are more convenient in this regard, but they are not cheap; the most economical option is a potbelly stove, which can also be used in a water heating system.

For all boilers, except electric ones, you will have to organize a chimney. In addition to the boiler, radiators, heating pipes and chimney pipes, you will need a circulation pump and an expansion tank. All this costs money, so using a hydronic heating system only makes sense in large garages. Often such heating is done at service stations and commercial auto repair shops. If the garage is small, then there is no point in organizing such a complex water heating system - this is an option for more or less spacious rooms where constant heating is required.

The operating principle of a water heating system is quite simple. The coolant heats up, passes through the pipes, gives off heat and returns to the boiler. The system can be one- or two-pipe. A single-pipe system is much easier to organize and cheaper; it is best suited for a small private garage. In this case, the heated coolant sequentially enters the radiators, i.e. in the first radiator the temperature will be higher than in the last, where the antifreeze reaches it already cooled down. The two-pipe system allows for more uniform heating, but much more materials will be needed.

Even if the garage is not attached to the house, but is located nearby, you can try to connect it to the home heating system, but there are limitations. The distance from the garage to the house should not be more than 20 m, and the pipes must be properly insulated.

If antifreeze is used as a coolant (a liquid that does not freeze even at -450C), then you must work with it carefully, because it is a toxic substance that becomes even more dangerous when heated. Antifreeze is not recommended for use in two-pipe systems. The coolant is replaced every 5 years.

Types of water heating garage

Water heating in a garage without a pump can be achieved using a gravity heating system.

There are 2 schemes:

single-pipe;
two-pipe.

Single-pipe water heating in the garage

Water heating in the garage from the stove is equipped using a single-pipe scheme. This scheme ensures the sequential passage of coolant through the radiators and return to the boiler.

A single-pipe heating system is easy to install and does not provide uniform heating of radiators

A significant disadvantage of the single-pipe scheme is the uneven distribution of heat. The first radiators will be significantly warmer than the last ones. Experts say that this problem is acute in multi-story buildings and less noticeable in single-story buildings.

Two-pipe water heating in the garage

In a hangar with a large area, experts recommend installing water heating using a two-pipe system. The first pipe pumps heated coolant to the radiators. The second drains waste fluid from the batteries back into the boiler.

The two-pipe system ensures uniform distribution of coolant throughout all radiators

The temperature of the radiators will be uniform, which will ensure uniform heating of the air. The disadvantage of this scheme is complex installation and a large number of pipes and shut-off elements, which increases its cost.

No. 2. Gas heating

Gas is a much more economical fuel than electricity. It can be used for combustion in a heating boiler , but this will require the presence of a main gas pipeline and the execution of a number of documents, you will also need to pay the cost of the tie-in, and this is not counting the expensive installation of the heating system itself. As mentioned above, this is an option only for spacious garages that need to be heated almost constantly.

When there is no access to the main gas pipeline, liquefied bottled gas can be used. According to safety rules, cylinders are installed in metal boxes at least 20 cm above floor level and away from flammable objects. You can have a supply of cylinders, but you need to allocate space for this. Most make do with one cylinder, which is periodically taken to a gas station.

The following types of equipment can be connected to the gas cylinder:

a heat gun equipped with a burner for burning gas. The heated air is distributed throughout the room using a built-in fan. In this way, you can warm up the garage very quickly, but the air will also cool down very quickly;
ceramic gas heater it does not heat the air, but objects that subsequently warm the air in the room;
gas convector heats the air by changing its properties as the temperature rises. Cold air passes through the heat exchanger, heats up and exits into the room. Warm air is lighter than cold air, so it immediately rises, giving way to unheated air, which is sucked in by the convector. To make the air circulate faster, the convector is often equipped with a fan. The body of the device and the heat exchanger are made of durable, heat-resistant materials, because the gas inside will constantly burn. The lower the convector is installed, the better. The room will warm up quickly, but cool down just as quickly.

The disadvantage of such heating is the formation of combustion products that do not go anywhere and remain in the garage. It is impossible to do without reliable ventilation or regular airing.

The main advantages and disadvantages of a system filled with antifreeze

The advantages of the method include:

The boiling point of antifreeze is 1100-1250, so it is preferable to use it in individual heating systems with high fuel combustion temperatures. At the same time, the air in the room will heat up more slowly, so this feature of the coolant must be taken into account;
prevents the formation of scale on the walls of boilers, and accordingly increases the service life of the equipment;

A heating system in a garage filled with antifreeze has its negative aspects, which include:

a higher level of viscosity will require the installation of a powerful circulation pump;
Antifreeze has a low level of heat capacity; to achieve a level of room heating similar to water heating, it will require the installation of additional sections on radiators;
high penetrating ability of antifreeze requires tightness of all wiring connections;
for gaskets you will have to use expensive paronite;
water heating of a garage using antifreeze as a coolant will require a complete replacement of antifreeze in 4-5 years;
the most important disadvantage is its toxicity to humans. Therefore, it is important to make the heating circuit completely sealed and monitor this constantly.

Important! For optimal, safe operating conditions of a boiler with a water circuit filled with antifreeze, it is important to choose the right coolant according to its composition. It is not recommended to dilute the finished antifreeze with plain water before filling the system. In this case, the freezing point of the liquid changes. Only special concentrates can be diluted, but strictly according to the instructions. Concentrated antifreeze consists of 95% propylene glycol.

No. 3. Solid fuel heating

Heating with coal, wood, peat, or pallets is profitable - the fuel is cheap, and its heat transfer, although lower than that of gas, is still quite high. Potbelly stoves, stoves and boilers are used to burn solid fuels.

A common disadvantage of all solid fuel stoves is the need to equip a place for fuel. It is also important to ensure constant control over the amount of fuel in the firebox. This adds concerns about keeping the chimney and firebox clean, but the heat itself is very cheap. Solid fuel boilers and brick stoves are placed only on a solid, non-combustible base.

Potbelly stove for heating a garage

Potbelly stoves are the most primitive stoves that began to be actively used at the beginning of the last century. Then their popularity sharply decreased due to the spread of centralized heating. However, potbelly stoves are still used, because they are practically the cheapest way to heat a garage.

The potbelly stove is made of metal. The largest part is occupied by the chamber into which the fuel is thrown. The room warms up due to the contact of the stove walls with the surrounding air. Not the least important role is played by the pipe, which also accumulates heat. To prevent heated combustion products from immediately flying out into the street, a pipe of a clearly defined diameter is used, due to which the warm gases make several revolutions in the vertical plane. This allows you to make maximum use of the heat of combustion of the fuel (efficiency reaches 60-80%) and effectively suck in the air necessary for the fuel to burn completely. The diameter of the pipe in mm should be 2.7 times greater than the volume of the stove in liters.

It is important that the chimney has a complex shape: first there is a vertical insulated part, then a horizontal or inclined part, the so-called. hog, which provides up to a quarter of the heat received, because the flue gases burn out here. Potbelly stoves are sold ready-made: there are both the simplest and most primitive options, as well as sophisticated designer ones. If you have the skills, you can assemble a potbelly stove yourself from a barrel or sheet metal.

Advantages:

a potbelly stove can be heated with any solid fuel, but wood is usually used;
low price and low cost of operation;
relatively high efficiency;
allows you to quickly warm up the room and dry the air in it;
There are models that can also be used as a stove. They will come in handy for those who spend even too much time in the garage.

Minuses:

the need for constant monitoring of work;
high fire danger;
Suitable for small spaces only;
the air cools quickly;
it will be impossible to get rid of the specific smell;
the need for regular chimney cleaning.

Solid fuel boiler

This is a more expensive, but at the same time, safer and more effective solution. The principle of operation is simple: fuel is burned in the firebox, a container with coolant is heated, which is supplied through pipes and radiators. improved types of boilers are increasingly used

a pyrolysis boiler has two combustion chambers, in the first the firewood smolderes at a high temperature due to the fact that the amount of air is insufficient. The combustion product is pyrolysis gas, which is burned in the second chamber, releasing much more heat than just wood. The boiler efficiency increases to 90%, and one portion of firewood lasts for 10-13 hours;
Pellet boilers are fired using pellets obtained from wood waste. They are placed in a bunker, from where they are fed into the firebox in doses. The boiler efficiency reaches 95%; fuel can be loaded once every few days.

The body of solid fuel boilers is made of cast iron or steel. Pyrolysis and pellet boilers are, of course, very convenient, but they are expensive. If funds allow, you can afford such a purchase - it will soon pay off.

Brick oven

Building a brick oven in a garage is a long, expensive and painstaking task. The fuel for such a stove is usually wood, but coal can also be used. The principle of obtaining heat is still the same. The fuel burns, heats the walls of the stove, and they heat the air. A good option for small spaces. Brick takes longer to warm up than metal, but it also cools more slowly.

Stove Buleryan

The Buleryan stove is often confused with a potbelly stove and a regular wood-burning stove. She actually absorbed a little bit of both. The operating principle is based on convection. The design assumes the presence of pipes at the base of the furnace and in the upper part. Cold air enters through the bottom of the stove, receives heat from the chamber where the fuel is burned, and exits, already heated, through the top. The pipes are 2/3 soldered into the furnace body to ensure maximum heat transfer. The special design of the firebox and chimney allows you to extract maximum heat from fuel combustion. The presence of a chamber for pyrolysis combustion of fuel plays a significant role here. Combustion products are removed through the chimney.

Advantages:

rapid heating of the room due to convection and heat transfer from the surface of the stove;
compactness;
there is no need to frequently add firewood;
higher safety compared to a potbelly stove.

Minuses:

price;
complexity of chimney installation;
the need for frequent cleaning of soot.

Selecting a heating method depending on the fuel

When making heating in the garage with your own hands, a video of the system development is presented below, you must first decide on the type of fuel.

Original ways to heat a garage - video

In particular, suitable for these purposes:

solid (firewood, wood chips, sawdust, pellets, coal, etc.);
liquid (fuel oil and diesel);
gas (ideal);
electricity (expensive option).

Each type of fuel has its own characteristics and requires appropriate equipment. Below we will consider in more detail how to create this or that heating system.

Solid fuel

If you want to create a garage heating with your own hands cheaply and quickly, then in this case you just need to install a small stove like a potbelly stove in the room, remove the chimney and periodically heat it:

firewood;
or coal.

The stove must be installed as far as possible from any flammable materials and wooden floors. Ideally, a corner that is completely free from any things and objects is best suited for this.

In addition, it is not necessary to buy a potbelly stove. Making a stove for heating a garage with your own hands is not difficult. You will need a sheet of metal or an old, unwanted metal barrel. The thickness of the metal must be at least five millimeters. From sheet material you will get a cubic oven, and from a barrel, accordingly, a rounded one.

Also needed:

corner;
pipes;
tools.

The outlet for the chimney is best created on the top of the stove, and the pipe size should be at least 12 centimeters in diameter. At the very bottom, the thickness of the pipe metal must be at least three millimeters, otherwise the metal will quickly burn out under the influence of high temperatures.

In the lower part, under the firebox, there is a place for dumping ash - install a metal grate there. The size of the hole between the slots depends on the type of fuel that is planned to be used:

if it is coal or small chips, then 1 centimeter is enough;
if these are large logs, then no less than 4 centimeters.

To make ash removal easier, place a drawer under the grate that can be removed. Naturally, it should also be made of durable steel.

Advice! To increase the efficiency of your potbelly stove, weld metal plates with a thickness of at least 0.5 centimeters onto the side panels. This will help to significantly increase the heating area of the stove.

You can learn more about how to make a potbelly stove for a garage in just 1 day in the article “Do-it-yourself potbelly stove, drawings, the most effective.”

Water system

A potbelly stove is simple and profitable. But there is a drawback - after the wood or coal burns out, the temperature will begin to drop quickly.

The photo shows a garage heating diagram

The efficiency of such a stove can be improved by creating a water heating system. A do-it-yourself garage water heating scheme suggests:

installation of heating units throughout the room;
pipe routing;
installation at the top of a special expansion tank.

It is recommended to use antifreeze to fill the pipes, which will prevent possible defrosting if the garage is not used for a long time in cold weather.

There are two types of this type of system:

single-pipe - when the filler passes through all nodes;
two-pipe - when there is a supply of heated filler and a return flow of already cooled filler.

The first method is less expensive, however, the pipes will heat up unevenly. However, if this would be noticeable in the house, then for the garage it is quite tolerable.

It is necessary to ensure that the heating unit is installed below the pipeline - this guarantees normal flow of water/antifreeze. The filler will flow when exposed to high temperature.

If it is not possible to install the heating unit below the entire system, you will have to additionally install a pump. To avoid possible risks arising from the expansion of water/antifreeze, an expansion tank must be provided at the highest point of the pipeline. In this case, the system becomes energy dependent.

If the lights in the garage are periodically turned off, it makes sense to purchase a 12-volt circulation pump with a battery. You will learn about the characteristics and installation methods in the article “Where a 12-volt circulation pump is used.”

The two-pipe system is recommended for installation in large areas. By the way, the so-called “warm floor” should also be included in this category. It is not difficult to install, but you will have to complete a complete repair of the garage, because the coils are laid on the floor and filled with concrete mortar on top, which guarantees their protection from mechanical damage.

The two-pipe system has a significant drawback, which is that it can freeze if the heating is not used regularly and ordinary water is used as a filler.

To avoid freezing, add antifreeze. A car won't do! There are special solutions that are filled with glycerin and other chemicals that guarantee the longevity of the pipeline. When using such solutions, it is strictly forbidden to insulate the connections of the coils with tow - in just a few days it will spread and the pipes will leak. The joints need to be sealed with special sealants.

Furnace in production

If you don’t want to make a potbelly stove with your own hands or lay pipes, you can make a stove using waste oil (waste oil), which will allow you to heat the room in a matter of minutes, without the need to purchase expensive fuel.

It is best to make such a stove from a used gas cylinder, which must be cleaned and rinsed of gas residues.

1. Cut 2 holes on the cylinder, 200 and 400 mm, with a distance of 50 mm. This will be a combustion chamber and an ash pan, which allows you to use even any solid fuel.

Next, separate the heat exchanger from the chamber, for which you cut a circle from a sheet and make a 100-150 mm hole in it for the burner.

A pipe with a large number of holes is used as a burner.

Weld it to the circle and insert the entire structure into the cylinder.

The evaporation thicket is best made from a brake disc, although any fire-resistant material will do.

In the video you can see how this oven works

Gas boilers

With gas ones, everything is somewhat simpler. Of course, they also need to be controlled, but not so strictly. A significant drawback is the fact that it is necessary to install a gas pipeline to the garage. But even here you can find a way out.

For example, installing boilers that run on liquefied gas, that is, supplied in cylinders - to fully heat a garage of approximately 30 square meters, only 1 cylinder per month will be enough.

Such boilers come in various designs:

wall mounted;
installed directly on the floor;
with open or closed chamber.

But they all have the same advantages:

equipped with a special safety system that automatically shuts off the gas supply if the critical temperature is exceeded or if the draft is cut off;
compactness;
durability;
the ability to install a thermostat, which will allow you to constantly maintain the required temperature.

The only significant drawback of boilers to which gas cylinders are connected is the requirement that it must be installed strictly outside the garage. Storing inside is strictly prohibited! For maximum safety, a small hole is dug under the cylinder outside the room where it is to be stored.

Electric heating

Another option is a convector that operates completely autonomously. It guarantees the set temperature level without any problems.

The advantage - rapid heating of the air - immediately turns into a disadvantage - the same rapid decrease in temperature after switching off.

Therefore, when choosing an electric heating option, it is better to focus on the appropriate boiler. Today there are models capable of heating from 30 to 600 square meters.

The main advantages of such equipment are as follows:

high level of reliability;
small sizes;
no chimney installation required, etc.

It is also fully automated, which eliminates overheating. And some models are also programmable - in the event of a short power outage, when it occurs, the equipment starts up independently and operates at the previously set parameters. In addition, this is the safest method, since it does not require supervision at all.

No. 4. Electric garage heating

Electric heating is the easiest to organize, but you have to pay dearly for such convenience.

Advantages:

simplicity and high speed of arrangement. All you have to do is buy a heater and plug it into a power outlet;
large selection of heating devices;
absence of combustion products, so a chimney is not needed;
high level of security;
high heating rate;
ease of temperature adjustment.

There are also disadvantages :

long-term heating with electricity will cost a pretty penny;
not suitable for regions with power outages;
rapid cooling of the room after turning off the heating;
low durability of equipment.

Most often, the following electric heaters are used to heat a garage:

heat guns - This is a more powerful analogue of a household fan heater. Cold air passes through the heating element, heats up and is blown into the room using a fan. You can place a heat gun anywhere, it is mobile and allows you to adjust the degree of heating. There are very powerful models that must be connected to a 380 V network. The gun can raise dust into the air, this is especially noticeable in small garages, so you will have to keep the room clean;
fan heater In terms of power, it is inferior to a heat gun, costs the least, dries the air. They, like guns, are characterized by fairly high noise levels. Ceramic fan heaters are more durable, economical and comfortable to use than their spiral counterparts;
convector - This is a heating element in a housing with holes. The room is heated due to heat transfer from the housing and the release of warm air through the openings. Many models are equipped with wheels for easier movement. The convector heats the room more slowly than a heat gun, but after switching off the housing takes a long time to cool down. Another disadvantage is the higher price;
oil heater is more complex than a convector. Here the heating element first heats the oil, then the oil heats the body, and the body already heats the air. The room takes a long time to heat up, so this is not the best option for a garage;
IR heaters They heat surfaces and objects, which then heat the air. The person feels warm immediately. The sun warms the planet using the same principle. Such devices consume a minimum of electricity, but during operation they heat up significantly - be careful if the garage is small. It's best not to point the beams at the car;
inverter split systems are a fairly economical way to generate heat, but the equipment itself is very expensive. The system can operate at temperatures not lower than -200C.

Electric heaters are suitable for temporarily heating a garage: you plan to do some work, turn on the heater, do everything and turn it off. It won’t hurt your wallet, and you won’t have to bother with kindling and a chimney. If the garage is a workshop where you spend time regularly, then this heating method is not for you.

Garage heating options

Based on the type of heating element, heating systems are divided into the following types:

gas,
electrical,
solid fuel,
liquid fuel.

Almost all car owners choose garage heating as the most economical way to heat a room. Therefore, we will consider all the options from the perspective of energy savings.

There are several ways to heat a garage, the best one is chosen based on the capabilities Source liveinternet.ru

Gas heating type

This term does not mean a gas pipe with methane inside. Garages use bottled liquefied gas. At the same time, according to fire safety requirements, the cylinders themselves must be stored outside the garage. And the connection to the heating equipment is made either with a steel pipe or a metallized gas hose.

As for savings, among all the options offered, this is one of the most economical. But there is one serious nuance here. If the garage is for one car, then you should not use a complex gas heating system. Even one wood-burning stove will be more economical. Because such garages are rarely heated, and heating with gas is a considerable initial investment of money.

You can purchase an infrared stove powered by gas. For small garages this is the best option: inexpensive, economical and mobile. If you choose the right power of the heating unit, then there will be no problems with heat supply in winter. Therefore, among the gas heating options, this is the best.

Infrared gas oven Source liveinternet.ru

See also: Contacts of companies that deal with home insulation.

Electrical

Electricity cannot be called an economical fuel. But for heating a garage in winter, this option is one of the best. Firstly, there is no need to carry out complex installation of communication networks. Only an outlet is required. Secondly, electricity is the most affordable type of energy carrier.

The only task of the garage owner is to find a device that would consume electric current economically.

Infrared heaters. Their advantage is economical energy consumption with high thermal energy output. The downside is that of all electric heating devices, they are the most expensive.
Convector type radiators. Inexpensive equipment, but consume more energy than IR heaters.
Heat guns. Heating efficiency is one hundred percent. They are comfortable and quickly warm up garages, even metal ones. But they consume several times more current than convector radiators.

Note! The design of heat guns includes a fan that blows on the heating coils. It will raise dust from the floor. And this means a decrease in sanitary standards and a negative impact on human health.

Heat gun Source housechief.ru

Solid fuel

Firewood, sawdust, coal, peat - all these types of fuel emit thermal energy well. Plus, many of them are affordable energy sources. That's why many garage owners don't bother. The main task is to heat the room for several hours.

But we need to define one position. Solid fuel burns well, burning quickly, so its consumption is high. And this is a decrease in the level of efficiency. Therefore, today potbelly stoves and other boilers of this type are practically not used. For several years now, the market has been dominated by so-called long-burning boilers, the operating principle of which is based on the process of pyrolysis. This is when the fuel burns slowly with minimal access to oxygen. The main thermal energy comes from fuel gases burned in another compartment.

It is pyrolysis boilers that are the most economical among solid fuel boilers.

Pyrolysis boiler Source tisam.ru

No. 5. Heating with liquid fuel

Fuel can be used oil and diesel . If you need to heat a car repair shop, where used oil is always available, then this is a very good option. You can make a heater for testing yourself. It is based on two chambers: in one the fuel burns, in the other the gas burns out. For manufacturing, you can use gas cylinders, tanks and pipes. As a result, a large amount of energy is generated.

The main advantage of a waste oil furnace is the minimum cost of fuel, and sometimes it is completely free. The downside is the formation of a large amount of soot and soot, so the equipment needs regular cleaning. In addition, lighting such a stove is quite difficult; it doesn’t always work out the first time, and if you come to a cold garage and operate with cold hands, then the task becomes more complicated. There are also requirements for installing a chimney - it must be at least 4 m in length and have a slope.

If your existing skills are not enough to assemble a stove, you will have to buy it; it costs about the same as a gas boiler. Some models are quite sensitive to fuel supply. In addition, to ensure uninterrupted operation of the equipment, it is necessary to have a supply of fuel. The average flow rate is 1 l/hour.

Comparison of heating sources with each other

If the building is located at a distance of no more than 20 m from the house, the problem is solved automatically - a system common to the house is installed. For garages located further away, autonomous systems are required, and the following heat sources can be used: gas, electricity, solid fuel and waste motor oil.

In large garages, installing heaters will not solve the heating problem; it makes sense to install a boiler and equip a water heating system

Gas – cheap and efficient

The most economical heating of a garage is, of course, with gas, but it requires a connection to the central highway, paperwork, and permission from the competent authorities. Despite the numerous tips on self-installation of gas systems available on the Internet, we will not recommend installing gas systems yourself. Only specialists should work on gas systems. In addition, equipment can be installed only if the room meets all sanitary standards: there are ventilation ducts, the ceiling height is not lower than 2 m.

A more affordable and simpler heating method is the use of liquefied gas. Convectors, ceramic stoves, gas panels, heat guns, and infrared heaters are installed as heating devices.

The main advantages of gas heating:

efficiency;
high efficiency;
high degree of automation of systems;
uninterrupted heating throughout the day.

Flaws:

any, even the most reliable, gas equipment is potentially explosive, so violation of safety regulations during design, installation and operation can lead to serious damage;
supplying main gas is not always possible and is associated with hassle and expense.

Do not ignore the danger and do not violate the rules and regulations governing the installation and connection of gas equipment!

If it is possible to connect to a gas main, the cheapest heating option would be to install water heating connected to a gas boiler

Electric heating

For most people, the option of installing an electric heating boiler disappears immediately, because more expensive heating cannot be imagined. But a portable electric heater for the garage is the choice of many motorists. It perfectly solves the problem of maintaining the desired temperature; you can always choose a model of the required power, but there are also unpleasant nuances. It is difficult to call electrical equipment reliable. In addition, it is impossible to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of electricity, and access to it is not always available. Oil and infrared heaters, heat guns, and fan heaters are used as heating devices.

Please note that if you plan to install electrical heating equipment, you need to ensure that there are no combustible, lubricating, paint and varnish compounds and flammable materials in the room.

If installing a heating system with an electric boiler is impractical due to high costs, then a portable heater may well be a worthy alternative. Electricity costs are high in any case, but a mobile heater will be cheaper, and it does not require installation

Heating with solid fuel

Solid fuel allows you to create a completely autonomous heating system that does not depend on the availability of an electrical network or a gas main. You can install a stove in the garage or install heating with a solid fuel boiler. Firewood, coal, and sawdust are used as a heat source. This is economical, provides thermal comfort, and if you wish and have the necessary skills, you can make a stove with your own hands. Disadvantage: it is undesirable to store combustible and flammable materials indoors. The operation of the heating device must be constantly monitored. The stove or boiler needs to be cleaned periodically.

If you have the materials, time and desire, a garage owner can make a homemade potbelly stove and save on heating installations

Processing – alternative fuel

For a thrifty owner, a stove that runs on used engine oil is simply a godsend, because the use of recycled materials allows you to reduce heating costs to a minimum. Approximate fuel consumption is 1 liter per hour. Before use, the oil must be cleaned in special heating units. You can assemble such an installation yourself. The only serious drawback of the stove during testing is that it can fail, since the fuel is of low quality and it is impossible to achieve uniformity of its composition.

The design of a furnace powered by recycled materials is simple. If desired, you can make both the oven and the oil purification system yourself

No. 6. Air heating system

Air heating is used quite rarely. To organize it, it is necessary to provide a system of air ducts with deflectors, where hot air from a heat gun or fan heater enters.

This heating option allows you to quickly dry all the air in the garage and thereby protect the car from the harmful effects of high humidity. Due to the complexity of the organization, the system is rarely used.

In conclusion, we note that when trying to save on heating, always think about safety precautions.

Tags: Garage, Heating boiler

Choosing a connection method

In the garage you will be able to implement several heating connection schemes with your own hands:

One pipe;
Two pipes;
Combination.

For a small room, a single-pipe design is also suitable; this will save time, effort and materials without compromising work efficiency. However, in large rooms it is better to use two pipes.

If we talk about the type of coolant, then ordinary water should not be used - the risk of freezing is too great, and ice will simply rupture the pipes from the inside, restoring the system will require huge financial investments. The best option is a specialized antifreeze that does not pose a danger to pipes and has an extremely low crystallization temperature.