[The Libertine]

I wouldn’t. Unless you spend A LOT of time in your garage, think you would find a better use for the money.

[Maynard]

Don't heat it unless you want to work there. As others noted, heated garages increase the rust (salt isn't corrosive if frozen in ice), it will also attract rodents. I'd check w/ Tire Rack about the storage temps - IIRC there are some tires that will be damaged by freezing, even if off the car (I know I've heard this for racing tires, but thought there was also s/t about this for some performance street tires). A couple of 2x2 sheets of plexiglass and you've got a keen new set of matching end tables .

[gooselee]

Originally Posted by Angry Ketchup

It's hilariously narrow, so can't park my 6er in it and open the doors. Would only be able to enter/exit car via convertible roof.

Sounds like you need R/C parking!

Originally Posted by Angry Ketchup

Talking about heated garages, what about heated driveways and walkways?

My aunt's house had this back in the 70s and was considered 'new age'. Was really nice for melting snow in the winter and having warm patio around the swimming pool on cool autumn nights.

I simply live places where I'm not expected to go outside when there is snow/ice on the ground.

We did consider putting a heating element in our bathroom floor but decided we didn't want to have to maintain that system or deal with it if it broke. A couple bathmats proved to be just as functional and immensely easier to replace.

[lakefront]

Why not just insulate it real well to start? You have to do that anyway if you want to heat it. Even a detached garage will be warmer than the outside if insulated.

[jimbobiggens]

I have a sink in my shop. I used to heat it until I got the bright idea to route the air compressor into the water line so I could blow out the water. I installed a shut-off valve and a dump valve under the house and put the air to it. Works well if I remember to do it.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by lakefront

Why not just insulate it real well to start? You have to do that anyway if you want to heat it. Even a detached garage will be warmer than the outside if insulated.

bc insulation doesn't generate heat, it just retains it. If it's cold outside and nothing is generating heat inside, it'll be cold inside*

* not accounting for heat put out by a hot engine cooling down, or any retained heat from direct sunlight.

[lakefront]

Originally Posted by kolosy

bc insulation doesn't generate heat, it just retains it. If it's cold outside and nothing is generating heat inside, it'll be cold inside*

* not accounting for heat put out by a hot engine cooling down, or any retained heat from direct sunlight.

Yesterday my detached garage was about 15 deg warmer inside than outside air temp. Maybe a very slight gain from sunlight, but no other heat source.

[Ross61]

Insulate it and set it up for heat. This provides you multiple options.

1. You can keep the space at a cool 40 degrees for the cars. Warm enough to allow the cars to start right up without inducing unnecessary ware. cool enough to not kill your gas bill for the heating.

2. It provides you an environmentally controlled sanctuary to hide in, change the cars' oil during winter, or just plain do guy stuff like watching football while reloading (you'll need to route in a cable connection and buy a reloader).

3. Resale value increases when potential buyers see the garage as a space for hobbies and other activities.

[gooselee]

My garage is not heated but I wanted to do some work in there yesterday. Left the door to the house open and plugged in a cheap space heater for 15 mins. The temp came up from low 40s to mid 50s (and kept getting warmer as I worked).

I can live with doing that the handful of times each winter I want to be working in there. What would really be great is a big ceiling fan to keep air moving in the summer.

[kolosy]

I might end up rebuilding the garage (knew that going into the purchase). if i do that, i'll insulate it and put in proper heating. i kind of what a second, transparent door facing the yard so i can keep it open when i'm in there during the summer i can get sunlight / air without having to keep all my shit on display to the alley..

[kolosy]

Ha, the forum flagged this for me for some reason. Yeah, I went a little overboard (and rotated through 5 cars since then, too). Interior glass door, 10KW electric heater and 10k btu ac., insulated, obv. And a track car in various states of undress.

[Mech Spec]

Looks incredible. Great garage!

My only real barrier to heating my garage is the very-not-sealed old windows that would have to be fully restored or replaced to make it economical. If we decide to stay in this house I would do it, but I'm not sure we will.

[spazzyfry123]

How does the glass do for insulation?

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by kolosy

i've got a detached garage in Chiberia, and while it generally stays warmer than the outside, it does drop below freezing. Obviously cars are parked on streets in the freezing cold all the time, but is there any reason to keep the garage above freezing? Any long term benefits?

Depends entirely on what your garage winter use ambitions are.
If you only use the detached garage to shelter vehicles from ice and snow, you don't need to heat it. In fact, you don't want to heat it, to minimize melt/freeze cycles.
If you also want to spend time in that structure for any reason (maintenance projects, upgrades, winter car washing, man cave, etc), then options to safely heat it (+ a stripper pole?) might be worth discussing.

Originally Posted by ntg44

This is a good opportunity to ask about tires.
Is there any issue with having summer tires in the garage with temps this cold? Not talking about r comps, but MPSS level.

Yes, you want to be careful with Comp/Racing tire storage temps.
"exposure to extreme temperatures or certain environmental conditions may adversely impact tire performance over the life of a competition tire. Michelin recommends the following guidelines be respected for tire storage and transportation.
Minimum temps:
Slick : 10°C/ 50°F (in storage); Wet 15°C/ 59°F (during transport)
Wet : 5°C/ 41°F (in storage); Wet 10°C/ 50°F (during transport)
"

Details here:
https://www.imsa.com/wp-content/uplo...SA_2020_01.pdf

For MPSS or PS4S, the following warranty dislcaimers apply:

• Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.
• Flexing of the specialized rubber compounds used in Max Performance Summer tires during cold-weather use can result in irreversible compound cracking. Compound cracking is not a warrantable condition because it occurs as the result of improper use or storage, tires exhibiting compound cracking must be replaced.

HTH,
a

[Mech Spec]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Depends entirely on what your garage winter use ambitions are.
If you only use the detached garage to shelter vehicles from ice and snow, you don't need to heat it. In fact, you don't want to heat it, to minimize melt/freeze cycles.
If you also want to spend time in that structure for any reason (maintenance projects, upgrades, winter car washing, man cave, etc), then options to safely heat it (+ a stripper pole?) might be worth discussing.



Yes, you want to be careful with Comp/Racing tire storage temps.
"exposure to extreme temperatures or certain environmental conditions may adversely impact tire performance over the life of a competition tire. Michelin recommends the following guidelines be respected for tire storage and transportation.
Minimum temps:
Slick : 10°C/ 50°F (in storage); Wet 15°C/ 59°F (during transport)
Wet : 5°C/ 41°F (in storage); Wet 10°C/ 50°F (during transport)
"

Details here:
https://www.imsa.com/wp-content/uplo...SA_2020_01.pdf

For MPSS or PS4S, the following warranty condition applies:
Note: Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.
Flexing of the specialized rubber compounds used in Max Performance Summer tires during cold-weather use can result in irreversible compound cracking. Compound cracking is not a warrantable condition because it occurs as the result of improper use or storage, tires exhibiting compound cracking must be replaced.



HTH,
a

You just responded to the original post which is over 6 years old.

[Llarry]

When I did my garage in 2010, I installed a 220V heater with integral thermostat. I adjusted it so that it rarely came on. Ceiling-mounted and probably not ideal but it served.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Mech Spec

You just responded to the original post which is over 6 years old.

Ha - that's a fair summary of how this day has been going for me!

a

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Ha - that's a fair summary of how this day has been going for me!

a

Maybe the OP is a patient man.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

How does the glass do for insulation?

As terrible as you expect. Th heater does a nice job in the winter (while literally doubling my overall electric bill), and the ac does f***-all in the summer.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by Llarry

When I did my garage in 2010, I installed a 220V heater with integral thermostat. I adjusted it so that it rarely came on. Ceiling-mounted and probably not ideal but it served.

Yeah that’s basically what I have. 3 phase 220 with integrated thermostat.

[Lady Jane]

I've always heated my insulated garage. Usually around 15°C. in the winter. And I also keep a humidifier on as well at 45%.

Not just for the X3 or bike but also to keep everything else toasty and dry like products and tools etc... No musty smell or mold.

I have a center drain on the floor and in the winter, the snow melts and empties down the pipe. All I have to do is take a squeegee and mop-up. I have a ceramic floor so easy peasy. So the hydro bill goes up. Big deal. I have a lot invested in there and I take care of my toys.

[M-technik-3]

I have a heated garage, Sadly the walls are only insulated to R18 and the roof is R25 and the slab is non insulated that is where the most heat loss comes from is trying to warm up the concrete floor.

I have Natural Gas at my house and use it for all of my appliances that can run off it. So the garage has a older forced hot air furnace that I use outside air for combustion and vents outside via the roof. Wished I put it out the side of the wall. It also works and drys the humidity as it's running. I use a large window unit for AC. It can struggle at times but 78 is cooler than 90. My garage is 700 square feet just an oversized 2 car unit.

I took have a center drain that is now illegal per code but the snow melt from my tractor goes down it. MY DD stay outside sadly.

Old thread and don't think the OP ever updated. Method of heating is the biggest thing. and insulting the thing to the max and maybe wrapping it with some house wrap to seal out the wind and using spray foam or blown in insulation for a higher R value. I was limited to 2x4 walls and had even considered making the walls 2x6's to carry more load if I was to lift the roof higher for a lift. Miss having a two post lift, had one in my post and beam barn at my other house.