In-Floor Heat (garage) or Garage Heater

SO i’m building a house this spring. It’s a 5 year (10 Max) living situation and I’m having a hard time with the in-floor heat decision. If I get the boiler and hook ups for the garage it only makes sense to set up the basement too. Either way I will need to insulate the garage. The additional cost for in-floor is about 6k for the set up. A decent garage heater that will handle a 3 stall is about $600. I know most would say just do the in-floor because I will get it back but tell me what you think either way. Any help is apprecaited!

Have you looked into the tank-less hot water heater systems that are not being used to heat water in the floors? I really don’t know much about them but I do know there is a few guys beginning to use them up in this area. From what I have heard they are pretty ok. Hopefully a contractor on here can give some insight.

6 grand is a lot. A ceiling hung unit heater would probale be best in a well insulated garage. They do make some effiecent wall mounted boilers set up for radiant heating but they do get costly. You might check into a residential condensing furnace mounted on the ceiling. This will give you the eff. and comfort without a huge installation cost.
Good luck with the project.

I work for a heating and air outfit out of faribault you can get rebates for the in floor and it will pay for itself in probably 4 years depending on the temp in the garage but wall heaters are know to have problems. my opinion, better efficiency better buy over the long run

Drop me a PM. I have delt with this recently

If this is being hooked to an outdoor wood boiler I would install a fan coil unit in the garage ($500-600). Very easy turn the heat up higher if you want or just to keep the garage in the mid 40’s.

If your doing any work at floor level, such as under a car, then go in floor. If it’s just to keep the cars thawed out and maybe for dinking around in, then get a Hot Dawg

big G

Me personallly we have infloor in the basement of the house with an electric boiler first two months turned it off way to expensive to run, and that is on dual fuel. We are adding a gasification boiler this summer then the infloor heat will be awsome.

In a garage if it is like mine 6 inch walls R19, ceiling R38, two commercial 16 X 10 insulated garage doors, with LP furnace. I keep it about 40 degrees unless I am out there working. Walk in bump the thermistat up to 55 degrees in 10 minutes it is 55. In floor heat takes a long time to warm up the structure, may take a few hours. So my vote goes for a furnace of some type. Unless you keep it at a much higher temp 24-7 so it is warmer when you enter the building.

Put many in floor heating in. They are great if properly installed. If money is an issue, I would go with hanger.

I have in floor heat in my garage and my house and I love it!!!!!! I can go out in the garage and work in comfort of a T-shirt and jeans. If you know you are having alot of people over and dont want them in the house turn up the heat the day before and you are ready to party. I also have a slab sensor in my garage floor which is awsome for the extra 100 dollars cuz then you are not trying to control the air temp you are controlling the slab which stays warm for days on end!!!!! Goodluck on your decision and if you have any other ?’s be sure to ask and maybe I can help.

You will be a lot happier with in-floor heat. You will have dry and warm floors in the winter, the heat stays low, and it will cost less to operate. A large part of our business is hot water heating and some people have a hard time spending the money, but I do not know one person that regrets spending the money once they use it. I do not know how big your house is, but for an average size house (1200 – 1500 sq ft) and an average size garage (900 sq ft), 6000 is cheap if using a gas boiler. But I would not use an instant hot water heater. Any questions you can PM me.

I just went through this with my garage very recently, and opted for the in-floor heat. Feel free to PM me. I am very happy with my set-up. There are drawbacks, but the benefits outweighed the drawbacks for me.

Tim

When we built, I was told (in very strong terms) to insulkate the garage too. That alone keeps my garage above freezing even on the coldest days. Any kind of heater added in to insulation is going to help even more. You shouldn’t have to spend a lot to warm up a well insulated garage.

Thanks guys! I plan to insulate either way. SOunds like their are bennys either way I decide to go on this one.

I would definately put the infloor in the basement of the house. I would not put it in the garage. Just put a Hot Dawg or similar heater instead. Heats up quickly, doesn’t have to be on all the time. Also insulate the garage.
If you decide to put the infloor in the garage, but sure it is on its own zone.

I have a few thoughts from a General Contractors viewpoint as well as a guy who is building/remodeling a house for myself.

1. Spray Foam insulation is the cats meow. Seals all gaps, electircal openings, cavities to the full extent of area. This will give you significant cost savings over the long haul. Costs a little more, but is well worth it IMHO.

2. In floor heat is great, but you are personally going to have to do a cost comparison, and determine if it is right for you. For me, I would do it every time.

3. I also moved into a 5 year house 10 years ago. I would have the best available when I am here since you never know what will happen.

A friend of mine just built a large garage with 4 stalls(around 36×60)for his car repair business. He put in floor heat in with an special antifreeze with an on demand type heater. He loves it. He said it hardly runs but keeps the garage warm enough to work in a t-shirt even on the coldest days. I can find out who installed it for him if you like. Just PM me. He lives 2-3 miles south of Hastings if you would like to check it out.

How about adding a floor drain while you’re at it? Sure would be nice for all that winter slop.

Quote:

---

How about adding a floor drain while you’re at it? Sure would be nice for all that winter slop.

---

Probably the best advise regarding this subject you could possibly get.

Tim

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

How about adding a floor drain while you’re at it? Sure would be nice for all that winter slop.

---

Probably the best advise regarding this subject you could possibly get.

Tim

---

My garage is a 28 X 40 I installed two drains. Allso consider the depth if you plan on putting in anything more then a car or regular pickup. I had to do it again I would go 30 feet deep. My boat and crew cab dually leaves just enough room to barely get around it.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

How about adding a floor drain while you’re at it? Sure would be nice for all that winter slop.

---

Probably the best advise regarding this subject you could possibly get.

Tim

---

My garage is a 28 X 40 I installed two drains. Allso consider the depth if you plan on putting in anything more then a car or regular pickup. I had to do it again I would go 30 feet deep. My boat and crew cab dually leaves just enough room to barely get around it.

---

Yep the drains are a must.. I drive a dakota,, probly wont ever have anything overly large so i’m at 28″ deep and 24″ on the third stall. i guess i need to consider the guy that buys it in 10 years may have a dooley!

32×44 here…..one big trough drain in the center of the ‘car’ area and one small drain in a corner where the sauna will eventually go…..

Tim

One thing to keep in mind, if you plan on heating it 100% of the time, in floor is a great option. Once its on you leave it on. A unit heater is nice if you want intermittent heat. I have my 3rd stall partitioned off and have a 30,000 modine for when I do wood working, or working on cars, wheelers, boat etc. If I plan on working quite a bit I leave it at 60 and it maintains the temp very well. I do like it cooler when I’m working in the shop. I also have a ceiling fan that is a great option for the garage, keeps the floor nice & dry and the heat very even.