Making steam heating in the garage with your own hands

If anyone thinks that a garage is just a place to park a car, it’s women. Little do they know that the garage is actually a men's club, where you can not only repair the iron horse, but also receive friends. One problem is that in our climate from October to April the air temperature does not allow much lingering in unheated rooms. Today we will take a closer look at the types of heating and choose the most economical method. Heating a garage and everything you need to know about it is in our material.

A warm, cozy car box is just a home for most car enthusiasts

What to think about at the preliminary stage

Rarely lucky people are lucky enough to have a centralized heating system in their garage. This is possible if you have a shared indoor parking space or the garage is located directly in the structure of a country house.

In the remaining 99%, the stall for the iron horse is located in a garage cooperative and is a brick or metal bunker without any amenities

Therefore, the heating system must be autonomous. Before you consider purchasing a heating device, do your homework. What should be done:

1. The garage needs to be insulated. Simply heating an iron bunker is literally throwing money away. Brick, metal or sandwich - all this needs additional insulation. You need to make sure that all cracks are securely caulked. It is better to place the heat insulator on the outside of the walls, but if this is not possible, the inner layer will also work. Particular attention should be paid to the floor - this is also a large area for heat loss. It should be covered with insulating material.

   
   Don’t forget about the roof - otherwise all the heat will escape through it

2. It is necessary to provide high-quality ventilation. Sad statistics show that most tragic incidents in garages occur in winter. Careful insulation of the room does not allow for normal air exchange. Simply warming up the car for a few minutes before leaving can end very sadly. What can we say about the situation when the boiler is constantly running in the room.

For car boxes, it is better to use ventilation systems that combine natural and forced ventilation

Important information for your safety

The second possible danger after carbon monoxide poisoning is a garage fire. There are always flammable materials here, including the contents of the car's fuel tank. Neglect of safety measures is fraught not only with the loss of your garage and your beloved horse, but also with a serious lawsuit from neighbors in the parking lot.

For these reasons, we consider it useful to remind you of the basic rules:

• use low-flammable or non-flammable materials for the construction and finishing of the garage structure;
• do not store large amounts of fuel and oil in this room;
• make it a rule to smoke outside;
• do not carry household rubbish into the garage, it will become the main “food” for the fire;
• keep a fire extinguisher on hand, one day it will save your garage from fire;
• do not install electric heating systems in damp rooms;
• Do not leave your garage heating boiler unattended.

Think about the fact that it would be a good idea to install the simplest smoke detectors in this room.

Modern technologies make it possible to install such systems and connect them to a mobile phone

Permanent heating system

The best way to heat a garage is to connect it to a common circuit. This option makes sense if the garage is attached or is part of a building with common heating. In other cases, you need to make a separate heating and ventilation system.

When the task is to heat the room for a long time, it is better to choose gas and electric boilers. The gas heater is practical and easy to use, the fuel is available and inexpensive. But there is one caveat - you need to allocate space for the boiler room and connect to the gas main. Electric boilers are much safer, but such a heat source cannot be called cheap. It is for these reasons that motorhomes are less and less frequently drowned today.

You also need to remember about wood heating. At the moment, solid fuel is the most economical type. There are different options for such systems: pyrolysis combustion, home-made heaters, or all kinds of potbelly stoves and fireplaces. On sale you can find fully automated pellet boilers with fuel supply without human intervention.

It is difficult to choose which of the permanent heating systems will be more economical - when calculating, you need to take into account not only the price of purchasing and installing the equipment, but also think in advance how much the operation and raw materials will cost. It must be said that different heating systems are suitable for each region of our vast homeland. In places with an abundance of wood, the choice will fall on solid fuel units. In gasified areas, gas boilers and heat guns are most used.

If you don't spend much time in your garage, an electric heater might be the way to go. It does not require special installation skills. Even if such devices are resource-intensive, for heating for a short time this will be the best choice.

How can you heat a garage?

So, we are talking about autonomous heating of the room, therefore, we need to choose the principle on which the heating system will operate. If earlier the conversation was only about a banal potbelly stove, now the choice of suitable devices is so wide that we will divide them into several categories.

The most economical ways to heat a garage with electricity

This type of heating is the first option that comes to mind. Indeed, the choice of electrical heating devices is very large. Such units are characterized by high efficiency and reasonable price. And what’s important: they don’t require you to stock up on fuel; it’s always in the electrical wiring.

The first possible method is to use a fan heater or heat gun. In both cases, it is a very compact device that takes up little space in the garage. Install the electric heater for the garage on the floor or on a workbench.

The fan heater heats up a small garage in a matter of minutes, driving air through hot heating elements

The only thing that will bother you is the smell of burning dust and the noise of the fan.

Another option is to use a convector. This method is considered more effective. In addition, convectors can be used in rooms with high humidity. A small, neat convector can be mounted on the wall or moved around the garage on wheels.

This type of heater is convenient because its power is easy to regulate.

Related article:

Convector type heater. In this publication we will look at the design of convectors, their types, advantages and disadvantages, the secrets of choosing the right one, and a review of popular models and manufacturers.

An electric floor is also a good idea. If you lay the heating cables evenly over the entire floor area, the garage will always be warm. The air temperature can be adjusted using a thermostat. The only thing that is important in arranging such a system is the use of durable materials that can withstand the weight of your car.

Infrared heating is gaining increasing popularity among owners of residential and non-residential premises. The operating principle of the IR heater is based on the effect of infrared rays on the surface. Everything that comes into the field of action of the device heats up and gives off heat to the air.

Important! Keep in mind that IR radiation has a negative effect on car paint. For this reason, it is better not to install this device directly above the car.

Some tips for installing electric heating in the garage:

• all wiring must be insulated using a plastic or metal box;
• Do not use wiring with aluminum content, it is very fragile;
• Sockets in the garage must be grounded and protected from moisture. Don't install them too low to the floor;
• It is better to place the switch for the inspection hole at the top.

A method of water heating in a garage without using electricity

The traditional water heating scheme is as follows: it includes a boiler, a system of pipes and radiators, and an expansion tank. When solving the problem of how to heat a garage in the cold season, consider installing a water circuit. This type of heating is good because the heat in the room is retained for a very long time.

For the water circuit, you can use a single-pipe or two-pipe circuit. In the two-pipe version, heat is evenly distributed over the entire area. Schemes of water heating in the garage for DIY installation with natural and forced circulation:

The only drawback of such a system is the need for constant operation. If you simply turn off the boiler and leave the garage unattended on a frosty day, the water will freeze and burst the pipes. It turns out that you will have to either drain the water during frosts, or constantly maintain the operation of the heating device. So the question arises: if you drain the water, then why have a heating system that cannot quickly start at the right time? Until you fill it up again, until you start the boiler, more than one hour will pass.

Circuit on antifreeze

Continuing the topic of how to heat a garage in winter with your own hands, it should be noted that contour heating is not an entirely hopeless type. What if you fill the circuit not with water, but with antifreeze? Antifreeze is usually used in cars to cool the engine. It does not freeze even at minus 45 degrees, and this is right in our favor.

With such contents, the heating circuit in the garage will not break even in severe frost

For your information! Antifreeze is a toxic liquid, you need to remember this. It can cause burns to the skin and mucous membranes, and the consequences of its impact on the human body can be catastrophic. It is especially dangerous when heated.

If you decide to install heating in your garage using antifreeze yourself, purchase a special mixture for heating systems. It replaces toxic ethylene glycol with propylene glycol, which is not toxic to humans. Such mixtures are more expensive, but they are safe.

It should be remembered that viscous antifreeze heats up and cools more slowly than water. Its shelf life in the system is 5 years. Antifreeze cannot be used for dual-circuit systems.

Gas system

The likelihood that network gas will be supplied to your garage cooperative is very small, but, nevertheless, it is possible to use blue fuel to heat the garage. You can arm yourself with gas cylinders and thus decide how to cheaply heat your garage. Indeed, gas compares favorably in price with electricity. You can use a regular stationary gas boiler with a water or antifreeze circuit. This option is perfect for craftsmen who work in the garage all the time. With the help of such a device, you can heat the room around the clock, without fear of the sudden onset of frost.

If you do not need to constantly be in the garage, you can purchase mobile gas devices.

Guns, heating pads and convectors using blue fuel will quickly and efficiently warm up the bunker

Important! For safety reasons, gas cylinders should be installed in an iron box away from possible flammable objects and at least 20 centimeters above the floor.

It should be noted that the most economical heater for a garage is a gas boiler.

Solid fuel boiler

How else can you heat your garage in winter? There is no need to give up traditional solid fuel. Firewood, coal, pellets, and even manure, if you have enough of it - all this can go into the firebox. You can build a simple oven in the garage with your own hands. By the way, it is the potbelly stoves that have not yet given up their position in the fight against the cold in garage towns. Newfangled electrical systems are still far from popular.

A simple stove can be lined with bricks or stones, this will increase the heat transfer area

Related article:

Long-burning wood-fired boilers for the home. Principle of operation, scope of application, main manufacturers, selection criteria, how to make it yourself, installation features, recommendations of specialists - read in the publication.

Such a heating device requires constant supervision, but for temporary heating it is suitable like no other. You'll stay warm even if your garage's electricity is cut off for non-payment.

Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of small solid fuel boilers that can be used for car bunkers. They are economical, easy to use and compact.

Important! Remember about fire safety: do not store flammable materials near the boiler.

Heating during mining

If you are doing car repairs in the garage, including changing the oil, then the question of what to heat with should not worry you at all. Mining is an excellent fuel for a heater. This garage heater is easy to make with your own hands from scrap materials. The design of the exhaust boiler is quite primitive: two combustion chambers, in one of them the oil burns, in the other - the flammable gas formed in the process. All this together gives a large output of thermal energy.

For a more visual representation, we invite you to watch a video of how to do heating in a garage with your own hands using waste oil:

Important! The space around the drip furnace must be covered with non-flammable material, and a high-quality ventilation system must be provided in the garage itself.

Installation work

For water heating in the garage you will need a set of instruments and parts, including:

• heating boiler;
• metal radiators with good thermal conductivity;
• connecting pipes made of metal or plastic;
• accessories for fastening;
• locksmith tools.

Project development

Before installing the heating system, you need to determine the diameter of the pipes that will connect the radiators. Risers with a large cross-section will increase the flow of hot water to the batteries, increasing the efficiency of the design.

It is worth considering that heating large volumes of liquid will lead to increased electricity costs. The optimal scheme is a balance between the room temperature and the cost of heating. These parameters are also affected by the number of radiators in the insulated garage.

Expansion tank

The design of the garage heating system involves the use of expansion tanks. These items are made from simple plastic containers or large canisters with fill holes cut in the top.

The water circulating in the system constantly evaporates and requires regular addition of liquid, and the steam formed during boiling needs to be removed. The tank is installed at the lowest point of the heating system and at a half-meter distance from the floor.

Boiler

Before installing the boiler with your own hands, you will need to prepare a metal pipe of a certain diameter with a half-meter or meter length. Its extreme end is tightly welded with a metal sheet.

The next step will be assembling flanges for attaching tubular electric heaters and fixing them to the boiler using bolts. To supply the working fluid to the installation, two sections of pipe with the diameter that will be used in the heating system are welded.

Radiators

Heating batteries are attached to the walls of garages using special reinforced dowels. The distance from the floor to the radiator should be at least fifteen centimeters. For effective heating, you need to leave a few centimeters of free space between the walls and the heating elements for air circulation.

The individual structural elements are connected into a system using metal or plastic pipes with special fittings. The seams of their joints and forks require special attention during installation so that leaks do not occur in the future during operation.

Installation

The connection of metal pipes is carried out using a welding machine. Working with polypropylene will require the use of a special soldering iron. Regardless of the material of the pipes, they should be placed on the walls at a slope - this will improve the circulation of liquid.

The water heating system is considered ready after connecting the radiators to the risers and connecting them to the boiler using a rubber hose. Before starting operation, it is recommended to re-inspect the line, search for defects and seal problem areas.

Pros and cons of different garage heating systems

We have examined in detail the different types of heating systems, let's do a comparative analysis of their disadvantages and advantages:

Which of the listed types of fuel to use is up to you. In each specific case, it is necessary to consider the feasibility of one or another heating method.

The best way to heat a garage in winter

If it is not possible to install expensive heating systems, you can make do with homemade heating options. From today's article you will learn how to make a gas heater for a garage with your own hands, and also understand electric and diesel installations for heating the room. Before starting work, you need to decide whether the heating will maintain a stable temperature or just warm the building only for the time that people are there. On the one hand, round-the-clock heating will extend the life of your iron horse and building, but on the other hand, intermittent heating is much more economical.

How to choose the most economical way to heat your garage

Once you have decided on the type of fuel, you need to consider the type of heating device required. The heating device should also participate in fuel saving. If you opt for gas heating, it is best to choose a condensing device with automatic control. It can operate in low pressure conditions and consumes gas almost 20 percent more economically than other models.

Wall-mounted boilers are convenient because they take up little space and can be adjusted according to your wishes

Among solid fuel systems, it is better to give preference to pyrolysis ones. They decompose fuel into dry residue and pyrolysis gas. Of all solid fuel systems, these are the most profitable.

The only thing you need to take into account is that such devices do not work on coal.

Electrical devices with thyristor control are the best in their segment. Their power can be adjusted, and thus reduce energy costs.

Types of homemade stoves in development for the garage

According to the type of design, there are several options for homemade furnaces for mining:

• a unit that is made of metal sheets or a gas cylinder;
• supercharged device;
• drip type stove being used in a garage.

The first type is the simplest device that any garage owner who knows how to use a welding machine can make. For this purpose you will need to prepare:

• metal sheets;
• metal pipes.

To reduce the manufacturing time of the structure, you can use a gas cylinder. When cutting off its upper part, you should be careful, because a small part of the gas may remain in the metal vessel. An explosion is possible, which can be prevented by filling the cylinder with water. Now you can start dismantling.

During the manufacturing process of a supercharged stove, a fan is installed. In this case, it is important to ensure that the main air flow is directed to the second chamber, which will ensure high-quality combustion of the fuel. The resulting heat will spread quickly and evenly throughout the garage.

Depending on what type of structure will be manufactured, you can give preference to installing conventional convection, an air heat exchanger, or heating water in a boiler.

A stove using a gas cylinder can keep the garage warm even in severe frosts

Important! Industrial furnaces are compact in size, safe, and affordable. However, self-made devices are no less effective at heating a garage space.

Top 10 popular heating appliances on sale

If the garage is used for its intended purpose, that is, your iron horse is parked in it, it is convenient to choose an inexpensive and practical infrared ceiling-type heater. Here are the most popular models according to Yandex Market:

Timberk TCH A1B 1000, price 4170 rubles

Almac IK16, price 3771 rubles

Peony ThermoGlass P-10, price 6950 rubles

Makar TOR-1, price 5500 rubles

The next category is mobile gas heaters. Network buyers made their choice in favor of the following devices:

Gas oven Ballu BIGH-55, price 5490 rubles

Gas oven KOVEALittleSun (KH-0203), price 6110 rubles

Gas stove Umnitsa OEG-2, price 7684 rubles

Solid fuel boilers from domestic manufacturers are distinguished by their pleasant design and impeccable performance. Among the best are the following models:

Potbelly stove Vesuvius V5, price 7980 rubles

Heating stove Tsar stove, price 6500 rubles

META Baikal 8, price 30,650 rubles

TERMOFOR Cinderella 2016, price 6330 rubles

Cheap and fast garage heating: do it yourself

Obviously, it is not at all necessary to order a heating system for your garage from professionals. Here you can do it yourself, provided you fully comply with all safety measures. It is not difficult to purchase and install one of the devices listed in our top list. All of them have detailed installation instructions, and the store salesperson will certainly advise you on any questions you may have.

All that remains is to consider how to make heating in the garage with your own hands in the simplest and cheapest way.

Do-it-yourself air heating of the garage in winter

One of the cheapest and fastest ways to organize heating in a car box is air. Heat is supplied through pipes only to the place where a person works. This way you can save money by not using fuel to heat the entire garage.

In this device, heated air circulates through metal pipes and is supplied through grilles. The efficiency of such a system is more than 90 percent, and the design itself is extremely simple and easy to install. Warming up the room takes just a few minutes. The only negative is the drying out of the atmosphere, but you can get rid of this disadvantage just by ventilating the garage.

Video material on air heating:

Installation of a contour heating system

If your choice fell on a system with a water or antifreeze circuit, you will need to purchase the appropriate boiler and heating radiators. It is best to use metal batteries. Recommendations for this type of heating are in the following video:

Popularity record: heating a garage with a potbelly stove with a water circuit

As we have already said, potbelly stoves are by far the most popular heating device for car boxes. Among such systems, devices with a built-in water circuit occupy a special place. It’s easy to weld the potbelly stove yourself from thick steel, and make the water counter from a small-diameter metal pipe.

For your information! When starting to make your own stove, consider the type of fuel. To store firewood you need a large hole.

In order for water to circulate well in the system, a pump is required. But in principle, you can do without it if you arrange the pipes so that the liquid circulates in them by gravity.

An example of such a system in the video:

Water heating schemes in the garage

At the design stage of the circuit, the diameter of the pipes is determined. The higher its value, the more efficient the heating will be.

The thermostat increases or decreases the supply of hot water depending on the area of ​​the heated room

Next, calculate the required number of radiators to warm the room. At the design stage, approximate fuel costs are determined. The choice is made on a cheaper and more accessible form of energy.

There are 2 types of heating systems: one-pipe and two-pipe

The water heating circuit consists of a boiler, pipes and radiators.

Red pipes – supply line, blue – return line

The water heated in the boiler flows through pipes into the heating radiators, the metal warms up, transferring heat to the air, which heats the room. The water cooled in the radiators is returned through the pipes to the boiler and heated. It's a continuous cycle.

Water heating is the most economical for heating a garage

In a private house, it is possible to combine the heating system of the garage and the house into one circuit by installing a switch that turns off the heating in the garage. This type is the most budget-friendly

The supply and return lines are located at a slope

Experts recommend installing a unified heating system in cases where the garage is located from the house at a distance not exceeding 40 m.

The heating system of the 2nd floor of the room on which the workshop is located provides for a sequential arrangement of radiators

The gravity scheme includes:

• expansion tank;
• boiler;
• main pipes;
• radiators.

In a gravity system, water is supplied to the radiators through risers. For the garage, it is advisable to install autonomous heating if it is remote from the house, in which case the costs of materials increase. Instead of radiators for heating the garage, you can use pipes with a diameter of 5 to 10 cm. In the hangar, you can install a heated floor, having equipped it with a switch. Complex heating is being installed in a garage cooperative.

Warm, light and flies don't bite

What can drive a man out of a garage? Only cold and hunger. The first one, as it turns out, is not difficult to deal with. You just need to choose the right heating device. And any motorist can install it and operate it competently.

Hunger is more difficult. But, of course, the iron horse will have to remain in splendid isolation if a beautiful wife and lush hot pies await his owner at home

If you have your own experience in arranging a warm car box, share with us in the comments!