Are you dreaming of a heated workspace where you can tinker with projects year-round? Or maybe you’re just thinking of a way to keep your cars warm during cold mornings. If so, you’re not alone. Anyone from or around Edmonton knows how cold it can get, even if it’s not winter. But once you’ve decided to install a unit heater, one question remains: where should it be placed?
In this short article with Weiss-Johnson, we’ll explore what to consider when placing a garage heater in Edmonton, why it’s important, and how we can help. Read on!
How Unit Garage Heaters Work
Before diving into the importance of placement, it’s helpful to understand how unit heaters actually work. A garage unit heater is a self-contained forced-air heating system installed directly in the garage. It’s essentially a very small furnace that works through a process called forced-air circulation. This is where cool air is brought in, warmed with a gas burner and a heat exchanger, then circulated back to the garage.
The result? A comfortable, usable garage year-round.
Why Garage Heater Placement Matters
So, why does placement matter with garage unit heaters?
Well, in many cases, the installation location can have as much impact on your overall comfort as the heater’s BTU output. Garages can struggle to retain heat, often due to two key factors: inadequate insulation and poor heater placement. As garages are often less insulated than the rest of the home, it’s easy for heat to escape from weakly insulated points. Poor heater placement further exacerbates this issue, leading to uneven heating throughout the garage.
As a result, while most garage heaters in Edmonton are installed at ceiling height, proper placement requires further planning. Factors such as airflow direction, high-traffic areas, and the overall garage layout all affect placement suitability.
Placement Tips For Unit Garage Heaters in Edmonton
Now that we understand why placement itself is so crucial to garage heater efficiency, how can we best apply these fundamentals on installation day? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Prioritize Working Areas
No one wants to set up a garage unit heater, only to find it doesn’t quite reach the area they need it to. Make sure to communicate to your installer where you’ll be spending the most time in the garage so they can place it accordingly. This doesn’t necessarily mean the heater must be installed directly above your working area, but it should still be positioned so it can direct airflow toward that space.
Avoid Obstructions
Garage unit heaters work most safely and efficiently when there is a clear path for heat. During installation, ensure there’s a clearance of at least three feet around the heater. This includes objects such as shelving, tools, and vehicles that can block air flow.
Avoid Doors
As we’ve mentioned before, a lack of insulation is one of the biggest causes of heat loss in garages. Garage and entry doors, in particular, are common culprits. Not only does warm air escape once opened, but small gaps along the bottom, sides, and top can allow heat to leak out.
For this reason, it’s generally best to install garage heaters away from doors and aim the air flow toward the door area instead.
Why Professional Installation Matters
If you’re in the market for a garage heater in Edmonton, your best bet is to call a licensed HVAC professional. They’ll take care of everything from start to finish. This includes assessing your garage’s layout, analyzing ventilation requirements, sizing the appropriate heater capacity, and completing the installation correctly and up to code.
Upgrade Your Garage with Weiss-Johnson
Since 1977, Weiss-Johnson has helped generations of homeowners with exceptional heating, cooling, and plumbing services. See why we’re Edmonton’s chosen provider for comprehensive home comfort solutions. Get in touch with us today to book an appointment for your garage heater installation with our expert service team.
