If you do a lot of work in a garage, depending on where you live, heating it is almost a must.
Most start to research their options for heating a garage and most often lean toward large electric heaters.
While large electric heaters do the job, they are not the most efficient way to heat a large open space like a garage.
What is the Most Efficient Way to Heat a Garage?
High Seer mini split heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat a garage.
It can depend on the climate but, heat pumps are widely known to be the most efficient way to transfer heat.
Heat pumps have the added value of also turning into an air conditioner in the summer and cooling the space.
What are Mini Split Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps work in the same manner as any air conditioning system, which transfers heat from one location to another.
It does this with refrigerant, which is pumped through the system pulling heat at one spot and depositing it in another.
The way a heat pump transfers heat is very efficient.
A heat pump uses what is called a reversing valve to heat in the winter and cool in the summer.
Mini Split Heat Pumps are popular for heating and cooling garages or other open spaced rooms.
What is the Downside to Mini Split Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps can only work down to a certain set low temperature which will depend on the model and manufacturer.
Most units will begin to struggle to pump out heat as the temperature approaches near zero.
They still will work but every so often will need to kick into air conditioning mode to melt the ice from the outside condenser.
When a heat pump does this, heat strips are used to keep supplying heat. Heat strips work like a large eclectic heater.
What this means is if you live in a very cold climate such as Alaska, a heat pump may turn into a large eclectic heater when it is very cold below zero.
This is the reason heat pumps are widely used in the South Western United States, where the temperature rarely drops below zero.
Heat pumps are commonly used in any climate; simply be aware that once it becomes very cold, their efficient transfer of heat will stop, and they become a large eclectic heater.
How Hard is a Mini Split Heat Pump to Install in a Garage?
Installing a heat pump can be more involved than other types of systems, such as electric heaters.
They require running a line-set that carries refrigerant into and out of the garage.
They also need electrical and control wires to the unit.
Installing a heat pump into a garage is done all the time by DIY-type individuals.
There are Heat Pump kits that can be bought online that come with everything needed for the installation.
Summary
Heating a garage with a mini split heat pump is a very efficient depending on the climate you live in.
Climates such as the American southwest are ideal for a heat pump unit.
A climate such as Canada or Alaska would need a supplemental heating source on very cold nights.
Installation can be more involved and may require hiring an HVAC technician to install it for you.
Have you installed a mini split heat pump in a garage? Let us know your thoughts below.