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How To Heat A Cold Garage

	©Copyright Dave Rongey - About Me - Summary: How to Install Electrical Wiring for an Electric Floor Heating System to Heat Your Garage: the first thing I would recommend is to seal up any air leaks and insulate the walls and the ceiling of the garage where ever possible. If you must use electricity to heat then a 240 volt unit would be much better than 120 volt.

Installing Electric Heat for a Cold Garage

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Electrical Question: First of all – a forewarning that I know very little about this so be patient.

I’m use my garage as an art studio and am trying to determine the effective AND cost efficient way to heat the garage during the winter (it gets down to the low 30′s and even 20s here).
After doing my research, I’ve realized that I have 2 options:
1 – Go all out and get a good (240 volt) garage heater, or
2 – buy a few 120 volt space/convection heaters to heat up the area.

The problem with 1, of course, is that all outlets are standard 120 volt.

That said, if I DID try to go the garage heater route, what steps do I need to take? And no, I am definitely not going to try to wire things on my own, & would have a professional electrician do it. And would I go to my power company to do this or should I contact an electrician? Can you estimate about how much the process will cost? And finally–and sorry if this is a dumb question–is there anyway I could instead use the same outlet as my refrigerator to plug in/run the 240 volt garage heater? We could easily run the wire into the kitchen if needed. Frigidaire refrigerator model #FRT21LR7DS3.

Thanks for any help!
R.

This electrical wiring question came from: Rachel, a Homeowner from Athens, GA.

Dave The Electrician’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Rachel.

How to Install Electrical Wiring for an Electric Floor Heating System to Heat Your Garage

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and a Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools and install electrical circuit wiring.
Precaution: Identify the panel circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Notice: Installing additional electrical circuit wiring should be done according to local and national electrical codes with a permit and be inspected.

Electrical Wiring for an Electric Floor Heating System

• Rachael, the first thing I would recommend is to seal up any air leaks and insulate the walls and the ceiling of the garage where ever possible.
• If you must use electricity to heat then a 240 volt unit would be much better than 120 volt.
• If the space will be used continuously then I would highly recommend installing a cable system in the floor.
• These in floor cable systems heat from the floor up which makes it much more comfortable.
• If the garage has a high ceiling then consider installing a ceiling fan as well which will help bring the heat down from the ceiling.

More about Garage Electrical Wiring:

• 220 Volt Wiring Diagram
• Electrical Outlets
• Troubleshooting Electrical Wiring
• Electrical Wire for the Home
• Electrical outlet wiring

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Complete listing of electrical wire types and parts used for home projects with electrical code information serves as selection guidelines.

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Fully Explained Photos and Wiring Diagrams for Garage Electrical Wiring with Code Requirements for most new or remodel projects.

For more information about 220 Volt Wiring Diagram
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Home electrical wiring includes 110 volt outlets and 220 volt outlets and receptacles which are common place in every home. See how electrical outlets for the home are wired.

This link is helpful as a Homeowner
Do-It-Yourself Electrical