With winter just around the corner, many Ohioans are looking to make sure their garages are ready for it. This includes keeping things warm inside. Some may think the simplest way to heat their garage is to connect it to their home’s HVAC system. Not only would this provide warmth in the winter, but it could keep things cooler in the summer.

However, most professionals would advise against connecting your home’s HVAC system to your garage. Why? Let’s take a look.

Air Pollution

Any given air vent is ultimately a two-way street. When your HVAC system is engaged, climate-controlled air may be flowing in one direction, but as soon as it takes a break, that same air starts creeping back through the ducts. If your garage is connected to your main duct system, garage air will start to seep into your home.

Garage air isn’t known for being the cleanest. When a car is running inside of it, gas fumes are filling the air. Beyond that, garages typically house gas cans, fertilizers, pesticides, and more. You may soon find the inside of your home smells like your garage. Not only is this unpleasant, but it can be a danger to your health.

Decreased Efficiency

Garages are a large space for an HVAC system to fill. That alone is going to make your unit work harder, resulting in higher energy bills. On top of that, garages typically aren’t as well insulated as the rest of your home. This will further decrease system efficiency.

It’s also generally wasteful to keep your garage constantly climate controlled. Most people don’t need their garage at a “comfortable” temperature all of the time.

What You Can Do Instead?

If you’re going to heat and/or cool your garage, it’s best to do it independently. As we said before, you probably don’t need an actual HVAC system for your garage, as most people don’t need it climate controlled all of the time. There are, of course, exceptions to this.

However, most people are better off with simpler solutions.

When it comes to heating, there are a number of options including wood burning stoves, electric heaters, infrared heaters, and more. As for cooling, some proper ventilation and a few fans can go a long way. Otherwise, a window air conditioner or a portable AC unit can provide you with some additional control.

Before you do any of that, however, you’ll want to make sure your garage is properly insulated. Otherwise, it’s a largely wasted and inefficient effort. Not only does this mean you need to insulate your walls and ceiling, but you should invest in insulated doors as well. Your garage doors make up a large part of your garage’s exterior. If they’re not insulated, you’re guaranteed to lose a lot of air through them.

At Springfield Overhead Door, we provide insulated entry and overhead doors in Dayton, Ohio for virtually any situation. Our team is here to make it easy for you to find the perfect doors for your needs. Contact us today!