Heating a Garage Workshop Safely This Winter
Cold weather is coming, and a garage business owner has to decide how to stay warm in the shop. A cold garage slows your hands, thickens glues and finishes, and makes it hard to work. But heating a space full of sawdust, solvents and tools needs care.
This is general information, not a substitute for your local fire code or your insurer’s requirements. Check both before you install anything.
Portable heater basics
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says portable space heaters should sit at least three feet from drapes, furniture, bedding and other flammable items, and should be plugged straight into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord or power strip. The agency estimated about 1,600 fires a year from portable heaters from 2020 to 2022, with an average of 70 deaths and 150 injuries a year.
In a workshop, “flammable items” include sawdust, rags, paper, cardboard and finishing products. Sweep up regularly and keep your heater in a spot where nothing can fall on it or blow into it.
Fuel-burning heaters need extra caution
Propane and kerosene heaters can produce carbon monoxide (CO) if they are not working properly or do not get enough fresh air. Ohio State University Extension advises against running them in airtight spaces and says gas heaters should have an oxygen-depletion sensor. If you use kerosene, use only K-1 kerosene in a labeled container, never one that held gasoline, and let the heater cool before refilling.
The CPSC also says never to run a generator in a garage or shed. Generators belong outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, with the exhaust pointed away from buildings.
Add carbon monoxide and smoke alarms
A CO alarm is cheap insurance. The CPSC recommends alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, with battery power or battery backup, tested monthly. If your garage is attached to your house, ask your local fire department or building office about the best placement for a workshop alarm. Add a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher rated for the hazards you have, and keep both easy to reach.
Practical tips for a winter shop
- Choose an electric heater with automatic tip-over and overheat shutoff.
- Check cords for fraying and make sure your circuit can handle the load. A shop with several tools and a heater may need a dedicated circuit, so ask a licensed electrician.
- Never leave a heater running when you leave the garage.
- Insulating the door and sealing drafts often reduces how much heat you need.
- Store paints, fuels and solvents away from any heat source.
- Tell your insurance agent about the heater and shop use. Some policies treat business spaces differently.
Permits may be required for permanent installations such as a gas-line heater or a new circuit. Rules vary by city and county.
More on Garage Business Blueprint
- Fire Code and Your Garage Workshop
- How to Set Up a Safe, Workable Garage Workspace for Your Business
- Home Business Insurance
