Whether you’re building a new home or just trying to decide what to store in your garage, you may wonder how cold garages get during the winter. Do they stay warm all winter long like houses do? Is it safe to leave your cats or dogs in the garage when you’re not home? Can you leave water in your pressure washer and gas in your lawn mower until the spring?
If you live in a climate where winter temperatures reach the single digits or lower, there’s a good chance your garage will experience below-freezing temperatures. If your garage is unfinished and uninsulated, the chances of getting below freezing are even greater. Insulation and garage heaters can help keep a garage from freezing during the winter.
In the rest of this article, we’ll talk more about what causes garages to get below freezing and how you can safely keep your garage warm all winter long.
Do Garages Get Below Freezing?
Even though houses stay comfortably warm even when temperatures outside drop below zero, most garages aren’t made to keep heat inside in extremely cold conditions. Because they aren’t made for people to sleep in, garages typically don’t have nearly as much insulation as homes do.
Insulation acts as a barrier between your garage and the outdoors. The freezing cold can’t penetrate the layers of the insulation, so the garage stays nice and warm. Without that extra layer of protection, the cold creeps in and lowers the overall temperature inside the garage.
Another factor that can contribute to a garage getting below freezing in the winter is a lack of weather-tight sealing. Without a tight seal around windows and doors, your garage will cool down significantly.
You’ve probably experienced what it’s like to sit near a drafty window with cold air blowing in constantly–that’s what happens in your garage if there are any gaps between the garage door and the floor or around exterior windows.
Why Aren’t All Garages Built With Insulation Like Houses?
If insulation keeps garages warm and can help them from getting below freezing, why don’t all garages have tons of insulation? The answer is simple: it’s more expensive.
While it would be great for every garage to be as cold-proof as a home, many people can’t afford the extra cost. It can cost more than a dollar to insulate each square foot of a garage, meaning you’ll often spend at least $2,000–and sometimes even up to $10,000–in insulation alone.
That’s a hefty price to pay, especially considering the other costs of building a home. For that reason, many builders and buyers decide to leave a garage uninsulated.
Is An Unheated Garage Warmer Than Outside?
If your garage is insulated, but unheated, it will stay quite a bit warmer than the temperature outside. With the insulation keeping the cold out, the garage will be able to stay at a relatively comfortable temperature.
Of course, this is all relative; if it’s -30 degrees outside and your garage is unheated, it will be cold no matter how much insulation it has. It’ll still be warmer than outside, though.
If your garage is uninsulated and unheated, it won’t be much warmer than outside. Metal walls and a garage door won’t do a lot when it comes to keeping heat inside; before long, the garage will be only a bit warmer than outside. Uninsulated and unheated garages are the most susceptible to getting below freezing during the winter.
Can My Dog Sleep In The Garage When It’s Cold?
Whether your dog can sleep in the garage when it’s cold comes down to how warm your garage stays during the winter. If you have an insulated garage with a garage heater going full blast, it’ll be warm and toasty and your dog will probably be perfectly comfortable. Things change, though, if you don’t have insulation or a heater.
Even if your garage is insulated, not having a heater makes it too cold for dogs to safely stay in the garage if outside temperatures drop below freezing. Spend a few minutes in your garage during the coldest part of the day and imagine yourself sleeping out there at night–would you be comfortable?
If the answer is yes, your dog will be fine out there. If you answered no, it’s best to leave your pup in the house where it’s safe and warm.
How Do You Keep An Uninsulated Garage Warm?
If you’ve got an uninsulated garage, you may battle freezing temperatures in the winter. This is a problem when it comes to any liquids stored in the garage–gasoline in a lawnmower, spray paint, water in a power washer, etc. Apart from installing insulation, what are some ways to raise the temperature in an uninsulated garage?
1. Use Radiant Heating
Radiant heat is the easiest, most efficient way to heat your garage (or your home). They are panels that can either be installed in the floor or on the walls or ceiling. There are several different kinds to suit different situations.They are costly upfront, but save time and money in the long run.
2. Plug In A Space Heater
If you don’t want to spring for radiant heat, try plugging in a space heater in your garage. They come in both electric and combustible versions. While you can use a small space heater from your home, it will struggle to heat your garage efficiently. Instead, invest in a larger space heater designed specifically for garages.
At the end of the day, the safest–and sometimes most cost effective–way to heat your garage is to add quality insulation and weather stripping. Though it can be labor and cost intensive to install, it will last a long time and you won’t have to worry about the fire risk.
However you choose to heat your garage, you’ll enjoy the warmer temperatures. There’s nothing like being able to spend time in the garage without having to get dressed for a ski trip in Colorado.
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