Garage Heater Installation in Ottawa
Gas unit heaters, infrared tube heaters and ductless heat pumps, with the gas line and venting done to code
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- TSSA & HRAI approved
- 24/7 emergency service
- Family-owned since 2005
Gas unit heaters, infrared tube heaters and ductless heat pumps, with the gas line and venting done to code
- Free estimates on new installations
- Financing from $49/month (OAC)
- All makes and models serviced
A warm garage through an Ottawa winter
A heated garage turns a −25 °C concrete box into a workshop, a home gym or a place to work on the car in January. It also means a warm car in the morning and snow that melts off the vehicle instead of freezing into ruts on the floor.
The right heater depends on how you use the space. Keeping a garage at 5 °C so nothing freezes is a very different job from heating a woodshop to 18 °C every evening.
Oria installs gas garage heaters, the gas lines that feed them and ductless heat pumps for garages across Ottawa, including Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville and the rural communities where detached shops and large garages are common.
Garage heater options
Most Ottawa garages are heated with one of these. The best choice depends on fuel, ceiling height, insulation and what happens in the space.
Power-vented gas unit heater
A compact ceiling-hung heater with a fan, vented through the wall or roof. The most common choice for an attached or detached one- to three-car garage on natural gas or propane.
Separated-combustion unit heater
Draws combustion air from outdoors through its own pipe, so it does not burn garage air. The better choice where there is sawdust, fumes or solvents, such as a woodshop or a garage used for car work.
Infrared tube heater
A burner fires down a long steel tube that radiates heat onto the floor, vehicles and people. Suits high ceilings, larger shops and doors that open often, because objects stay warm even when warm air escapes.
Ductless heat pump
No gas line needed, and it cools in summer. A cold-climate mini-split suits insulated garages used as workshops or gyms. Single-zone systems typically cost $3,500 to $6,500 installed.
Learn more →Electric unit heater
A 240-volt heater is simple for a small garage kept just above freezing, but for regular use it costs more to run than gas at Ottawa rates.
Sizing a garage heater
A garage heater should be sized to the garage’s heat loss, not just its floor area. Insulation, ceiling height, the overhead door and how often it opens matter as much as square footage.
| Garage | Typical gas unit heater starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-car, insulated | Around 30,000 BTU/h | Enough to hold a comfortable working temperature in most cases |
| Two-car, insulated | Around 45,000 BTU/h | Covers most attached two-car garages |
| Three-car or tall ceiling | 60,000 BTU/h and up | Consider infrared for ceilings over about 12 feet |
| Uninsulated or detached shop | Higher, or infrared | Insulating first usually pays off |
These are starting points only. We confirm the size with a heat-loss calculation using Ottawa’s −25 °C design temperature and the temperature you want to hold.
Insulation is the best investment you can make. An uninsulated door and walls greatly increase the heater size you need and the gas it burns, so if you plan to insulate, do it before we size the heater. Oversizing has a cost too: an oversized heater short-cycles, blasts hot air and leaves the corners cold.
Running the gas line to your garage
Most gas garage heaters need a new branch line from your home’s gas piping. For an attached garage that is usually a run through the basement and into the garage wall; for a detached garage or shop it may be an underground line.
- We check that your meter and existing piping can carry the extra load alongside the furnace, water heater and any range, dryer or fireplace.
- Pipe is sized for the length of the run and the total demand, so the heater and your other appliances all get full pressure.
- Every new line is pressure-tested and leak-checked before the heater is lit.
- Rural homes on propane, common around Greely, Osgoode and Carp, can run a garage heater on propane with the correct conversion and enough tank capacity.
We also run gas lines for BBQs, ranges, dryers and fireplaces. See gas line installation for the other appliances we connect, or all our gas services.
Garage heater safety: CO, clearances and TSSA
A garage is one of the harder places to install a gas appliance. Vehicles, gasoline, solvents and dust share the space, so the installation rules are strict.
Use a vented heater.
Unvented portable propane or kerosene heaters release combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, into the garage, and those gases can find their way into the house.
Mounting height and protection.
The gas code sets how high the heater must be above the garage floor and requires protection from vehicle damage. A ceiling-hung unit usually solves both.
Clearances.
Each heater has minimum clearances to combustibles, walls and the ceiling, and the vent terminal must be kept away from windows, doors and the gas meter.
Carbon monoxide alarms.
Ontario requires CO alarms next to sleeping areas in homes with an attached garage. Keep the door between the garage and the house closed and weather-stripped.
Licensed installation.
Gas work in Ontario must be done by licensed gas technicians working for a TSSA-registered contractor. Oria is TSSA and HRAI approved, and all our technicians hold gas licences.
For warning signs and what to do if an alarm sounds, read our carbon monoxide safety guide.
Garage heater installation cost in Ottawa
Garage heater installation is quoted per project. The heater is only part of the price; the length of the gas line, the vent route, mounting and electrical work often matter as much.
| Option | Typical cost (CAD, before rebates) |
|---|---|
| Gas unit heater, installed with gas line and venting | Quoted per project |
| Infrared tube heater | Quoted per project |
| Ductless heat pump, single zone | $3,500 – $6,500 installed |
An attached garage beside the furnace room is usually the simplest job. A detached shop with a long or underground gas run costs more.
The final price depends on your home, the equipment and the venting involved. Oria gives free estimates on new installations, and financing from $49/month is available on approved credit.
How we install a garage heater
- 1
Site visit
We measure the garage, note insulation, ceiling height and door size, and find the best route for the gas line and vent.
- 2
Size and choose
We recommend a heater type and size for how you use the space and give you a free estimate.
- 3
Run the gas line
A new branch is run from your gas piping, sized for the load, then pressure-tested.
- 4
Mount and vent
The heater is hung at the required height with proper clearances, and the vent and any combustion-air pipe are run to the outside.
- 5
Wire and control
We connect power and a garage thermostat so the space holds a steady temperature.
- 6
Test and hand over
We light the heater, check combustion and gas pressure, confirm the thermostat works and show you how to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from licensed Ottawa technicians. Still have a question? Call us any time.
How much does garage heater installation cost in Ottawa?
Gas garage heater installation in Ottawa is quoted per project, because the price depends on the heater type and size, the length of the gas line, the vent route and whether the garage is attached or detached. A single-zone ductless heat pump for a garage typically costs $3,500 to $6,500 installed. Oria gives free estimates on new installations.
What size gas heater do I need for a two-car garage?
An insulated two-car garage in Ottawa often needs a gas unit heater of around 45,000 BTU/h, but that is only a starting point. Ceiling height, insulation, the overhead door and the temperature you want to hold all change the answer. An uninsulated garage can need much more. A heat-loss calculation at Ottawa’s −25 °C design temperature gives the right size.
Is a gas or electric garage heater cheaper to run in Ottawa?
For a garage heated regularly through an Ottawa winter, a natural gas heater is usually much cheaper to run than an electric resistance heater. Electric heaters are simpler to install and can make sense for a small garage kept just above freezing. A ductless heat pump uses electricity far more efficiently than resistance heat, and it also cools in summer.
Can I put a ductless heat pump in my garage?
Yes, if the garage is reasonably insulated. A cold-climate ductless mini-split can heat a garage workshop or gym in winter and cool it in summer, with no gas line or vent. In an uninsulated garage with a large door, it will struggle in deep cold. A single-zone system typically costs $3,500 to $6,500 installed in Ottawa.
Do I need a licensed installer for a garage gas heater?
Yes. In Ontario, gas appliances and gas piping must be installed by licensed gas technicians working for a TSSA-registered contractor. The installer must follow the gas code for mounting height, clearances, venting and protection from vehicles, and pressure-test the gas line. Oria is TSSA and HRAI approved, and all of our technicians hold gas licences.
Is it safe to heat an attached garage with gas?
Yes, when the heater is properly vented and installed to code. Use a power-vented or separated-combustion heater, never an unvented portable unit, and have it mounted at the required height with proper clearances. Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms next to sleeping areas, keep the garage-to-house door sealed, and have the heater checked periodically.
What temperature should I keep my garage at in winter?
To protect stored items and keep things from freezing, 5 to 10 °C is usually enough. For a workshop or gym, most people heat to 15 to 18 °C while they are using it and set back afterward. A garage thermostat makes this easy. Remember that the more you heat, the more insulation matters for keeping gas use reasonable.
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- Licensed gas & refrigeration technicians
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