Heating and Hot Water for a loft over a garage

[Keith Gifford]

I have been reading the posts on putting a new furnace and hot water tank in a garage. I am in the process of building a loft over a garage. To save space in the loft I want to put it below in the garage. The location is in Michigan so it can get quite cold. I can Install it 18" above the floor with protection. Does it need to be walled in or in a closet? Also, Is there a better heating system to use besides forced air gas? Since it's new construction I could do something different.

[Markus Keller]

Loft over a garage, so we are probably talking 400-600 square feet. Guess it could be more but then that's getting pretty big for a garage loft.
A full furnace system seems like a lot of work for that size space. I'd probably do a heat/cool combo mini-split system or 1-2 thru wall units. Is the space going to be wide open or have walls? How often are you going to use it?

[Jack Feldmann]

I guess that you have already determined that the garage framing can support living space above. If not, then that should be your first job.
I would just use a small wall heat/air unit (like a motel unit).

[Keith Gifford]

It will be a little over 500 square feet, open space inside except for a bathroom. It's on a bay and used mostly in the summer. It sounds like a forced air furnace is overkill.

[Raymond Wand]

Have you considered electric in floor radiant heating?

[Gertie Guna]

Have you considered electric in floor radiant heating?

Or build to passivhaus standard & use tankless or solar water heater.

[Tom Rees]

My two cents. Mini split heat pump for heating and cooling the loft. An exhaust fan with heater in bathroom for those cold mornings. A 20 gallon electric hot water heater. No flues to install and no gas to bring in.