Thread: Heating and Hot Water for a loft over a garage

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.

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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?

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).

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.

Have you considered electric in floor radiant heating?

Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

Have you considered electric in floor radiant heating?

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

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.