Heating from a garage furnace is an excellent solution for expanding your living or working area during the cold months of the year. Turn your garage into a heated workshop, family play area or game day hangout.
A licensed HVAC contractor performs this How-To guide.
The gas furnace we chose is 96% efficient. That means of all the gas you buy to heat the space, only 4% will be expelled with the exhaust. The Installation Manager visits the job site before the install date to consult on location and measurements for furnace placement and electrical and gas connection locations. The unit must have a dedicated circuit for power. The gas line is a continuous one-piece connection from the gas source to the furnace.
Total Time Needed: 1 day
Required Tools:
- Pipe Wrenches
- Plyers
- Tin Snips
- Drill with masonry bit
- Hole Saw
- Ladder
- Scaffolding
- Electrical Testers/Multimeter
- Battery Powered/Cordless Drill
- Tape Measure
- Hammer
- Screw Drivers
- Hex Head Nut Drivers
- Caulking Gun
- Level
- Shears
- Folding Bar
- Hand Seamers
- Crimpers
- Tubing Cutter
- Manifold Gauges
Materials Needed:
- Furnace Unit
- Black gas pipe and fittings
- Pipe sealant
- Sheet Metal
- Power Switch and cable
- Flexible gas hose
- Ball valve
- Level platform 30"x36"
- Air Filter
- Hose clips and screws
- Caulk
Steps to install a garage furnace:
Step 1 : Select the right furnace for your application.
The Goodman furnace has tubular heat exchangers with high-efficiency intake and exhaust. This system is best if you are working with flammable vapours in your shop. Air intake draws from outside and exhaust gas vents to the outside. As a result, there is no open flame like some other propane garage heaters. Another advantage to using a residential-style furnace when heating a garage is the air filter. The homeowner can add a HEPA filter to trap dust particles and help keep the garage work area and the furnace blower clean and dirt-free.
Step 2 : The technician attaches the gas fittings.
Step 3 : Install a level mounting shelf.
The garage in this installation is a three car space. 25 feet by 31 feet. The ceiling height is 14 feet. We wanted to mount the furnace upright in the corner and off the ground to make the space under the furnace useable.
Step 4 : Measure the space for the plenum.
The Installation Manager measures the space above the furnace to fabricate the stainless-steel plenum.
Step 5 : The plenum is lifted onto the furnace.
Step 6 : Clip the gas hose to the wall.
The Installation Manager uses clips to attach the gas hose to the exterior drywall. The garage space is insulated and drywalled in this installation.
Step 7 : Secures the flexible gas supply hose to the furnace.
The Installation Manager secures the flexible gas supply hose to the gas inlet on the furnace.
Step 8 : Install electrical shut off.
The Technician installs the main shut off power switch.
Step 9 : Attach drain hose.
The Technician attaches a drain hose to the condensation valve inside the furnace.
Step 10 : Drill holes in wall for PVC.
The Installation Manager prepares the location for the PVC air intake and exhaust by drilling a pilot hole through to the exterior wall.
Step 11 : Dry fit PVC pipes through wall.
Here you can see one of the PVC pipes going through to the exterior of the garage.
Step 12 : Connect PVC piping.
The technician cuts and connects all of the pieces of PVC piping going from the top of the furnace to the exterior of the garage.
Step 13 : Secure the gas line in the basement.
The Installation Manager secures the gas line with clips to the joist of the unfinished basement near the gas source.
Step 14 : Install gas shut off valve.
A shut-off valve is installed from the main gas source.
Step 15 : Attach gas line to shut off valve.
The flexible gas line is attached to the shut-off valve.
Step 16 : Prepare for startup.
The furnace is nearly ready for startup.
Step 17 : Adjust controls for startup.
The Installation Manager makes some final adjustments to the furnace controls.
Step 18 : Install support hangers for PVC pipes.
The Technician installs supports for the intake and exhaust PVC pipes.
Step 19 : Perform leak test.
The Installation Manager performs a final leak test on the gas connections.
Step 20 : Run furnace.
The installation is complete with a digital thermostat and a gas tag. A simple air return is all that we need in this one-room setup. Warm air blows out of the top of the furnace from the plenum and through a single large vent. This two-stage gas furnace has a high and low setting on the gas burner. It also has a quiet two-speed induced draft blower. The blower can output 743 CFM on low and 939 CFM on high. The entire garage air exchanges once every 10 minutes. If the garage thermostat is set for a lower temperature when not in use, it won’t take long to heat the garage to a higher temperature when needed.
Step 21 : Complete masonry around PVC pipes.
Venting on the outside is complete with masonry around the PVC pipes.
Click here to get a Quote for a garage heater installation in York or Durham Region.
Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning is continuously monitoring and gathering information to provide their customers with the best recommendations and implementation for residential HVAC systems. Our goal for learning about advancements in technology is to apply these learnings to help keep us all safe. We care!
This bulletin is issued by ASHRAE to address the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s effects on HVAC
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, (ASHRAE) is a global professional society of over 55,000 members committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields. ASHRAE has established a Task Force to help deploy technical resources to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible future epidemics as they relate to the effects of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems on disease transmission. Guidance and building readiness information for different operational conditions have been developed for several building types, including commercial; residential; schools and universities; and healthcare facilities.
Home is usually the safest indoor space and we stay there as much as possible to protect ourselves and to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. ASHRAE recommends following CDC guidance on minimizing contact, wearing cloth face masks and creating a household plan. ASHRAE’s residential building guidance supplements the CDC guidance with general recommendations for minimizing virus transmission through the air using the home’s HVAC equipment and controls. ASHRAE’s website provides additional details and the most up-to-date information on residential buildings, as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Please consult the full guidance for important details and consider reaching out to qualified design professionals for detailed analysis as needed.
Maintain thermal comfort: Avoid extremes of temperature by operating and maintaining the building and the heating and cooling equipment to keep temperature and humidity in normal ranges, which are generally 68-78 Fahrenheit (20-25 Celsius) and 40-60% relative humidity.
Filtration for Homes with Forced-Air Systems: Upgrade filters to high-efficiency filters (MERV 13 or the best the system can accommodate), if practical. Adjust the fan setting to run even if not currently heating or cooling.
Ventilation (with outdoor air): Increase mechanical ventilation, if practical. If the house is not equipped with a mechanical system that provides whole house ventilation opening multiple windows is an acceptable alternative for a single-family home. Whole-house “summer cooling” fans or economizers may also be used to increase outdoor air ventilation. Weather may make this impractical at times.
Restrooms: Operate exhaust fans in bathrooms, toilets and lavatories preferably continuously. Toilet lids should normally remain closed, especially prior to flushing. Do not allow plumbing traps to become dry.
Air Purifiers: Stand-alone air cleaners (often called air purifiers) with HEPA particle filters can help remove suspended small airborne particles that can contain viruses and the fine particles typical of wildfires. When either is a risk, operate the device(s) continuously. In general, the larger the flow the better. Those with ultraviolet disinfection can further reduce virus risk.
Multi-Family Homes: Minimize the use of open windows to limit the potential transfer of infective air from nearby apartments. Seal any large openings in walls or ceilings or gaps around plumbing or electrical penetrations that could allow air to flow into the dwelling unit from other units in the building.
Create an Isolation Space for Infected Household Members: Barriers should be used between the isolated and common spaces. The isolation space should have flow into it from other spaces which can be achieved using exhaust fans temporarily installed in windows or bathroom exhaust fans if the isolation space has its own bathroom. Air purifiers should be considered.
Create a Protected Space for High-Risk Household Members: Barriers should be used between the protected and common spaces. The protected space should have air flow out of it to other spaces which can be achieved using supply fans temporarily installed in windows. Air purifiers should be considered.
The information above is provided as a service to the public. While every effort is made to provide accurate and reliable information, this is advisory, and is provided for informational purposes only. They are not intended and should not be relied upon as official statements of ASHRAE.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has developed a guide to inform Canadians about how indoor ventilation, combined with other recommended public health measures, can reduce the spread of COVID-19. The guide also provides practical tips on improving indoor air, ventilation and filtration to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Influence of ventilation on risk of aerosol transmission
If a person who is infected is in an indoor space, build-up of viral particles will depend on:
how infectious the person is
the activities the person undertakes
the size of the space and its ventilation
The smaller the room, the faster the build-up of particles containing SARS-CoV-2 virus. In larger spaces, it may take longer for virus-containing aerosols to build up throughout the room. Good ventilation will:
move outdoor air into the space
dilute potentially contaminated air
remove contaminated air through vents or open windows
In any size of room, close proximity can result in high-risk exposure, regardless of ventilation.
Ventilation
There are many ways to improve ventilation to mitigate the transmission of infectious diseases. The most appropriate measures depend on the characteristics of the particular setting. One way to improve ventilation is by opening exterior doors and windows for a few minutes, ideally with more than one open at a time.
Opening windows in winter may not always be comfortable or possible. Doing so for a few minutes at a time during the day can still improve air quality, with minimal impact on the indoor temperature. If occupants will be indoors for longer periods, for example at schools, occupants should have regular outdoor breaks, to allow for ventilation of the room.
An HVAC system will exchange indoor air a certain number of times per hour as a part of regular operation. To increase ventilation, run your HVAC system fan continuously at a low speed to provide air movement and filtration without unwanted draft. Within non-residential buildings, run the system for 2 hours at maximum outside airflow before and after the building is occupied. Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans that are vented to the outside can also be used to help remove potentially contaminated air, where appropriate.
Most HVAC systems will recirculate some air through the indoor space, making it important to:
ensure that filters are well sealed without a bypass
clean or change your filters regularly per manufacturer’s recommendations
select filters with higher MERV ratings that are more efficient at removing particles
This should be done within the specifications of your HVAC system and in consultation with an HVAC professional.
Portable or ceiling fans, or single unit air conditioners may circulate air within the room, but they do not exchange air or improve ventilation. If using a window air conditioner unit or a fan is necessary, aim the air stream away from people to reduce the spread of potentially infectious droplets or particles.
Please contact us if you have any concerns or questions about how to improve your indoor air quality. We are happy to provide a free no-contact consultation.
Get backup power to your furnace during a power outage.
All you need is CarGenerator™ and an extension cord. When the power goes out due to high winds, heavy rain or ice, just plug in CarGenerator.
You already own 75% of a backup generator, sitting right there in your driveway! Add CarGenerator to your vehicle, and you have the world’s most reliable, longest running, ultralight, no maintenance backup power solution.
Your car equipped with CarGenerator is a backup generator and will run 1000W of appliances and devices.
Your home furnace and sump pump, to keep your house warm and dry when the power goes out.
Your fridge, to keep the food (and beer) cold in the summer weather
A few lights and TV’s, computers, and more
Medical devices: if you haven’t been camping in a while because you need your CPAP, oxygen machine, and other medical device, now you can go!
Modern furnaces are constructed with electronic circuit boards and are sensitive to the quality of electrical power. Like most electronics a furnace requires pure sine wave clean power. CarGenerator provides this type of power which makes it safe to run with sensitive electronics.
How much power can this provide?
The amount of power provided varies by vehicle. The first and most important goal is to power your gas furnace to keep your house warm. CarGenerator testing shows that a typical furnace needs between 100-400 watts of solid power to run. After that everything else is a bonus up to the maximum your vehicle can provide. Once your furnace is running and you see how much power it uses, you can then add cellphone chargers, laptops, ipads, tablets, computers, a few lights, fridges and freezers depending on what your car provides. You can also rotate devices in shifts, so plug in fridges/ freezers for a few hours then switch to power other devices for a few hours to maximize your available power.
Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning is currently offering a discount on the all CarGenerator All Weather 1000W unit (regular price $895) for purchase at $795 when accompanied by a new furnace purchase.
At Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning, the safety and well-being of both our Customers and our Service Technicians is always our top priority. Rest assured that we are actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are taking precautionary measures to aid in keeping our communities safe. As an essential service to our customers, we are committed to implementing best practices to help prevent the spread of disease and ensure we can continue to provide a high level of service.
We are confident in our plans to safeguard the health and safety of our customers and employees. For more information about COVID-19, please visit Health Canada and Ontario Ministry of Health websites for ongoing updates.
To help with prevention, we are taking the following precautionary measures to protect our Customers
Addressing in-home customer service:
How we can all keep safe
Service Technicians will be keeping recommended safe social distance and will not be shaking hands with customers, as suggested by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Our Service Technicians have been equipped with an ample supply of:
hand sanitizers
disinfectant wipes
masks
single-use gloves
boot covers
Any Service Technician who has flu like symptoms will be asked to contact the Public Health Agency and follow the COVID-19 testing protocol, including self-isolation where required.
Precaution questions
Customers need to inform us at time of placing an order if they are if they are sick or have been out of the country. Have had any visitors to their home who have been sick. Are they in self isolation and for how long. Please be prepared to answer brief health and safety questions related to COVID-19 with our Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning Service Technicians
Instructions for a service visit
We are asking customers to wash and or sanitize all door entry handles. All cheque payments should be put in a sealed envelope and given to the tech. We are following government protocol on social distancing and doing our part daily to flatten the curve as recommended by Health Canada.
With regard to COVID-19 and the effects on people in our community, President of Unionville Heating John St.Germain says,
“We care about our staff, and we care about our customers. Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning is open for business and here to help. We are spending more time in our homes now, more than any other time over the last ten years. As a result of spending all this time inside, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is an important issue that customers need to know about. Proper ventilation, filtration and cleaning are necessary to be healthy and safe indoors.”
The Government of Canada provides information about ways improve or maintain good IAQ.
Here are 8 things you can do right away to improve the air quality in your home:
Make sure your furnace is well-maintained to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) accumulation.
Change the furnace/AC filter regularly. It is important to replace or clean filters regularly as per manufacturers’ instructions. Removal rates for filters can change over time. Don’t forget about other portable air filters in the house.
Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom when showering or bathing to reduce humidity and prevent mould growth.
Use your range hood to reduce your exposure to pollutants from your gas stove such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and humidity from cooking activities.
Install at least one CSA-approved carbon monoxide (CO) alarm close to bedrooms.
Ventilate your home by making sure there is good air circulation and control the humidity.
Outdoor particulate matter levels may often be higher than indoor levels. Therefore, natural ventilation (from an open window or door) may not always be effective in reducing indoor levels. This is especially the case on poor air quality days, so use an air conditioner when it is smoggy outside, if possible.
Regular house cleaning using a mix of methods can help improve indoor air quality. Keep your rugs and carpets clean. Clean hardwood and tile floors with a damp mop.
Spring Service
Servicing your air conditioning unit at some point in the near future will likely become necessary. There is typically a rush when the first hot day arrives. That’s usually the first nice warm day in the spring where everyone will want to turn on their air conditioning units. It’s at that point Unionville Heating receive requests for an incredible amount of service calls.
John is hoping that customers will take a proactive approach with regards to keeping safe, and offered this advice to homeowners with AC units,
“If this physical distancing and isolation continues into the late summer as some are predicting, the last thing we want on the first heat wave, is 300 ‘no-cooling’ phone calls. People need to know they can pre-book their AC service on-line and stay ahead of the curve. If we all do our part, we can help to flatten the curve and provide a healthy environment to our customers while in isolation in their homes over the next few months.”
To keep us all safe, Unionville Heating has prepared this information we would like you to know:
Our staff is trained and have all the necessary tools to protect themselves, their families and our customers.
Important! Safety is our first priority in responding to any service call.
We have developed the following processes to ensure we all stay safe:
All customers calling in for service must follow our safety processes or we will reserve the right to refuse service.
Process at time of booking:
Answering the pre-appointment questions:
Has anyone in the home been out of the country in the last 2 weeks?
Have they been in the company with anyone who has been out of the country in the last 2 weeks
Is anyone in the house sick or coughing?
Process for service call at your home:
Everyone maintains a 2 metre distance from our techs while in their homes.
The customer must prepare and sanitize all door entries to the furnace and outdoor A/C units.
Absolutely no contact by shaking hands or coughing or sneezing within the 2 metre distance.
The company will supply any and all protective gear and or disinfectants necessary to do our job safely.
When we arrive to your home, we call you from the driveway and ask to allow us entry and to be sure we are aware of our social distancing and safety process.
We will send an invoice after the service or you can pay by e-transfer
Maintain Good IAQ in Your Home
As a result of self-isolation, the indoor air quality of our homes has become a more important issue since we are spending more time indoors. Unionville Heating can provide your spring air conditioning service in a safe way and in a timely way if you schedule your appointment before the rush.
Ever wonder how your home cooling system work in the heat of the summer? Goodman has made this informative video to explain how it works.
Your AC’s Evaporator Process
The evaporator coil is the component in an air conditioner or heat pump that is responsible for the cooling of a home. The evaporator reduces the temperature but does not actually make anything cold. Cold is really defined as there being no heat. Things are made colder when there is heat being removed. So when cooling your home, your AC is just removing the heat from your home. Technically your evaporator is there to absorb the heat and remove it.
The direction of heat transfer is normally from a warmer substance to a cooler one. Your evaporator needs to be cooler than the air being blown over it so that way it picks up the heat in the air and transfers it through the refrigerant. The constant flow of refrigerant results in constant heat transferring. Dehumidification also occurs because the evaporator operates at a temperature less than the dew point, if the temperature is above the dew point then there will be moisture in the air, and if it’s less than it, then it will condense and there won’t be moisture in the air.
The combined effect of the compressor and metering device of the air conditioner or heat pump allow the refrigerant in the evaporator to stay at a low temperature because they make the pressure of the system really low. The lower the pressure of the coil the lower the temperature and the higher the pressure the higher the temperature. For the evaporator we want low pressure so that its at a low temperature that will absorb heat. The compressor makes the refrigerant denser and the metering device releases pressure. Refrigerant will enter the evaporator coil as an 80% liquid and a 20% vapor from the compressor and metering device.
As the refrigerant flows in the evaporator heat is absorbed by the refrigerant, the liquid refrigerant will boil or evaporate into vapor. Heat that cannot be measured by a thermometer, known as latent heat or hidden heat causes the refrigerant to boil. The temperature of the refrigerant does not increase but its physical state changes instead (changing from a liquid to a vapor). The refrigerant will continue through this process making all of it become vapor and then it goes through super heat.
Super heat means the “vapor refrigerant” is still receiving more heat that is increasing temperature. The heat transfer that causes the super heating is a sensible heat transfer, sensible heat can be measured by a thermometer, and it’s called sensible heat because it can be “sensed”. The refrigerant super heating at 100% vapor will still continue to absorb heat as it enters the compressor. Evaporators on residential homes are dry-type evaporators because they boil off all refrigerant into 100% vapor making the coil “dry”.
Summary Of Your AC’s Evaporator Process
Your evaporator coil will have refrigerant flowing through it from the rest of the air conditioning system. The refrigerant will enter the evaporator as a cold 80% liquid and 20% vapor. The refrigerant picks up heat from the air blowing over the evaporator coil as the refrigerant flows through it. Once the refrigerant picks up enough heat it goes through latent heat transfer, physically changing it completely into a vapor but not increasing temperature, because latent heat cant be measured with a thermometer. Once the refrigerant becomes 100% vapor, it superheats, superheat is just the amount of heat absorbed by the “vapor refrigerant” that increased the temperature. Then the “vapor refrigerant” goes through high pressure in the compressor, condenser, txv and metering device, where it comes back into the evaporator as low pressure cold refrigerant that is 80% liquid and 20% vapor.
Get $250 back when you replace your furnace with a new high-efficiency model.*
Reduces home heating costs by 25% per year.
Your new central heating system must have an Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM).
Improve home comfort and indoor air quality while reducing home heating costs when you make the switch.
Why updgrade to an ECM?
Every furnace uses and electronic fan to circulate warm air throughout your home, whether the furnace is electric, natural gas, oil or propane.
An electronically commutated motor (ECM) is a more energy-efficient fan motor for your furnace.
Benefits of an ECM
Lower electricity usage
More even temperatures
Quieter operation
Unionville Heating and Air-conditioning is a participating contractor in this Hydro One rebate program. Contact us to find out more and book an appointment. *Must be replacing an existing system and be equipped with an ECM. Program ends March 31, 2019.
This Sunday, March 11th, is the start of Daylight Saving Time. We’ll miss an hour of sleep, but we will also gain an extra hour of daylight in York and Durham. As you adjust all the clocks in your home, don’t forget to change the clock on your thermostat if it has one.
While the time change won’t make a big difference in some thermostats, it can in others, especially programmable thermostats. For instance, if you’ve set the temperature to rise a few degrees just before you wake up in the morning, you’ll notice a cooler temperature if it doesn’t turn on until an hour later, especially on chilly March mornings. You may also be chilly for a while if you walk into your home after work and your thermostat hasn’t turned on as it should. Change the time on your thermostat to an hour ahead, and everyone in your family will stay comfortable. If you have a newer, smart thermostat, it will most likely update the time on its own.
Spring Daylight Saving is also a good time to check on a few other things around your house:
Change Batteries in Your Thermostat: Most digital thermostats have one or two triple A batteries. If the battery expires in your thermostat while you are away, your HVAC system will not turn on.
Change Your Filters: Check your furnace and AC filters and if they’re dirty, wash or change them. This will make your furnace more efficient for the rest of this year’s chilly days, and your air conditioning will be closer to being ready for warm weather (after an HVAC inspection, of course!).
Change Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors: Now is as good of a time as ever to make sure smoke alarms are working.
Change Batteries or Purchase Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Always make sure everyone in the house is in earshot of one of these in case of a CO leak in your home.
Call Unionville Heating and Air Conditioning For Spring Maintenance!
If you would like to discuss the best kind of programmable thermostat for your home, or you just want your HVAC system checked by a knowledgeable HVAC technician this spring, give us a call. We will clean and tune-up your air conditioning system to make sure it’s ready for the warmer weather ahead. Call us at 905-479-1290