Blog · Kitchener
Heating a Detached Garage or Workshop in Waterloo Region
The heater is the easy purchase. The line to the building and the venting are what decide whether it works.
Last updated September 2, 2026 · Reviewed by the KW Gas Fitter team
Getting gas to the building
A detached garage or shop needs a run from the house (or the propane tank) — usually underground in approved yellow polyethylene with proper risers at each end. Distance is the main cost driver: $1,500–$2,800 is typical across Waterloo Region for a detached run, versus $800–$1,400 for an attached garage.
Propane or natural gas
Woolwich and Wilmot rural lots are mostly propane. The heater needs the correct orifices and a second-stage regulator at the building. Natural gas in town is cheaper per BTU and simpler.
Venting is not optional
Unit heaters burn fuel and need combustion air and a vent to the outside. Sealed-combustion (direct-vent) models are the safer choice in a tight, insulated garage. A CO alarm in any attached garage is required in Ontario; put one in the detached shop too.
Sizing
Roughly 30–40 BTU per square foot for a reasonably insulated garage in this climate; more for uninsulated buildings. Oversizing wastes fuel and short-cycles the unit.