Installation

Garage Heater Installation

A Billings garage without heat is unusable for months at a time, and that's in a good year. A properly installed gas unit heater changes that entirely. ACT Heating & Cooling installs Sterling® propane and natural gas garage heaters sized for your space, with professional gas line connection, proper venting, and the same firm written quote we bring to every installation.

Your Garage, Year-Round

Most Billings homeowners use their garages for far more than parking. Workshops, automotive projects, fitness equipment, hobby space, storage for gear that needs to stay functional, a garage is an extension of the home, and it can stay that way through January, or it can become a space you avoid from November through March.

The difference is heat. A permanently installed gas unit heater delivers fast, powerful warmth that portable electric heaters can't match, and does it reliably, without extension cords, without refilling propane tanks every few days, and without the fire risk of an improvised solution in a space full of vehicles, fuel, and tools.

ACT installs Sterling® gas unit heaters, which are purpose-built for garage and outbuilding applications, professionally mounted and connected, and backed by a 10-year heat exchanger warranty. We size the unit to your garage, handle the gas line connection, and ensure proper venting for safe, code-compliant operation.

Why Billings Homeowners Heat Their Garages

Protect Your Vehicles and Equipment — Cold is hard on everything mechanical. Engines cold-start under stress when the oil has thickened overnight. Batteries drain faster in freezing temperatures and may not recover. Brake fluid, coolant, and hydraulic fluid all behave differently, and worse, when they've been sitting in subzero air. A heated garage extends the life of your vehicles and reduces the wear that Montana winters would otherwise impose on them.

The same applies to everything else stored in a garage: power tools, air compressors, battery-operated equipment, and any fluid-containing machinery all benefit from temperature-controlled storage.

Keep Working Through Winter — A heated garage is a functional workspace year-round. Woodworking, automotive work, welding, fabrication, and equipment maintenance. None of these needs to stop when the temperature drops. For homeowners who use their garage as a workshop, a unit heater is what makes that possible.

Fitness and Hobby Space That Stays Usable — Home gyms and hobby spaces in garages are popular in Billings until November. A heated garage keeps that investment accessible and useful year-round, not just for eight months.

Prevent Structural and Property Damage — Unheated garages are subject to moisture, condensation, and freeze-thaw cycles that damage flooring, walls, stored items, and anything sensitive to temperature swings. A temperature-controlled space is a stable one.

Add Real Value to Your Home — A heated garage is a meaningful upgrade in Montana's climate. Buyers recognize it as a premium feature, practical square footage that stays useful year-round. It makes your home more competitive on the market and more comfortable while you're in it.

Why a Gas Unit Heater — Not a Portable or Electric Option

Billings homeowners shopping for garage heat have no shortage of options. Portable propane heaters, electric space heaters, and infrared panels are all available, but each has significant limitations in a Montana garage.

Output: Electric heaters struggle with the air volume of a typical two- or three-car garage, especially in a detached structure. Gas unit heaters deliver significantly higher BTU output. Fast, powerful heat that quickly brings a cold garage up to working temperature, even on the coldest days.

Operating cost: Natural gas is consistently less expensive per BTU than electricity in Montana. Over a heating season, that difference adds up.

Reliability: A permanently installed, professionally connected gas unit heater doesn't need to be repositioned, refueled, or monitored for safety, as a portable unit does. It operates on a thermostat, runs when you need it, and stays where it belongs.

Safety: Portable propane heaters in enclosed spaces carry real carbon monoxide and fire risks, especially in garages with vehicles, fuel containers, and combustible materials. A Sterling unit heater is designed and certified for garage use, properly vented to the exterior, and installed in accordance with code. It's not just more effective, it's the safer option.

Natural Gas or Propane — Which Is Right for Your Garage?

Sterling® unit heaters are available for both natural gas and propane, and every unit ships with a gas conversion kit. Which fuel source is right for your installation depends on what's available at your property.

Natural gas is the right choice if your home is already connected to a gas main. It's the lower-cost option to operate and the simpler ongoing solution. No tanks to monitor or refill, no delivery schedules, continuous supply.

Propane is the right choice for detached garages and outbuildings where running a natural gas line isn't practical or cost-effective. A properly sized propane tank and a professionally installed heater deliver the same performance and reliability as a natural gas unit, with the flexibility to heat a structure not tied to your home's gas infrastructure.

ACT will assess your property and help you determine which fuel source makes sense for your specific installation, including whether running a natural gas line to a detached structure is viable.

How Garage Heater Installation Works With ACT

1. Request an Estimate, No Charge

Start online or call us at (406) 248-5732. We'll schedule a visit to your garage at a time that works for you, with no charge for the assessment.

2. We Assess Your Space

An ACT comfort advisor evaluates your garage — its size, ceiling height, insulation level, existing gas supply, venting options, and how you use the space. Sizing a unit heater correctly matters: an undersized unit won't keep up on the coldest days, and an oversized one short-cycles and wastes fuel. We get the sizing right before recommending anything.

3. You Receive a Firm, Written Quote

We present your options with firm pricing. Our Homeowner Installation Agreement means no vague estimates, no surprise line items on the invoice. The number on paper is the number you pay.

4. You Decide, On Your Timeline

No pressure. Take the time you need to review your options and ask questions before committing.

5. Professional Installation

Our installation crew handles the complete job: wall or ceiling mounting of the unit heater, gas line connection, exterior venting, electrical connection for ignition and controls, and thermostat installation, if applicable. All work is performed in accordance with manufacturer specifications and local code requirements.

6. System Test and Walkthrough

Before we leave, we fire the unit and verify proper ignition, combustion, heat output, and venting. We walk you through the controls and anything you need to know about your new system before we go.

What to Expect on Installation Day

Garage heater installations are typically completed in a single day, often in just a few hours, depending on the complexity of the gas line run. Here's the general sequence:

• Unit mounting — The heater is mounted on the wall or ceiling at the correct height and position for optimal heat distribution across your garage floor.
• Gas line connection — We connect the unit to your existing gas supply or run a new line as required. For propane installations, we connect to your tank and verify proper regulator and line sizing.
• Venting installation — Power-vented units are connected to an exterior vent to safely exhaust combustion gases. Vent routing depends on your garage layout and exterior wall configuration.
• Electrical connection — The ignition system and any thermostat controls are wired and tested.
• Start-up and verification — We ignite the system, verify proper flame, combustion, and heat output, and confirm the venting is drawing correctly.
• Walkthrough — We cover thermostat operation, how to identify normal operation, and what to do if you ever notice anything unusual.

A Word on Safety: Why Professional Installation Matters

Gas appliances in enclosed spaces require proper venting to operate safely. A garage unit heater that isn't correctly vented or installed with attention to clearances, gas line sizing, and code requirements is a carbon monoxide and fire risk.

This isn't an area to cut corners. Sterling unit heaters are designed for safe, code-compliant installation in garages when properly installed. ACT handles every element of the installation, including mounting, gas connection, venting, and electrical work, in accordance with manufacturer specifications and local requirements. You get a system that performs correctly and operates safely from day one.

Financing Available

ACT offers financing options to make garage heater installation accessible without waiting to save the full amount upfront.

Why Billings Homeowners Choose ACT for Garage Heater Installation

30+ Years of Gas Appliance Installation Experience — We've been installing heating systems in Billings since 1992. Gas line work, proper venting, and code-compliant installation are things we do every day, in homes and in garages.

Right-Sized for Your Space — We assess your garage before recommending a unit. We install the right BTU output for your specific space, ceiling height, and insulation level, not a generic recommendation.

Firm Quotes, Not Estimates — The Homeowner Installation Proposal means no surprises. What we quote is what you pay.

Professional Gas Line Work — Gas line connections aren't a DIY project, and they're not a job for a general handyman. ACT technicians handle gas work correctly, safely, and in compliance with code every time.

Financing Available — Get your garage heated now on terms that work for your budget.

Ready to Heat Your Garage?

Request an estimate, and an ACT comfort advisor will assess your space, recommend the right unit, and give you a firm written quote. No obligation, no pressure.