How much does a propane garage heater cost compared to natural gas in Ottawa, and which is the better choice?

Choosing between propane and natural gas for heating an Ottawa garage is a decision that mostly comes down to what fuel is available at your property and what the installation costs look like, because once you get past those two factors, the heaters themselves perform very similarly. Both fuels burn cleanly, both are available in unit heaters and tube heaters sized appropriately for garages, and both deliver heat quickly and efficiently.

If your home already has a natural gas connection from Enbridge, extending a gas line to the garage is almost always the better long-term choice. The installation cost to run a new gas line from your existing meter to a detached or attached garage typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 in Ottawa, depending on the distance, whether the line needs to be trenched underground to a detached garage, and the size of the line required. The heater unit itself, a ceiling-mounted forced-air unit heater in the 30,000 to 60,000 BTU range suitable for a two-car garage, costs $800 to $1,800 for the unit plus $500 to $1,000 for installation including venting. So your total all-in cost for a natural gas garage heater in Ottawa is typically $2,800 to $6,300.

Propane makes sense when natural gas is not available at the property, which is common in rural areas around Ottawa including parts of Kanata South, Manotick, Vars, Cumberland, and Navan. A propane unit heater costs roughly the same as its natural gas equivalent, often the identical unit with a different orifice, so $800 to $1,800 for the heater and $500 to $1,000 for installation. However, you also need a propane tank, which you can either rent from your propane supplier for $75 to $150 per year or purchase outright for $800 to $2,500 depending on the size. A 420-pound tank is the most common size for garage heating and provides enough fuel to heat a two-car garage through an Ottawa winter with moderate use.

The ongoing fuel costs are where natural gas has a clear advantage. Natural gas in Ottawa through Enbridge costs roughly $0.30 to $0.35 per cubic metre at current rates, while propane runs $0.75 to $0.95 per litre depending on your supplier and whether you lock in a fixed rate or float with the market. When you convert those to cost per BTU of heat delivered, natural gas typically costs about forty to fifty percent less than propane for the same amount of heat output. For a garage that you heat regularly through the winter, that difference adds up to several hundred dollars per year.

Installation Considerations

Both propane and natural gas heaters require proper venting to the exterior, and in Ottawa this installation must be done by a licensed gas fitter. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority oversees gas installations in Ontario, and your installer should provide you with a certificate of compliance when the job is complete. The heater must be mounted with adequate clearance from combustible materials, and in a garage where vehicles are present, the burner must be at least eighteen inches above floor level to stay above the zone where gasoline vapours could accumulate.

Ventilation is another requirement regardless of fuel type. Any fuel-burning heater in a garage needs combustion air supply, either from a dedicated outside air intake ducted to the heater or from the garage space itself if the garage has sufficient air volume and natural air leakage. Your installer will calculate the combustion air requirements based on the heater's BTU input and the garage's volume.

One advantage propane does have is portability and independence from utility infrastructure. If you ever move the heater or if the garage is in a location where trenching a gas line would be prohibitively expensive, propane gives you that flexibility. But for most Ottawa homeowners with existing natural gas service, extending the line to the garage and running natural gas is the more economical choice over the life of the heater.

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