I hear you on the "hell of a mess".....been there, done that! didn't like it.
For me parking inside my unheated, attached, garage is best. That way anything that might drop off is easily scooped and dumped outside and the car is never as cold as outside temps therefore no need for the block heater.
The garage being unheated won't accumulate much mess and what is there can be easily dealt with.
With outside temps approaching -30 you may want to block-heat the engine for a couple hours only. I have a handy timer that I use for this purpose just to take the chill of her and give some heat a little quicker.
Sounds like you enjoy winter as much as I do.
After Christmas, I count the days to spring and better weather. It can't come soon enough for me.
Good luck with your winter there; sounds like it's a little more severe than here in Southern Ontario.
C.
For me parking inside my unheated, attached, garage is best. That way anything that might drop off is easily scooped and dumped outside and the car is never as cold as outside temps therefore no need for the block heater.
The garage being unheated won't accumulate much mess and what is there can be easily dealt with.
With outside temps approaching -30 you may want to block-heat the engine for a couple hours only. I have a handy timer that I use for this purpose just to take the chill of her and give some heat a little quicker.
Sounds like you enjoy winter as much as I do.
Good luck with your winter there; sounds like it's a little more severe than here in Southern Ontario.
C.