The Best Garage Heater To Keep Your Home And Car Warm

Buying Guide

You don’t want to be working in a freezing cold garage this winter.  Whether your time in there is limited or extended, you won’t regret investing in a garage heater. With a flip of the switch, your garage will be toasty warm, and your motivation will skyrocket. But there are several things to consider before purchasing a garage heater.

First, you need to look at appropriately sized units for the size of your garage. For calculated perfection, the rule of thumb is 10 watts per square foot of space. If you have an average-sized, single-car garage, you will want to check out units that are below 5,000 watts or roughly 15,000 BTUs, whereas a two- or three-car garage will need a much more powerful heater with roughly 10,000 watts or 30,000 BTUs. If you want to be exact, you can find the cubic feet of your garage by multiplying the length of the garage from front to back by the width of the front of the garage by the height of your garage.

You should also consider the efficiency of your garage.

“Make sure you’re not trying to heat the rest of the world,” says Vicki Liston, our resident home improvement expert. “Are the windows and the garage door energy efficient? Is there weather stripping around all the doors and windows? You’ll want to prep the space to reduce or minimize heat loss.”

Second, there are a few types of heaters on the market. Electric garage heaters are either hardwired into your home or plugged in with a cord through an appropriate outlet. These units can be turned on easily with a flip of a switch or by adjusting a thermostat. Some electric models come with a mounting bracket and adjustable thermostat. Consumers that frequent their garage can set these units to the desired temperature and the unit will click off once the temperature is reached. Other models offer the option of portable or ceiling-mounted units that are also electric.

You can opt for a propane- or gas-powered heater as an alternative. These heaters require ventilation to the outside as well as wiring, and often require an ignition start for the unit to be turned on. “Whether the unit is freestanding and portable or mounted on a wall, their deadly carbon monoxide fumes must be directed outside via a pipe for the heater to operate safely,” says Liston.

Some propane units feature forced hot air, portability and adjustable angling for directed heating. With so many possible safety features including tip-over shutoffs, extended hoses and backpressure switches, there are plenty of options for the safety-conscience consumer.

For additional options, you can choose from forced-air heaters that blow the air directly over hot coils to warm the air or infrared heaters that convert energy to heat when absorbed by surrounding objects. If a set-it-and-forget-it unit is what you want, look for a hardwired, infrared, commercial unit with an adjustable thermostat. These heaters have different adjustments for optimum airflow and heat control.

Third, you’ll want to know the cost of each unit and any installation fees associated with the unit to make sure it is within your budget. The installation fees vary greatly between the different options, so be sure to talk with a home improvement specialist when determining costs. Prices on the actual units will vary throughout the year, so planning ahead might be a good idea when making this purchase. You’ll also want to check on the warranties, should anything go wrong.

• Something to think about when purchasing a garage heater is the way it operates within the space. If you are a painter, or most of your projects include sanding, you really don’t want to install a forced-air heater. They stir up dust and dirt to a small degree and can make those types of projects difficult.
• For quiet heating options, infrared is your best choice. Infrared heating has become quite popular over recent years because it is not so harsh on our bodies. However, you’ll want to think long and hard about where you install it since it takes a little bit longer to heat up the space.
• Remember that if you choose a propane-powered unit, you will need to pay for outside venting when you have the unit installed.
• For upfront costs, the forced air garage heaters will be less costly versus the infrared units.
• Before starting your research on the correct unit, it is vital to know the insulation of your garage walls as well. The thickness of the walls also plays a large part in how much power you’ll need in a heater for that space. For example, if you have a single-car garage but it is not insulated and has thin walls, you may want to consider a heater with a more powerful output than what is recommended for the square footage.
• Most portable garage heaters require a 240-Volt outlet and you need to ensure the breaker can accommodate the amps (typically around 20 amps) so you don’t trip the breaker.
• No matter what you are purchasing, you should always check the warranty of the unit.
• Always have a licensed, insured professional install the unit so you are sure of the highest safety standards.
• To give your garage heater a boost, consider getting weather stripping for windows and doors. It is inexpensive and makes a significant difference in conserving energy.
• If you use a portable space heater, try to find one with a thermostat so you have the safety feature of automatic turnoff as well as the energy-saving feature it provides.
• Routinely clean off any dust or dirt that may have settled on your garage heaters. If you have a gas garage heater, it’s important to have it serviced once a year before the winter season.
• Some garage heaters are sold separately from their thermometers and cords so be sure to read what is included in your purchase.