Do you want to know what is the best garage heater? Well, you’ve got a lot of choices; these things you will know as you delve into this article deeper.
Indeed, it would be unpleasant working in your cold garage in winter. Luckily, specialized garage heaters now exist. But with the wide variety of heaters in the market, how can you pick the best one.
Do not worry because we are here to help you with that. This post will serve as your guide to ensure that you get the right one. You will be provided with a buying guide so when you go out in the market, you know how to choose the one that fits your budget and needs. Keep reading!
The Best Garage Heater Types
In understanding what is the best garage heater, you need to know what type of garage heater you would like to get. Let us walk through each of them below so you can compare and contrast their distinctive features.
#1. Radiant or infrared garage heater
This type of garage heater is warming the object it is directed at. It may be a floor, wall, or surface. It can heat up quickly, and more time is needed to heat larger areas. This is ideal for projects that involve messy materials such as wood since it does not come with fans. Waste products in your workspace won’t be stirred up.
#2. Gas garage heaters
Natural gas or propane gas heaters do not have electricity to operate, making them a more cost-effective option. They are also more portable for as long as you install them correctly. This type of heater is run by fuel or gas. It has a flame inside that is the one heating the air. Then, the heated air is pushed towards the room through a fan. Gas heaters can heat a space quickly. They can also maintain the warm temperature for a prolonged time without disruptions. Take note that regular maintenance is needed. Find out how much does it cost to run a gas garage heater.
#3. Fan-forced heater
This type of heater draws the air using a fan. Then its heating element will warm it before blowing it back inside the room. It can warm up any enclosed space efficiently regardless of its size, and it can do it quickly. But since it is blowing the air, it is not ideal when working with paint or wood.
4 Power Sources Of Garage Heaters
Different power sources can run Garage heaters, including electricity, propane, natural gas, and kerosene. Let us discuss each of them below.
#1. Electricity
Generally, maintaining an electric garage heater is more expensive than other types running on fuel like natural gas. But many are choosing this both for residential and commercial purposes. That is due to its power in heating larger areas because it is easy and safe to use.
#2. Propane
This is a famous alternative for anyone who cannot use a heater power by electricity and gas line. However, the advantage of this one is that you need to refill it often if you are running it for a couple of hours. This is an ideal option if you are looking for a unit for recreation. Check how to convert a natural gas garage heater to propane.
#3. Natural gas
This option is highly cost-effective. This is especially true when you already have a line for natural gas in your house. You will benefit the most from its cost-effectiveness when heating huge areas and using the garage heater for extended periods. With a natural gas heater, you can warm up the space quickly, which is also stable. As a plus, this heater cools off rapidly, so you do not have to worry when you leave the unit suddenly.
#4. Kerosene
Typically, garage heaters powered by kerosene are reliable and portable. There are two types of heaters that run on kerosene, including convection and radiant garage heaters. The latter is ideal for smaller spaces since it utilizes a fan or reflector that directs the heated air towards the object. In contrast, the former is intended for larger areas since it can evenly distribute heat upwards and outwards. That is possible due to its cylindrical shape.
Best Safety Features Of Garage Heaters
Regardless of your garage heater’s power source, you should pay attention to its safety features that can either be built-in or independent. Each heater type comes with a distinct potential threat, but it will be worth it to look for the following properties when buying a garage heater.
#1. Guards and safety nets
This is important so that accidental burning will be avoided. Ob course, you would not dare to touch your garage heater. But accidents do happen, so ensure that burning risk will be limited with this safety feature.
#2. Tip-over protection
This safety feature allows the garage heater to shut off for instances that it has tipped over automatically.
#3. Overheat protection
This system is the one ensuring that your garage heater will turn off itself if any of its heating elements become too hot.
It’s A Wrap!
Now you know that many factors have to be considered when it comes to knowing what is the best garage heater. Regardless of the power source, all heater types come with their share of pros and cons. At the end of the day, the best garage heater is dependent on your preference, requirements, and needs.