The best garage heater can provide you with a little extra heat in your garage, barn or workshop. Garages are usually under insulated areas of the home which can be cold in the winter months. Whether your garage is your man-cave, workshop, or stores your vehicles, then a garage heater would be a good investment for you. There are different types of heaters for your garage including electric garage heaters, gas garage heaters, and propane garage heaters. By far, the most popular and affordable option to heat a garage is an electric garage heater. Some of the most well known and trusted manufacturers of garage heaters are Broan, Dr. Heater, Fahrenheat, and NewAir. The best garage heater can also come equipped with a thermostat, automatic shut off switch, and a remote control, allowing you to conserve energy and save money. If you are wondering “What is the best garage heater for me?” then these garage space heater reviews will help you make your decision.
Types of the Best Garage Heaters
Electric Garage Heaters
An electric garage heater is a very popular and affordable option for heating your garage. The only requirement for adding an electric garage heater to your garage or barn is electricity. With a source of electricity and a little elbow grease (or an electrician), you can install an electric garage heater easily. Most electric garage heaters come with built in ceiling mount brackets for vertical or horizontal mounting and are equipped with adjustable louvers to direct the heat.
Natural Gas Fired Garage Heaters
The two main types of natural gas garage heaters include forced air heaters, which blow warm air in the style of a furnace, and infrared natural gas heaters which radiate heat instead. Both of these garage heaters can burn natural gas or LP gas. Natural gas garage heaters come in various sizes and can be mounted on a ceiling or wall. You will need electricity to power these units as well as ventilation so it is advisable to mount on an exterior wall if possible.
Propane Garage heaters
Most natural gas fired garage heaters can also be operated on propane so be sure to check if both fuel sources work with your choice. Propane garage heaters also come in the portable or standalone style. These produce a strong and hot flame which heat a garage quickly. The best propane heaters come equipped with a thermostat to help regulate the temperature in the garage, as well as conserving energy when the heater is not needed. Ventilation is required for a propane garage heater so there are better options if leaving a window or door open is not a choice.
Best Garage Heater Reviews
Fahrenheat FUH54 240-Volt Electric Garage Heater
The Fahrenheat FUH54 240-volt is one of the top electric garage heaters in its class. It is a powerful option that can be used to supplement an existing heat source, it can act as backup heat source, or provide the main source of heat to any garage. The Fahrenheat electric garage heater has mounting brackets included making it easily mountable to the wall or ceiling. An integrated thermostat allows for easy temperature control of any garage and can be adjusted from 45 to 135 degrees. It is equipped with a heat distribution fan which will only be activated when the heating element has reached a sufficient temperature to prevent circulating cold air around. For safety, this electric garage heater has an automatic shut off mechanism to prevent overheating and will restart once the heater has sufficiently cooled.
NewAir G73 Electric Garage Heater
The NewAir G73 electric garage heater is a great choice for garage heating. This electric garage heater can heat up to 750 square feet and comes with a built in thermostat with automatic shut-off to protect from overheating. The NewAir G73 needs to be hardwired and traditional wall outlet cannot be used. It can wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted for easy installation. The NewAir G73 electric garage heater is 240 volt and requires 30 amps. We recommend professional installation from a licensed electrician if you are not experienced working with electricity.
Fahrenheat Ceiling-Mount Industrial Electric-7500 Watt Model #FUH724
This Fahrenheat ceiling mounted electric garage heater is very powerful and operates at 7500 watts. It is suitable for acting as the sole source of heat in larger buildings, including garages. In order to save space, you can easily install this electric garage heater to the ceiling of your garage. It is also is possible to adjust the angle of the heater to direct the heat accordingly. This heater has an automatic overheat shut-off and will reactivate when a normal temperature returns. This Fahrenheat model is an excellent and powerful choice for the best garage heater for any garage or shop.
King KBP2406 5700-Watt MAX 240-Volt Single Phase Paw Unit
The King KBP2406 5700-Watt MAX is a powerful electric garage heater that has been designed to heat large spaces quickly. It is a great choice for both home and industrial uses as it is quite versatile and affordable. The power output can vary from 950-watts to 5700-watts and comes with a built-in thermostat. The King KBP206 electric garage heater will heat a garage up to 600 square feet. For safety, an automatic shutoff safety switch is built into this garage heater. Most people can install this electric garage heater in 30 minutes or less.
How to Choose the Best Garage Heater?
There are many considerations to keep in mind when selecting the best garage heater. There are different types of power sources, residential or commercial quality heaters, portable heaters, and wall or ceiling mounted garage heaters. Most of these garage heaters will also come with all kinds of features that you may or may not need depending on your garage. So just how do you choose the best garage heater? When choosing the best garage heater, it is important that you measure the square footage and height of your garage to ensure that the heater you choose is adequate for the size of your garage. If you choose a garage heater that is made for a larger space than your garage, you may find that it is not very energy efficient. On the other hand, a garage heater intended for a smaller space will leave your garage cold and will be constantly running.
- Garage size. First, you should calculate the square footage of your garage. Be sure to take the ceiling height into account as heat rises. Most garage heaters provide an estimate on the square footage they are suitable for, so you should confirm this is in line with the dimensions of your garage.
- Portability. Will you be moving around constantly in your garage? Do you intend to take your heater to other garages for work? If so, then you will probably benefit from a portable garage heater. Fixed ceiling mounted garage heaters and wall mounted garage heater are considered safer because they are securely mounted and out of the way. So, if you do not need a portable garage heater, you should invest in a wall or ceiling mounted garage heater.
- Power Supply. All garage heaters, except some vent-free garage heaters, need electricity to operate. You should check the power supply before you start installation in order to avoid blowing your circuit breakers. It is always good idea to check with an electrician if you are unsure.
- Thermostats and fans. You should choose a garage heater with a thermostat if you want to regulate the temperature in your garage. A garage heater will stop circulating warm air once it detects the room has reached the desired temperature. Some garage heaters can double as cool air fans for use in summer months as well.
Conclusion and Expert Advice
The best garage heater is an affordable solution to the common issue of poor garage insulation. Whether you have a large garage or workshop, we have provided many of the best garage heater choices on the market. The best garage heaters can be operated on gas, electric, or propane. Different garage heaters are capable of heating different sized garages or barns, so choose the best option that suits your needs.
Most of the garage heaters reviewed can be mounted on a ceiling or wall for safety and to also save space in your garage. There are several portable propane garage heaters available for those who need to move the garage heater frequently. As far as garage heater safety, the best garage heaters have automatic shut off to avoid fire or ventilation leakage. Thermostats allow you to reduce energy consumption and ensure the garage heater is only on when needed.
What is the Most Efficient Best Way To Heat A Garage In Winter
If you are trying to find the most affordable and effective method to heat your garage or shop a vent-free infrared garage heating system might be the best solution. Why? Compared with other types of the best garage heater, a gas fired vent-free infrared heating system is simple to set up, economical to operate, and incredibly quiet.
What is a vent-free garage heater and how does it work?
Vent-free simply means unvented. Unlike a vented gas heating system which uses a flue to get rid of gases, an unvented heating unit discharges those gases straight into the heating area. For that reason, a vent free heating system is essentially 99.9% effective.
Are vent-free heaters safe?
Yes, vent-free heating systems have been used for over 30 years to heat homes in addition to garages and workshops. Like all home heating appliances, vent-free heating systems should be effectively sized for the area. A common 2 car garage needs somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 BTU’s. Most vent-free garage heaters have catalytic heating elements which burn fuel so effectively that only traces of humidity remain. For most people, a little humidity is beneficial, especially during the winter months when relative indoor humidity is low.
Heating devices that are not authorized for vent-free operation must be vented. Forced air furnaces and glowing tube heating units fall into this category and must be appropriately vented based on the manufacturers requirements.
Do they need blower fans?
No, so they are extremely quiet. In contrast, forced air furnaces move air by means of a motor and fans, which can trigger frustrating reverberation through the walls and ceiling of the garage and home.
Are they expensive to operate?
No. Vent-free units cost less to run than essentially any other type of gas heating unit. In a well-insulated garage, the cost to run a vent-free infrared is simply pennies a day.
Are these infrared heating systems suitable for all garages?
Yes and no. You need to identify if a vent-free heating system is right for you. Your choice might consist of an electric garage heater, gas garage heater, propane garage heater or vent-free infrared garage heating system. Some heaters are better in dirty areas and some are much better for freeze control. Others are quiet while some can be noisy. Identify your requirements and do some research to discover the garage heater for your needs.
How easy is it to install a vent-free heating system?
The hardest part of installing the best garage heater is getting the gas to the location of the heater. Many vent-free garage heating systems do not even need electricity. Instead, a millivolt system turns the heating unit on when the thermostat calls for heat.
Vent-free heating units are an excellent choice for the Do It Yourself homeowner. Just hang the garage heating system on the wall or ceiling and run the gas line. You now have a heated garage. You have just transformed your garage into a year-round area for fun, auto work, exercise, or vehicle storage. There are many choices available for homeowners so be sure to shop around for the best garage heater for your home.