A garage is a special place where you can store anything or do something that involves using various instruments. Sometimes, you may be required to spend there a considerable amount of time, so having a properly warmed environment is crucial. It is hard to name the best garage heaters, which will always work since you have numerous factors to consider. Finding the appropriate solution may take a while, so it may be a good idea to start choosing the model when it is warm outside. Moreover, you may be required to do some preparation. Here are some garage heater choosing tips.
The preparation stage and calculation
Before you start choosing a garage heater, you need to determine how powerful the solution should be. It is necessary to consider the area of your garage and the insulation. It is important to insulate your garage to preserve the generated heat.
You should calculate the total footage of your space – you need to multiply the length by the width. The result is then multiplied by the height.
After that, you need to determine how much heat you need – subtract the average temperature from the target temperature. If it is 60 degrees inside and it is around 10 degrees outside, you need to increase the temperature by 50 degrees.
The final stage is to calculate the necessary amount of BTU, which stands for British thermal unit. You need to multiple the insulation quality factor (it is 0.5 for the top-quality insulation and it goes up to 5 – which means you have no insulation at all) by the total footage and by the required heat.
This information will help understand how to pick a heater for the garage, which will provide you with the right amount of heat. It may be a good option to get a model that has a bit more power then you need.
Fuel types and prices
Various models use two main types of fuel – propane, and electricity. The models that use electricity are 100% efficient, so they turn all the energy consumed into heat. They are also flexible – you can decrease the amount of energy consumed and you will get less heat as well. However, electricity is quite expensive and it isn’t a good idea if you are going to use a heater too often.
Gas-fueled models require you to spend more during the installation stage. It is necessary to buy various accessories and hire a licensed professional to install the model. However, gas is cheaper as a fuel.
Electric models are not expensive – the price ranges from $50 to $600 and even more. They are incredibly easy to install and use. Some models have to be plugged in and that is it.
Gas model prices range from $200 to $1000 and even more.
Portability
Portable models are a good option if you need to heat up a small area. Fixed models are usually more powerful and they can cover a huge area. Therefore, if your garage is not very large and you are not going to use it often, then a portable solution may be a good option. A fixed model is a good option for those, who need to keep the required temperature all the time and if your garage is large enough.
Safety
Propane is flammable so it is important to use high-grade components only and have the appropriate venting system. It is also recommended to check all the lines from time to time to make sure there is no gas leaking.
Useful Tips: How to heat a garage cheaply
Making a certain area warmer may be a challenge. It is not only about finding the best solution, but also considering various factors. Maintaining a required level of temperature in your garage is important to avoid damaging everything you have there. One of the first steps is to study garage heater reviews to get the general idea of what you can get today and what types of models can provide you with the required amount of heat.
Preparing
Heating up a certain area is not the only thing you need to do. What can be even more important is to preserve the heat in your garage, so the first step would be checking the walls and the ceiling. It is important to seal all the air leaks, get your walls and doors insulated. It may cost you something, but if you can preserve the heat, then you won’t have to use a heater too often.
The garage size and heating methods
Knowing how big the area you need to heat will help you understand how to heat a garage without spending too much due to buying a heavy-duty solution. Make sure to check various charts that are provided by heaters manufacturers. If you don’t need to heat up the whole then you should consider getting a portable model – it is the cheapest way to heat a garage and you can easily place it wherever you want it to be.
There are three heating types:
- Convection. Heating elements or flame heat up the incoming air and it naturally rises
- Radiant. Heaters have polished plated that reflect infrared light and distribute it across a certain area
- Air-blowing. Such models heat up the income air and the blower generates a warm air flow
Electric and gas heaters
There are two major groups of heating solutions – the models that use electricity and natural gas. However, if you look for cheap ways to heat the garage, then you should consider all the expenditures. Electric models are not very expensive, and their price ranges from $100 to $400, so it’s very easy to find the best electric garage heater, while natural gas heaters may cost you from $400 to $800 or even more. Plus, they require getting additional accessories, like a good venting system to remove carbon monoxide.
Electric models are also better when it comes to the installation costs – you can install modern models on your own (but if you are not sure what you are doing, you better hire someone). Gas-fueled heaters use your gas line which makes you hiring a licensed professional and it immediately increases the installation costs.
Still, gas wins when it comes to the fuel price, so it is a better option if you will use it frequently. Therefore, electric models are cheaper if you do not need to heat up a large garage or you will not use it too often, but if you need to generate a large amount of heat, then you should consider getting a gas-fueled model.