Most Energy Efficient Garage Heater
- Modine HD45AS0111
Pro
- Convenient for use in small garages because of its low profile and quiet operation
- Great performance with a heating capacity enough for a 1,125 square feet space
- Easy venting and management because the heater uses standard and small-diameter vent pipes
Cons
- The installation process may be detailed and require a skilled and certified individual to complete it
The Modine HD45AS0111 is a small-sized but robust garage heater that is suitable for use in domestic, commercial, and even industrial settings. The heater can be used to conveniently cozy up garage spaces that measure as much as 1,125 square feet, thanks to its 45,000BTU value, silent operation, and an over 80% efficiency score.
You can use either roof or sidewall venting for this heater because it uses standard power exhaust and requires a small – diameter vent pipes. However, the venting components are sold separately.
The only drawback of this heater is that the installation process is long and technical enough to require the services of a certified professional.
- Mr. Heater F260550
Pros
- An LP conversion kit is included for easy shifting between propane and natural gas
- Uses either horizontal or vertical venting, thanks to a powered exhaust
- A great heating capacity that corresponds to 50,000BTUs
Cons
- The venting components and thermostat are sold separately
The Mr. Heater F260550 can be an excellent and reliable source of heat in your small-to-midsized home or commercial garage. With a BTU level of 50,000, this heater can provide a cozy environment in spaces that measure as much as 1,250 square feet.
The LP conversion kits maximize the level of usability of this heater. You can use the kit to alternate between natural gas and propane as the fuel of the heater.
The heater has a powered vent; therefore, you can use either horizontal or vertical venting. It all depends on your preferences. Moreover, a thermostat is available for providing enhanced control. However, you will have to purchase the thermostat and venting components separately.
- pureHeat Garage & Patio Heater
Pros
- Highly portable because of its slim design and small footprint
- Advanced inbuilt security features, including a 360-degree tip-over protection
- The carbon fiber heating element has 5,000 hours lifetime
Cons
- The heater can easily get knocked down when left standing on the floor of the garage
The pureHeat Garage & Patio is an innovative heater that can be used to provide warmth in indoor and outdoor environments. It has been specially designed to withstand the effects of the elements and provide uniform heat across mid-sized spaces.
Unlike modern garage heaters that utilize ceramic or oil-filled radiators, this heater utilizes a special fiber heating element. This heating method delivers value for money because it has a lifetime of over 5,000 hours.
However, using this heater comes with several risks. Most notably, the heater can easily get knocked down when you mount it on the stand and leave it standing on the floor of your garage. The good news is that you can either mount it on the wall or ceiling to avoid such accidents. Besides, it has a safety feature that enables it to automatically shut off when it gets knocked.
- Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX
Pros
- Highly portable because of the compact design and the inclusion of a foldable handle
- Has an auto-shutoff and oxygen deficiency sensor for enhanced safety
- Utilizes radiant heating to create a cozy environment for outdoor spaces
Cons
- Unsuitable for use in large spaces that exceed 225 square feet in size
The Mr. Heater F23200 MH9BX has several features that make it one of the notable heaters that you can use to warm your small garage. This propane-burning heater utilizes the radiant heating method to create a cozy environment in outdoor spaces. The reflectors guide powerful infrared radiation to all areas of the space to create a conducive environment for working even during wintery weather.
It is very convenient to use this heater. You can easily transport it from one place to another, thanks to its small size and the presence of a fold-down handle.
However, the heater has a limited capacity. It can only run for three hours when its propane tank is full. Moreover, it can be used to heat spaces that do not exceed 225 square feet. This means that you cannot rely on it to heat large garages.
- Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988A
Pros
- It has an inbuilt thermostat for enhanced temperature control and safety
- The infrared/radiant and forced-air heating systems provide uniform heat to eliminate all cold spots
Cons
- The fan may be noisy at times when the heater works for a long time
The Dr. Infrared DR-988A is a versatile heater ideal for use in garages, construction sites, and other indoor and outdoor settings. It features a built-in digital thermostat that can be used to regulate the temperature. When set on the low-temperature mode, the heater maintains the temperature at 45 degrees Fahrenheit. When operating on the high mode, the heater maintains the temperature at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
It utilizes a dual heating system to provide uniform temperature in large spaces. The radiant and forced air systems are effective enough to eliminate cold and hot spots in the entire garage. This makes the environment conducive for extended use.
- Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater
Pros
- The adjustable louvers allow for spot heating to eliminate cold spots in the room
- Brackets for horizontal and vertical ceiling mounting are included
- Enhanced control via the built-in thermostat and a high-level cutout
Cons
- The heater is slightly noisy when one needs a quiet environment
One of the most notable features of the Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater is the level of control that you can enjoy when using it. Its ceiling mount brackets and louvers allow for directional heating. This can be quite useful when you need to deal with cold spots in your garage or any other space. Besides, you can mount the heater either vertically or horizontally.
Moreover, the heater has a built-in thermostat that you can use to regulate its temperature. This helps to keep the heater functional for a long time and avoid the damages that may occur as a result of overheating.
- Dr. Heater DR966
Pros
- Great heating capacity, thanks to the use of the forced air system and the inclusion of louvers
- Enhanced performance control using the thermostat and louvers
- Highly durable due to a sturdy design and the use of high-quality steel
Cons
- The fan of the heater is noisy
The Dr. Heater DR966 is a heavy-duty heater that is effective for use, particularly drafty or large spaces. It has a powerful fan that forces heated air out and distributes it evenly across large spaces. Besides, the five adjustable louvers of the heater can be used to direct the heat to spots in the room where it is needed most.
Moreover, the heater is long-lasting because its body is made of high-quality and durable steel and other metals. Thus, using the heater delivers value for money because you will not have to replace or repair it often. However, the heater is slightly noisy because of the forced fan system.
- Cadet RCP502S
Pros
- It can either be mounted on the walls or used on the floor
- The use of 20-gauge high-quality steel and baked-on powder coated paint enhances durability
- The high-low switch provides great control
Cons
- The heater can easily get damaged as a result of debris buildup
Cadet RCP502S has been specially designed to be used in conventional garages and workshops. The casing of the heater is made of high-quality 20-gauge steel to protect the internal components and keep the heater functional for a long time. You do not have to worry about replacing the heater often.
Also, this heater is capable of providing a steady and reliable source of heat for areas that are as large as 1,125 square feet. Its forced fan system is strong enough to ensure a uniform supply of the provided warmth in large spaces.
The only thing that you need to watch out for when using this heater is a possible buildup of debris. Accumulated dirt can easily damage the heater, causing you to incur additional expenses.
Buying Guide
Types of Garage Heaters
There are five main types of garage heaters based on the mode of operation and other attributes.
Mounted garage heaters
The heaters that fall under this category can be mounted either on walls or roofs of garages and workshops. They come with special brackets that are used to mount them effectively. For some brands, you can use the brackets to change the direction of heating and mount the heaters either horizontally or vertically. Such heaters provide additional functionality and enable directional heating in large spaces.
Portable heaters
Portable heaters are designed to be placed in convenient positions on the floor so that they can provide uniform heat in large space. They usually have inbuilt fans that force out and distribute the warmed air in all directions.
Portable garage heaters are normally small in size, have compact designs, and feature fold-down handles. These features are meant to make it easy for one to carry the heaters from one place to another. Besides, you can use the heaters to provide heat in specific locations within an indoor or outdoor space.
Radiant heaters
They have inbuilt reflectors that direct the generated infrared radiation in all directions in space. The radiation then provides uniform heating across the entire room by directly heating inanimate and animate objects.
The main benefit of using radiant heaters is that you will avoid the noise that comes with inbuilt fans. Heaters that have inbuilt fans may be ideal for warming large and drafty rooms but are slightly noisy. Besides, the fan may end up blowing loose particles that may be lying all over a garage or workshop.
Convection heaters
Convection heaters have large oil or water-filled radiators. The radiators convert electric energy into heat energy through a heating element. The fluid in the radiator functions as a form of a heat sink. It stores up the generated heat energy and releases it to the atmosphere steadily. This results in a steady and uniform form of heating that is ideal for large garages.
Forced -air garage heaters
Forced-air garage heaters have inbuilt fans that are used to push out and distribute the heated air. When either placed on the flow or mounted on roofs or walls, forced-fan heaters can be an effective source of uniform heat in large spaces. The fan effectively distributes bursts of heated air all over the space. If the heater is a propane or natural gas-burning type, then it can be connected to the main gas line.
Tips for selecting an energy-efficient garage heater
The size of the garage
This is an important factor to consider when choosing the most appropriate heater. Garage heaters vary in terms of their heating capacity. Generally, heaters that utilize natural gas and propane tend to have higher heating capacities than those which utilize electricity.
Choosing the most appropriate heater for your garage can help you save on heating costs. If you use a small heater that cannot heat your garage, you will end up having cold spots in the room. Using a heater that has excess capacity will be a waste of either electric power or the hydrocarbon used.
Controls
The level of controls on a heater can help you maximize its efficiency. Control features allow you to change the heating levels of the heater as well as determine when the heater is on or off. This helps to minimize wastage of the fuel type that the heater uses to provide energy. Therefore, go for heaters that have advanced control features that you can use to regulate the temperature and overall operation of the device.
Some heaters have inbuilt fans and louvers that you can use to enhance their performance. The louvers can be changed to direct the heat to specific locations where it is needed most. The presence of these features can help to ensure efficient utilization of the heater to provide warmth in particularly large and drafty spaces in garages and workshops.
Safety features
Safety features help to reduce the chances of accidents and enhance the overall usability of heaters. In the end, the features maximize the level of efficient use of heaters. When choosing a heater for your garage, it is advisable to go for electric models that have inbuilt safety features such as automatic shutoff when they get tipped over.
Also, when going for heaters that burn either natural gas or propane, go for the models that have the oxygen deficiency sensor. Such brands automatically go off when the oxygen levels in your space go down to very low levels.