Get Yourself a Warm Garage or Workshop

Do you want to step out into your garage and not squeal like a girl when the cold air hits you? Do you want to be able to work in the shop in January without having to see your breath? Do you dread picking up that cold metal wrench? Are you ready for warmth? 

Garage unit heaters are a great solution for heating residential spaces, such as garages, sheds, or small workshops. In some commercial applications where a single large unit heater wouldn't distribute heat sufficiently across the entire space, multiple smaller garage unit heaters might be a good solution, as well.

 In order to select the right garage heater for your application, you will need to consider several factors, the first of which is how it will generate heat for your space. Depending on the fuel or heat source you choose, you will then need to select a venting, mounting, or orientation option.

 

Choosing Your Garage Unit Heater's Fuel or Heat Source

Consider your accessibility to various fuels, fuel and electricity prices in your area, and any pre-existing home heating systems. Based on these factors, your preferred garage unit heater will generate heat through one of the five mediums or fuels listed below:

 

Natural Gas

One of the most popular ways of generating heat is combusting (i.e. burning) gas. If you have a gas line easily accessible, natural gas (abbreviated "NG") is usually the least expensive way to heat your space. If your oven, clothes dryer, furnace, or other appliance already uses natural gas, it's likely that an installer could extend that gas line to the site in which you hope to place your garage heater.

Liquid Propane

For those without easy access to natural gas, liquid propane (abbreviated "LP") is a readily available and still relatively inexpensive option. Initially a part of natural gas, propane is typically sold in its liquid state by the gallon, and is often conveniently sold at your local hardware store. The negative side of using propane is the need to consistently monitor the amount of fuel you have left. If you run out, so will your heat!

A Helpful Tip: Converting NG to LP

Because using liquid propane is less common than using natural gas, LP garage unit heaters are often not stocked, causing longer lead times and higher prices than their equivalent NG version. Luckily, most NG unit heaters have compatible NG to LP conversion kits (sold separately), which are typically in stock. If you need your liquid propane garage unit heater quickly, we advise purchasing the same unit in a natural gas configuration and adding a conversion kit from the product page's accessories tab.

Electricity

If other fuel options are not easily accessible, or you live in a location where electricity is particularly inexpensive, an electric garage unit heater might be the best choice for you. While the common portable electric space heater may sound like an appealing option, its heating capability is limited by the amount of current that can be supplied by a standard outlet.

Electric garage unit heaters, on the other hand, are direct wired, opening the possibility of providing all the heat you need from one source. Plus, since they're mounted on the wall or ceiling, electric garage heaters also keep your floor space clear, helping maintain a safe workplace.

Hot Water

If you have a hot water boiler already heating up your home or workplace, you can take advantage of the hot water it already produces with a hot water unit heater. While gas-fired unit heaters are always designed with your safety in mind, some people prefer not to add another combustion site to their home or workplace if they don't need to.

Hot water garage unit heaters just contain a heat exchanger and a blower. The heat exchanger uses hot water from your existing hydronic system, and the blower simply pushes air across or throughout the heat exchanger to be heated and then out to your garage or workspace.

Many unit heaters that can handle hot water can handle steam, as well. Just connect the unit heater to your steam boiler system and get ready for a big boost in comfort.

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