For anyone who spends a lot of time in the garage, staying properly heated is not optional but essential. The chances are, your garage is away from the the central heating of your home, meaning you need to find alternative methods to keep it warm.
Finding the best electric garage heaters can be challenging and a little technical knowledge helps to make the right decision. We’ve put together a list of top heaters for garages of any size, and even produced a handy guide for some of the electrical knowledge and terminology.
Top 3 Electric Garage Heater
#1 Fahrenheat FUH54 240-volt Garage Heater
The Fahrenheat model we’re starting with is one of the best sellers in the world of garage heaters, and with good reason. This heater is extremely powerful for pretty much any type of garage space, and can even heat spaces which are 1,300 square ft large.
Clever features to make your life easier include a ceiling mount, meaning it doesn’t take up room on the floor or on the counters within your garage space. These spaces may be valuable if you have a smaller garage, so being able to mount your heater out of the way is ideal.
The thermostat which comes as a part of the Fahrenheat FUH54 means you can regulate the temperature, setting it to start heating when it dips to a certain temperature and ensuring a steady, comfortable heat. Temperatures from 45 to 134 fahrenheit can be set on your heater.
Adjustable louvers can be set to your preference, meaning you can direct the heat in one specific area. This can be useful for some industrial projects or for keeping items warm, but is also great for just ensuring the area you’re planning to spend time in is warm at all times.
In terms of the technical specifications, this model can provide between 2500 and 5000W of power, and uses 240V power connections just like most top electric garage heaters.
It is easy to see why so many people have purchased the Fahrenheat FUH54 for their garage or other industrial space. It can heat a huge area effectively in spite of being available affordably, at a cost better than many propane heaters or even other electric heaters.
In the rare occasion that you need even more power, this even has a larger sibling product, the FUH724, offering 7500W of power.
Things We Like
- Very consistent levels of heating
- Louvers for adjusting and directing the heat
- Lots of power and suitable for even large spaces
- Huge range of temperatures
- Sibling products with even more power if required
Things We Don’t Like
- Can only really be mounted to the ceiling
#2 Dr. Heater DR966 Hardwired Garage/Commercial
Another option to consider is the Dr. Heater DR966. This is an electric heater which is great in terms of offering value for money, as it is significantly cheaper than many of its competitors.
Dr. Heater is a brand which makes plenty of other options in this market too, with some offering more power than the 3000/6000W of the DR966, and some being portable on wheels or offering other features.
The DR966 has the basic features and level of heating that everyone needs. It uses a standard 240V power connector and has enough power to heat some fairly sizeable garages. This level of power means the brand’s other, more expensive options are probably overkill for a home garage.
The durability and quality of the Dr. Heater DR966 are impressive when you consider the price point. The heating elements utilize spiral steel-sheath elements which are designed to provide low sheath temperatures. This basically means a consistent level of heat.
The model is made out of strong metal and high quality components, so you don’t have to worry about replacing it every year or so! It is easy to use too, and can be mounted on your wall or ceiling.
Though it isn’t quite as highly regarded as the Fahrenheat FU54, it is worth considering if you are on a tighter budget and still looking for a sturdy, reliable heater.
Things We Like
- Good value
- Built to last using strong metal
- Consistent temperatures and plenty of power.
Things We Don’t Like
- Not as many safety precautions as some other heaters
- Quite big for the level of power, taking up more space than needed
#3 Dimplex DGWH4031 4000-Watt Garage/Workshop
Are you looking for something a little smaller? The Dimplex DGWH4031 is a slightly more compact, but still very powerful heater. It is slightly different in design than the other heaters we’ve mentioned.
It is a durable heater made of high quality metals and once again utilizes epoxy paint to keep the finish and reduce the chance of rust and corrosion. It can be ceiling mounted or wall mounted so perfectly fits whatever space you have available in your garage or even workspace.
At 4,000 watts, and with the standard 240V connector, this can produce 13,648 BTUs of heat. That’s more than enough for most garages, even if you’re lucky enough to have a lot of space.
Just like the products in the rest of our electric garage heater reviews, the Dimplex allows you to adjust the direction too. This product does so in a slightly different way, as there is a swivel function which can be used even once mounted. This allows you to direct heat in whichever way you like and is even simple to adjust and point in other directions.
Dimplex has created a product which has great safety and efficiency too. An automatic shut off feature if it gets too hot means you don’t have to worry about the potential fire risk. This is one of the most efficient heaters out there due to using residual heating techniques, meaning the heat is preserved within the mechanism. This is not only better for the environment, but easier on your bank balance, too.
If the space you need to heat requires huge amounts of power and heat over 77 degrees then it might be worth looking at one of the more pricey alternatives. For an affordable, compact heater, great for most garages, then the Dimplex DGWH4031 is worth considering.
Things We Like
- Efficiently designed
- Compact and easy to mount
- Affordable compared to other electric garage heaters
Things We Don’t Like
- Could offer more power
- Only heats up to 77 degrees
Buying Guide
Electric Heaters vs Other Heater Types
The reason electric heaters are so popular is the fact that they are affordable and convenient. Connecting to power isn’t a challenge and there are no refills required. Some other types of heater aren’t so simple.
Propane garage heaters have historically been popular, but these don’t have the same level of convenience. Although they don’t require any connection to electricity or gas, they do need canisters. These need to be refilled, which means taking them out to the store. Propane could also run out and you may be left without heat.
Gas garage heaters are available too, but these require being hooked up to a gas line. This is not something every garage can offer.
Whether gas and propane are better methods in terms of being economical is up for debate, but the truth is they carry bigger risks including carbon monoxide emissions. Many gas and propane heaters would even require changes being made to your garage’s ventilation. Looking to avoid this hassle? Electric is probably the best choice for you.
How Much Power Do You Need?
Hearing about the wattage or even the “BTUs” doesn’t actually mean anything to most of us. It doesn’t make it easy to envisage how much heat is being given off, and whether there is enough power in a heater for our needs.
Our rough guide to the power required is based on the room size and wattage. There are some exceptions depending on how economically the heater works, but generally this is a handy starting point.
- 1,000-2,500 Watts. Unless a heater with this wattage has some extremely efficient methods of heating, it will probably only be suitable for small garages. Anything up to and around 150 Sq feet should be fine with this level of power.
- 2,500-4,000 Watts. These are for medium to large garages. Many of the products with this level of wattage do a great job even if you have a lot of space to fill.
- 4,000 Watts and above. These are powerful heaters. Anything over 4,000W is probably giving off a lot of heat and is suitable for huge spaces such as workshops and even warehouses. They can be used for large garages and will do a perfectly fine job, but if you have a small space it might be more than you need.
Before Buying a Garage Heater
There are some steps which you should take before purchasing a garage heater to ensure you don’t waste your money. You need to make sure your heater will work in your garage and provide adequate heat.
Insulation is key. A poorly insulated garage in a cold environment will mean your heater isn’t doing much good even when cranked up to the max. To get the most efficiency out of your electric garage heater, you should check the insulation of the room and it may even be the case that you need to get some work done on this first.
Checking your power compatibility is also vital for electric garage heaters. Do you have the right power supply? Normal household power outlets are often 110W or 120W, and garage heaters will usually require 240W of power. If you plug into an outlet which doesn’t have enough power, you can overload it and cause all sorts of electrical problems.
Portable Heaters: A Waste of Time?
When looking for electric garage heaters, you may well come across portable models. While they do have their place in the market, it is very hard to recommend them as being the ‘best’ as some of the features and a lot of the power is lost.
If you need to move your heater from room to room, for example numerous outdoor spaces such as a workshop and a garage, then portable might be worth considering. Generally, they do not have the same capabilities as mounted electric heaters. This is the reason none of the models of portable heater make our list.
Getting The Most Out Of Your Electric Garage Heater
Are you still not confident you know exactly what you’re doing with your garage heater? There are some simple tips you can follow to make sure you get the most out of your heater and don’t make any basic mistakes.
- Depending on your model, you may be able to use thermostat features to regulate temperature or even ensure the heating kicks in when a certain temperature is reached. This is a great way to keep a steady temperature.
- Making sure your garage has decent insulation will mean you aren’t wasting the heating power of your heater. Many people overlook doorways and concrete floors which can be counteracting any heat you add to the room.
- Most electric heaters are directional and allow you to point the heat towards a certain area of your garage. Think of it like a fan or air conditioning on a hot day. You’d much rather be in the direction of the air to ensure you are getting the most effect. If there’s an area of the garage which doesn’t see much use, there’s no need to heat it as strongly.
Conclusion
While there are definitely some sub-standard electric heaters out there, we’ve picked out only the best in this article. While all of the models reviewed have their merits, the Fahrenheat FUH54 is our number one recommendation.
The fact that the FUH54 can heat such huge spaces, is so durable and has a larger range of temperatures than most of the other best electric garage heaters. This means that it is suitable for virtually any garage space and can handle larger surface areas. Extra features such as the thermostat and the easy mounting make it simple to use, too.
Though you may be able to utilize a smaller model for smaller garage spaces, if you are looking for the very best, the FUH54 by Fahrenheat is well worth considering.
Images Credits: cadetheat.com
