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Electric Garage Heaters
Buyer’s Guide to Electric Garage Heaters
Having a heated garage during the colder winter months can have many benefits. Not only will it be more comfortable to work in, but it can help keep the overall cost of heating your home down. Also, a heated garage can keep humidity levels lower, help dry out your winter sports equipment, and keep your cars warm for easier cold morning start-ups.
Below you'll find an explanation of the different types of electric garage heaters. We also linked the best garage heaters to help you choose which one is best for you.
Types of Electric Garage Heaters
There are a few different types of electric garage heaters available at Industrial Fans Direct that offer different benefits. However, all electric heaters offer the benefit of ease of installation as there are no gas lines or venting requirements.
Great for spot heating in smaller areas. Great if you just want to heat near your workbench or interior door.
The most popular choice for garage heating. These units use a fan to force warm air through a heating element and can quickly and efficiently heat your garage when sized properly. They can be mounted from the ceiling or wall and come in many different configurations to fit your specific needs.
These work the same as electric forced air heaters but are mounted flush into a wall. They take up less space and are a good choice when you can’t fit a traditional forced air heater into your space.
Electric Ceiling Mounted Heaters
A great option if you are tight on space and your walls are all covered with shelving or other stuff.
Key Features to Look For
While researching an electric garage or work shop heater for your space, there are some specifications and key features that you should consider.
Heating Capacity & BTU
Electric heaters are sized based on their BTU output. The higher the BTU, the bigger the temperature differential they can overcome, and the larger the space they can heat.
Power Requirements
Electric heaters come in different power configurations. Smaller heaters typically use 1 phase, 115V power while larger units require 220V power. Also, their amperage draw increases as the BTU rating increases. Be sure to select the correct size of heater that your electrical panel and wiring will support.
Thermostats & Controls
You need to consider how you will control the heat settings once it’s installed. Many units have built-in thermostats so the heater will turn on and off once your space reaches the desired temperature. Some units also have remote controls so they are easy to manage if they are mounted out of reach.
Safety Features
Nearly all modern electric garage heaters have built-in safety features that help to prevent overheating. Internal fuses and automatic shut off nearly eliminate the risk of something going wrong.
How to Choose The Right Electric Garage Heater For You
Making sure you choose the right electric garage heater is easy if you keep in mind the following factors:
Garage Size
You need to size your electric heater to match the size of your garage.
Most heaters are rated in BTU’s, which is a measurement of the heat output coming from the heater element. Below is a general guide for residential garage and workshop applications, assuming an average amount of insulation and standard 8-9 foot ceilings.
Locate your Zone on the map below and use the table to determine the BTU per square foot suggestion to heat your space. Then, multiply the Btu suggestion by the total square footage of your space.
ZONE 1 & 2 (hot) 30-35 Btu / sq. ft.
ZONE 3 (warm) 35-40 Btu / sq. ft.
ZONE 4 (moderate) 45 Btu / sq. ft.
ZONE 5 (cool) 50 Btu / sq. ft.
ZONE 6 (cold) 55 Btu / sq. ft.
ZONE 7 (very cold) 60 Btu / sq. ft.
Installation Requirements
Once you find the BTU rating you need, you need to figure out what type of heater you need. Discussed above, your options include Electric Forced Air Heaters, Electric Radiant Heaters, Electric Wall Heaters, and Electric Ceiling Mounted Heaters.
Determine Your Power Requirements
Make sure that your electrical panel can support the voltage and amperage requirements of the heater you’ve selected.
Budget Considerations
Choose a heater that fits your budget, but be mindful of extra accessories that may be missing from the lower-cost units. These include thermostats, remote controls, and mounting brackets that if needed, may increase the overall cost.
FAQs
The most popular electric garage and workshop heaters at Industrial Fans Direct include King Electric Platinum Heaters, Modine Electric Unit Heaters, and TPI Fostoria Electric Heaters.
Electric garage heaters cost between $100 to over $5000 depending on their BTU output, brand, and inclusion of a thermostat or remote control.
The best electric heater for your garage or workshop is one that fits your BTU requirements, budget, and has the features you want. One of our favorite models is the King Electric KB Platinum Series that’s one of the most full-featured electric forced air unit heaters on the market. They’re available in many different sizes and BTU ratings to fit your space.
Depending on where you live, the ceiling height, and insulation, you would need between 17,000 BTU in a warm climate to 36,000 BTU in a cold climate. This is assuming a 8-9’ ceiling and average insulation.
While this question is up for debate, Industrial Fans Direct believes it’s best to slightly oversize your electric garage heater by about 20%. Being slightly larger than needed allows your heater to run with more energy efficiency and can help extend its life, as it will not be running at 100% capacity as much. Also, a larger unit can compensate better for the frequent opening and closing of doors or the unexpected cold snaps that are becoming increasingly more common.