An electric heater in your garage can add additional space to your home at a temperature you can use that space. To find the best electric garage heater, there are several points you’ll want to consider. Find out more about choosing an electric garage heater.
Portable or Mounted Garage Heater?
Portable electric garage heaters can be moved around the space to where you need the most heat. Most plug into a standard electrical outlet requiring little set-up. They do take up floor space and you are also working around the electric cord. They are best for small spaces or when you only work in a small area of your garage.
Wall or ceiling-mounted garage heaters can either be hardwired into the building’s electrical system or plugged into a regular outlet. When hardwired into the building’s electrical system, there is a higher heat output and you don’t have to worry about blowing a fuse while using your electric tools or other electrical items. These electric garage heaters work best for larger spaces or when you want a more permanent solution for heating your garage. They are also a good choice if you have pets or small children.
Size of Garage Heater
When figuring out what size of garage heater you need for your space, there are two main factors – the size of your garage and the output of the heater. A heater’s output is typically measured in wattage or BTU (British Thermal Unit)’s.
Start by calculating the square footage of your garage. Measure the length and width and multiply. For instance, if your garage is 24 feet x 24 feet = 576 square feet.
Generally speaking, you want 20-40 BTUs per square foot. Calculate higher if you live in a colder temperature area, you want to maintain a higher degree of warmth in the space, or your space is not well-insulated. For our example we take the calculated square footage and multiply it by 30 BTU’s: 576 x 30 = 23,040 BTU’s.
If calculating for the wattage, the most common calculation is to use 10 watts per square foot. For the 576 square foot garage, you would want at least 576 x 10 to get 5,760 watts minimum for the space.
The size of the garage heater you choose will make sure the temperature in the space is what you want it to be.
Features of Electric Garage Heaters
Look for certain features of electric garage heaters if they are important to you. Here are some of the main features you can find when looking for an electric garage heater.
Adjustable thermostat
A built-in adjustable thermostat will monitor the temperature of the garage space turning on when the temperature goes too low and turning off when it gets too high. This works well in colder climates when you keep vehicles in the garage as it doesn’t require constant manual adjustments.
Wifi- Enabled
These electric garage heaters will allow you to monitor and make changes using an app or a website.
Remote Control
Some electric heaters come with a remote control allowing you to control the heat settings using the remote.
Noise
Electric heaters are generally less-noisy than other types of heaters such as natural gas or propane. If noise is an issue for the space, look for a heater that has quiet operation as a feature.
Adjustable Louvers
Moving the louvers will allow you to better target where you want the heat to flow for forced air models.
Safety Features
Safety Certification
With ETL or UL certification you know the electric heater has achieved an industry-standard providing you with the reassurance of its safety.
Overheat Protection
These heaters will automatically shut off if the temperature exceeds the limit value as an added layer of protection.
High-heat Guard or Cool-touch
Specially designed heaters so that any external parts that you (or children) might come into contact with stay cool to the touch.
Electricians Available to Install Your Best Electric Garage Heater
If you’ve found the best electric garage heater for your space, our licensed electricians are available to hardwire your electric heater or electrical wiring for additional electrical outlets where you need them. Contact our team in Central or Eastern Iowa to find a journeyman electrician near you today. Call 319-313-3313 or book an experienced electrician online.
