Heated Garage: Gas vs Electric Heaters

Having a heated garage provides a comfortableto generate heat and a fan blower to push it into
environment in which to have a shop or hobbythe room. Radiant space heaters use electricity to
room. Since garages are usually uninsulated as wellheat either water or oil which then radiates into
as very drafty, during the winter months theythe area. They are rated in terms of heat
can get extremely frigid. Trying to do woodworkcapacity, usually in watts, but that can be
or anything else in an unheated garage becomesconverted to BTUs easily enough. When you
unpleasant very quickly. Thankfully, you do notpurchase a space heater, it will indicate the size of
need to spend the time and money fully insulatingthe space it is capable of heating.
the garage and piping your home's central heatingGas Heaters
system to it. By using a space heater of one kindGas heaters for a garage can either be propane
or another, you can heat the space effectivelypowered or natural gas powered. Kerosene and
only when you need to. It can be a very costdiesel heaters are available as well, although they
effective means of heating, too.are rarely used. Propane is a relatively inexpensive
How to Heat Your Garagefossil fuel that is stored in a tank and connected
Space heaters are made for various size areas.to the heating element. This type of gas heater is
The bigger the space, the more powerful theentirely portable, although the room must be
heater must be to heat it. The primary means ofventilated should there be a gas leak. Natural gas
supplying energy to a space heater are withheaters are the most efficient, with the highest
electricity, natural gas or propane. Diesel andenergy output in relation to the energy that is
kerosene heaters are available as well but not asspent powering the heater. Natural gas space
widely used. Essentially, you can use an electricheaters are basically mini furnaces. They are
heater or a gas heater. Before deciding which toequipped with an oxygen depleting sensor or ODS
purchase, compare them in terms of heatthat automatically shuts them off when too little
capacity, efficiency, installation, portability, fixedoxygen is detected in a room. Their biggest
and revolving costs. The two basic types ofdisadvantage is that they require a gas line, thus
space heater are convection and radiant heaters.they are not that portable.
Convection and Radiant HeatersElectric vs. Gas
Space heaters are either convection heaters orIn terms of portability, propane heaters are the
radiant heaters. Convection heaters work bybest, as they can be moved anywhere in a space
heating the air which then rise in a space andand taken with you when you travel. Heat
heats people and objects in the room. Radiantcapacity varies depending on the model. Given
heaters do not heat the air; rather, they heat theenough time to heat up, electric-powered, oil-filled
objects in the room. Radiant heaters are moreheaters are very efficient and can heat a space
efficient over shorter periods of time aseffectively. It depends upon the size of the
convection heaters take more time to heat aheater as to how much output it can produce.
room, some more than others.Natural gas heaters are more energy efficient
Electric Heatersthan electric heaters and cost less in terms of
Electric heaters are powered by 110v electricityenergy usage. Electric heaters will raise your
and should be plugged into a wall outlet directly aselectric bill more than gas heaters will raise your
opposed to using an extension cord. They can begas bill. Purchase prices of heaters are comparable
either radiant or convection heaters. Convectiondepending on the model you purchase.
heaters use a metal or ceramic heating element