| If you have converted your garage into a | | | | One of the most common choices these days is |
| workshop or home office, you are sure to need | | | | a gas heater. There are many different kinds of |
| heating of one form or another. This is because | | | | gas heater, but most run on butane or propane. |
| most garages are not built to the same standards | | | | Most of the models are fairly reasonably priced. |
| of insulation as the main domestic building. | | | | The main advantage of a gas heater is that they |
| However, that need not present a difficulty. You | | | | give consistent heat, are fairly cheap to run and |
| may even have the contrary problem during the | | | | are portable. Or at least many of them are. |
| summer, as garages often do not have windows, | | | | You could have one built in, but it is hardly worth |
| or at least large ones, either. | | | | it, unless you are using gas that needs to be |
| Ventilation could be another issue that you will | | | | vented. Propane gas heaters also come with or |
| have to cope with, but we will come to that later. | | | | without thermostatic controls. A propane heater |
| If you have a plentiful supply of dead wood, you | | | | could also double as a patio or deck heater on |
| could install a pot-bellied stove, but you will have | | | | cool evenings. |
| to vent the flue outside. This is very easily done, | | | | These gas heaters come in two forms: vented |
| since most garage walls are only one brick or | | | | and unvented. The unvented models are the |
| block thick. However, if they do not burn properly, | | | | portable ones. They use the air from the room |
| there can be a smell, which you may find | | | | and the vented models have a flue that vents |
| unpleasant. | | | | straight out of the garage. The slight disadvantage |
| Or you could use a paraffin/kerosene heater. | | | | of the unvented model is that you have to keep |
| They are cheap to buy and are readily portable. | | | | the room airy at all times. |
| These heaters do not necessarily have to have a | | | | Therefore, if you choose a portable, unvented |
| flue. They are easy to turn on as many of them | | | | propane heater, you must leave a window partly |
| have an electric starter. Some also have a | | | | open in order to allow the exchange of air and |
| thermostat to control the temperature. They can | | | | these heaters can be used as patio or deck |
| be a hazard if there are children around as they | | | | heaters during the spring and autumn/fall. |
| can be tipped over. However, for most people, | | | | However, the vented gas heaters are fixed and |
| the glitch would be the smell given off. | | | | have a flue attached, so they cannot be moved |
| You could use an electric hot air heater. They are | | | | outside. Furthermore, if you opt for a vented |
| quite cheap to buy, are easily portable and do not | | | | model, you would be better off getting a |
| require a flue, but they can create a very dry | | | | professional in to install it for you properly. |
| atmosphere and are expensive to run. | | | | |