Can You Use A Patio Heater In A Garage

Be Safe With Your Propane Garage Heater

Just to round things off, I want to quickly touch on a few safety tips.

As weve covered above using a propane heater in an indoor garage is completely okay, provided youve got enough ventilation (either through an open garage door, windows, or an actual ventilation system.

When using the propane heater in your garage, its important to keep these other tips in mind:

Flaws But Not Dealbreakers

A mushroom-style heaters flame is contained within the burner at the top, and the mushroom hat serves to deflect the heat downward. Of course, heat rises, and in our testing weve noticed this can result in some uneven heating. Fortunately, this model generates 48,000 BTUs of heat, so youre still getting a lot of heat overall if youre practicing social distancing, everyone should be comfortable .

Unlike electric heaters, propane heaters are designed to heat the air around you, instead of heating you directly. That ambient warmth can last longer than infrared heat, but it also means youre competing against and mixing with the outside air.

Although propane is generally considered to be cleaner and more efficient than other fuels derived from petroleum or natural gas, there are still some environmental factors to consider. Weve dedicated a section of this guide to addressing these concerns.

Can You Put A Heater In The Garage

A restaurant patio receives sufficient wind meaning you can use any gas patio heaters to keep the occupants warm. However, car garages are more demanding to heat due to the enclosed design.

With the wide range of heaters, picking the best patio heater is tricky. Having that in mind, make sure that you carefully follow the safety precautions when dealing with garage heating systems.

Natural gas patio heaters are dangerous if they are inappropriately used. For instance, the gas valve may have a faulty gas valve orifice, which would cause an explosion.

When you are working, you are likely to inhale more frequently than when you are resting. Carbon dioxide levels may increase as a result of breathing. When the patio heater is on, carbon monoxide levels as well can rise to a fatal degree. Consequently, install detectors that will warn you when these levels get dangerously high.

Some electric patio heaters favor portability. The electric fan in these portable devices distributes warmth evenly in the desired location. Use a portable patio heater when working further from the mushroom heaters.

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Runner Up: Mr Heater Convection Heater

Another close second, because of the narrower base

Coming in at a close second is the Mr Heater convection heater.

These are very similar to the Dyna-Glo models, and are only in second place due to minor differences.

If you prefer the look and narrower size of these heaters, theyre still fantastic products.

These propane convection heaters have the same great features a 10ft hose and regulator included as standard, and auto shut-off safety features in the event of tipping over or loss of flame.

My one gripe with this model is that, while the base is still sturdy, its narrower than the Dyna-Glo model. This means that the heater is easier to knock over, versus the more stable wider base of our top recommendation above.

Sure Tips For Propane Heater Safety

The safe use of a natural gas garage heater requires strict adherence to safety standards.

First, you must ensure that the air heater you pick is the right size. Using a bigger device than necessary leads to wastage of power and money. In addition, you will overheat your space, turning it into an uncomfortable environment.

Second, make sure that the propane heaters you select have safety features. These features will help you avoid catastrophes.

Follow the instructions that come with the space heaters. Manufactures always instruct their customers on how to use the heaters in the market. For instance, if the manufacturers instructions are to use one heater in a ten square feet room, adhere to that. If you use two or more devices, you will incur unnecessary costs.

Another essential safety tip is placing the patio heaters in an appropriate space. Make sure the surface you place the gas patio heater on is non-combustible. Position the gas heater in a location that people are not using as a path.

It would be best if you kept the patio heaters away from flammable material. Also, avoid keeping it near a gas line that would explode if compromised by the combustion products.

Annual inspections of your garage are one of the solutions to fire-related incidents. So, make sure you ask relevant questions to the professionals who inspect your room. The answers they respond with should be taken into consideration whenever you heat your workstation.

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What Are The Different Types Of Patio Heaters

Most patio heaters use propane gas but there are some that use natural gas and others that are electric. The propane patio heaters are most common and they are portable because the propane tank is usually attached to the patio heater.

Natural gas patio heaters require professional installation and electric patio heaters must have an outlet nearby or be hardwired.

Types Of Patio Heaters

Ultimately, your ability to use a patio heater with a covered patio comes down to the type of patio heater that you plan to use. Some are fine to use with a covered patio while others are not. Dont just use any old patio heater.

Another thing to keep in mind is that patio heaters are not waterproof. So, if you live in an area that gets a fair amount of snow and sub-freezing temperatures, you may be best off keeping your patio heater in storage during those months.

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Type #: Convection Propane Heaters

Convection heaters are a great option for heating smaller-sized garages or workshops. They radiate heat in a 360° radius.

If youre able to place them in the center of your space they are fantastic at quickly heating up a room. Their variable temperature gauges also make it easy to control the heat. Something youll be thankful for once they really get going!

While they dont look as powerful, they range up to huge levels of heating power. Up to200,000 BTU.

Are Propane Heaters Safe

The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes.. as long as you use them correctly!

With combustible gas, there obviously comes a few dangers. Massive explosions, your home blowing up just kidding. The actual flammable element is incredibly well protected, and also extremely easy to detect.

The biggest danger with propane heaters is the Carbon Monoxide they produce.

This gas can build up so much that it pushes out the oxygen from the air youre breathing. A situation without oxygen is not one either of us would want to be in!

Propane itself has a very strong smell if somethings leaking, youll smell it immediately. Buuut, carbon monoxide doesnt. It doesnt smell of anything, and it doesnt taste of anything. Not so easy to detect.

If youre using a propane heater indoors, please do yourself a favor and pick up a carbon monoxide detector. Even though you only need a little bit of ventilation, these guys can really save the day.

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How Many Patio Heaters Do I Need

For a small home patio, one heater will generally be enough to heat the space to a reasonable degree. But if you have a larger space or a particular temperature you want to reach, youll need to do a little math.

To begin with, patio heater output is measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs. One BTU measures the energy required to heat or cool one pound of water by one degree at sea level. Youll likely see patio heaters with an output of BTUs in the thousands or ten-thousands.

First, well find out how many BTUs we need to heat a patio by multiplying the cubic footage of our patio by how many degrees we want to raise the temperature.

In Seattle, the average January temperature is around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. If we want to warm it up to a cozy 70 degrees, thats a 28-degree difference. Lets say our patio is a nice 32 feet by 50 feet, and we want to heat it up to about six feet in the air. Thats 9600 cubic feet, multiplied by a 28-degree rise in temperature, to total 268,800 BTUs require to heat our space.

Next, we take the number of BTUs required divided by the BTUs of a particular patio heater model to tell us how many heaters well need. If we take a popular patio heater like this one, which puts out 41,000 BTUs in a circle, wed need seven of them to fully heat our entire patio to 70 degrees.

What Are Btus And How Many Will I Need

Some quick maths required for best results

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit.

This isnt how much power it takes to brew a British cup of tea

A British Thermal Unit is:

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit

from howstuffworks.com

When a heater has a rating of 14,000 BTU that means it can heat 14,000 pounds of water by one degree Fahrenheit, per hour.

Find out how much we need for your space, by following the simple sums below:

To find the amount of BTUs you need, use the following:

1. Take the cubic feet of your space .

4. Multiply that by your cubic feet, and by 0.133 for Farehenheit or 0.2394 for Celsius

Worried about safety? Check out the Are Propane Heaters Safe? section after the reviews! .

Now without further ado, lets get on to the propane heaters.

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Garage Heaters And Patio Heaters

Two heater questions, I’m hoping can get answers one both in one post! We are 1.5 years into enjoying our new build and two things we want to follow up on are installing an infratech patio heater and also figuring out heat options for the garage.

For the patio we had the electrician wire for future placement of a heater and now it is time to bite the bullet and choose one. I really like the small slim scale of the infratech models. But I don’t know anyone who has had them for all that long who can attest to how good they are. The covered porch is 250 square feet with a seating area at one end and a table in the centre. There is a switch in the kitchen to turn it on/off but obviously nothing ordered or installed yet.

For our garage it is an attached garage we foolishly did not plan ahead to have heating in. I really want more consistent temperature control in there but I have no idea what our options are at this point. The space was insulated so it is warmed than just being outside but not by much! What options might we have?

Sengoku Keroheat Indoor/outdoor Portable Convection Kerosene Heater

Kerosene heaters have similar risks to propane-gas garage heaters — namely, they expel toxic fumes and require a ventilation solution. That said, if you can provide adequate ventilation, these heaters can be convenient and affordable alternatives to electric or natural gas garage heater units.

The Sengoku KeroHeat Portable Convection Kerosene Heater is a 23,500-BTU heater that can warm a room of up to 900 square feet. It’s freestanding, so there’s no installation required, and it’s battery operated, so it doesn’t need to be connected to a power cord and then a wall outlet. Simply fill it with kerosene, turn it on and it will be ready to generate 12 hours’ worth of heat.

This kerosene heater is also designed to be as easy and safe to use as possible. It has one-touch shutoff capabilities, as well as an automatic shutoff switch that activates if the workshop heater is knocked over. The Sengoku KeroHeat air heater offers a lot of convenience at a very reasonable price.

Do you want an electric, natural gas, propane or kerosene garage heater?

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Are Propane Heaters Safe For Other Indoor Places

Propane heaters serve a lot of purposes. They can provide heating to spaces where your New York homes HVAC system doesnt reach. Besides the garage, that can mean spaces like a sunporch, workshop or shed.

With an indoor propane heater, you can work on your car in the garage, do projects in a workshop, turn your back yard shed into a man-cave or a she-shed, or enjoy the view from your sunporch year-round. Indoor propane heaters are also ideal for todays trendy tiny homes. Propane indoor heaters heat a space faster and more efficiently with lower energy costs than an electric indoor heater.

You have a choice when it comes to propane indoor heaters for your New York home. There are portable indoor propane heaters, wall-mounted propane indoor heaters, forced air propane indoor heaters and radiant indoor propane heaters.

Should You Buy Or Rent A Patio Heater

Because patio heaters are so popular for outdoor events, there are lots of rental options available. However, rental isnt necessarily the best optionit depends on what youre looking for.

For example, say youre planning a backyard reception for your sons wedding in November so you can enjoy the crisp air and fallen leaves. You plan on having guests outside from about five PM into the wee hours of the morning, so youll likely need a full days rental. Rentals range from around $75 to $125, and BTU output varies as well, so you may need to rent more than one.

On the other hand, patio heaters start at around $70 and sell for up to $400, depending on size, BTU output, and design. Prices between buying or renting patio heaters arent that different if you do some shopping around, and youll have more freedom to choose if you purchase rather than rent.

However, if you dont plan on using your patio heater more than once, renting may be a better option. Weigh the cost of the rental or new heater against factors like convenience, BTU output, design, and so on to figure out which option is best for you.

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Where Should Heater Be Placed In Garage

You should place it in a corner, or against a wall. This will help you get more heat out of your heater. You should also keep it at least three feet away from any flammable objects. That way, if it does start to overheat, the flames wont spread to anything else in the garage.

Its also a good idea to put it on a table or on the floor. That way, if any of the heat does get close to the ground, it will be absorbed rather than reflected back up at you. This is why infrared heaters are good for garagesthey dont produce any kind of harmful radiation.

Combustion And Carbon Monoxide

All gas appliances, domestic and industrial, produce water vapour, Carbon Dioxide and heat, and usually very small amounts of Carbon Monoxide.

If installed and maintained correctly, the operation of the gas appliance provides quick and efficient heating, cooking, hot water and more, and the products of combustion do not create any hazardous situations.

If an appliance is not correctly installed and maintained or has been modified, the products of combustion might change, and become hazardous to the people around the appliance.

Something as simple as a ventilation change may cause a gas appliance to malfunction, and create a hazardous situation for the people around.

Sometimes it is obvious when a gas appliance malfunctions.

Sooty smoke, red or yellow flames or poor performance are indicators, but sometimes no indicators are obvious.

If Carbon Monoxide is produced and escapes the appliance into the surrounding air, it will not be obvious but will be very dangerous.

It is essential that gas appliances are correctly installed and serviced every two years, to maintain good combustion and safe, efficient operation.

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What Is The Most Efficient Way To Heat A Garage

If youre trying to heat your garage using an electric heater, then youre probably using an infrared heater. This is because infrared heaters are the most efficient electric heaters. They produce a lot of heat with a small amount of electricity.

How much will an infrared heater save you? That depends on your electricity plan and how much you use your garage.

If youre trying to figure out how much it costs to heat a garage, then you should consider the following:

• How many watts does the heater use?
• How big is your garage?
• How often do you use your garage?
• What is the average temperature in your area during summer and winter?

You can also use an electric space heater if you dont want to invest in an infrared heater. However, they are less efficient, so you will probably need to use more of them to keep your garage warm than you would with an infrared heater.