Working outdoors in the winter is rarely fun and if your workshop is in your garage you will want a garage heater to vastly improve working conditions. The type of heater you select will be decided by the need, the size of the garage and your budget.

For occasional use, an electric space heater may provide the heat you need provided you can afford the short time it will take to heat the area before starting work. Many electric space heaters work well for small spaces and, while there are larger units, they may not offer the efficiency in a garage heater you are looking for.

A gas garage heater may work better for someone who spends a lot of time working in their garage. Whether natural gas or propane, a gas-fired garage heater will need to be properly vented to insure potentially toxic fumes are released outdoors. Additionally, it is recommended, and in some areas required, the gas and electric connections are completed by a licensed professional.

Overhead heaters, gas or electric, can be hung from the ceiling and provide an even distribution of forced warm air throughout the entire structure. A garage heater of this type is generally used in larger garages with substantial use.

Thermostats Control Inside Temperature

Many hard-wired garage heaters will also have a thermostat to control the temperature in the garage. This is especially useful if you plan to maintain a constant heat for preservation of a vehicle or other supplies. This type garage heater, which is generally more expensive, can be useful if you plan to use the garage on a regular basis.

Forced air garage heaters, that is those whose heat is dispersed by a fan or other mechanical means, offer a much better air flow than gravity heaters. Much like older-style wood burning stoves, count on the rising of the heat forcing cold air down closer to the heating unit to prompt circulation of the warm air.

Once such array for a garage heater could be a stove on one side of the garage, which is fitted with a cone-shaped collector, then to duct work through the garage with connected down flow pipes. Heated air from the stove rises into the collector, then is moved through the piping and throughout the garage. Creating a gravity forced source of heat beyond the immediate area of the stove. The stove itself, however would need to be properly vented and the open flame from a wood burning stove can be a potential fire hazard.

Vornado EH1-0028-06 DVH Digital Vortex Heater

Vornado EH1-0028-06 DVH Digital Vortex Heater Combat the agony of leaving a hot shower for the chilly household air with a blast of warmth from this heater. From industry leader, Vornado, the fan heater oscillates to spread heat through out the room in no time at all. Best used as an enhancement to a heating system, separate use of the fan heater also provides comfort in the fall and spring months during cool mornings and evenings. Small rooms, up to 12 by 12 feet in size, benefit most from the application of the quiet fan heater.

The electronic heater features a convex grill format to allow air to flow most ably. The fan's grill and cabinet stay cool as heat emits from the protected non-glowing heat element. With three power settings for varying needs, the fan heater runs low at 600 watts, medium at 900 watts, and high at 1500 watts. The fan can also run with no heat to circulate air in hotter weather. Equipped with automatic comfort control technology, users enter an ideal temperature and the heating appliance automatically adjusts the output to obtain and maintain this level. To ensure safety, the heater cuts power upon tipping over, or if the heater should overheat. For safe operation, read the manufacturer guidelines and instructions thoroughly prior to use. The USA-made heater is covered under a limited one-year warranty. This unit weighs 5 pounds upon shipping. –Jessica Reuling
Customer Review: Reliable Heater!
All in all this is a good heater! Easy to use (three buttons not counting the on/off). Heats quckly and has small openings on the front and sides so to keep out kids fingers and pets paws. Heats up my good sized room all around well. Not bright like other heaters so that you can't watch TV due to the brightness projected.

Keep in mind that it's an electric heater. It will not heat up your entire house nor a massive victorian ceiling room. Plus you must keep it on the floor (good hard surface). The cord is long, but I needed an extension. KEEP in mind you NEED to purchase a special contractor grade extension cord capable of taking 1200 volts (12.5) or else you risk fire (this is how many fires happen in the winter).

Know what you're buying. This is a good higher end heater. Follow the directions and you'll be fine and this heater will give you warmness on those cold nights.