How to Heat a Garage Without Electricity – Top 3 Ways

Don’t want to add more electricity consumption to your bills? No problem.

You can warm your garage with a heater that doesn’t need electricity.

You can continue working on your projects during winter without the high utility costs.

So, let’s have a look at the different types of garage heater you could install to get yours warm with NO electric supply needed!

Garage heaters:

Propane:​

Propane heaters consist of certain parts which produce heat when they work together:

• The fuel powers the propane heater. It can use gas or LPG
• The igniter develops electrical potential when pressure is applied to the housing. This action generates a spark which ignites the fuel
• The heating element commonly made from porcelain spreads the flame out in a pattern to distribute the fuel’s heat
• The pilot is a small flame that uses little fuel. The purpose is to burn continuously to keep the heater on rather than you having to light the igniter again

Natural gas:

Natural gas heaters employ a radiant heating method. It uses a combination of gas and air. A thermostat is attached to the heater. When it detects the temperature is at a certain level it opens the gas valve and lets it enter the heater.

The gas enters the furnace through the duct intake. The gas and the cold air meet to produce a flame. Air that enters the heater moves over hot tubes that heat the air.

The hot air passes through the heat exchanged and moves through the vent. Once the hot air moved through the vent it enters the garage for heating.

Portable:

Instead of mounting the propane or natural gas heater in your garage, you can make use of a portable heater. Non-electrical versions are available which give you greater flexibility.

You can move the heater around your garage for you to warm up certain areas only. Portable heaters are just as effective those that are mounted. This type has a large heating coverage.

Portable heaters can be compact making it easier for you to carry them around or in and out of your garage.

Things to know:

Square meters:

The size of your garage affects the heater you must get. Look at the heater’s thermal output which is measured in BTU/hr. The higher the BTUs the greater the heating coverage.

Propane heaters:

The average BTU rating for propane heaters are:

• 5,000 BTU heats up a small garage
• 10,000 BTU heats up a medium-size garage
• 17,000-18,000 BTU is ideal for large garages

Natural gas heaters:

Determining which heater to buy depends on two factors:

• The size and weather

• Very cold areas: 1kW output for every 8.5m2
• Cool to mild zones: 1kW for every 13-16m2
• How the garage is built: Higher ceilings require more power to effectively heat up the garage

Portable heaters:

Portable heaters generally have the same coverage as the type they replicate.

Safety:

Follow these safety tips with regards to propane and natural gas heaters.

• If you suspect a leak, switch off the gas supply at the source when it’s safe to do so. Don’t use lighters, cellphones or anything else that can produce a spark
• For portable heaters, don’t place them in high-traffic areas. Keep them away from animals and children
• Don’t place the heater near items that are easily flammable when they get hot
• Purchase a heater that is suited for indoor purposes
• Switch off the heater as soon as you’re done using it
• These heaters make use of open flames. Keep flammable liquids or sprays away from them
• Don’t leave your heater unattended
• Don’t move the heater while it’s on. Switch it off and wait for it to cool down. Then it’s safe to move it

Look for these safety features found on most heaters:

• Tip over switch: This switch automatically turns the heater off when it’s tipped over or if there is an operational failure
• Thermostats: A built in thermostat will switch the heater off if it identifies the oxygen is below a certain level
• Cool-touch body: If you accidentally touch the heater it won’t burn you.

Preferences:

Choose a heater based on your preferences. Make a final decision based on the pros and cons of each non-electrical type.

Propane heater:

Pros

• It’s cost effective
• It’s a safe energy source
• It’s environmentally friendly
• They heat up large areas

Cons

• ​Acquiring the fuel is hard as it’s not always available in stores
• Gas propane heaters don’t work well in freezing temperatures. The cold can cause the gas to shrink in volume
• Propane heaters are very flammable. Damaged tanks can pose a fire risk

Natural gas heaters:

Pros

• ​Natural gas is cheaper to use compared to fossil fuel
• The by-products are in gaseous form which doesn’t pollute the ground or water
• Burning natural gas produces less carbon dioxide in the environment
• These heaters can be connected to your home’s natural gas line

Cons

• ​Natural gas heaters are highly combustible
• It’s odorless and leaks can’t be detected easily
• It uses a non-renewable energy source
• Natural gases can emit some greenhouse gasses

Portable heater:

Pros

• It’s easy to move around for you to target only certain areas that need heating
• It heats up a single space instead of the whole area
• It’s affordable and you save on mounting costs too
• Non-electrical versions won’t have cords that usually get in the way

Cons

• It takes up more room
• The heating can be inconsistent
• There is a greater risk of someone burning themself on it especially if it doesn’t have the cool-touch feature
• There is a risk it can get tipped over

Conclusion:

Non electrical garage heaters are clearly beneficial to have. Whether they’re mounted or portable, they’re effective in heating your garage. You can continuously work in your garage throughout the winter without raising your electrical bill. Install them so you can enjoy comfortable winter months from now on.

Recommended reading: The cheapest way to heat a garage