When the weather is chilly, you know how difficult it can be to work in an uninsulated garage. Unfortunately, a standard heater just doesn’t cut it. As cold air blows in from the outside, all the heat can quickly disappear. Potent, efficient, and specially designed for use in uninsulated interiors, the heaters mentioned in our guide will do an effective job keeping your uninsulated garage warm even in the chilliest weather conditions. Here are our picks of the best heaters for an uninsulated garage.
Our Top Pick: Costway Quartz Heater
Infrared heaters are ideal for uninsulated rooms as they warm the objects directly, rather than making use of heat induction to do so. This means that even as cold air enters the room, the heater will keep warming you and the objects in your garage. Reliable, affordable, and lightweight; this radiant tower heater from Costway’s is one of the best available infrared heaters currently on the market.
As characteristic of infrared heaters, this tower runs quietly; and being far more efficient compared to its more traditional rivals, saves you a lot in terms of utility costs. Its two built-in safety features are also worth a mention. It automatically switches off when tipped over or overheated. Furthermore, since it runs odorless, emits no smoke or chemicals, it is highly safe for use indoors and doesn’t pose a health hazard.
Of course, the biggest downside of this heater is that it is not as powerful as conventional heaters. It boasts a heat range of just 5000 BTU. This means that if you have a large garage, don’t expect it to warm it up entirely. Instead, it is best to use it for heating portions of the room.
Pros
- Quick radiant heating
- Highly safe
- Quiet
- Efficient
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not as powerful
Runner-Up: Dr. Infrared Heater DR-988
If you don’t mind paying a little extra and are willing to go through the extra hassle of getting it installed, this industrial infrared heater can be a worthy investment. With a heating spread of 600 sq. feet, this heater is perfect for those with a large garage who prefer a cleaner, odorless heating source. Despite packing a powerful punch as far as heating goes, the design itself is quite compact and portable, making it easy to store and transport.
The biggest downside is that this heater was not made with residential use in mind. It requires a 220 V power outlet, and you may require the aid of a professional electrician to install it properly. Furthermore, this mighty little heater uses up a lot of electricity, so do expect a spike in your utility bills if you are using it extensively. However, compared to conventional options of the same heat range, this heater is actually quite cost-effective as far as performance goes.
Pros
- Powerful heating
- Highly durable
- Compact, portable design
- Efficient
Cons
- Difficult to install
- Energy heavy
Best Propane Heater: Mr. Heater MH60QFAV
If you are after a more traditional option, this portable forced air heater is a recommended choice. With a BTU output of 30,000-60,000 and a heat spread of 1.500 sq. feet, this is a very potent heater. The heat it gives off is continuous and even. For safety, it comes installed with high limit switches and thermoelectric safety valves. It also features a 10 feet hose and a regulator to allow concern-free connection to a fuel source.
The heater is also quite efficient and burns cleanly, giving off little smoke. When connected to a standard 20 lb propane tank, it can continuously run for up to 14 hours. As far as propane heaters are concerned, it is also 50% quieter. Like other heating products from the brand, the construction quality of this propane heater is also top-notch. You can expect it to withstand a lot of wear and tear before showing signs of breakage.
As for any drawbacks, the oblivious you will notice is that there is no on/off switch. To use the heater, you will have to turn on the gas and light it up manually. Another is the incredibly short power cord, which may limit options on where you can place inside your garage. Lack of a thermostat is also a major shortcoming.
Pros
- Powerful heating
- Relatively quiet
- Long run hours
- Good safety features
- Durable
Cons
- No on/off switch
- Short plug
- No thermostat
Best Oil-Heater: Pelonis Radiator Heater
Oil-based heaters usually are not the best choice for use in uninsulated areas. However, the one from Pelonis is a definite exception. This oil heater heats by the surrounding through radiating heat rather than air induction. However, it is its long list of great features that make it remarkable. It features three power options (900w, 1500w, eco-mode) and five temperature settings (65F, 70F, 75F, 80F, and 85F), which can be adjusted remotely.
For added safety, this heater comes with overheat and tip-over auto-shutdown. While running, the heater is also surprisingly quiet, and since the oil is burned in a self-contained unit, it gives off smokeless, odorless heat. For greater portability, the heater features 4 360 rotatable swivel wheels to aid in movement.
However, at just 5,200 BTU, this isn’t a very powerful heater. Thus, rather than for the whole garage, it will be best employed for heating a section of the area.
Pros
- Multiple settings
- Portable and lightweight
- Good safety features
- Quiet
Cons
- Not very powerful
Best Heavy-Duty Heater: DeWalt Forced Air Propane Heaters
For those living in particularly frigid conditions and in need of a solid, effective option to get their large garages heated quickly, DeWalt has the perfect solution for their potent line of propane heaters, ranging from 25K BTU to an astonishing 210K BTU. With a jet engine like design, these heaters can churn out enough heat to beat the chill of an Alaska winter.
True to the brand’s reputation, the built quality is exceptional – you can expect these to function effortlessly in harsh conditions and last a good number of years. The heaters are also relatively quiet, giving you the peace to comfortably work in your garage. While the heaters are fairly weighty, the ergonomically designed handle makes them easy to carry around.
As for drawbacks, a lack of a thermostat means that it can be hard to regulate the temperature to ideal levels. Second is that since it directs heat in a particular direction, it may not quickly warm up the entire enclosed place, especially if it is well-ventilated.
Pros
- Very powerful heating
- Durable built
- Good safety features
- Relatively quiet
Cons
- No thermostat
- Heavy
- Slow to heat an entire enclosed area
Our Final Thoughts
When choosing the best heater for an uninsulated garage, consider two crucial factors to help you decide which one may be the best fit for you. These factors are ventilation and heating space. If your garage is well-ventilated and you require a large area to be heated up, then propane heaters would be a better choice. However, in case of poor air-circulation or for heating small sections of the garage, infrared heaters would be ideal.
