10 Best Propane Heater For a Garage

Are you looking for a cure to your perennially freezing garage? Or an alternative heater to the one you are using today? Then you’ve come to the right place. The best propane heater is all you need to get your garage temperatures regulated effectively.

Propane heaters rely on propane gas as their fuel to generate heat. The fuel is stored in liquefied form in a separate tank from the heater in the case of bigger ones. The small heaters though come with an inbuilt tank.

Getting the right propane heater from the large pool available in the market today is not easy. Bearing this in mind, we came up with this simple guide that will help you shop for the best heater.

It will give you our top best products, expose you to various features and factors you should base your choice on. These will help you get not just the best propane heater but also one that serves you best as per your needs.

How to Heat a Garage with Propane Heater?

Depending on the size of your garage, choose the propane heater with the appropriate BTUs. For garages up to 1,000 square feet, a heater with 45,000 to 75,000 BTU ratings is okay. In larger garages you will have to choose a heater with 60,000 plus BTU.

The next step should be choosing a proper spot for your heater. You should make sure the position is flat and well aerated. Good aeration helps to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. So, this can be near the window or a ventilator.

Place the propane heater on the floor facing the garage hall. It should also be away from combustibles and flammables such as gas cans, cardboards, etc.

Connect the gas pipe to the propane tank. Fit in the input tube head into the propane tank nozzle and tighten it until you are sure it is safe and secure. You should move the nut clockwise to tighten it.

Plug the heater into the outlet and power on the blower fan. Allow it to run for about 20 to 30 seconds to remove any propane gas that could be trapped in the pipe.

Turn the propane gas cylinder valve anticlockwise to open it. You should be able to feel the pressure flowing from the tank to the gas line.

Ensure there are no leakages then press the ignition button to light the flame. You should read the unit manually to understand the powering procedure as it is different in different models. Some may require you to hold the ignition button for a specified time to start the healing process.

Top 10 Best Propane Heater For a Garage

1. Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX

The Mr. Heater F232000 is our pick for the best garage propane heater. This unit is one of the safest and convenient to use in your garage. Compactly build measuring 7.7 x 13.4 x 15 inches, Mr. Heater F232000 is the epitome of flexibility. It also comes with a carrying fold handle that you can hold as you move from one garage to another.

The 4,000 to 9,000 BTU ratings allow it to effectively warm one-car garages. Additionally, it has two crucial safety features – the tip/topple over cut-off and the low oxygen sensor. For ease of ignition, this heater uses a Piezo sparking mechanism.

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Pros

Its Compactness and the fold hold handle make it very portable.
It has crucial safety features such as accidental tip over and the oxygen depletion sensor.
It is affordable
Produces odorless gas and doesn’t have noise

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Cons

It has limited runtime.
Has comparatively low BTU
Can only warm a limited garage space.

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2. Mr. Heater F274800 MH18B

If you are looking for a portable garage propane heater with all simplicity, this might be your best bet. Mr. Heater F274800 MH18B has a power rating of up to 180,000 BTUs per hour. This is enough to warm up to a 450sq efficiently. Feet.

It has an auto-shutoff feature in case of tip-off it switches the heater off. Additionally, it comes with an oxygen depletion sensor that prevents carbon monoxide buildup in the room. For temperature regulation, your heater comes with three heat options; low, medium, and high heat that you can set using the control knob.

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Pros

The 180,000 BTU rating is enough to warm a single car garage efficiently.
Has a control knob for temperature regulations.
It is portable
Also, it has an auto shut off feature that puts off the heater in case of tip-over or oxygen depletion.

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Cons

Can go off when operating under altitudes above 7,000 ft.
Doesn’t come with the propane tank.

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3. Mr. Heater Corporation F299720

This is a ventless heater that uses the Blue flame burner technology. Mr. Heater Corporation F299720 is equipped with a thermostat for temperature regulation in the garage. To ensure that you can distribute the heat evenly, it relies on electronic ignition.

You can decide to mount your heater permanently on the wall or fasten it on the ceiling with brackets or fasteners. It is a convection heater; this means it uses the air currents to circulate warm air in the garage. It is one of the standard heaters that come with an oxygen depletion sensor to guarantee the safe heating of your garage.

Its BTU rate ranges up to 20,000, which can heat up to 500 sq. Feet. The optional fan you can automate is also available. If you want to set the temperatures at a certain level, this heater comes with thermostatic control.

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Pros

Uses a battery-powered ignition.
Gives you the option to mount it on the wall permanently or fasten it on the floor.
Has an adjustable thermostat
The high BTU range can warm large garages.
ODS safety feature is available to prevent dangerous oxygen levels.

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Cons

There is an additional operation cost of purchasing the A.A. for the ignition.
When operating above 4,500 ft, it can activate the ODS after a short time.

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4. Martin Direct Vent Propane Wall Heater Furnace

This direct vent heater comes with beautiful features such as an adjustable thermostat and exquisite finishing. It rated at 11,000 BTU enough to warm a small garage. This heater is made of cast aluminum with an easy to clean and durable grill.

It is one of the easiest heaters with a direct way to use. The outside gets a bit hot, so it may not be the best choice for those with children. However, you can use the thermostat to regulate the temperature settings as per your preference.

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Pros

It is unique with a beautiful and stylish ceramic glass front face.
You can use the thermostat to customize your garage climate using the thermostat.
It is made of heavy-duty materials hence very durable.
It is easy to mount or change to other vent heater models.

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Cons

Without the venting, it can get very complicated and costly to set it up.
It gets hot on the surface; therefore, for people with kids and pets, it is not suitable.

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5. Dura Heat TT-360 Propane (L.P.) 360 Degree Tank Top Heater

It is a small, lightweight propane garage heater for attaching to the top of the gas tank. You connect the clamp which comes with the heater to connect it to the rim. Unlike other more advanced propane garage heaters, this doesn’t have an electronic ignition. You will have to rely on a match stick or different types of naked flame to ignite it.

You can use this heater with different sizes of propane tanks. Despite its small size, you can have an average of 14hours of heating with a 20lb propane tank. In terms of heat, the heater can generate up to 40,000 BTU. This is enough to warm an approximately 1000 square feet garage.

It has a tip-over cut-off. If knocked down accidentally, the heater will go off automatically.

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Pros

It is easy to mount.
It offers a long duration of heating up to 14 hours from a 20lbs tank.
Provides an all-round heat.
Incorporates a cut off feature in case of toppling to prevent burning yourself or other combustible in the room.

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Cons

Its heat settings are only limited to three options.
It lacks an electronic ignition.

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6. Dyna-Glo LP Forced AIR Heater, 300,000 BTU’s, Grey/Black

It is a touch like a propane garage heater. It blows out very powerful streams of hot air that you can direct where you want. Besides warming your workbench, this heater can be used to thaw frozen water and ice from your car windscreen.

Amongst all propane heaters, this is the most powerful BTU going up to 125,000. That means you can heat larger garages of up to 3,100 square feet. It comes with all connector components and gas line. You don’t have to use naked flames such as match sticks as it has its ignition button.

Also, you have the option to change the heat settings on the sides in case you want it to adjust to your levels. Being light and portable, you can get just around with it to blow warm air wherever you want.

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Pros

It comes with electronic ignition.
You can adjust the heat settings as per your preferences.
Can be adjusted to warm an exact spot.
It has a very high heat output of up to 125,000 BTU.

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Cons

Burns the propane at a high rate leading to a lot of fuel consumption.
It is noisy when operating.

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7. Pro-Temp Propane Heater, Red/Black

It is yet another easy-to-focus propane heater. This heater boasts a high-power output of up to 125,000 BTU. With this power, you can comfortably heat your large garage even up to 3,125 square feet. If you are in search of a portable and convenient propane garage heater, this is your go-to device.

In terms of safety features, this ProTemp design is top brass. It has an auto shut-off feature to keep you safe in case of falling. Additionally, it can operate for whooping 22 hours with only a 100-pound propane tank. If you want to make heat adjustments, you can do this comfortably using the multiple heat settings. You don’t need naked sources of ignition as this heater has a continuous electronic ignition.

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Pros

Comes with a continuous ignition button.
Can heat a large garage of up to 3,125 sq. Feet.
It has a high-power rating of 125,000
You can continuously heat your garage for whooping 22hours with a 100-pound propane tank.

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Cons

It is expensive
It burns propane at a high rate.

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8. Mr. Heater F272700 40, 000 BTU Propane Garage Heater

The Mr. Heater MH40LP is a unique and feature-reach propane heater. It is one of the most popular propane garage heaters. It boasts 40,000 BTU power which can effectively heat 1000 garages. The infrared heating technology makes it so efficient in terms of heat delivery as it heats objects.

This heater operates smoothly and doesn’t produce noise. Its ability to function when mounted to the ceiling makes it unique. You can mount it up to 15 feet above the floor. Therefore, this is not the basement type.

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Pros

It uses infrared heating technology.
It is noiseless and odorless.
Its thermostat is also adjustable, therefore allowing heat regulation.
It also comes with a three-year warranty.
The 40,000 BTU power can heat up to 1,000 square feet garage.

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Cons

It is only limited to rooms with ceilings.
It is not portable.

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9. Modine HD45AS0111Natural Gas Hot Dawg Garage Heater

This is a product of Modine manufactures, a US-based company with a track record of quality products for years. This heater has heating power extending to 45,000 BTU. If you are faced with the winter blues and causing you discomfort, you can consider this Modine.

If you don’t fancy noise also, this unit offers a quieter environment. Its compact design also makes it occupy less space in your garage. The good thing about this heater is that it can operate with both natural gas and propane. So, you don’t have to struggle every time to order propane; you have an option.

Also, due to its color design, this heater can blend with almost every interior design. With its field wiring connections, installations and mounting are easy.

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Pros

It has quiet when operating
Its color design makes it easy to blend with different interior designs.
It is easy to mount due to several field wiring connections.
It is certified for use in the industrial garage; specifically, in the USA.
Ability to work with both propane and natural gas makes this heater unique.

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Cons

You must have professional assistance to install this heater.
Doesn’t come with mounting brackets.

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10. ProCom PCC80V Propane Convection Heater

The ProCom PCC80V is a powerful propane heater and on top of that portable. It is capable of generating up to 80,000 units of heat, which makes it able to heat up to a 2,000 square garage.

It also doesn’t choose propane cylinders. ProCom can work with any cylinders between 20-100lbs cylinders which you can refill. It doesn’t require electricity or naked flame to light as it has an ignition button. So, whether with electricity or not, you can use it comfortably.

In terms of efficiency, ProCom PCC80Vcan runs for 11 hours using only a 20lb propane gas cylinder. So, this is so suitable when you want to stay long in the garage working on something.

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Pros

Has a high level of power
It is portable so you can use it in different places.
Has got the ignition button, so you don’t need the power to start it.
You can use different sizes of cylinders.

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Cons

It has only two heating options to choose from.
Doesn’t have an inbuilt propane tank.

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Key Considerations Before Buying Propane Heater for a Garage

Size of your garage

Your garage size should directly affect your heater’s size. You should therefore have the size of your garage in mind when shopping for a heater. If you have a large garage in square feet, you should consider going for a propane heater with higher BTUs. Note that Small to medium-sized garage sizes should have similar heaters. This ensures that you don’t underutilize your heater or overuse it.

Types of Heater

There are three types of heaters Depending on where and how you want to use your heater; you can choose any. The following are the categories;

Radiant heaters – These heaters transmit heat through waves to the objects in the garage. In this case, there is no noise at all to contend with. Also, energy is preserved since only the objects receive and retain it. You, however, must be near the heater to feel its effects. One major drawback associated with radiant heaters is that they cannot heat large garages.
Convection heaters –Propane convection heaters operate under the convectional current principle. They heat the air around the heat source, and a fan blows it outside, which then warms the air inside the room. As the warm air leaves the heating chamber, the cold heavy air then replaces it. This continuous process ensures that the room is continuously kept warm.
Forced air heaters –these work like hair dryers with the difference being that instead of electricity, they use propane gas. They direct the warm air to a particular direction in the garage. So, all you need to do is place it in a strategic position facing where you want the warm air to go.

BTU rating

In simple terms, BTUs are the units used to measure heat. Based on the size of your garage, make sure you choose a heater with power that can comfortably warm your garage. The larger the room, the higher the BTU ratings should be. The heaters always display these values with their corresponding recommended coverage area.

Portability

You should consider your garage heater portability factor if you probably want to use it in different garages. Also, if you intend to have a flexible heater that you can change its positions as you wish, you may have to invest in a compact type. Otherwise, if you have only one station and don’t intend to keep changing positions, you can assume this factor.

Portable heaters are good in that you can use them indoors and outdoors depending on where you are working. Also, they are easy to manage. You may not even need floor space to place them as you can place them even on your working table.

Temperature control features

Any product with fire should have proper control features for safety purposes. Different propane garage heaters come with diverse temperature control settings. That said, you need to look for a unit with the best temperature control mechanisms. It will give you an easy time to operate and manage your garage climate as you keep yourself safe. These features may include fans, adjustable thermostats, etc.

Safety features

Survey the product’s safety features before purchasing it. These are very crucial as you don’t want to buy a heater that will endanger your life or even your property. Features such as oxygen depletion sensor, overheat protection, cool touch, and auto-shutoff are very crucial on your device.

Safety Features of a Propane Garage Heater

It’s not all about getting a top-notch propane heater; you need to consider basic safety features for your sake and the property. Below are some of the most crucial features you should watch out for in propane garage heaters;

High-temperature cut-off – This feature monitors your heater temperatures to keep them within safe levels. In case the sensor detects overheating, it cuts off the power to automatically switch the heater off. It protects you against burns or even your products from combusting due to excess heat.
Oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) – The combustion of propane gas produces carbon monoxide. Its level should remain very low in the garage to be safe. If they go too high, it can cause reduced oxygen levels which can lead to death. Having a heater with ODS keeps the carbon monoxide in check. If it senses oxygen fall below a certain percentage, it switches the heater off. This will eliminate the production of more monoxide gas.
Tip/Topple over cut off – Propane heaters have exposed naked flames. Now, there is a lot of danger to this. Should anything knock off the heater, it will burn whatever it falls on. Be it you, or your equipment in the garage. To eliminate such risk, the tip/topple feature is important. In case your heater accidentally falls, the cut-off will activate putting off the flame.
Heat control levels – Since weather patterns change frequently, it’s crucial to have a heater with multiple heat control settings. The basic heaters usually come with three heat levels: Low, medium, and high. Advanced models will offer you more settings that translate to more functionalities and control over your heater. It means you can set the temperatures as per your preferences through the control dial, knob, or buttons.

Advantages of Using a Propane Heater for a Garage

The cost of operating a propane heater is considerably lower than the electric ones. This is according to the U.S. Department f Energy. The department records that in the recent past, propane heating systems have cost far less than their electrical counterparts.
Propane heaters are warmer than the electrical heaters. The propane heaters heat air to temperatures between 130 ⁰F and 140⁰F with short intervals. Maintaining the less intervals helps to reduce the operation cost.
The propane heaters last longer. Compared to the electrical heaters, propane heaters can outlast the former by more than ten years.
Propane heaters are more reliable. Unlike the electrical heaters which entirely depend on the availability of electricity, propane heaters can function in out of grid regions.
The use of propane is an environmentally friendly method of heating. Propane is green energy and has been for the longest time. Therefore, by using propane heaters, you are participating in the green energy revolution initiative. It is also an approved fuel under both the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992.
The propane industry and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have formulated stringent safety codes that regulate the operations. Therefore, it is the safest method of heating your garage. On top of that, the propane has inbuilt mechanisms that prevent it from exploding unless under extreme conditions.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Propane?

Propane gas needs a certain percentage of oxygen for full combustion. With low levels of oxygen, propane heater will produce high amounts of carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas. If not addressed, oxygen depletion will occur and can cause death.
Compared to oils, propane generates fewer BTUs. Therefore, even though it is cheap and affordable, you may end up spending a lot to get the cosy climate you want in your garage.
Purchasing a propane tank is very expensive. The other option available is renting it from a company in which you’ll also pay for the monthly inspection.
Converting your propane heating system to others is challenging and expensive. This is because it is not a DIY endeavor. You must pay for a professional technician. Also, it’s not guaranteed that it’ll work.
The flammability nature of propane can be disastrous. A high build-up in the garage can lead to an explosion if in contact with an ignition source.

FAQ – Frequently Ask Questions

Are propane heaters safe for garage use?

Yes. Propane heaters are safe to use in garages. As long as you choose the right model with good safety features and observe the safety measures, you won’t have issues. For example, you should check for leaks, keep off inflammable things, etc.

Is it cheaper to heat with electricity or propane?

Yes. Basically, propane heating is cheaper than electrical heating. However, in terms of efficiency and convenience, electrical heaters may carry the day.

Is propane cheaper than natural gas?

No. Propane is more expensive than natural gas. However, in terms of efficiency and quality, the same quantity of propane produces twice the average heat of natural gas.

What size propane heater do I need for my garage?

To determine the size of your heater, you must be aware of your garage size. For single-car garages, which go up to 450 square feet, you need about 6800 to 9000BTU/hr. If you have a two-car garage which is normally between 450 to 750 square feet, you need approximately 12000 to 24000BTU/hr propane heater.

For rare instances of three-car garages, you’ll need a propane heater with ratings between 24000 to 31000 BTU per hour. As the size of the garage increases, the size of the heater also increases.

How many BTU does it take to heat a 2-car garage?

A two-car garage measures about 450 to 750sq. Feet. A propane heater with ratings between 12,000 to 24,000 BTU is enough.

What is a good temperature for a garage?

You can set your garage temperature range based on what you have stored in there. The general requires that you maintain them above the average dew point to avoid condensation. This means temperatures of about 45⁰F for inland and about 65⁰F for coastal regions.

Do you need ventilation when using a propane heater?

Yes. Ventilation is very important and actually a necessity when using a propane heater. It helps to get rid of carbon monoxide generated and allows in oxygen. Without proper ventilation, it can easily lead to oxygen depletion and subsequent gas poisoning.

Where should the heater be placed in the garage?

On a flat ground near the window or ventilation. It should also face the side that needs warming. Proximity to the window or ventilation helps to decongest the carbon monoxide and bring in more oxygen.

Recap

A cold garage can cause a lot of discomforts when working or even cause rusting on your equipment. You shouldn’t let the winter mess you up. The propane garage heater is all over, and the bulk now lies entirely with you to choose the best for you. We have highlighted the things you should consider and even gone ahead to suggest for you some of the top brands.

So, if you want to transform your garage with these units, you have what you need. Make sure you pick your heater that best suits your garage—the size, features, and also within your budget.