How a Garage Heater Adds Usable Space to Your Home
When the sun is shining in West Michigan, we love the great outdoors, but as the temperature drops and daylight hours decrease, it’s time for projects and hobbies to move inside. For many of us, that means spending more time in our garages. Most often, we use them as workshops or work-out spaces, but they can become man caves, home offices and even TV rooms in a pinch. The key to making the area usable when the thermometers dip is a safe garage heater.
Depending on your budget and how you want to use your space, there are a variety of garage heaters to choose from. They range from radiant heaters appropriate for heating a small spot such as a workbench or desk area to hard-wired, ceiling-mounted, industrial heaters that can be set up with thermostats to keep the entire space warm and toasty.
When choosing a garage heater, it is essential to consider safety. Before purchasing, ask yourself these questions:
Will the Garage Heater Require Installation?
Portable heaters generally will not, but they also do not heat spaces as thoroughly.
Will the Garage Heater Require Ventilation?
Wood burners and kerosene or propane heaters will release gases as a byproduct of the burning and therefore must be adequately vented to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaving the garage door open is NOT considered proper ventilation.
Do You Have Appropriate Outlets?
Electric units, which are the most commonly used garage heaters, should be plugged into properly grounded outlets. The instructions for most portable electric heaters caution against using extension cords of any type.
Additional garage heater safety measures include:
- Positioning the heater on a stable surface
- Supervising children and teens when they are around the heater
- Storing all flammable liquids, oils, paints, and solvents as far away from the heater as possible
- Keeping the area around the heater free from flammable objects and debris
- Never placing wet clothing, boots, shoes or other items over the heater to dry
- Turning off and unplugging the heater when you leave the garage
Heating your garage can add usable space to your home this winter. Purchasing a safe and appropriate garage heater is the first step.Sunrise Heating and Plumbing are here to help.