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Even though you wouldn’t know it by some American families, the garage can actually be used to store vehicles.
Strange thought, but it’s true. Carriages sans horse are stored indoors to keep them out of the elements, help them last longer, and to keep them more comfortable for their drivers and occupants (cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter). Storing cars is by far not the only use for our garages…
If you’re anything like us, your garage gets a workout in one way or another. Some are sports storage and organizations areas for REALLY active kids on the go. Some are landing zones for building an oversized construction plastic brick airplane that Dad’s working on with his son. Some have become the icy terrain of a rebel planet in a battle between good and evil.
Of course, some considerable time and expense is invested in keeping those horseless carriages running and in tip-top shape, requiring their owners to log significant hours on the garage. And some are organized Grandfatherly workshops where the next great carpenter battles the forces of aging on the family home… but all are beloved spaces brimming with possibilities.
Spending time in your garage is frequently done in little spurts (get what you need and get out), but that’s only because the climate in the garage is less than hospitable. We’d love to spend a little more time out there, but when the weather is cold as ice the odds are we’re staying indoors.
Wait a minute… can we use a patio heater (highly efficient in warming people on chilly evenings) to keep us warm in the garage?
Luckily, here at the offices of Patio Heat and Shade we have only to wander around a corner and round up some of the best and most knowledgeable people in the patio comfort world… and we did! We gathered our experts to ask this very question and came away with some very concrete answers that we’re sharing with you here.
Probably… if you are safe about it. Electric patio heaters are almost always safe in a garage (making sure you maintain clearances per the manufacturer’s specifications).
Natural gas heaters require ventilation to clear out the gases from their systems, are only safe to use in a garage with the garage doors open for maximum airflow (again, making sure that there is sufficient clearance per the manufacturer’s instructions). Propane heaters of any kind are not safe to use in a garage.
Make sure that your patio heater is UL certified and has some safety features that are almost requirements in a garage (like tip over protection). Open your overhead garage doors to use a natural gas heater (that is non-vented). To use your garage with doors fully closed, turn to an electric patio heater as your go-to choice.
Remember that garages are active spaces, with kids and pets coming in-and-out. If possible, mount your patio heaters to your garage wall or ceiling (following manufacturer’s specs) to keep it out of the normal “accidental” pathways of the kids and pets.
Outdoor propane heaters (aka patio heaters) assume that they are going to be used outdoors with plenty of fresh air to remove any noxious gases. We’ve seen some patio “experts” say that they are safe to use in a garage you leave the doors open, but we disagree.
The risk of 1) a potential deadly gas buildup (remember, carbon monoxide is odorless so you wouldn’t know you were being affected) and 2) propane tank explosion in your house is not worth the potential benefits. We highly recommend NOT USING propane heaters in your garage, as they are not safe.
Before moving forward with considering whether or not your natural gas patio heater can be used in your garage, there are two basic questions:
If using a non-vented gas heater, certainly leave the garage door OPEN (as many as you have) for maximum airflow. We additionally heavily recommend a carbon monoxide detector (at least one) to guard against potentially lethal gas leaks.
Natural gas patio heaters create less potential fumes… but we STRONGLY encourage you to purchase a vented gas heater for your garage… Fantastic heat output in a tiny package, that will operate safely for your family for many years.
When choosing a patio heater for your garage, be sure it’s either electric or natural gas (vented, if possible, but garage doors open when in use if not). Some tips to remember:
In order, here are our suggestions for the best patio heaters to use in your garage:
Notice that propane heaters, whether mounted or portable, do not make the list… that’s because our experts recommend that you never use a propane heater in your garage.
Finally, we have to strongly suggest your using an electric patio heater to heat your garage. Electric patio heaters don’t have fumes to concern yourself with… just follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and keep combustibles away from the heater, and you’re good to go even with the garage doors closed.
So, as we see, with a little effort to make sure that everything is safe you can use your electric or natural gas patio heater in your garage to keep those semi-outdoor projects running in the cooler parts of the year. Check out the fantastic heater options you have available and remember that our outdoor patio comfort specialists are ready to give you a hand – just give us a call, we promise to treat you like family.