When you are searching for the best infrared garage heater the search results can be overwhelming. There are numerous types of garage heaters out there, and you’ll quickly be faced with some choices. In this article we’ll go over some of the ways you can identify what’s important to you to better choose the garage heater that will fit into your needs best. Additionally we will review some of the heaters available and give you some recommendations.
How To Find The Best Infrared Garage Heater
First, when choosing a garage heater you need to determine if a space heater will suffice, or whether a hardwired heater is best. In many cases a hardwired heater which will heat the whole workspace is best. However, maybe you plan on changing the oil every now and again and that’s it. Or perhaps you don’t want to spend the money hiring an electrician. A good infrared space heater might be the best for you. We review these in our electric patio heater guide.
Best Electric Infrared Garage Heater: Briza
- DUAL USE – Comes with hardware for mounting on walls or ceilings. Also comes with an adjustable tripod stand.
- CONTROL WITH EASE – With the remote, power your heater on and off, adjust the timer and heat levels from anywhere on your patio or in the room.
- SAFETY FEATURES -The Briza has a built-in sensor that will automatically shut off the unit if tipped over, significantly reducing the possibility of a…
Though portable heaters like the Briza cost more and have a lower BTU output than many of the whole garage heating units, they are mobile. You can use it to heat the area you are working in the garage. Afterward, you can carry the heater outside to your patio and have a cup of coffee in the cold weather. With the best infrared garage heaters, they’ll be fixed to the ceiling.
Best Hardwired Infrared Garage Heaters
With hardwired garage heaters, you bring an electrician into the equation early on in the process. You want to be sure you have enough space in your electrical panel to warrant adding a hardwired infrared heater. Though infrared heaters are more efficient than the old electrical resistance space heaters of yesterday, they do take some serious power to operate. The advice and workmanship of a licensed electrician is paramount to a safe and successful installation.
Best Infrared Garage Heater: Dr. Heater DR996
The best infrared garage heater we have found is the Dr. Heater DR966 240 Volt Hardwired. Assuming you have no more than a garage bay or two to heat, and your garage door can be kept closed, this heater will get the job done for most of us. One of the major reasons we like this heater is the two speed controls. You can run this heater on 3000 watts or 6000 watts with the push of a button.
- Heavy Duty 240V Single Phase 3000/6000W Commercial Electric Heater. In high power mode, the heater will operate at max power of 6000W and in low power…
- Hardwired; Power cord not included in the unit. Dimensions: Overall Height – Top to Bottom: -14.5″. Overall Width – Side to Side: -13″. Overall Depth…
- UL/CUL Listed Wall or Ceiling Mounted Heater; Bracket Included
For controls, this heater does not have a remote. It does have very simple controls however, with the push of a toggle you can move from low to high heat, and the temperature can be controlled by turning the knob. Very simple controls. If you want to install the heater in a place where you can’t easily reach it for controls, you can install this heater with a thermostat. You will need part number DR-001. Then, you can have your electrician install a wall mounted hard wired thermostat. You may want to have your electrician install a switch for you also. That way, you can easily cut power to the heater without needing to flip the breaker.
Highest Power Infrared Garage Heater: Comfort Zone CZ230ER
If you need more power to heat your garage, you may want to look to the Comfort Zone CZ230ER 7,500-Watt heater. This is a 240v hardwired ceiling mounted heater which can safely be relied on to heat your garage to temperature. This heater has a full function remote and also includes a timer. This means there’s only electrician costs related to wiring the heater itself initially, not in the installation of a thermostat. This also means that when your remote runs out of batteries, you have no heat until you replace them.
- ☀️OPTIMAL SPACE UTILIZATION: Maximize your available floor space with the space-saving design of this fan-forced heater. Specifically designed for…
- ☀️ROBUST STEEL BUILD: Constructed with high-quality heavy gauge steel, the body of this commercial heater is built to withstand the challenging…
- ☀️PRECISE AIRFLOW CONTROL: Experience targeted heating with the adjustable louvers and variable mounting angle of this heater. The louvers allow…
However, this is a great heater, and the added ability to control it without needing manual switching is definitely one of the ways this heater separates from their competitors. We like the ability to set the timer for your expected working time in the garage. This way you’re not forgetting about the heater and accidentally leaving it operating overnight for example.
Best Small Infrared Garage Heater: Beyond Breeze Heater
If you don’t have a huge area to heat, or you live in one of the southern states and only need to take the edge off your workspace, the Beyond Breeze 5000-Watt heater might be perfect for you. This is one of the smaller heaters we are reviewing on here output wise, but have included it for a couple of good reasons. Though it doesn’t pack the punch of the other heaters, it makes up for it with the ease of use, and efficiency.
- Hardwired Installation Required: This heater must be grounded and hard wired (10 AWG) to a properly sized current protection circuit breaker (30 A) in…
- Safe & Durable Structure: Our electric utility heater is made of heavy-duty steel material, which is very strong and durable to withstand extreme…
- Overheated Protection: Our garage heaters are equipped with built-in thermostats and fuses. Once overheated, the heater will automatically turn off….
There is a three speed control system with this heater. It is manually controlled, but assuming your installation is reachable by hand, this allows you to run the heater at 3000, 4000, or 5000 watts. This can overcome one of the most frustrating issues with garage heaters. You are deep in concentration, and getting your project moving along. However, you realize your shirt is sticking to your back. It’s winter, but you’re sweating. This is one of the drawbacks of having limited heater control. Often you want get out to the garage, flip on the heater full blast to knock the chill out of the air. Then, turn the heater down so you don’t overheat while you work.
Best Infrared Garage Heater Summary
Ultimately the best infrared garage heater for you may be any one of these. It’s entirely based on your needs and your environmental conditions. If you’re unsure which to buy, the plug in Briza is a great place to start. You can always move that to the patio if you find you want one of the permanent hard wired solutions reviewed above.
