The crawl space makes the circulation of air through the house easier. It also makes the installation, maintenance, or repair of plumbing or electrical works less stressful.
However, the crawl space, just like your rooms, gets cold during winters. This could potentially lead to freezing pipes, among other things.
Therefore, it is essential to maintain a decent temperature in the crawl space during winter. One of the best ways to do that is by installing a heater.
Getting an ideal heater may be difficult and stressful because there are so many heaters to choose from, so we have curated a list that contains some of the best crawl space heaters.
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS
- Fahrenheat FBE15002 Portable Heater – (best crawl space heater with thermostat)
- Cadet Manufacturing White – (Budget-friendly heater for crawl space)
- Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater – (Best Versatile space heater for crawl space)
- Dimplex DGWH4031G – (Best durable crawl space heating unit)
- Dr. Heater DR966 – (Low maintenance crawlspace floor heater)
As earlier mentioned, there are so many popular brands with different great heater models. This often makes selecting a perfect heater challenging since many homeowners are faced with so many alternatives.
Thus, to speed things up and simplify the process for you, we have come up with a list of 5 great heaters for your crawl space. In rounding up on these 5 heaters, we considered the following factors:
- Safety
- Heating Capacity
- Energy Efficiency
- Level of maintenance required
- Durability
Below, we have highlighted the distinctive features of each while also drawing attention to their potential downsides.
Product Reviews
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Check out the top five best under-house heating crawl space heaters.
1. Fahrenheat FBE15002 Portable Heater – Most Energy-Efficient
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fahrenheat baseboard heat unit is designed for use in different parts of the living space, including those difficult-to-heat parts, such as your crawl space. Its optimal energy efficiency level is just one of the numerous features it has.
This 1500-watt heater is also suitable because it is made with steel material, contributing significantly to its durability.
Additionally, the manufacturers of this portable baseboard heater put many safety and stability measures into consideration.
For instance, this convection heat distribution unit comes with safe thermal cut-out protection. The heater also meets the UL safety standards, and this is an assurance of its safety level.
Furthermore, the heater comes with a thermostat, which multiple users have described as outstandingly accurate.
One last impressive feature of this baseboard heater is evenly distributing warmth to all parts of your crawl space.
For everyone looking for an energy-efficient crawl space heater that comes with decent heating system capacity, you have a winner in the Fahrenheat baseboard heater.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Energy-efficient unit
- Very easy to set up
- Accurate in-built thermostat
- The unit does not overheat
Cons
- Inadequate instruction manual
- Plastic quality is of average quality
2. Cadet Manufacturing White 05532 120-Volt Baseboard Hardwire Electric Zone Heater – Budget-friendly
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Cadet Baseboard Hardwire Electric Zone Heater is for every buyer looking for a budget-friendly yet standard heater for their crawl space. With this unit, your crawl space enjoys the warmth of quiet and very reliable heat.
With its practical design, which makes it suitable for long-term usage, you can now bid goodbye to frozen pipes.
This heater is also ETL listed to UL standards, ensuring its safety standards all year round.
It is also interesting to note that the heater is highly durable and can withstand scratches and nicks, thanks to its 25 gauge steel and powder-coated finishes.
Furthermore, the universal wiring available at both ends makes the installation of the unit very easy.
Additionally, to ensure that noise isn’t an issue, the manufacturer has added nylon bushings to this 750-watt heater for noise reduction.
Lastly, this heater has a high-temperature safety shut-off feature to prevent overheating.
The Cadet heater ranks as the cheapest product on this list, but be assured that the price tag doesn’t undermine its efficiency.
Pros
- Easy to install and comes with clear instructions
- Budget-friendly
- Made with quality material
- Tranquil operation
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- It does not come with a thermostat
- Not suitable for large crawl spaces
3. Fahrenheat FUH Electric Heater – Versatile Heater
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The baseboard heaters are not the only heater options suitable for use in the crawl space. A series of regular heaters that are crawl space-friendly exists, and the Fahrenheat FUH electric space heater is one such.
Made for use in areas often difficult to heat, especially during winter, this heater comes with an inbuilt single-pole thermostat.
It is adjustable from 45 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps keep the temperature in check. This also boosts its energy efficiency.
The heater also has a high-level cut out which automatically shuts off when necessary to prevent overheating. Besides, the heater is a great choice for crawl spaces because it was built with safety and structural tolerance in mind.
The 5000-Watt heater is designed to strike a fine balance between the circulation of cold air and excess heat at every point. This gives assurance of warmth in your crawl space at all times.
This heater’s price tag may be a bit of a downside as there are other cheaper and similarly effective heaters for use in the crawl space.
Pros
- It comes with an inbuilt single-pole thermostat.
- Compatible with different electrical heating system
- Suitable for large crawl spaces
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Has no power light
- Has no off/on the switch
- Sometimes takes a while to warm up space
4. Dimplex DGWH4031G – Durable
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Dimplex heater is a fan-forced heater built as a perfect fit for areas such as garages, basements, and even crawl space.
This heating system, built around the stainless steel heating element, is very durable and would readily serve your crawl space for several years down the line.
To ensure that it’s safe for use, it comes with the auto safety shut-off. Thus, there’s no need to be perpetually disturbed about a fire outbreak in your crawl space.
Further, it comes with a high-performance motor and a propeller-style fan heater, which combines to boost its efficiency.
The 4000-watt heater has an inbuilt thermostat control and fan delay, which provides residual heat should the main element shut off.
Dimplex is renowned for making some of the finest heating solutions to make your home comfortable without compromising its energy efficiency.
Thus, this easy-to-use, mid-range priced heater is a testament to the goodness of the Dimplex heating solutions.
Pros
- Highly durable
- Heavy gauge steel finishing to boost longevity and corrosion resistance
- Automatic overheat protection to boost safe operation
- Energy efficient
- Quick connection
- Suitable for large crawl spaces
Cons
- It makes a loud rattling sound when on full blast heat.
5. Dr. Heater DR966 – Low maintenance
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Dr. Heater DR966 heater is undoubtedly an excellent choice for anyone looking for a safe and comfortable heater in the crawl space, especially if you sometimes use the crawl space for storage purposes.
Designed with spiral steel metal sheath electric heating elements, low sheath temperatures provide uniform heat in your crawl space.
This heater has large fans to offer you maximum airflow while ensuring that there’s minimal turbulence. With a 6000-wattage, the heater comes with five adjustable louvers for direct airflow.
Also, it has UL and CUL safety certificates. All its features are fully enclosed and thermally protected.
The heater also has permanent lubrication, making it long-lasting, with only minimal maintenance required. In addition, with its adjustable built-thermostat, you can always select your preferred temperature level.
If you need a long-lasting and low-maintenance heater for your crawl space, look no further than the Dr. Heater DR966 Heater.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Makes minimal noise
- 1-year parts and labor warranty
- It is affordable
- Suitable for huge crawl spaces
Cons
- The fan isn’t so strong.
- Sometimes restarts itself if the temperature is turned high
- No input cord
Education: What You Need to Know Before Buying a Space Heater
There are different things to look out for when 
shopping for a crawl space heater. So whether many homeowners are going for convection or fan-forced heater, below are some crucial factors to consider:
-
Safety
“Safety first” is one of the foremost considerations when shopping for most home appliances, and the crawl space heater isn’t an exception.
The space heater has been reported as a common cause of house fires, especially during winter. Thus, before purchasing a space heater for your crawl space, you need to double-check its safety status.
Several space heaters come with automatic shut-off features.
In essence, the space heater automatically shuts off itself when it starts to overheat. This helps to reduce the possibility of a fire outbreak.
Besides, many of these heaters come with safety-conscious exterior cases targeted at keeping them cool to touch all the time.
Thus, be sure to look out for these features and inspect your crawl space as well before you order that space heater.
Also, several space heater models have been tested in different laboratories for safety. Usually, these models bear letters such as UL, CUL, NTRL, etc., to show that they meet some safety standards.
This serves as an additional form of assurance that the unit you are about to purchase has satisfied some safety requirements. Thus, it is best to get a model that has any of these safety certificates.
-
Heating Capacity/Size of Space
How big is your crawl space? Well, you need 
to know the size of your crawl space before choosing a space heater.
Determining the space’s size that the crawl space heater can seamlessly cover is usually done by considering the heater’s wattage rating.
A room crawl space heater consumes 10 watts of power for each square foot as a rule of thumb. However, this isn’t applicable for all models as the heating technology and type of space also determine this.
The good part is that many space heaters express the space size that they can adequately heat.
So, it would help if you were on the lookout for this to avoid getting a crawl space heater that cannot sufficiently heat your crawl space.
-
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency level of a space heater is one other factor you need to consider before purchasing a crawl space heater.
You do not want to trigger an avoidable increase in your electricity bill because you made the wrong choice. In addition, some models already have indications about their levels of energy efficiency.
Also, space heaters with features such as low wattages, adjustable thermometers, energy-saving mode, etc., are known to minimize energy consumption.
These are some of the features you need to pay attention to while choosing a space heater.
-
Low Maintenance Operation
Due to the nature of the crawl spaces, it is only logical to get a space heater that requires only a minimal level of maintenance.
Getting a space heater that requires daily routine or maintenance checks for your crawl space is not beneficial. Thus, opt for space heaters that would only require occasional and straightforward maintenance actions.
The Dr. Infrared heater reviewed in this article ranks high for this feature.
-
Durability
Flowing directly from the low-maintenance feature is the durability of the heater.
There’s no point getting an electrical space heater that needs to be changed quarterly or yearly when you can easily buy a durable one once and for all.
While durability sometimes depends on use, some models are generally known to be more durable than others.
More often than not, heaters made with high-grade stainless steel tick the box for durability.
How Can You Stop Your Pipes from Freezing in the Crawl Space?
Before installing your natural gas heater for basement, it’s bes
t to know what else you can do to prevent water pipe freezing in your crawl space.
The crawl space tends to get cold during the winter months, and if you want to stop your drain pipes from freezing, you can follow these tips.
Add some pipe insulation.
Insulation is the best way to prevent freezing pipes in the crawl space. Whether we’re talking about hot or cold water pipes, you have to make sure you use the right insulation to stop the freezing process.
You can do this by using snap-on foam insulation. Then, apply it to the frozen pipes in such a way that no gaps are formed.
As for the joints, use some duct tape to cover them. For the elbows, use some miter foam insulation to have full coverage of the pipe joints.
Related Post: How to Heat Up a Crawl Space
Open the cabinet doors.
If you have cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom, keeping the doors open will help heat rises enter the crawl space.
Opening the cabinet doors will help prevent freezing by circulating this air to the plumbing if you have warm air in your house.
When you are doing this, you should remove any cleaners or chemicals and place them somewhere else.
Close the garage door
Particularly if you have any water pipe in your garage, you should make sure that you keep the garage door closed. When doing so, you prevent cold air from getting inside the garage and potentially freezing the pipes.
Insulate the crawl space
Besides insulating any water pipe in the crawl space, you should also consider insulating the crawl space itself.
Most of the time, cold air will enter from the different gap through air leakage and decrease the temperature of the space, freezing the pipes over time.
Consider sealing any gaps with caulking or expanding foam insulation. You may also consider adding a dirt floor to prevent cold air from reaching from underneath.
If you have a dirt floor, it will constantly absorb and release moisture, changing the humidity levels as a result.
This happens even if there is a gravel top over the dirt floor. You can help seal out the moisture of the dirt floor with some polyethylene plastic sheets.
Let the laundry room faucet drip.
If there is any faucet in your laundry room, you should allow it to drip. It will prevent water buildup. If there is no faucet in the laundry room, you can also do this to turn on your washing machine and let it run in a warm setting.
You can also start the filling cycle several times for a few minutes so water from the pipes can run through them, stoping pipes from freezing.
Add some heating tape.
Apart from installing gas heaters for homes to warm up space, you can also add some heat tape over the frozen pipes.
A special type of heat tape comes with an inbuilt thermostat to keep the water pipes from freezing.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should pay attention to the heat tape instructions. They can easily catch fire, so take some measures to avoid that scenario.
Related post: Best Thermostat for steam boiler heaters
Drain garden hoses
If you have a garden hose, you should disconnect and drain it during the cold season.
Turn off the sprinkler system.
In case you own a sprinkler system, you should prepare it for the winter, as well. But, first, you should switch it off.
After that, make sure to blow in some condensed air through the irrigation lines. This will help remove the water so that it doesn’t freeze.
FAQs
Can you put a heater in a crawl space?
You can put a heater in a crawl space as long as you use the same type of heating for the rest of the house. Your electrical service capacity will be a factor that determines whether you can do it or not.
How do I keep my crawl space warm in the winter?
It is possible to warm up the crawl space during winter through insulation. You can use a rigid foam board or some homemade spray foam insulation. Apply it on the underside of the cold floor.
This will help keep the crawl space and the rooms above it warm.
Does a heated crawl space need to be vented?
Crawl spaces need to be ventilated to keep the space dry. Without ventilation, you risk dealing with moisture buildup over time. This will lead to mold, mildew, and even wood rot.
How can you prevent energy loss in the crawl space during winter?
Insulation is the best way to stop the heat loss from the crawl space. Consider insulating and sealing the ducts, as well as insulating the crawl space access door.
On top of that, the exterior walls should be insulated, too, while removing insulation from the dirt floor joists. Plug any holes you find and control the climate by using a dehumidifier.
Read More: Best Waste Oil Burning Heater for Garage
Wrap Up
Getting the ideal heater for your crawl space during winter doesn’t have to be so difficult.
Hence, we made a comprehensive list of some of the best crawl space heaters. This article has reviewed some heaters based on essential factors such as safety, energy efficiency, and heating capacity.
We have also examined each of the heaters’ pros and cons, and we believe that this article would help you make the right choice.
You may also like our guide on the best portable garage heater.
