Instead of abandoning your garage during the cold season, you need to consider the best natural gas garage heater.
Garages aren’t just places where you park your cars. It’s a vital part of the home, particularly if you’re interested in DIY projects or working on your vehicle.
It’s also a space for storing items from tools to lawnmowers, but they can also double up as a man cave for illustrious men who enjoy tinkering with their latest vehicle investment.
As such, ensuring the garage is warm during the colder months is essential to keep the environment comfortable and prevent damp causing damage to the interior or exterior.
A high efficiency natural gas garage heater is a great way to keep your garage nice and cozy during the winter. Here are some of the best natural gas heater for garage for you to consider:
Best Natural Gas Garage Heater Product Reviews
Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Modine Natural Gas Hot Dawg Garage Heater HD45AS0111
- Quiet operation
- Certified for residential, commercial and industrial use
- Low profile design and neutral color
- Installs quickly and easily with field wiring connections and knockouts for quick access to gas and electricity
- Standard power exhaust simplifies side-wall or roof venting with small-diameter vent pipe
Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Modine Natural Gas Hot Dawg Garage Heater HD45AS0111 uses a standard 115 volts power source and is guaranteed to run quietly. Thus, you can get lost in your thoughts without being interrupted by a noisy appliance.
Weighing in at 60 pounds, this is pretty heavy, but can be lifted by one strong person.
This is a full-size natural gas heater that is suitable for a wide variety of spaces. It is officially certified for use in residential, commercial, and industrial spaces, which attests to its sheer power. When appliances are commercial, they often have more power and effectiveness due to the larger space and more rigid requirements.
As such, you can rest assured that you’re buying a high-quality product that could just as easily heat a warehouse as your garage.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Certified for residential, commercial, and industrial use
Cons
- Not aesthetically pleasing; but perhaps this isn’t very important for a garage heater
2. Mr Heater Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater MHU80NG
- Your purchase includes One Mr. Heater Big Maxx Natural Gas Heater with 2 angle brackets & Liquid Propane conversion kit | Thermostat, hose & regulator not included
- Heater dimensions – 29.33” L x 15.50” W x 26.37” H | Coverage area – 2000 Sq. Ft. | Performance – 80,000 BTU | Amps – 2.3 | Voltage – 120 V | Min 8 ft. clearance from floor to base of unit
- For use with natural gas | Category 1 vertical, category 3 horizontal venting
- Powered exhaust allows for vertical or horizontal venting | Spark ignition features self-diagnostic control module
- This heater offers the operating versatility and safety that you have come to expect from Mr. Heater | Limited 3 year warranty on parts and burners
Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Mr Heater Big Maxx Natural Gas Unit Heater MHU80NG is designed to heat up large spaces of up to 2,000 square feet. When buying a heater and considering the BTU, it’s tempting to go bigger than necessary.
However, purchasing a heater with a much higher BTU rating than you need will drain energy and cause your utility bills to increase dramatically. Always remember to choose the heater within the closest range to your own square footage without selecting an under powered one.
For example, 5000 BTUs can heat rooms of up to 150 feet squared, while 6000 BTUs can heat rooms between 150 and 200 feet squared. If your room is 170 feet squared, you need 6000 BTUs. You can also check the best electric garage heaters 120 volts.
This heater has an 80,000 BTU rating and can heat spaces of up to 2000 square feet. This is certainly impressive, and despite the fact that it is probably too powerful for the average garage, you can get creative with its location. If you own your own business or are just starting out, this is a product that will likely catch your eye.
Pros
- High BTU rating
- Includes a limited 3-year warranty
Cons
- Too overpowered for smaller spaces; will use too much energy
3. Mr Heater Natural Gas Garage Heater MH40NG
- Efficient, cost effective infrared heat
- For use in buildings with 12 to 15 ft ceilings
- Clearances: Top - 36", Sides & Back - 30", Below - 68"
- Heats up to 1000 sq. ft.
- No electricity required, Maintenance free; no moving parts
Last update on 2023-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Mr Heater Natural Gas Garage Heater MH40NG uses efficient and cost effective infrared heat in order to warm up your garage conveniently and powerfully.
One of the interesting things about this particular gas garage heater is its thoughtful design. When we think of BTU ratings, we always remember the length and width of the space, but we often forget the importance of another dimension: the height. This heater goes beyond expectations in that it has been manufactured specifically for spaces with high ceilings of between 12 and 15 feet.
Thus, you can imagine using this in a larger space such as farm buildings or customized sheds. Moreover, your garage might be detached with a high ceiling, so if you’re having trouble finding a heater this one might just have the specifications for you.
This heater has a high enough BTU rating for areas up to 1000 square feet (back to the length and width), so it is suitable for larger garages. Or check out the best electric garage heater 240 volts.
Pros
- Efficient
- Cost effective
Cons
- Requires very specific clearances in order to work effectively
4. Mr Heater Natural Gas Radiant Heater MH25NG
- 25,000-BTU natural-gas radiant workshop heater
- Heats up to 625 square feet
- Efficient radiant heat warms objects directly, not surrounding air
- Comes fully assembled; hooks up to existing natural-gas line; how-to video included
- Non-corrosive materials used throughout construction. 1-year limited warranty
Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Mr Heater Natural Gas Radiant Heater MH25NG has a 25000 BTU rating, so it is certainly a powerful appliance. However, the manufacturer states that this heater can heat space of up to 625 square feet.
When you look at a standard BTU rating chart, a 25000 BTU rating is suitable for spaces between 800 and 900 square feet, so this is a strange anomaly. Perhaps the BTU calculations in this respect have taken factors such as windows and insulation into account more thoroughly, and have selected a lower number in order to avoid customer backlash. However, standard calculations assume that there are windows in a room, so this initial figure could suggest that this heater is less efficient than it should be.
Still, all of that aside, this is a very good quality heater, and if your space is 625 square feet or less the calculation simply doesn’t matter.
One of the great things about this heater is that it comes fully assembled. It simply hooks up to your existing gas line, so chances are that this installation will be easier than some others. It is also made from superior, non-corrosive materials, ensuring durability and longevity.
Pros
- This type of heat warms objects directly
- Constructed with non-corrosive materials
Cons
- Its specifications suggest that it is less efficient than it perhaps should be
5. Mr Heater Blue Flame Natural Gas Heater MHVFB30GNT
- 30,000 BTU Natural Gas heater to heat spaces up to 1000 square feet
- Blue flame burner for even convection heat. Maximum Elevation (Ft)-4500. Fuel Consumption/Burn Rate (Gal/Hr)- .030 MCF
- Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS). CSA Certified. Heater Type: Unvented
- Operating this heater at altitudes over 4,500 FT above sea level could cause pilot/ODS to shutdown the heater.included.Theromostat, legs and wall mounting hardware
- Fuel Type:Natural Gas.Not for use in bathrooms, bedrooms, or recreational vehicles
Last update on 2023-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Mr Heater Blue Flame Natural Gas Heater MHVFB30GNT is a heater with 30,000 BTUs, capable of heating spaces up to 750 square feet.
It produces convection heat that distributes evenly and consistently, ensuring there are no cold pockets of air in your garage space.
It has an official seal of approval due to its CSA certification, so you can rest assured it is a powerful, safe, and efficient product.
Moreover, it has an interesting safety feature included keeping you and your family safe from being over-exposed to gas fumes. When the oxygen in the air gets too low, it will automatically shut off. This will certainly give you extra peace of mind regarding its use.
Pros
- Freestanding, with the option to be wall mounted
- Safety features included
Cons
- You need the required space on the wall or floor to ensure it produces heat effectively
Related:
Best ventless heaters with blowers and thermostats
6. Heatstar by Enerco Radiant Overhead Garage Heater MH25NG
- Heats up to 500-600 sq. ft. (2-1/2 car garage)
- CSA Certified
- Thermostatic control no power needed
- Mounting Height Range - 7feet - 9feet
Last update on 2023-11-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Heatstar by Enerco Radiant Overhead Garage Heater MH25NG is the final product being reviewed, and it has a lot of competitive features.
It is 99.9% fuel-efficient, which is an excellent statistic with regard to heating capability. This results in a more economic machine which burns nearly every molecule of fuel it uses. Thus, your room will be heated effectively without costing too much money.
This is suitable for use in buildings with a ceiling between 7 and 8 feet, so if your ceilings are higher you may wish to consider other options instead.
You can install this heater in a variety of spaces, both residential and commercial, so the possibilities are endless. Moreover, this model doesn’t require electricity, so you can even benefit from its heat during power outages.
Pros
- CSA certified
- 99.9% fuel-efficient
Cons
- The kit does not include all of the installation materials
High Efficiency Natural Gas Garage Heater Buying Guide
How to Estimate the Heater Size of a Garage
It’s a myth to assume that a small heater is inevitably less powerful. In fact, the actual size of the heater has very little relation to its heating capability. There are other factors that contribute to an appliance’s power more than physical dimensions. With regard to gas garage heaters, these include the type of heater, the BTU rating, the specifications of your garage space, and the power available to you.
Still, it is absolutely possible to estimate the size you need in terms of BTU rating. All you have to do is carry out the following steps in order to calculate the amount of heating power you need:
Step One
Get a good-sized tape measure and use it to measure the width and length of your garage space. This calculation will be easiest to do in square or rectangular shaped rooms, but you can still get a good estimate for an irregular space by simply imagining it as a square or rectangle with shapes cut out. Thus, you over-estimate the size of the room by a small margin in order to ensure the heater you purchase is not under-powered.
Step Two
Multiply the length by the width to get a number that is known as square feet. This tells you how many square feet there are in your room. Jot this number down. Next, look online for a BTU rating chart. This will tell you how many BTUs you will need to heat your garage. Finally, read the specifications of any heaters you’re interested in and make sure their BTU rating matches the amount you need.
Electric Versus Gas Garage Heaters
There are advantages and disadvantages to pretty much any product or appliance you buy, so it’s essential to gauge which aspects are most important and make your decision accordingly. With regard to electric and gas heaters, both are competitive methods of heating spaces. Gas heaters generally need to be installed and require a chimney in order to release the gas emissions, while electric portable garage heaters can be completely portable. Thus, you might prefer the convenience of an electric heater.
However, you should also consider the fact that while electric heaters are cheaper and more convenient, gas heaters are cheaper to run and produce more heat. Thus, you must decide whether initial or running costs are more important, and if heating effectiveness is your top priority natural gas heaters are certainly a competitive product.
Gas Garage Heater Installation Tips
Detached garages, in particular, are often not hooked up to the main heating system of your home, but this doesn’t mean you have to spend time in a freezing garage over the winter. A garage gas heater ensures that you can enjoy your hobbies in comfort. Still, a heater of this kind needs to be installed, so you need to consider this aspect carefully before investing in one. You can either install it yourself or hire a professional to do so. Some models including infrared garage heaters are easier to install than others, so if you’re not confident about your DIY skills you might have to increase your budget to pay for the installation instead.
If you’re willing to carry out the task yourself, consider these tips to ensure a smooth installation:
- Preparation: Research codes and regulations to find out if you need any kind of permits to install the heater on your property. Make sure your installation complies with standard regulations in order to prevent a lot of stress and expense down the road. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and figure out what tools and supplies you need before starting.
- Accuracy: As discussed in more detail above, make sure you calculate the square footage of the room and double-check that the heater meets the requirements. Next, choose the most effective space for your heater (not blocked by any obstacles, lots of wall space), and install the mounting brackets.
- Installation: Once it’s mounted, install the vent pipe kit. There are lots of stages to this, and you also have to hook it up to the natural gas line. Finally, you will have to establish electrical connections. This involves working with the gas, so be vigilant and cautious. Generally speaking, installing natural gas garage heaters or wood burning stoves for garages are best left to a professional, as the various steps tend to exceed the skill set of average DIY enthusiasts.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a natural gas garage heater. These include dimensions, power, aesthetics, price, and features. You’ll know you’ve found the perfect garage heater for your own home when it meets your most important requirements. For example, if space is an issue, you’ll likely prioritize size or overall bulkiness over power, since heating a smaller space requires less power to do so. As such, think about the actual garage space you wish to heat and make a list of your priorities. After considering these product reviews, you’ll be much more confident when the time comes to buy your very own natural gas heater.
