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3 Patio Electric Heaters Mounted Under Covered Outdoor Patio

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.

Can I use a patio heater in my garage?

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.

Worst Choice: Propane heaters in a garage can be deadly

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.

Better Choice: Natural gas heaters: a safer choice

Before moving forward with considering whether or not your natural gas patio heater can be used in your garage, there are two basic questions:

Is it vented? A vented natural gas heater (that has dusting attached directly to the heater to remove all exhaust gasses) is perfectly safe. Our experts recommend the compact Schwank PU-R040-BN or the Eventube ETSV40N as fantastic vented garage natural gas heaters.
If your natural gas heater is NOT vented, you’ll have to make sure that you follow all of the safety rules. To help, our experts have put together this Pre-Installation Checklist for Gas Heaters, read it closely and make sure you’ve followed all of the rules. If you have any questions, remember that the brightest patio comfort experts in the game are at Patio Heat and Shade… give us a call to be sure.

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.

Best Choice: Electric patio heaters: Super Safe!

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.

Choosing a patio heater that’s safe for your garage

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:

Size the heater correctly for your space
Fully follow the manufacturer’s instructions
Buy a new heater with robust safety features (like auto-shutoff if tipped over)
Keep away from walkways
Install on a stable, non-flammable surface
Keep a fire extinguisher handy (class B for gas, class C for electric)
Conduct an annual fire safety inspection of your garage

The best kinds of patio heaters to use in a garage

In order, here are our suggestions for the best patio heaters to use in your garage:

Quartz (infrared) electric heaters
Ceramic electric heaters
Vented natural gas heaters
Non-vented natural gas heaters with garage doors fully open

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.

Common mistakes when using a patio heater in a garage

Poor ventilation – Electric heaters don’t require ventilation and are perfectly safe in your garage. Natural gas heaters with built-in venting you connect to outside ventilation are also safe for your garage. Propane heaters are only safe for your garage with your garage door(s) open to allow airflow. Non-vented natural gas heaters also require your garage doors to be open for maximum airflow... and for a general idea on space requirements for natural gas heaters, check out our expert’s guide called the Pre-Installation Checklist for Gas Heaters﻿
Keeping your heater near your car – Keeping your heater too close to your vehicle risks damage to the paint, shattered glass from overheating and even an explosion from the gas fumes from your car. Keep your heater at least 10 feet from your vehicles.
Overloading your electrical outlet – Plugging in an electric heater in a garage is frequently a recipe for disaster. Garages typically have only one power outlet (after all, it’s designed to be a storage locker for vehicles), and homeowners frequently plug in a bajillion devices into this one outlet. Plug-in electric patio heaters pull a decent amount of power, and the potential for overloading this one measly outlet is strong.
Keeping flammable things nearby – All versions of patio heaters (including electric ones) have the potential to engulf nearby flammable items in the wrong king of heat-giving flames (the kind that can engulf your entire house). Be sure that flammable items like boxes, wrapping paper, curtains and the like are far away from your patio heater in your garage.

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.

Can You Use a Patio Heater in a Garage?

Can I use a patio heater in my garage?

Worst Choice: Propane heaters in a garage can be deadly

Better Choice: Natural gas heaters: a safer choice

Best Choice: Electric patio heaters: Super Safe!

Choosing a patio heater that’s safe for your garage

The best kinds of patio heaters to use in a garage

Common mistakes when using a patio heater in a garage

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