Is Radiant or Gas Heat Best for a Garage?

How Each Heater Works

• Radiant heaters work by using infrared light to warm the objects in the room -- not the air. They typically run on a thermostat that controls the heater and tells it when to click on.

  Gas heat is typically produced by either a forced air furnace that is attached with ducts to the garage or by a portable heater that has a tank for the gas. This type of heater warms the air, not the objects in the room.

Cost to Run

• If you will only be using the heater when you are present in the garage, a gas heater may be more efficient. The prices for gas and electricity vary widely depending on where you live, but generally -- for short term usage -- gas is more efficient.

  An electric radiant heater will only run when the temperature dips below what the thermostat is set to. If you don't set the thermostat too high, this can be an efficient heater. It can also be run around the clock more efficiently than a gas heater.

Size of the Space

• Infrared heaters do best in small spaces, where you are one of the only "objects" in the room. In spaces with a lot of square footage, you simply may not feel the warmth that the heater is producing.

  A portable gas heater can be run in any size of space, but the closer it is to you, the warmer you will feel. A forced air gas furnace is capable of heating even large areas, provided that enough ductwork is installed.

Safety Concerns

• Portable heaters should never be left unattended due to the risk of fire. Portable radiant heaters are safer but ideally should be turned off when not in use. Forced air furnaces are the safer of the three options and do not need constant monitoring. When using a portable heater, always keep it at least three feet away from any furniture or anything that is potentially flammable.