Electric Heaters for Your Home and Garage

When it comes to heating your home, electric heaters may not have the same kick as oil or gas, but they can make for reasonable heating installations in situations that don't require the high power of a gas furnace. Even in colder climates with higher heating demands, electric heaters are easier to maintain and often cheaper to buy, if not to operate. If you want something simple and worry-free, an electric heater may be the way to go even if it means slightly higher utility bills.

Electric heaters distribute heat evenly through your home and—depending on how your utility company generates the electricity—operate more cleanly than gas or oil. Many homeowners choose to install radiant floors to enhance the heating efficiency and overall comfort level associated with electric heating. Individual space heaters are also an option for some homes and/or as a supplemental heating solution.

Types of Electric Home Heaters

No matter the situation, you can't hope to make a smart, well-informed decision without knowing all the options. Electric home heaters are as various as the climates and home designs they serve. Many of these heaters aren't more widely known simply because they fit niche home heating needs.

• Far Infrared Electric Heaters: Unlike typical electric home heaters, far infrared electric heaters radiate heat into your home. While conventional heaters must first heat the air surrounding you, far infrared heaters actually heat you from the inside out. It works in the exact same way that the sun heats you while you're standing outside on a cloudless day. This process enables a cleaner, more efficient, more comfortable heating source. Essentially, it creates the same energy efficiency of radiant flooring without the costly process of ripping up your floor. Conventional heaters still dominate the market, but as far infrared technology grabs hold and starts to become mass-produced the price tag will go lower and lower.

• Electric Furnaces: Electric furnaces are not a vey popular home heating solution because gas and oil furnaces are more energy-efficient. But for homes in warmer climates winter heating costs may not be a huge financial concern. Rather, the initial cost of installation, a major home investment, may be a bigger hurdle to overcome. Electric furnaces are usually cheaper than their gas and oil counterparts. Smaller homes that rarely, if ever, see single-digit temperatures can use these units to install an inexpensive central heating option without blowing up their monthly budget costs.

• Electric Heat Pumps: Electric heat pumps are another option and one that's gaining momentum with each passing year. Rather than using electricity to generate heat, these units actually exchange air particles between indoor and outdoor spaces. In other words, it pulls warmer air particles into your home, while expelling cooler air particles. No heat needs to be generated, but electricity is used for the blower and general operation of the unit. Electric heat pumps are very energy-efficient but won't have sufficient heating power for colder climates where "warm" air particles are in too short of a supply.

• Electric Garage Heaters: Electric garage heaters are a great choice for small garages or spaces where heat isn't always a concern. They are small, portable, and safe. They can be placed on the floor, a shelf, or your workbench. Most electric garage heaters include safety features that will automatically shut themselves down if you knock them over or accidentally throw a blanket over them. These small electric heaters can also be run year round without heat to increase ventilation and provide you with a breeze when it gets hot in your garage. While a smaller unit is probably the most popular electric garage heater, larger wall, baseboard, and overhead electric heaters are also available. Just like central heating, larger garage heating units can be gas- or oil-powered.