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Unit Heater Buying Guide

How to Pick the Perfect Unit Heater

By Dale V.  |  Power Equipment Expert

If you’re looking to keep your garage or warehouse warm and toasty during winter, then a unit heater is one of the most effective solutions. Flexible installation options, sizes, and a variety of fuel types mean there’s a unit heater perfect for you out there.

Our guide outlines everything you need to know about getting a unit heater for your garage and links out to additional information. So, if you’re thinking about getting this great heating technology, keep on reading.

 

View: Best Unit Heaters

 

What is a Unit Heater?

Unit heaters are self-contained heating devices that use a fan to blow air over a heat exchanger directly into an area that needs heat. No ductwork is required. They are permanently installed on the wall or ceiling and are much more powerful than portable heaters.

Applications in which you might use a unit heater include:

Basically, a single-room that isn’t already connected to a building’s central heating system can benefit from having a unit heater.

Types of Unit Heaters

Unit heaters can be powered by various fuel types. Choosing the most cost-effective fuel type for your area should be top-of-mind in the decision process.

 

How to Size a Unit Heater?

There are many variables to sizing any heating system, including unit heaters. You need to consider factors like the local climate, desired temperature, insulation, and where your room is facing.

Sizing a unit heater also involves figuring out how many units you need to heat a space. While a typical residential garage should be fine with one, a large warehouse can have 12 or more depending on how far each individual unit can "throw" hot air and the number of BTUs.

For this reason, we recommend having a professional do a Manual J Load Calculation to find out exactly how much heat you need for the space, which will help you choose the right-size and number of units.



Learn more in our HVAC sizing guide.

 

How to Install a Unit Heater?

There are many points to consider when installing a unit heater. That’s why we recommend hiring a professional. Keep the following in mind:

Orientation

Unit heaters can be installed either horizontally or vertically.

Combinations of horizontal and vertical units may be used in exceptionally large spaces or spaces where different parts of the building require different heating strategies.

Mounting

You must also decide how to mount your unit heater. This will depend on your space’s layout.

 

Other Considerations

There are other considerations when buying a unit heater that vary based on which fuel type you chose.

Venting

If you chose any gas-fired unit, you will need to vent the exhaust. There are three main types of venting:

 

Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger is the part of a heating unit that transfers heat from the fuel source to the air. There are two types of heat exchangers:

Voltage

If you have an electric unit heater, it's important to choose the correct voltage depending on your application.

Residential spaces will typically require unit heaters using 120V or 240V power supplies. However, if your workshop or garage is on a commercial property, you may have access to other less common voltage options such as 208V and 480V.

Controls

You can control your unit heater using either a standard or smart thermostat, such as a Nest. Check out our video on wiring a unit heater thermostat.

 

Buying a Unit Heater

There's a lot to consider when buying a unit heater, as you can see. But the warmth and comfort you'll feel when you get one will be worth it. If you have more questions about your specific application or what kind of unit heater you need, please call us at (866)-437-7998 to speak with a product expert.

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