A natural gas garage heater is a relatively small unit that can be mounted onto a wall or kept freestanding. This form of device makes use of natural gas for generating heat, instead of exploiting expensive sources such as electricity. The basic mechanism involves the burning of natural gas, circulated by a pump, to produce the heating effect. The vents, built on the furnace, permit the warm air to break out and envelop the garage with an air of heat, normally covering a decent radius. These devices have the capability to increase the temperature by several degrees. The basic operating principle behind this furnace is given as below: Whenever there is a requirement to generate heat, the gas from the fuel pipe flows all the way through a valve, within the heater. A pilot flame sets fire to the fuel, and a flare is produced within the heat exchanger. As soon as the exchanger achieves a set temperature, a fan automatically starts and blows the air through the exchanger. This results in a warmer air being discharged.

Natural Gas Garage Heater Vs The Others

A natural gas garage heater has several other adversaries, differing in the overall mechanism. Two such competitors are electric furnaces, and hot water garage furnaces. While electric furnaces are least expensive to install, their overall maintenance is very high, especially due to electricity being their power source. Similarly, a hot water furnace requires the installation of a home boiler system, and if the boiler is not working properly, the heater fails to produce heat. Hence, keeping the aforementioned operating drawbacks in mind, gas garage heaters seem to be the best choice to heat garages. Fundamentally, there are four things that need to be considered:

•  Square footage of the garage

•  Maintenance cost

•  Efficiency ratings

•  Warranty

Benefits Of Natural Gas Garage Heaters

Efficient:

Efficiency is undoubtedly the best benefit of such furnaces. They have the ability to snuff out immense heat; hence, the money spent by the consumer will go a long way to heat his/her house.

Low Clearance Requisites:

All of the low profile gas garage heaters have extremely low clearance requirements. This saves time and effort.

Fast And Powerful:

These furnaces are extremely powerful, fast, and self contained. They don’t depend on a home boiler to provide heat.

Durability:

All unit casings are nursed for rust resistance and painted with a coating of high solids.

Adjustable Louvers:

Almost all furnaces come with adjustable louvers that assist in directing the warm air, where it is required the most.

Variety:

The natural gas garage heater comes in a plethora of styles and sizes to cater to the varying customer needs and requirements. If chosen suitably, one will not have to be concerned about over or under sizing.

Ready To Run Anytime:

Natural gas garage heaters are capable of running any time. They do not require a person to worry about replenishing the fuel supply.

Configurations Of A Natural Gas Garage Heater

These heaters blow air straight into the room. Their adjustable louvers permit for perpendicular adjustment of the flow. Almost all the manufacturers provide horizontal louvers that help the air to flow side-to-side. These furnaces have several different categories based on the design of the heat exchanger and the venting type.

Types Of Venting

Gravity Vented Garage Furnace:

Gravity vented garage furnaces are heaters that vent naturally and do not need a fan. These furnaces make use of the air inside the garage for ignition. The warm derivatives of combustion come out of the furnace with the help of a gas pipe. They are the least expensive.

Power Vented Furnace:

Very similar to the gravity vented furnace, these devices have an additional flue-vent booster fan. As soon as heat is produced, the fan starts to make sure that the derivatives of combustion are properly vented out. These furnaces are the most popular among consumers. The booster fan gives more elasticity with flue pipe. In fact, most of the major manufacturers of heating devices are eliminating the production of gravity vented furnaces and are substituting them with power vented heaters. These heaters also allow horizontal venting.

Separated Combustion Furnaces For The Garages:

These form of heaters are becoming popular by the day. While the conventional power and gravity furnaces make use of space air for ignition, separated combustion furnaces are sealed. These heaters have a couple of flue vent pipes. While one pipe is used to draw in the air from the atmosphere, the other throws the by-products outside. This sealed combustion design does away with the possibility of the burning of air inside the garage. Such heaters work well in places where fine dust particles can catch fire due to an open flame. Moreover, separated combustion furnaces are normally more competent, as they do not make use of the air in one’s space for ignition.

Heat Exchanger Designs

Traditional natural gas furnaces for the Garage:

These furnaces are narrow and tall. However, since most find them inconvenient, manufacturers are turning towards the newer exchanger designs.

Tubular Heat Exchanges:

These exchanges are flexible and defy cracking. They allow the furnace to be shorter and wider, which is of great assistance in garages that lack overhead clearance.

How Are Gas Garage Heaters Installed ?

Following is the method by which one can install these furnaces:

•  Hang the furnace by making use of the angle iron or threaded rods. Several heaters contain angle iron which helps them mount straight to the ceiling. However, do remember that when you are mounting a heater you follow specifications.

•  Install the gas piping.

•  Install the vent pipe.

•  Wire a wall thermostat (with a low voltage) to the terminal strip of the furnace.

•  Wire the elevated voltage power needed to start the furnace.

Advice:

Do not forget to consult a capable installation professional to ensure that the furnace selected for the garage is the best option for you. Consulting an experienced and genuine dealer is very important.