Heating ‘near outdoor’ spaces like your garage can get a bit complicated. Here’s why, and here’s how we can help you fix it.
In recent years, lots of us have discovered new ways to use our conservatories, sheds and garages, turning them into fantastic workspaces for both hobbies and tasks. However, there’s a few reasons that warming these spaces is a challenge.
As a rule of thumb, these spaces are barely insulated at all. This is because they weren’t really designed for you to sit in for a long time. It probably made sense at the time, but now that you actually want to use the space for something practical it can be frustrating. Any heater you use will have to work much harder.
In addition, most of these spaces aren’t connected to your central heating for similar reasons. This is even more problematic, because connecting a space to your central heating is very expensive. For these near outdoor spaces, this cost is rarely worth it, even if you’re using the space more than intended.
OK, those are the problems. What are the solutions?
Can You Use Propane Heaters?
Technically, but you probably shouldn’t.
There are a few propane and gas heaters that are designed to be used indoors, but these come with a number of big caveats that often mean they’re not worth it.
Propane heaters produce greenhouse gases, including C0₂. This must be dispersed, or your health will be at risk.
When we use these heaters outdoors, this naturally isn’t an issue (although it’s not great for the environment), but in an enclosed space it can be a huge problem.
As a result, you’ll need to use these heaters in a well-ventilated space, with windows and doors potentially left open. This exacerbates the problem with poor insulation, meaning you may be left feeling really chilly even while your heater is using fuel.
On top of this, propane heaters are a huge fire risk. You must keep them at least 3 feet away from anything flammable while also placing them on a non-flammable surface. If you have children or pets using the space, you’ll need to keep it out of their reach.
Finally, you’ll need to keep on top of maintenance, with particular attention paid to the valves and hose. These components can be a source for even more gas leaks.
This is, to put it bluntly, a massive headache.
Do You Have A Better Idea?
Our Helios range of bar heaters in particular are built for heating near outdoor spaces. Since they’re powered entirely by electricity, they don’t burn any fuel on site, which means that there’s no risk of toxic gas leaks. That saves you from having to ventilate the room.
IR Heaters are also much simpler to maintain, since they only require an occasional wipe down to keep them dust free.
Bar heaters can be safely mounted on your wall, which keeps them well out of the way of children or pets.
Want to learn more about how and where you can use our IR bar heaters? Get in touch with us on 0116 436 2250, or send us an email to sales@mirrorstone.co.uk.
You can also order a free Mirrorstone Heating catalogue too, which tells you everything you need to know about infrared and our whole product range. Simply hit the button below, fill out the form and we’ll have one sent out direct to your door.