To choose the best workshop heaters, you must consider the size of your workshop, which type of fuel you want to use and how much space you want to dedicate to your heaters. You should investigate both floor-style and ceiling-style workshop heaters when you are making your decision. Other factors that should be considered are the type of work that you will be doing in the shop and the type of equipment that also will be in the shop.
The first priority when attempting to choose between the many styles of workshop heaters is the actual size of the shop. By finding the exact amount of space that requires heating, you can avoid buying heaters that are either too large or too small to do the job. If your shop has an open ceiling that has exposed rafters, this can nearly double the size of the area that you need to heat.
After deciding on the amount of space that you want to service with workshop heaters, the next step is choosing the best style of heaters for your shop. Both floor-mount models and ceiling-mounted versions are usually available in most styles of heaters, but wood burners that require wood to be placed inside them cannot be mounted from the ceiling. For overhead mounting, you typically will a forced-air type heater that will blow warm air throughout your shop or a radiant heat model that simply radiates the warmth out into the shop space.
You also must decide on a fuel type for your new heaters. Manufacturers design workshop heaters for nearly every type of fuel, including electricity and liquid propane (LP) gas. Cost, accessibility and availability of the fuel source should be weighed as well.
If you will be painting or using other potentially flammable or explosive products in your workshop, you should not choose any of the workshop heaters that have an open flame. This could spark an explosion. Other considerations include the type of work you will do in your shop and the type of tools and machinery that will be in the shop. You might need a heater that has the ability to remain on around the clock, keeping the workshop warm at all times.