Keep Your Garage Warm And Toasty During Cold Months With A Solution From Lowe's

If you use part of your garage as a workshop, office, or hobby or exercise space, you'll want a way to keep it warm and toasty when it's cold out. There are several reasons it's not a good idea to run central heat to your garage, so you'll need to look for a stand-alone alternative. Lowe's might have just what you need with the Cadet Portable Electric Heater. The output of up to 4,000 watts should be sufficient for a 2-car garage of up to 500 square feet.

At 14 inches high by 7.25 inches wide and 9 inches deep, the Cadet heater is quite compact. Although described as portable, it is designed to be wall- or ceiling-mounted, which saves valuable floor space. The bracket included swivels and tilts to direct heat. Thanks to a 300 CFM (cubic feet per minute) blower, it can quickly distribute warm air around the room. A fan delay means it doesn't blow until the stainless steel heater elements have warmed up, so you don't suddenly get a blast of cold air when you turn it on. A thermostat and safety cutout are included, and the device meets the U.S. and Canadian UL listing safety standard.

The Cadet heater comes with six feet of cable, a NEMA 6-20P plug, and a 6-20R receptacle. These are designed for the required 240-volt supply. It's important to note that you can't just remove a standard 120-volt outlet and connect the 6-20R in its place. Without enough voltage, the heater probably won't work, or if it does, the performance will be way down from what's expected.

The whole circuit has to be upgraded, or a dedicated supply provided. It needs a 20-amp double-pole breaker and probably new cabling. It's one of those electrical jobs you shouldn't touch unless you are a professional. In fact, there's a good chance the law requires it to be done by a licensed contractor, depending on where you live. Doing it yourself without the appropriate permit could result in insurance issues or problems with inspections if you were to try to sell your home.

The necessity of a 240V outlet for the Cadet electric heater means using it as a portable unit won't be practical for most. However, if you need a powerful heat source for your garage, the Cadet is a capable device that should prove reliable. That said, it's a competitive market; check out the prices and features available from other heaters before you buy one to keep your garage warm and toasty in the winter.