Economical & Inventive Ways to Heat Your Shed

If you have an outdoor shed that you use as a livable area, an office, workshop, guest room, etc., but you live in a moderate to chilly climate, you might be wondering what your best options are for heating your shed. Winter is around the corner, and you will want to keep your shed warm and inviting at all times. Here are some things to consider when choosing a heat source for your shed.

Shed Insulation-Must Have

No matter which heating option you ultimately choose for your shed, you must start with a well insulated shed to achieve the warm, cozy space you dream of. If your shed is not well insulated, then you will waste a lot of energy and money trying to keep it warm when it’s cold out. It is definitely worth the time and money upfront to insulate your shed, even in moderate climates!

Timers-Systems Save You Money

Timers are a great way to make your shed a nice, inviting spot at all times of the day and night. There are many heating options that come equipped with timers and thermostat abilities, such as electric convection heaters, but keep in mind that you can use a timer with any electric heater.

If you purchase an electric heater that does not have a timer, you can buy a separate timer just for the outlet that you will plug your heater into. It is not always safe to leave all kinds of heaters, especially portable space heaters, on without supervision. A better choice for a timed electric heater might be either an oil filled or water filled radiator. Timers can also save you money on energy costs, as they will prevent you from forgetting to turn the heat off when you leave your shed.

Shed Heating Cost Options

The cheapest options for heating your shed will be the most portable options. Small fan heaters and classic radiator heaters, both water filled and oil filled, are the cheapest solutions. Both work decently well, however can be rather unsightly and take up space. Fan heaters can also be quite loud. If style is a concern, you can get a low profile wall mounted panel convection heater. They are a bit more costly than a classic radiator but they use little to none of your precious shed space and are much more discreet, and silent!

There Are Stylish Heating Sources

The ultimate choice for a stylish heater for your shed is of course a wood burning stove. A wood burning stove is a classic choice, and is also a very effective heater, which is why it has been used for so long. If you use fuel from a local and sustainable source, it is also quite an energy saver. Wood burners are costly however, and they require a professional to install it. No DIY-ing here! They can also be a pain to clean and require a bit of manual labor for storing and hauling wood logs.

Another option to give your shed the same look is a pellet stove or electric stove that looks like a fireplace. There are many energy saver infra-red heaters on the market today that resemble at wood stove but with timers and a remote control.

Time & Money of Heating Installation

The easier the installation is, the cheaper and more portable your heater will be! As previously noted, electric heaters that plug into an outlet, radiators, fan heaters, and infrared heaters, require the least amount of installation. Wood burners require work and a professional and money and more time. Another heating option that you might consider, if installation and money are not big deterrents, is electric underfloor heating.

Underfloor heating must be installed underneath your floor surface of your shed, so if you have permanent flooring and aren’t planning on getting brand new flooring, this method is probably not best suited to your shed. Any maintenance on the underfloor heating will also require the flooring to be lifted. Despite this, underfloor heating is quite luxurious, and heats not just the floor but all the air in the room. It is also the ultimate space saver. And for a bonus, neither you nor your guests will be forced to look at an ugly portable heater!

Exposed Heating Elements-When They’re the Best Choice

Does the heater you’re considering have an exposed heating element, like in a fan heater? These kinds of heaters are safe in most situations but not all. If you use your shed as a wood carving workshop and there are lots of wood shavings and dust floating around on a regular basis, then a heater with an exposed heating element is not safe. The same is true if your space is particularly dusty. If small children or your pet dog will frequent your shed, the exposed heating element could pose a risk to them as well.

What Do Heaters Heat?

When looking at heaters for your shed, keep in mind that there is a big difference between heaters that heat the air in your shed and heaters that just heat objects in your space. Infrared heaters, for example, will only heat the objects that it is facing and not the air around it. The result is a warm, happy person that is sitting right in front of the infrared heater, but as soon as they move they will be cold again!

An infrared heater with fan is a good option that will allow you to heat 400-1000 square feet economically. Look for heaters that will heat the air around it, like convection heaters, radiators, wood-burners, and gas heaters.

At Shed Windows and More we are always looking for solutions to DIY building projects. We have been talking about portable and stationary heating sources that are sized for outdoor sheds. Send us your ideas at info@shedwindowsandmore.com. If shed heating solutions in the way of both portable and installed heating sources is something you would like to see us stocking at Shed Windows and More, definitely be in touch with your ideas.