For a crawl space, the Dr. Heater DR966 is the top pick here: a 240-volt, 6,000 watt wall-mounted heater with a thermostat for larger spaces. A heater only holds off a freeze, so insulate pipes and seal air leaks as well.
When cold winter days hit, you can, as a homeowner, almost expect frozen pipes, high electricity bills, and more home maintenance expenses.
To prevent pipes from freezing or always having your main heating source on the highest power settings, crawl space heaters are a great option.
A thermostat-controlled heater can keep a crawl space above freezing during a cold snap, but it uses electricity the whole time it runs, so treat it as a stopgap. Insulating exposed pipes and sealing air leaks come first.
Let’s reveal the top 3 picks, and then we’ll cover more details later in the article. The video below also reviews two baseboard heaters we no longer recommend for crawl spaces.
What To Consider Before Buying a Crawl Space Heater
- Budget – Installing crawl space heating isn’t cheap; you have to calculate the cost of running it in winter.
- Safety – Do not use an unvented fuel-burning heater in a crawl space. Electric heaters have no flame or exhaust, but they still need clearance from anything that can burn, and a thermostat controls when they run, not how safe they are.
- Size – Measure the volume of your crawl space in cubic feet before purchasing. You want to make sure that it will keep the whole space above freezing.
- Maintenance – You’ll need to maintain your crawl space heater often to prevent any fire risk and take care of it on time.
Pick the appliance or type its watts, set the hours and your state: the cost per hour, per night and per month, before you buy.
3 Best Crawl Space Heaters
1. Best Overall: Dr. Heater DR966
This Dr.Heater model will operate at 6000W at the highest power settings and at 3000W at the lower power settings.
Although it may not look like it, this model is a wall-mounted heater.
What I love about it is its adjustable thermostat, so you can always set up your desired temperature.
The airflow is excellent, and it’s surprising how quiet it is. At 6,000 watts it puts out about 20,500 BTU an hour (6,000 x 3.41), so it can cover a larger crawl space.
It runs on 240 volts, so it is normally hardwired by an electrician, and like any heater it needs clearance from anything that can burn, so check the manual’s distances.
You should also check out other energy-efficient space heaters.
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2. Powerful: Dura Heat EUH4000
If you want to heat your crawl space, this heater will do the job without questions.
It’s very powerful, so please use it only for a larger area.
When you turn it on, expect instant heating because it has 13,000 BTUs, which is pretty powerful.
Although it’s a bit heavier than other models, it has a built-in handle, so you can move it whenever you want.
As with other models on this list, this model also has overheating protection.
3. Most Durable: DIMPLEX DGWH4031G
This model is built from heavy gauge steel, so it should hold up in a rough space.
Don’t let the size fool you; it has a 4,000W operation, which is considered solid.
The reason behind its durability is that it’s made from heavy gauge steel treated with an epoxy powder-coated finish.
You can mount it on the ceiling or on the wall or even keep it on the floor if you want.
This is considered a garage heater, but you can use it in your crawl space.
It has a built-in thermostat and automatic overheat protection, so it’s suitable for almost any area.
How To Stop Your Pipes from Freezing in the Crawl Space?
Insulate exposed pipes
Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves or wrap them in UL-listed heat tape or heat cable, as the American Red Cross advises.
Follow the heat tape’s instructions exactly, and choose one with a built-in thermostat if you can.
Let faucets drip
When it is very cold, let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. The Red Cross says running water, even a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warmer room air can reach the pipes.
Keep the thermostat steady
During a hard freeze, keep your home’s thermostat at the same temperature day and night, as the Red Cross advises.
The Red Cross also advises insulating pipes in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, attics and garages.
Seal air leaks
Seal gaps and cracks that let cold air into the crawl space.
Use caulk or expanding foam on small gaps, especially where pipes and wires pass through.
Eventually, you should watch this video to ensure your pipes won’t freeze during cold days.
Content writer from Croatia. Dominic studies Information Science at the University of Sarajevo, which helps him research and organize his work.
