Operating costs vary by region. Nationwide, electric heaters are less expensive than propane and are competitive with natural gas. Depending upon the total hours of usage, electric heaters normally have a much lower cost of ownership when factoring in purchase price and maintenance needs. Basically, this means that while it can cost more per hour to operate an electric unit in some areas, it typically takes 7-10 years to save enough money operating on gas, to recover the substantially higher purchase price and cost of regular maintenance for a gas heater.

Using an 110/120-volt heater (1,500 watts maximum) is fine for enclosed areas like garages, indoor work areas, or outdoor spaces no larger than 5' x 5'. When heating larger areas, running a dedicated 110/120-volt circuit is not practical or economical. A 240-volt circuit will require the same amount of wiring, will heat substantially larger areas with greater comfort, and will simply require two spaces in the breaker panel, rather than one.

Electric heaters are over 90% efficient and are perfectly safe for use indoors or outdoors. They are also economical to operate and require little maintenance beyond periodic cleaning. Unlike gas heaters, there are no valves, ignition components, moving parts or burners to maintain or repair. In addition, electric heaters produce no sound, odors, or toxic emissions. An electric heater is also easier to use. Enjoying electric heat is as easy as flipping a switch. You can adjust the intensity of an electric heater infinitely from zero to 100% of power. By contrast, gas heaters only produce infrared energy on their highest possible settings.