Garages – an indispensable extension of your home to park your vehicle for safety and where you can store all sorts of stuff you don’t want in the main house. Usually, garages look a mess and oil-stained outbuilding after your last DIY car maintenance job. Oftentimes, it looks dark, unkempt, and a downright horror story with all the boxes you can’t even remember what’s inside anymore.
The thing is, the garage is more than just a parking space or a pseudo storage room. It can have a lot of potentials – you just need the right tools and garage appliances!
Think about turning your dark, oil-stained garage into a workshop where you can do all your DIY projects. Perhaps, you want to turn it into a fantastic entertainment space where you can host BBQ weekends with friends. Maybe, you simply want to transform your dirty and unorganized garage into a safe, sane, and clean place.
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. As we said, you only need to add some new garage appliances to turn the space into something a lot better than its current state. Some of the most popular and favorite garage appliances range from cool, useful, to remarkably functional – you’ll wonder why you haven’t gotten them before!
So, here they are – our top ten garage appliances for every garage needs.
Garage Fan/Blower
If you’re hoping to turn your garage into a workshop, get yourself a garage fan or a garage blower. Everyone knows how hot and stuffy a garage can be, and as much as it’s frustrating, it can also get in the way of productivity. Who can concentrate on a project while working inside a hot and stuffy garage? You’re right – no one, and you shouldn’t have to, anyway.
Getting a garage fan/blower is the best way to keep the space well-ventilated so you’re feeling refreshed inside. Now, you won’t have to get stuck working under your car sweating like it’s dead in the summer.
Garage fans are not your typical household fan, but it’s their more powerful brother. Besides keeping the room cool, it also keeps the workspace free from dust or any small particles by blowing them away. Blower fans also help get rid of exhaust fumes and petrol smells.
How to Choose a Garage Fan?
- Type: blower fans vs. garage fans. Garage fans provide wider, powerful airflow, while blower fans give direct, fast airflow. Choose garage fans for general garage ventilation and blower fans for garage/workshop spaces.
- Build Quality: look for garage fans/blowers made of metal or heavily durable plastic.
- Power: consider getting a garage fan/blower that can provide a bit of extra cooling/airflow as needed.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Vornado EXO5 Shop Air Circulator Fan: Small garage fan but stable, sturdy, and efficient in cooling the space with its unique vortex airflow pattern.
Garage Air Conditioner
Here’s the thing, sometimes, a garage fan isn’t enough to keep the space cool enough. Imagine those Summer heatwaves and add hot car engines to the mix, and you need a more efficient cooling system. One of the most popular garage appliances that you can get to keep the space cool and comfortable, even through summer, is a garage air conditioner!
You might be unsure if it’s okay to have an air conditioner in the garage, and yes, it is! It’s safe and the easiest way to let the hot and stuffy air out of your garage. But take note, not all air conditioners are suitable for the garage. Still, there are plenty of types and sizes you can choose from.
How to Choose a Garage Air Conditioner?
- Types: window-type, portable, ductless mini-split
- Size: Get at least a 10,000 BTU AC for a 500 square feet garage or a 20,000 BTU AC for a 1,000 square feet garage.
- Features: quiet operation, energy saving, smart control, AC/Purifier/Dehumidifier feature
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
MIDEA U Inverter: Top choice for a garage air conditioner with an excellent list of features: 35% energy saving, extremely quiet operation, smart control, dehumidifier feature.
Garage Dehumidifier
Heat is a problem during summer but come winter, and you’ll be dealing with excess humidity. You might notice some sweating on the garage floor. Perhaps, you live in an incredibly humid climate, and a day or two of a rainstorm will leave standing water inside the garage.
A little flooding is okay, but when it happens frequently, you risk mold growth and wood rot inside the garage. Have you noticed any musty smell inside your garage, especially every time you open the door? That’s a good sign of excess humidity, and it’s time to get yourself a garage dehumidifier.
A dehumidifier is the most direct answer to the excess moisture that’s ruining your garage structure and all things you stored inside, including your car!
How to Choose a Garage Dehumidifier?
- Size: It depends on the humidity levels of your garage, ranging from slightly damp to wet.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Vremi Moisture Maniac Dehumidifier: Energy efficient with Auto-Defrost function. It’s a little hybrid machine – a dehumidifier/air purifier ideal for over 1,000 square foot garage.
Garage Heater
A dehumidifier will take out any excess moisture inside the garage, but it won’t keep you toasty while you’re working under your car during winter. The best garage appliance you can get, so you don’t have to put extra layers of clothing, is a garage heater!
Getting a heater for your garage will keep the working space warm enough, so your fingers won’t go numb while fixing your car. There’s no need to wear gloves either!
If you spend so much time in your garage, investing in a good garage heater is well worth it.
How to Choose a Garage Heater?
- Type: forced-air/fan-forced vs. radiant/infrared. Choose a fan-forced heater for large garage areas and infrared heaters for a smaller workshop garage.
- Size: Estimate the number of BTUs/heater size depending on your garage size and existing insulation.
- Fuel Source: propane vs. electric.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Modine Hot Dawg: 80% efficiency, quiet operation, and you can switch between natural gas or electric to run the heater.
Wet-Dry Garage Vacuum
Anybody who has a garage knows the struggle of keeping it spot-free. There are simply many things going on, and dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate quickly. Not to mention, you often have to deal with spills while you’re working in your car.
If you are looking for a garage appliance to help you keep the space clean, what you need is a wet/dry garage vacuum.
Unlike the typical household vacuum, a garage vacuum/shop vac is high-powered and can get rid of all sorts of mess in your garage. You can even choose one that’s wall-mounted, so you free up much-needed garage floor space.
How to Choose a Garage Vacuum?
- Size/Capacity: small and portable vacuums for smaller minimal garage spaces and larger/wall-mounted vacuums for larger garage workshops.
- Filter: vacuums with a permanent filter are cheaper in the long run than units with replaceable filters.
- HEPA Filter: important feature if you have asthma or allergy.
- Hose Length: the longer, the better or look for vacuums with retractable hoses.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Bissell Garage Pro: It’s a nifty wall-mounted wet/dry shop vac with a 32-feet hose and powerful 12-amp motor. It works as a blower too.
Remote-Controlled Garage Storage Lift
Do you need extra storage space for heavy items in your garage? While you can always park it with your car, you can also always take advantage of the unused ceiling space of your garage. How? Well, it’s easy with a garage storage lift or an electric hoist system that can store heavier stuff on the garage ceiling without you lifting anything. You can control it using a remote!
Simply hoist heavy engines, bulky building materials, or machinery you’re not using this season and let the hoist system pull it upwards for storage.
How to Choose a Garage Storage Lift?
- Capacity: it depends on what you want the hoist system to lift. It can be anything with a low capability of 440 pounds or twice as that and even more.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Champion Power Equipment 18890: It’s a powerful and reliable hoist system that can lift small engines or larger shop tools and equipment up to 880 pounds – perfect for garage workshops.
Car Lift
How about if the extra storage space you need in the garage is for parking another vehicle? Well, the best garage appliance you can get is a car lift!
Here’s the thing, it’s not safe to park your car, motorcycle, or your lawnmower outside. But if you’re short of parking space in your small garage, that can be a problem unless you have a car lift that can automatically double your garage parking space.
It’s not just for storing cars either – vehicle lifts make it easier to work under your car whenever it’s in dire need of some DIY maintenance.
How to Choose a Garage Car Lift?
- Size: 2-post car lift vs. 4-post car lift. Choose a 2-post auto lift for compacts cars and smaller SUVs and a 4-post car lift for bigger vehicles like trucks and vans.
- Capacity: car lifts have their specific weight capacity (9,000 pounds, 40,000 pounds, etc.), so choose based on your needs.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
BendPak XPR-10S: This direct-drive 2-post auto lift can handle up to 10,000 pounds.
Garage-Ready Refrigerator
The thing about the garage is, it’s more than just a space for parking cars. It can be an entertainment area, complete with all your necessities to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with friends, including a chilled beer.
If you’re thinking of transforming the garage into a comfy space for you to unwind, why not get a garage-ready refrigerator?
Let’s face it. A cold drink is refreshing after you just tinkered with your car. But going to the house and the kitchen to get an ice-cold beverage is too much of a hassle. But not anymore if you have your own fridge in the garage!
If you’re unsure, yes, it’s perfectly fine to have a refrigerator in the garage.
How to Choose a Garage Refrigerator?
- “Garage-Ready” Refrigerator: this label from manufacturers means that they have extra features than regular household refs. It can include a lower range of recommended operating temperature, high energy efficiency, or extra insulation.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Midea Reversible Refrigerator: It’s a standalone refrigerator with a compact internal freezer, perfect for making ice cubes and chilling beverages and snacks.
Beverage Cooler for Garage
If you don’t want a full-on refrigerator in the garage, you might want to consider getting a beverage cooler instead. Do you love beers? Perhaps you recently bought a 24-pack, which is now only sitting in the pantry. A beer cooler solves that problem, perfect for keeping your favorite ale chilled, ready to enjoy any time.
How to Choose a Garage Cooler?
- Types: freestanding, built-in, mini-fridge
- Door: look for a beer cooler with a transparent door, so you can see what’s cooling inside without opening the door.
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Whynter Beverage Cooler: Store up to 120 standard 12-oz cans inside this compact freestanding cooler/fridge. You can also adjust the thermostat from 30-degrees to 60-degrees Fahrenheit.
Smart Garage Door Opener
Automate your garage door with the best and smartest garage door opener. Now, you won’t need to worry if you forgot to shut the garage door or to jump out of the car to close your garage door as you leave for work in the morning.
Simply attach this smart garage appliance to your existing garage door system, and you can now open or close the door using your phone!
How to Choose a Garage Door Opener?
- Unit Type: add-on device to your existing garage door opener vs. a smart tech integrated into a new garage door opener
- Power Type: AC vs. DC
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi enabled, Bluetooth enabled, or both
Looking for a Quick Recommendation?
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub: Check your garage door status in your Android or iOS smartphone through the MyQ app.
Must-have appliances in the garage will depend on your needs and how you want to use the space. But always remember, a garage can be more than just the dark place to park your car, so let your imagination run wild.
Get the best garage appliances to transform your garage into the space you want!
