this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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Looking for garage heater, US, 240v, 5000w (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago by AA5B@lemmy.world to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world
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Can anyone help with pointers for automatable garage heaters? So far my searches aren’t finding anything. My requirements are:

  • remotely preheat when I want to work out
  • alert if it’s left on, or automatically turn off

I’m in the US, looking for 240v maybe 5,000w electric heater. The basic item is cheap and readily available at home centers or online. I even see variations with Bluetooth remote and/or controlled by app.

I’m looking for something locally automatable. Matter/Thread would be ideal but I’m fine with Zigbee or z-wave. But I’m not finding anything like that, and getting stuck on some vendors portal is not ok. Any leads?

Or something that can use an external thermostat - I actually have an extra Ecobee - that can be locally automatable. Any leads? Any search tips that might find such a thing?

I briefly thought of automating an outlet, however even if smart outlets are available for those loads, that wouldn’t work because all these heaters have a safety feature to run the fan until the unit is cool

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[–] MuttMutt@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I personally would just find something and add an esp32 in to augment control.

But a really simple solution would be to add a switchbot or something similar. Just be sure that whatever heater you pick up has a switch you can easily control.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Im not familiar with those in person, only on paper. Would a switchbot interfere with normal use of the button? Would normal use of the button be likely to interfere with the switchbot?

Ideally smart devices continue to work as if they were dumb devices. In this case I have a teenager wanting to use heat to work out but he hasn’t been interested in my automation, and an electric bill payer (me) wanting to ensure the heater is off when not in use

[–] MuttMutt@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I've never used them either. But I've seen pictures and as long as they are setup correctly the devices buttons are still able to be pressed and turned on manually.