Propane Heater

[Toney Marconi]

Anybody have one of these forced air propane heaters?





This one "fell off a truck" right as my neighbor was standing there. It needs a regulator and hose. I'm just wondering how much propane they use before I buy a hose and regulator.

 

[SAD]

You will likely need a big tank due to the BTU rating.... Not so much for long run time, but for the boiling rate of the propane in the bottle vs output.

I looked at the larger (100-125k) version and the manufacturer recommended a 100 lb tank minimum. And then I was like, "no fücking way this scrawny-azz dude is toting a tank that size to get refilled...."

So I bought the kerosine version. Use it in my shop. Works great.

 

[Jays89YJ]

No. Get a kerosene / diesel bullet/salamander heater instead.

 

[themonk]

No. Get a kerosene / diesel bullet/salamander heater instead.

That's what I use. I run offroad diesel in it rather than kerosene. Means I keep only one of them on hand rather than kero that I'll use nowhere else. No diesel smell that I've noticed either which is a plus.

Don't use it if your space is tightly sealed as you won't be feeling well for long.

 

[Jays89YJ]

That's what I use. I run offroad diesel in it rather than kerosene. Means I keep only one of them on hand rather than kero that I'll use nowhere else. No diesel smell that I've noticed either which is a plus.

Don't use it if your space is tightly sealed as you won't be feeling well for long.

I wouldn't recommend using any combustion heater like that in tightly sealed spaces.

 

[themonk]

Ayup. Tried it once without thinking. Big mistake.

 

[Toney Marconi]

I plan on using it in the garage. There's probably enough fresh air coming through the dog door to be safe. If not I can always raise the garage door about a foot or so.

 

[John]

My father has one with two eyes that sits ontop of a propane bottle. It works surprisingly well to heat his detached 1000+ sq ft garage.

 

[Toney Marconi]

My father has one with two eyes that sits ontop of a propane bottle. It works surprisingly well to heat his detached 1000+ sq ft garage.

I've seen those. How long does a propane tank last?

 

[John]

I'm not 100% sure, but it always lasted all afternoon for me when I would detail cars in there in the wintertime. I feel like it must have been pretty efficient. I never started with a full tank.

 

[BrandonM7]

Standard grill tank provides about 440,000 btu. That's 35,000 btu/hr so math it. I have one like John mentioned and it's rated at 18k, 26k, and 30k and I rarely turn it above low. I frequently only light one of the burners, actually.

 

[slideways]

I've had both and we prefer the Kero forced ones better. The propane doesnt have a "thermostat" so it wont shut off and relight when needed. Its either fire shooting at a variable amount or off and you must relight. Plus the kero is just one unit to pick up or wheel around depending on size. No tank and hose dragging all over. We have a 65k that heats our 24x24 easily no matter the temperature outside. The 210k is a bit overkill as it runs and stops alot since it heats the place so quickly.

 

[BrandonM7]

I've had both and we prefer the Kero forced ones better. The propane doesnt have a "thermostat" so it wont shut off and relight when needed. Its either fire shooting at a variable amount or off and you must relight. Plus the kero is just one unit to pick up or wheel around depending on size. No tank and hose dragging all over. We have a 65k that heats our 24x24 easily no matter the temperature outside. The 210k is a bit overkill as it runs and stops alot since it heats the place so quickly.

I had a kerosene first but the fumes/smell became unbearable to me. Dad said it doesn't bother him, but it ****ing kills me.

 

[Toney Marconi]

I'm searching The Craigslist for a forced air Kerosene unit.

 

[Ardvark]

My father has one with two eyes that sits ontop of a propane bottle. It works surprisingly well to heat his detached 1000+ sq ft garage.

I've seen those. How long does a propane tank last?

I have one I used the same tank all winter long when I was doing addition

 

[miwico]

I had a kerosene first but the fumes/smell became unbearable to me. Dad said it doesn't bother him, but it ****ing kills me.

I can't deal with that either, especially when trying to enjoy a beer in a garage bar.

 

[BrandonM7]

I have one I used the same tank all winter long when I was doing addition

Mine on low with one head gets about 50 hours. That time stretches because you have to turn it off every now and then because it gets too hot so the effective usage is pretty damn long. Plus I can swap grill tanks .6 miles away for $20 -- kero is probably much more common up there, but down here it's at two places in town and you have to hand crank it into your can, leaving you with stinky hands and a can of juice to deal with.

 

[John]

Yeah, that's a good point, I don't even know where I would go to buy kerosene. I would have to look it up.

 

[miwico]

They stink, fawk that.

 

[themonk]

Yeah, that's a good point, I don't even know where I would go to buy kerosene. I would have to look it up.

Buy diesel, that's what I run mine on.

Having said that, I want to switch to propane when I get the shop insulated. Probably something a bit more permanent than a forced air heater.