Portable Kerosene heater

DannyD · Nov 3, 2009

At Home Depot for $59. 23,000 BTUs. Will be real toasty. Challenge from my understanding is there's no thermostat control. So the thing is either on or off & will roast ya out of your truck. Also will have a less than great smell when ya shut it off. Still, all in all not a bad price if ya can get around those 2 things.

Not sure if anyone can use one of these but thought I'd put it out there.

hondaking38 · Nov 3, 2009

ya need ventillation or you might not wake up..

greg334 · Nov 3, 2009

Sorry Danny, but there is no f****** way I would use a kerosene heater.

Liquid fuel is worst than propane, propane can be vented off where if you spill the kerosene, you will have a problem with clean up.

A lot of the heaters I've seen don't have low O2 shut offs which is very important.

Get Mr Buddy heater and use that or better yet get an Espar.

DannyD · Nov 3, 2009

I actually came back here to say that the heater I brought up might not be the best idea. At least for a truck. A lot of people are using them for their home & for the most part have given it favorable ratings.

Between when I posted the first time & posting this, I've been studying kerosene heaters. They're not just start up & run the things. Learning about wick sizes, types of kerosene, etc & there's a lot more to learn.

As for not waking up, this is "supposedly" safe, but I've also read where kerosene, like a lot of things, is only as safe as the operator. So yea, I wouldn't just recommend someone to get one & turn it lose.

As for the Mr Buddy heater, is this the one you were referring to?

Mr. Heater F215100 Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Series Heaters

DannyD · Nov 3, 2009

I meant to add, I'm also looking for something that I can use in my house also. My electric bills in winter are $200 for a 700 sq. foot house.

Turtle · Nov 3, 2009

Edenpure heater for the house. Works great, slashes electricity bills. We've had a couple of them for 3 or 4 years now.

greg334 · Nov 3, 2009

This is the one I am talking about.

Buddy Heater

Moot · Nov 4, 2009

Danny, go at least one size larger. That's what I have. Chef Dennis has the large one running off a 20# tank. Mr. Heater - America's Most Popular Portable Heaters

Stay away from kerosene heaters.

chefdennis · Nov 4, 2009

i hang mine from the ceiling off a bungie cord and hook, start it up on the 9000 btu setting, once hot, lower it to the 4000 btu setting .....i installed a Maxxfan root vent this yr, and that has been enough ventilation so there is no mositure buildup on the windows or on any bare metal . The big uint has a fan built into it to move the heated air around...

pelicn · Nov 4, 2009

How long does the propane last with regular use?

bcordell70 · Nov 4, 2009

Here is the info I got from Lowes about them:

Heats up to 200 sq. ft.
Variable settings: 4-9,000 BTUs output
Operates 3-6 hours on 1 lb. cylinder
Compatible with 1 lb. and 20 lb. cylinders
Piezo ignition
Designed and approved for emergency indoor use
Connects directly to 20 lb. cylinder with optional hose
Automatic low oxygen shutoff system
Accidental tip-over safety shutoff

This is for the $79 9000btu heater

Turtle · Nov 4, 2009

How much does it cost the average driver in an average van over the course of an average per week during the winter months north of the Mason-Dixie Line to run a propane heater?

chefdennis · Nov 4, 2009

I hate the cold. to give you and idea, i keep the furnace at home set at 78*...Last year from mid Sept tp mid feb i went thru 10 20lb bottles, basically 1 bottle every other week, but i ran the heater all the time, If i was sitting, the heater was on as long as it cool outside...I have used the heater already this yr....even last week while in Ariz. and up in mich.

Avg EXCHANGE at Lowes, Walmart , Home Depot is about $17-$18 ....so even at $20, that $200 for 5 months or less then a dollar a day (no i didn't use it everyday)

As I said, I start on the 9000 btu setting and when it is warm, i drop it to the 4000...not often, but when i am in a really cold area, ill start it on the 12,000 setting and then run it on the 9000 setting until i can deal with it and then lower it....

I have no qualms at all with the unit or the expense of using it....

pelicn · Nov 4, 2009

Thanks for the info on costs. Another question, does it make you nervous to carry a cylinder of propane on board? Maybe I'm being paranoid, but what if the vehicle is involved in an accident? BOOM?
The heater sounds great except for that. Our generator heat is terrible, we use one of the little 1500 watt electric heaters and it does pretty good until the temperature really falls. The only problem with it is that we have to turn it off when running the microwave.

chefdennis · Nov 4, 2009

Personally, i don't have an issue with the tank in the van...they are on and in RV's and Motorhomes all over the country...but, if you have a concern with it, you are in a ST aren't you? Mount the tank in a under the box toolbox.....

pelicn · Nov 5, 2009

We might have to consider that.

oncedrove · Nov 5, 2009

pelicn said:
We might have to consider that.

Ask around at your local school bus garage, lot of school buses were converted to propane and back to gas. Why you ask? Because propane freezes up rather easily with the temp and humidity. I believe a bus tank held 150 lbs. They are the size that replaced a 50 gallon tank.

We had whole fleets of buses freeze up in a wet snow storm and all you could do with them was tow to the garage to thaw out.

flattop40 · Nov 5, 2009

pelicn said:
Thanks for the info on costs. Another question, does it make you nervous to carry a cylinder of propane on board? Maybe I'm being paranoid, but what if the vehicle is involved in an accident? BOOM?

I strap my 20lb between the 2 front seats. I figure if I get hit hard enough to damage it there then Im not walking away at that point anyway.