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What Type Of Shop Heater Should I Buy ????

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DonMan

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
My current shop is 30 x 40 and has a large wood-burning stove. I am moving into my new shop January 1st. New shop is 30 x 90 and has no heater at all.
I need to buy a heater. It doesn`t get extremely cold, but I would like to keep it comfortable inside the shop. I also will be doing a little painting at times.
I think one of those "Forced-Air" torpedo looking heaters will be my best choice. They offer a kerosene fueled heater or a propane fueled heater.
I am weighing initial purchase price and operating costs into my decision. Also, doesn`t the kerosene heater produce a smell?
I have shopped Tractor Supply and here`s a comparison:
KEROSENE:
125000 BTU
11 hours operating time
heats 3000 sq feet
$340

PROPANE:
75000-125000 BTU
consumes 4 lbs propane / hour
heats 3000 sq feet
$173

Here`s a few questions:
What quantity is 4 lbs of propane ( in gallons ) ?
Does kerosene heater emit a smell ?
Which heater is more economic to operate ?
The larger propane heaters say that they require a 100 lb cylinder to operate. How many gallons is a 100 lb cylinder ?

Will either of these heaters efficiently heat my 2700 sq ft shop? Do I need a larger heater?

Which would you buy?

I have only compared the heaters rated at 3000 sq feet. There are others available.
 
#14 ·
:eek: :eek:

Don, my advice is to get a bigger one than you think you need and get one with a thermostat.

Just like when buying a transmission cooler for your truck. :eek: :confused: :laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

Those jet heaters get noisey and warm a room superfast. It suggs having to plug, unplug, plug, and unplug.

Also, watch out when painting - they can blow floor dust,dirt up into all the airspace fast.
 
#15 ·
You should go with a unit that vents outside. With that many BTU you will definitley have condensation inside as the combustion will happen with no external venting. It will be more expensive, but give you longer life, will more than likely hang out of the way, you can get a Natural Gas version if its plumbed to your house.
 
#16 ·
I have tried the kerosene torpedo deal and the fumes ran me out of the shop. I have a propane torpedo and that is a lot better, but after a while it seems like my eyes feel funny/water. I think both of them say not to use indoors without some sort of venting. It sounds like you are not going to heat this shop all day & night, maybe just when you are there.

If money is a concern, like it is for me, here's an off the wall suggestion that may get laughed at, but it works great for me. My shop is 24x30 - no insulation. It gets pretty cold here. A customer gave me his oil burning furnace from his house. (He went to propane) Anyway, it is my understanding that people give those things away, so the price is right. It seems to burn about 3 gallons of diesel in about 8+ hours, and that is going full blast. The heat this thing blows out is unreal. I do have it on a t-stat so I can control it that way if I need to.

I have had a wood stove, a pellet stove, 220 electric, kerosene and propane as described above. Nothing even comes close to what the free oil furnace does. It feels like Florida in the shop even when it is 10* outside.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I use a propane torpedo heater from Home Depot. I have to agree with FTM about the eyes feeling funny. My garage is 36x40 and usually after 3hrs my eyes feel funny. Its not even close to way I feel if I use Kerosene(worse). If I had a shop your size I would install a ceiling mounted Reznor forced Air Heater. They can run on propane or Natural gas. My father heats his 70x40 with it and its great..
 
#18 ·
Never Satisfied said:
You should go with a unit that vents outside. With that many BTU you will definitley have condensation inside as the combustion will happen with no external venting. It will be more expensive, but give you longer life, will more than likely hang out of the way, you can get a Natural Gas version if its plumbed to your house.
Click to expand...

exactly...vented is the only way to go and then it is permanently installed. Painting......well that is another thing...open flames of any type and flammable paint fumes/cans/thinners do not mix. Be careful.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
I only want to heat it while I`m there.
Another thing: I don`t own this shop. I`m just leasing it. Hanging a heater and venting it outside and all is a great idea, but may not be for me right now. My ultimate goal is to sell my home and buy a house with some room to build a shop.
The propane torpedo might be the ticket. Maybe I could open a window to vent fumes...?
 
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