Portable Propane Heaters are a perfect way to keep warm outside no matter what temperature mother nature throws at you. Outdoorsman, construction workers, animals, patio areas- they can all benefit nicely from portable propane heaters. There are a vast selection of designs, models, and brands to choose from. Portability comes in varying degrees with the portable propane heaters. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when choosing between portable propane heaters to purchase.
Forced Air Portable Propane Heaters: Forced air models of portable propane heaters rely on battery power, or electricity to power a fan to circulate the heated air. There are a variety of different models available on the market today. Some are more or less box designs with handles on them for carrying, while others will be a cylinder style with one side being the air emitting side. Don’t have batteries or electricity? If you want to take these out in the wilderness then make sure you get a model that allows a battery power option. These propane heaters will still emit heat even if the fan doesn’t work, though.
Tank Top Attached Portable Propane Heaters: These portable heaters are radiant heat models instead of convective. That means they will usually have a reflective surface that helps direct the heat to where you want to focus it. The heating module itself attaches directly on to the top of the propane tank. This can limit the mobility of the propane heater, depending on what you want to use the heater for. For the campers who need to pack the heater into the wilderness, the tank top attached may not be a good idea. But for the person who doesn’t mind transporting a propane tank, then a tank top model may be perfect. Since the heating unit attaches to the top of the tank, you will need to attach it to a tank that is large enough so it doesn’t tip over, so there is another reason for less portability for some peoples needs.
Other Models of Portable Propane Space Heaters: Some other designs of portable propane space heaters will allow you to truly bring your heater wherever you want. The smaller ones could even be packed into the wilderness in a backpack. The only thing making your heater as portable as you want is the size of the propane tank. You can get very small 1 lb. tanks. These are pretty small to carry around, of course that means the heating time will be significantly less. You can expect 1-2 hours heating time on a one pound tank.
These other models will be hooked to the tank via a hose. The hoses can come in different sizes depending on your needs. Since the heater isn’t attached to the tank top, you can now attach a smaller sized tank because it’s not going to tip over. Therefore if you get a heater that is hose attached you can expect a little more portability.
Portable propane heaters can also come in models that are more of a conventional box design that sets on 4 legs on the floor. Some will be forced air, others radiant or infrared. So you can see that “portable” is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to a propane space heater. It all depends on the size of the tank as well when discussing portability. Some good brands are, but not limited to, Mr. Heater, Coleman, Desa, Dayva, and Schaefer.