Propane space heaters can really help out with heating those spaces that never seem to get warm enough during the colder months. The garage, patio, and other rooms in the house can really benefit from the use of a propane space heater. There are many different models to choose from depending on the situation you are in.
Garage propane space heaters-
For a garage or workshop area, there are many available options for propane space heaters. If you are someone who likes to spend a lot of time in the garage during the winter months, whether working on the car or doing other projects, then you may want to consider getting more of a heavy-duty type of garage propane heater. Some units are meant to be hooked to gas lines and not moved very often, wheras others are more portable and able to be moved in and out of the garage and workshop area at will.
Indoor Propane Space Heaters-
Indoor models of propane space heaters come in a variety of models and designs as well. Some will be base board mounted, whereas others will be completely detachable and hook onto a propane heating tank. These tanks are fillable at gas stations and grocery stores. Often times the portability of the heaters will be dependent on the size of the propane tank that is attached to the device.
Indoor propane space heaters need to take into account exhaust. Many indoor propane space heaters will have an automatic shutoff if the build up of exhaust becomes dangerous. Make sure the heater you choose has this feature, or do not buy it, period. Pretty much all newer models will have this feature.
Outdoor Propane Space Heaters-
Propane space heaters that are designed for exclusive outdoor use are very different. Often times these are large freestanding towers that don’t require permanent in ground installation. You simply hook up the propane tank within the tower itself.
Ceiling mounted outdoor space heaters are other popular designs that save space in commercial spaces. These are popular alternatives to the tower models.
Popular Models of Propane Space Heaters-
Mr. Heater, Oullette, NewAir, Dimplex, Soleus, Honeywell, Vornado, and other brands are popular on the market. Pricing can be anywhere between around $50 to upwards of $500 depending on the amount of space that needs to be heated. A great place to get any type of heater is at Amazon.com, where shipping is often free and prices are often better than at manufacturers websites.
Explanation of BTU’s-
Many companies will talk about “BTU’s” when describing heaters. This has to do with the heating output of the propane space heaters. This stands for “British Thermal Unit”. Basically, the larger the number, the more heat the propane space heater puts off and the larger the space can be heated. So keep this in mind when shopping for a new heater. If you need to heat a large room or workshop, make sure you are getting enough power.
The rule of thumb is for every 10-15 watts, 1 square foot of space can be heated. To convert watts to BTUs, multiply watts by 3.4. So if you had a 1,500 watt heater= 150-225 square feet, and this equals 5, 120 BTUs. This would be more of a portable design at these numbers.
Propane space heaters can fill many different needs depending on the BTU’s and watts, design, and intended indoor or outdoor use. Choose the right model and be warm no matter how cold it is outside!