| As an alternative to electric heaters, fueled | | | | propane consumption, you can figure this out with |
| heaters such as those using propane or kerosene | | | | a bit of math. One gallon of propane will produce |
| also have many benefits. Though these types of | | | | 91,500 Btus of heat. If you have a heater that is |
| heaters may not suitable for home use because | | | | rated at 25,000 Btus per hour, simply divide |
| they need to be vented due to carbon monoxide | | | | 91,500 by 25,000 and you will find that your |
| emissions, if you are looking to quickly heat your | | | | heater will run for approximately 3.66 hours on |
| patio, warehouse, or other large, well-ventilated | | | | one gallon propane when running at full capacity. If |
| area, these are a great option. Several sized | | | | you spend 80 hours a month in your shop or |
| propane and kerosene heaters are available for | | | | workplace, you will go through about 22 gallons of |
| rapidly heating up large areas, and these types of | | | | propane per month. See the following formula to |
| heaters are very efficient because they use the | | | | determine propane consumption: |
| heat from combustion to directly heat the space | | | | 91,500 / Heater Btus per hour = Hours the |
| through convection. | | | | Heater Will Run on One Gallon of Propane |
| Although heaters running on electricity may seem | | | | If you are looking to buy a small portable tank |
| like a cost efficient and clean energy source, | | | | instead of leasing a large one, keep in mind that |
| most electricity in the United States is generated | | | | propane tanks hold 80 percent of their rated |
| by burning coal, which emits sulfur dioxide, nitrous | | | | capacity; therefore, a tank rated at 10 gallons |
| oxides, particulates, and greenhouse gases. Some | | | | would actually hold eight. With that in mind, for a |
| electricity is generated from natural gas, which | | | | 25,000 Btu heater, eight gallons of propane would |
| burns cleaner, but at least half of the energy is | | | | provide you with over 29 hours of use (8 gallons |
| lost in converting it to electricity and delivering it | | | | x 3.66 hours per gallon), so you would have to fill |
| to your home. Therefore, although the initial cost | | | | it twice a month. |
| of an electric heater may be significantly less than | | | | Kerosene Heaters |
| a propane or kerosene heater, the cost of fuel | | | | In addition to propane heaters, kerosene heaters |
| should be taken into account. | | | | are also another option. Though they use |
| Propane Heaters | | | | electricity, these have almost the same function |
| These heaters often come in the form of patio | | | | as propane heaters and burn cleaner. These can |
| heaters and gas fired heaters, and they are | | | | also provide localized heat for tough industrial |
| relatively small for the amount of space they are | | | | work areas and warehouses, and like propane |
| able to heat. Because they do not require | | | | heaters, they are not recommended for indoor |
| electricity to run, they are very cost-effective for | | | | use because of carbon dioxide emissions, risk of |
| warehouses and industrial settings where there is | | | | burns, ignition from flammable gases, and the |
| ample ventilation and when electricity may be too | | | | obvious increased risk of fire. Using a kerosene |
| costly. | | | | heater requires good judgment and safety |
| You can either buy tanks of propane according | | | | practices, and these must be adequately vented |
| your consumption, or rent them from your | | | | at four times greater per Btu/hour for unvented |
| propane supplier. In order to estimate your | | | | heaters than for vented heaters. |