Kerosene Heater

[Nate]

I was thinking of getting one of these to heat up my "shop".



http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...ne&fullTime=none&totalSounds=none&rotate=none



My shop is an uninsulated 12x24 building that has my entire setup, other than room to fit a vehicle. I have a concrete pad outside that I work on my vehicles.



I was thinking it would be nice to keep the "shop" above the outside temp when I'm working to give me a place to warm up.



Does anyone know if these heaters can burn diesel or fuel oil without fuming me out?

The reason I ask is K1 is nearly $30 for a 5 gallon pail



My other options would be a wood stove or an electric heater.



I only rent this place, so it's very possible I wouldn't be able to use a woodstove in the next place I live, vs being able to use the kerosene heater. Also it's not very portable and I'm a bit limited on space in the shed.



Electric heater would work, but the electric situation is limited and wired very weird. I'd rather not tax the system.

 

[Grizzly]

I have a barn woodworking shop. I had a kerosene heater. It would take a while to warm up my insulated shop and would soot up the place. I sold it and purchased a 30K btu propane heater and a 100 lb LP bottle. Much better and much faster heat. Also much cleaner and cheaper fuel.

 

[Nate]

I might do that.



The 2 burner propane and a tank wouldn't be super expensive.





I have gas heat in the house, but I don't think I can legally "T" off it without doing a bit of work, permits, etc. Not worth it for a rental.

 

[Grizzly]

My propane heater is a one burner from Home Depot and stands about 20 to 24" tall and it's about 12" round. It's a Coleman brand. Great heater. It listed for $100 and was reduced to half price about three years ago. I know they still have them.

 

[CPG]

One must use caution when useing a Kerosene heater in a closed area during the winter as they use up a high amount of oxygen. Safe ventilation is a must when useing these heaters to avoid possible fatal results.

 

[seemore]

Nate,

I've used that style Kerosene in the house & doesn't smell bad until shutting off. Regular diesel is supposed to carbon up the wick & render it useless much quicker.

I just purchased 5 gallons of K1 @ $2. 59/gal yesterday.

Unless you line WAY out in the boonies, a few gas stations should have K1.

Other the the explosion hazard I have used one in my shop & house.

 

[Nate]

I was looking last night at Walmart for one. The have a HUGE isle of electric heaters... I'm talking like a 40ft isle!. Not one kersosene heater in the whole store!



I haven't seen kerosene sold at the fuel stations here. Just gas and diesel.



I know back in Maine, where I grew up, the stations usually had gas diesel, off road diesel/fuel oil and kerosene pumps.

 

[Grizzly]

Go PROPANE, much cleaner and easier to find. I believe it's also safer.

 

[Nate]

I haven't had much luck finding any heater other than electric at this point.



I found one of the Kerosene heaters at the farm store but they wanted close to $300 for the same thing Northern Hydraulics sells for $120

 

[Nate]

I picked up a Kerosene heater from Home Depot the other day. I've been running diesel in it and it's working fine. I don't think I would put it in the house since it does fume a little with the diesel, but it's not back at all in the shop. . really don't notice it that much.



Heater was ~$130.



I was going to get the propane setup, but it said 1 tank was good for 8-12 hrs. Now a tank filled here is ~$15, so it wasn't all that cheap. The Kerosene heater uses maybe 2 gallons, if that in 8 hrs. Lot cheaper.

 

[daddy2kids]

Hello everyone.
I need a good kerosene heater. Any ideas which one to get?
I need to know if they are safe to use when there are kids around.
I want to buy one but I'm confused.
Can anyone tell me which one is good to buy in this review?
Best kerosene-fueled heaters
Thanks.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

Hello everyone.
I need a good kerosene heater. Any ideas which one to get?
I need to know if they are safe to use when there are kids around.
I want to buy one but I'm confused.
Can anyone tell me which one is good to buy in this review?
Best kerosene-fueled heaters
Thanks.

I use one like the dyna glo, just a different brand. I,use it to keep my garage warm in the winter when I'm reloading ammo, working my Ham radio, or anytime I'm going to be in the garage longer than 30 minutes. I wasn't sure it would be safe, but it burns clean and has never set the fire/co2 detector off, (and its super sensitive). It warms the garage pretty good, and is ok on fuel consumption. When you shut it down, it does stink a bit, kinda like your at the Airport terminal, and you get a wiff of burnt JP5 jet fuel. Works for me. It has a cage around it to prevent burns, and its got a wide foot print, so it would be very hard to tip over. Hope that helps some.

 

[TFucili]

We sold and serviced literally thousands of these wick-type heaters back in the day. Kero-Sun was sort of the pioneer in the US, and were well made. Corona was also very good. Kero Sun had a sump/false bottom to isolate the wick from water in the tank. the key is getting "true" K1 kerosene. We used to check it with a hydrometer, and it very often tested heavier than K1 should be which makes them stink like mad, and soots up the wick.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

We sold and serviced literally thousands of these wick-type heaters back in the day. Kero-Sun was sort of the pioneer in the US, and were well made. Corona was also very good. Kero Sun had a sump/false bottom to isolate the wick from water in the tank. the key is getting "true" K1 kerosene. We used to check it with a hydrometer, and it very often tested heavier than K1 should be which makes them stink like mad, and soots up the wick.

Mine is actually a dyna glo. I use kerosene right out of the filling stations pump. Maybe that's why it stinks a tad bit. Couldn't see paying $20 something dollars for a 1.5 gals of the heater fuel at Wally World.

 

[daddy2kids]

Thanks. I will look for those brands you suggested in my area.

 

[TFucili]

Mine is actually a dyna glo. I use kerosene right out of the filling stations pump. Maybe that's why it stinks a tad bit. Couldn't see paying $20 something dollars for a 1.5 gals of the heater fuel at Wally World.

Generally the issue was that it started off as K1, but many tank fleets did not have dedicated trailers, so they may have hauled heating oil or diesel on the previous run, and it would not take much to contaminate the load. If memory serves me, K1 should test at .79-.81, and many times it would be .82+, and that would be enough to cause problems.