An alternative to heating your home with a furnace system this winter is using a best propane heater. Not only are these heaters safe and clean burning, they are also affordable. The initial cost of an indoor propane heater is reasonable, and the units are inexpensive to run. Propane heating units use a compressed gas cylinder to generate heat, and, while some units require a 100 gallon tank of propane, others require much less. Indoor propane heaters are less expensive to run than electric space heaters; however, you may need to the availability and cost of propane in your area. Whether you purchase a space heater or lightweight wall mounted unit, you can take advantage of the unit’s portability and move it from room to room. Another advantage of indoor propane heaters is that no electricity is required; therefore you can place the unit where you need it, regardless of where outlets are located in the room.
BTU
To make the most of your indoor propane heater, you first need to decide how powerful it needs to be. Indoor propane heaters are rated by British Thermal Units, or BTU, which equals the amount of heat required to heat a pound (or 16 ounces) of water by one degree Fahrenheit. To estimate the number BTU you require, multiply the square footage of the space by its height to determine the room’s volume. Then, consider the insulation of the space. If the space is well insulated, you would multiply the volume by four to reach the number of BTUs you need. If the space is not well insulated, multiply by the volume by three. If space is poorly insulated, multiply the volume by two. Another way to determine BTU required is to consider the wattage used by an electric heater. To do so, multiply the wattage by 3.4. For example, a 10,000 BTU unit produces the same amount of heat as an electric heater with 2,900 watts of power.
Model Types
The are three types of indoor propane heaters: radiant, forced-air convection, and natural convection. Each operates in a different way. With radiant heaters, a flame-heated chamber releases infrared radiation that heats the objects in front of the unit. These heaters are ideal for a small section of a room or a desk area, use little power, and are quiet. They will not, however, heat a room quickly. Convection heaters use a metal or ceramic heating element to warm the air. In a forced-air convection unit, air warmed by the heating element is blown into the room by a fan, which quickly distributes warm are into the room. Although a forced-air unit quickly heats a small room, the fan can be noisy. A natural convection heater heats air in the same way as a forced-air unit, but does not use a fan. Instead, air is drawn into the unit, warmed, and then flows upward into the room. Like the other heater types, the natural convection type is also useful for heating up a small or medium room. It is quieter than a forced-air unit, however, it does not heat a room as quickly.
Safety
Indoor propane heaters require appropriate ventilation, especially in small spaces such as a bathroom. In fact, a fan is recommended to help move the air around. Some propane units require a chimney or outlet of some sort for the fuel that is burned, however, many do not. Your propane unit should be installed at least three feet from anything flammable and the heating element should be completely enclosed. For additional safety, you should consider a unit with an automatic shutoff function that turns the unit off if it is overturned. Or, install a propane wall heater, which cannot be knocked over and is out of reach of children and pets. Also, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding installation and use.
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