Shop heater suggestions...which fuel?

bkuhn · Oct 14, 2007

I'm looking for a heater this winter to heat a shop (36x24). Right now I have a woodstove in it which works great on days when I know I'll be working all day (i zip out in the morning and give it a few hour head start). But for those evenings when I'm just there for an hour or two it seems like it just starts be warm up about the time I'm packing it in for the night. So what I'd like would be something that will heat it up quickly, but will only be used a few hours at a time at most.

I think I'm down to two options (links included below). I was thinking I'd go with one of these propane forced air heaters but ran across a diesel/kerosene version tonight and it got me thinking. Diesel is appealing since I have a large tank of that on the property for vehicles/tractors. But I wondered if there is an odor as it burns? Have not experience with any of these units (propane or diesel/kerosene) and would love to hear any input on the pros/cons. Again, in my situation it will be used a few hours at a times, probably a few times a week in a workshop (24x36).

I was suprised to see that the diesel version was actually a little less expensive and had a significantly higher heating capacity.

Propane - Universal Lock-Out Tool Set | Lock Out Tools | Northern Tool + Equipment 8674_200178674

Diesel/Kerosene - Item# 45604 Sold Out | Northern Tool + Equipment 8951_200338951

Thanks for the input!
Brad

scesnick · Oct 14, 2007

I think your links are wrong. But, I used to use a Salamander heater and i burned diesel in it. It doesn't smell all that bad but is very loud. I have since put a multifuel ( coal /wood/oil ) boiler in my garage that heats my house , so, I also hooked up a hydronic shop heater to it. it workds great.

Willl · Oct 15, 2007

Infrared Heaters

bkuhn · Oct 15, 2007

Sure enough, seems like I did something wrong when I pasted those links in. Let me try again...

Diesel
All-Pro Kerosene/Diesel Forced Air Heater 70,000 BTU, Thermostat, Model# PK70T | Diesel | Northern Tool + Equipment

or Propane
Mr. Heater Portable Propane Forced Air Heater 30,000 - 55,000 BTU, Model# MH55FAV | Heaters | Northern Tool + Equipment

Thanks!
Brad

scesnick · Oct 15, 2007

Yep, that is what I used to use. they work well but are fairly noisy. I ran offroad diesel in mine with no problems at all.

jinman · Oct 15, 2007

Those turbo heaters are great. They provide instant heat and are easily directed where you need them. They are very noisy and do put out a bit of carbon monoxide, so they are best used in a very open area or outside. To heat up your shop quickly, they would certainly work. Then, if you had a different quieter/cleaner heater to maintain the heat, you'd have the perfect solution.

My turbo heater has wheels and is 120,000 btu. It will make a garage "toasty" in a short while. I think you are on the right track. I also have a kerosene heater like this:

kerosene heater around $125

I was shocked to find the turbo heater on Amazon was over $400. I paid less than $200 for mine, but that was over 10 years ago.

gordon21 · Oct 15, 2007

Could various waste oils (motor, hydraulic, ATF) be mixed in with the diesel in those jet engine type floor models? Something like 20% used oil to 80% fresh diesel? I can see the problem with using cruddy oil with a tractor engine with delicate injectors, but what type of fuel delivery system do those heaters use? Would they tolerate waste oil?

SnowRidge · Oct 15, 2007

Playing with numbers....

Okay, that heater is 70,000 BTU and burns slightly more than 1/2 gal an hour. Assuming off road diesel at $2.50, and a burn rate of .6 gallon/hr, it will cost $1.50 an hour to heat your shop with it going full tilt

70,000 BTU is 20.5 KW, so if your electric rate was $.073/KWh, costs would be equal, and you could use an electric heater with no fume or moisture issues.

A small heat pump could provide both cooling and heating and would cost even less to heat with in moderate temps. Window models are available. A through the wall motel unit might also be something to consider.

Food for thought.

anojones · Oct 15, 2007

SnowRidge said:
A small heat pump could provide both cooling and heating and would cost even less to heat with in moderate temps. Window models are available. A through the wall motel unit might also be something to consider.

Food for thought.

This is what we are doing in our shop/studio. We are working on two finished areas, a studio space for my wife and a shop and have the thru the wall PTAC units for both. I haven't had a chance to try them out yet (still working on the place), but they should be fine for cooling, but don't have the BTU output of a fuel burning heater (propane/diesel/keronsene)- so if you want to go from 0-70F it may take awhile. They should be fairly quiet as well, but do have a fan/condenser in the wall so will make noise like any window unit. They are also expensive. This should work well in the studio which has a bath and will need some amount of heat year round to keep the plumbing from freezing, and the space will be clean (no dust). However, with the dust in the shop and not needing it heated all the time I probably would do it differently with a heater and maybe a window unit to cool only.