1. SportCat Perfec Temp from Coleman

If you love outdoor life, then this Coleman propane heater with InstaStart technology is indeed one good investment. Use it for camping in a tent or even in a small cabin. Wherever you are (at home or not), you can be fully assured that you will never get cold. This propane heater is affordable (less than $50) and is easy to use with its matchless lighting feature. It can be used with a 16.4 cylinder and can last for 14 hours. It is stable and portable at the same time.

2. Buddy Portable Heater from Mr. Heater

The brand Mr. Heater is indeed a popular choice for those who look for reliable but affordable heaters for both home and outdoor use. With the MRHF273400 Buddy LPG heater, you can get fast and instant heat at home or outdoors. It is light at 8 lbs. but stable enough that you do not have to worry about it getting knocked over. It can be used with a stand or as a wall-mount heater. It offers both high and low settings, and can give sufficient heat for even 200 sq ft of space.

3. Double Propane Heater (Tank-top) from Mr. Heater

This particular propane heater uses manual ignition but it offers a lot when it comes to other features. First, it has three heat levels giving you options depending on the space you want to heat. It also uses 3 safety shut off features and can be mounted directly on propane cylinders. It can be operated from 10 to 52 hours as well as heats fast without the need for any electricity, and is a fantastic portable heater choice.

4. Blue Flame Heater from Mr. Heater (VF30KBLUELP)

You do not have to feel cold or uncomfortable even during power outages with this heater model from Mr. Heater. It can be mounted on a wall or operate free-standing. It has a fan for better and increased circulation. In the end, you get clean and safe burning heat.

5. Propane Heater from Texsport

This heater is so affordable with its less than $30 price tag. It uses a stainless steel burner; has auto shut off; and also uses a wide base for better stability. This propane heater is best used for outdoor fun as it is highly portable.

As discussed at length at HeaterHut, each of these fuel choices carry their individual strengths and weaknesses, and each room or area may be a bit different.

One of the considerations you may weigh is the total cost to run your heater, as compared to the total heat output they can produce. Fortunately, a few quick rules-of-thumb can help you to decide which fuel style may be the best for your room as well as your budget. When any number of heating styles may work for you, sometimes the deciding factor can be made easily with your wallet.

First, Some Facts

You’ve probably noticed that heaters advertise their heat output in a unit called the BTU. This stands for British Thermal Unit, and is the standard unit of measurment for heat energy, used for fuel-burning heaters such as kerosene and propane heaters.

Conversely, the kilowatt hour (or kwh) is the standard measure of electric energy output, and applies to electric heaters like ceramic heaters or oil heaters.

To be able to accurately compare the heat output of these two styles of heaters, we should figure out a bit of common ground. Let’s see how many gallons of fuel or kilowatt hours it takes from each type of heater fuel to produce 1 million BTUs of heat energy.

Kerosene — 7.4 gallons per million BTUs.
Propane — 10.9 gallons per million BTUs.
Electricity — 293 kwh per million BTUs.

Using these numbers, it’s a simple matter of multiplying the average costs of each of these various fuel types by the above numbers. This will show you the approximate dollar costs to produce 1 million BTUs with each heater style.

For example, kerosene currently costs about $2.25 per gallon, so it would cost $16.65 to produce 1 million BTUs with a typical kerosene heater (7.4 x 2.25). Let’s do the rest of the math for you.

Average Costs per Million BTUs

Kerosene — $16.65 per million BTUs
Propane — $32.70 per million BTUs
Electricity — $32.23 per million BTUs

Now, obviously these numbers will depend on the current energy costs for your area, and may flucuate from season to season. However, this quick formula can save you tons of cash if you’re deciding which heater is right for your space.

Of course, there are other factors at stake. You’ll never want to use kerosene, natural gas, or propane heaters without proper ventilation inside a home, for instance. However, if you’re undecided on what heater style to purchase, it can help to run the numbers and bit and estimate the effect on your wallet.

Warming Up Safely

Safety should be your first concern when it comes to portable heaters. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires are caused by the improper use of space heaters each year, resulting in roughly 3,000 deaths. Thousands more receive care for burns caused by space heaters. To keep you and your family from becoming a statistic, learn the ins and outs of the safety recommendations for your specific heater.

Both electric heaters (such as oil heaters and ceramic heaters) and fuel heaters (such as kerosene and propane heaters) need to be used in an appropriate environment. Typically, this means using electric heaters indoors and fuel heaters outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

However, you’ll want to be sure that any heater you use is safely positioned in its space. Give plenty of clearance for the heater, and do not place it anywhere near a flammable object. Be especially careful with curtains and drapes, as gusts could blow them towards or into a heater, causing a fire.

Anticipate any possible situations where an object could come into contact with your heater. Is there a nearby lamp that could be bumped over? Is there a tablecloth that could brush against the heater? Thinking ahead and giving your heater the maximum amount of space is a huge step towards preventing fires and burns.

Also, always be sure that your heater features an tip sensor, and that it is in good, working condition. These safety switches detect if the unit has been knocked over, and will immediately shut the heater elements down. Most modern heaters feature this life-saving sensor, so it may be best to replace older units that lack them.

Clearing the Air About Propane Heaters

As propane heaters create heat from burning fuel, there are a whole additional set of concerns when it comes to their use. While propane itself is basically a harmless gas, burning it inside a heater releases carbon monoxide into the air. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas and can produce an asphixiation hazard. This is why you must always be sure to use fuel-burning heaters outdoors or in very well-ventilated spaces, such as patios, decks, garages, etc.

Wherever you’re using a propane heater, it’s a great idea to keep a carbon monoxide detector nearby. These can alarm you to dangerous concentrations of the gas well in advance. And don’t put too much confidence in so-called ventless gas heaters. While these heaters typically create less exhaust, even small traces of carbon monoxide can cause damage over time.

Regardless of the heater style you’ll be using to keep warm this winter, be certain that you’re operating it safely and that you have a the appropriate safety equipment on hand. A bit of caution upfront can save a trip to the ER later.

Propane heaters put out a great deal of heat, but can be dangerous if one’s home is not properly ventilated. One should also be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in good working order.

Electric heaters, on the other hand, output no dangerous gases (unlike kerosene, LP, or propane gas heaters). However, their overall heat output is generally lower. You’re also limited to using them where you have access to an electric outlet. This might not be the case on a patio, porch, or while camping.

Despite their handful of drawbacks, electric convection heaters have recently become the most popular electric heater choice since they use electricity like the radiant heaters but can warm an entire room like a propane heater without any appreciable risk.

A ceramic heater uses the technology of convection and can be quite economical. Electricity is drawn into a ceramic plate which heats up. A metal baffle, usually made of aluminum, then absorbs the heat. A fan blows air past the metal baffle and into the room. The fan assures the air will be circulated and drawn inside the front of the heater, which will allow the heat to spread and fill the room.

Once one has decided upon a ceramic heater, one has many models to choose from. The first option to investigate should be safety. Ceramic heaters are a great, safe choice, as none of them have external filaments against which flammable materials can brush. This makes them very similar in function to radiator-style oil heaters, and they share many of the same safety benefits as well.

However additional safety features to consider include an emergency cut off in case the unit is knocked over and a thermostat switch that stops electrical current when the unit reaches the set temperature. These three features together should reduce the risk of fire considerably, as compared to other heater styles.

If the room to warm is large, one should consider ceramic heaters with an oscillating fan. Oscillation can fill up to 150 square feet and have been shown to provide a comfortable even temperature in a room with a vaulted ceiling. An oscillating ceramic heater usually has a fan only setting. One need not store it but can use it all summer as well.

Smaller rooms can get by without the oscillators. Placed on a bathroom sink or under an office desk, these heaters can keep one warm during the coldest of months. In most portable models one can choose between a low or high setting of 900 or 1500 watts. These are similar to hair dryers and use about the same amount of electricity, which keeps utility bills low.

Winter need not be a choice between high prices or low temperatures. There is another option. A ceramic heater can warm any room efficiently, inexpensively and safely.

While everyone knows these gorgeous, luxury patio heaters look fantastic out on your deck, not everyone knows what to look for when purchasing one. Let’s take a look at some of your options:

Heating Options – The Fuel Duel

Your first decision with patio heaters is what type of fuel you’ll be using. Your main three options are electric power, natural gas, or propane fuel. Depending on your budget and the limitations of your space, you’ll want to be sure to choose the right style for your needs.

Electric-powered unitstypically will run on a standard, household 110 volt power supply. If you have easy access to an outlet on your patio or porch, this may be your best option. Electric power is frequently less expensive than your alternatives, and it produces no potentially-harmful exhaust gases. Their major downside is that electric heaters usually produce much less heat energy (BTUs) than gas heaters.

Natural gas heaters usually have a higher BTU output than electric, and produce a great amount of heat for their operating cost. They burn cleanly, come in an array of styles, and are cheaper to run than propane heaters. But they have an obvious drawback — you must have a natural gas supply line where you’d like to install the unit. On a deck, this isn’t a big problem, but it can still be a pain to run a gas line.

Propane heaters get around this limitation by allow you to fuel your heater with portable propane cylinders. These 20 lb. cylinders are available at many superstores and gas stations. While it’s the most expensive fuel option for your luxury patio heater, propane allows for a much more portable heater. No fuel or electric supply line is needed, so these can be used poolside, tailgating, or even when camping.

Style and Substance

Once you’ve made your fuel decision, most of the difficult work is done. Now it’s simply a matter of choosing a heater with enough BTU output to sufficiently heat your space, and picking the style of heater you’d like.

The most popular option is the large, torch-like heaters with the directional dome at the top. These heaters provide a nice, even heat across a circular area. However, there are a handful of other options you may want to check out.

For instance, there are also smaller versions of these heaters for table-top use. Perfect for outdoor eating areas, they provide a lot of heating power in a small package. Plus, they look gorgeous as a luxurious “centerpiece”!

You can also take a look at some of the “offset” style radiant heaters made for outdoor use. These heaters provide direction heat energy that isn’t affected by the wind, and can be focused on a specific area. Rather than needing to set these units in the middle of your outdoor area like torch-style, you can set them to the side and direct the heat where it’s needed.

Whichever style you choose, luxury patio heaters provide both great looks and potent heat for your outdoor recreation areas.

A solution that’s worked nicely for hundreds of hunters is a propane-fueled space heater. These small heaters are perfect for the outdoorsman, as no electricity or special venting is required. They’re convenient, inexpensive, and won’t weigh you down during your hunt.

But what should you be looking for when shopping for a heater for your deer stand? Let’s take a look:

Houston, We Have Ignition

Since you won’t be dragging an extension cord out to your favorite hunting spot, we’re obviously going to need a no-electric ignition heater. Gas heaters, specifically propane-fueled heaters, are the best choice, as you can stock up on LP refills at nearly any super store or gas station.

Typically, there’s no need to worry about deer or other animals smelling the fuel or exhaust for your propane heaters. Unless there is a leak in the supply tank or hose, the smell of propane should never exit the heater. The exhaust gases are also odorless and shouldn’t raise any concerns.

Of course, you’ll want to be sure you’re operating your heater in a safe area with proper ventilation – while the exhaust is odorless, that doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful. Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s recommendations for your particular heater model.

Keeping it Quiet

Be certain that you purchase a heater that ignites with a manual switch. Better yet, carry a long-barreled lighter with you to ignite the flame yourself. The ignition devices of some heaters make a fairly loud “pop” that could spook any deer in earshot.

To that end, you want to be sure to get a silent-running heater for your deer stand.  Units with noisy blowers can let your prey know that something isn’t quite right!

Portability

The beautiful thing about some wall-mount heaters is that they can be operated either as a floor OR wall-mounted heater. For example, check out the Mr. Heater MRHF273400 Portable Buddy Heater. This unit can run on either the 1lb propane cylinders or the larger 20lb. tanks, and can easily be removed from the wall when it’s time to go home for the night.

Some hunters even like to take the heater with them after a kill for gutting and field dressing. If you’re using the smaller 1 lb. cylinders, the Portable Buddy is perfect for this! 

Some Final Notes About Safety

As with all portable heaters, you’ll want to be sure you follow all safety guidelines for use. Be sure that you have proper ventilation, which shouldn’t be much of a problem in a deer stand. However, you should never operate a heater without a fire extinguisher nearby. Always keep a small extinguisher in your stand or box blind in case of emergencies.

Like all infrared heaters, infrared garage heaters produce radiant heat as opposed to convection. Radiant heat works much like the sun, directly heating objects via transmitted energy. Convective heat (the heat typically produced by ceramic heaters or many propane heaters) warms the surrounding air in a room, which would prove to be an inefficient heating solution in a drafty garage or cold workspace.

Heating Things Up Instantly

On a chilly Saturday morning, you’ll be thankful that infrared garage heaters begin warming the area instantly. You won’t be waiting for the air in the room to be heated and circulated, so warmth can be felt almost as soon as you turn the unit on.

By focusing radiant heat directly where it’s needed, radiant heaters don’t waste energy warming air that may simply be escaping through drafty windows or an uninsulated garage. When working in your garage or workspace, you can thankfully direct the infrared heat to a small area. In addition, as the air isn’t being heated and circulated, you won’t get that stuffy feeling that some convection heaters can produce.

Fueling Your Garage Heater

The more efficient garage heaters (in terms of BTU output) run on natural gas or propane, rather than purely on electricity. While both fuel types have their advantages, propane tends to win in the convenience factor. You won’t need to run a new natural gas supply line, and the fuel can be easily refilled with the 20lb. propane cylinders available nearly everywhere.

For instance, take a look at the Mr. Heater F272100 Garage Heater. This model is thermostat controlled, wall-mounted, and outputs a maximum of 22,000 BTUs per hour. The manufacturer rates this model as able to warm a 500-600 square foot area. It doesn’t even require an electric supply, so it can be installed almost anywhere in your garage or workshop.

Thanks to their flexibility, they can even be used to clear snow from loading ramps or outdoor walkways. Try that with an electric ceramic heater!

A Word About Safety…

As with the typical gas or propane heater, safety is always a concern. However, most modern heaters will feature an auto-shutoff sensor that detects low oxygen levels. This helps to prevent asphyxiation hazards, but please still follow manufacturer’s instructions for use.

Bottom line, infrared garage heaters are a fantastic option for getting use out of your workspace all year long. They are affordable, safe, and can be installed in nearly any space.

Tabletop Propane Heater Basics

When deciding what style of patio heater to purchase for your space, keep in mind how you plan on using it, and the space that it will be warming. Will you be entertaining larger groups on your deck or patio, or do you primarily just need to provide warmth for you and your family? How large is the space you plan to heat? Is there more than one table or sitting area that you would like to heat? Do you have access to a natural gas line, or could one easily be installed?

Free-standing patio gas heaters are a great choice, but they require either a natural gas line or 20lb. propane cylinders for operation. Plus, they are often a bit too large and can waste energy if installed in a smaller space.

This is where tabletop propane heaters come in. Their compact design and smaller fuel requirements allows them to be used nearly anywhere. They’re best used as a “centerpiece” of an outdoor dining table or coffee table, and can provide heat for the table and the immediate surrounding area.

Fuel, Finish, and Function

Usually these heaters run on the smaller, more portable 1lb. propane cylinders available at retail stores. These cylinders are disposable, so you avoid the hassle of refilling a bulky 20lb. cylinder. Plus, these heaters are immensely portable, so you’re not tied down to one location as you would be with a natural gas heater.

Like most propane heaters, tabletops are rated in BTUs for their total heat output. For instance, a 45,000 BTU unit will heat a space roughly 20 feet in diameter. If you only need to warm a single dining table, you can likely get away with an even smaller and more efficient heater.

What folks enjoy the most about these heaters seems to be their attractive designs and available finishes. These units just look sharp and luxurious on a nice patio table, and they blend nicely with almost any decor. The most popular units come in a nice, weather-resistant stainless steel finish, but you can also find copper, brass, and brushed finishes.

Shopping Tips for Tabletop Propane Heaters

Online vendors such as Amazon and Heater-Home have an enormous array of tabletop heaters for sale, and most of them have a handful of useful reviews and tips. When shopping, keep the following in mind:

1. Be certain that the heater you’re buying has an auto tip sensor that shuts the unit down if it’s accidentally tipped over. This helps to prevent accidental fires and burns, and is a must-have with most modern space heaters.
2. If you’re buying a heater for an uncovered deck or patio, we recommend buying a heater that comes with a protective cover. Especially with the nice stainless steel finishes, you don’t want the unit to get scuffed or damaged in a storm.

In addition, be sure to read the recommended square footage information based on the unit’s BTU rating. Buying the right size and correct power output for your heater will help to ensure you will be adequately heating your space, without wasting money from excessive propane usage.

Some higher-output indoor gas heaters require an exhaust vent for safe operation. These vents help to exhaust the potentially dangerous gases either outside of the home or up into the attic (where the gases then exhaust through the attic cap). This is great from a safety standpoint, but not great for efficiency. The vents also allow heat to escape from your space, which obviously can lead to pretty dismal heating efficiency.

Because of their special design, vent-free or ventless gas heaters don’t require a separate venting or exhaust system. There are some obvious advantages to this, as you might expect. Their overall efficiency is much higher, as warm air won’t be escaping through a venting system. It also makes this style of heater easier to install and maintain, as there is no duct work or venting to install.

While some ventless gas heaters require an electrical supply for ignition, you can also find models (such as the Mr. Heater Buddy Wall Mount Gas Heater) that can operate without a wall outlet. This can be particularly handy for ice houses, lodges, cabins, wall mount heaters for deer stands, and other spots where electricity isn’t available. However, for heating larger outdoor spaces, you’ll probably want to look into a more powerful solution, such as a gas patio heater.

While they may sound like a perfect option for a lot of heating problems, there are a few concerns that keep us from recommending them for most uses. While the thought of operating a heater without worrying about venting sounds great, most vent-free heaters still recommend opening a window in the room. In the middle of the winter, there goes your heating efficiency right out the window!

The truth is, these heaters still produce dangerous gases. They are in smaller percentages than  typical propane heaters, but research shows that even small quantities of carbon monoxide over extended periods can lead to health problems. To use them safely some amount of venting is still required, which seems to defeat their purpose!

Most modern gas heaters will feature an automatic shut-off sensor that detects low oxygen levels. This certainly helps to ease our concerns, but we would recommend taking it a step further. Use a reliable carbon monoxide detector nearby running gas or propane heaters, and be sure to follow all manufacturer’s safety recommendations.

For well-ventilated areas where nearly any heating is welcome (think of a drafty cabin, a tree stand, a partially-enclosed porch) a vent-free gas heaters can be a fine heating option.  However, don’t be fooled by their promise of vent-free gas heating. There are still safety concerns that you should be aware of.

Oil heaters are typically built with a number of vertical metal columns filled with oil. The heater’s heating element warms the oil inside the columns, which warms the air surrounding the heater. Therefore, most oil heaters are considered convection heaters. Unlike radiant heaters which must have “line-of-sight” to warm you, convection heaters warm the air in the entire room gradually. This makes oil heaters a perfect choice if your room is filled with furniture or other obstacles that would block the heat from a radiant heater.

However, one of oil heaters’ greatest strengths is also one of their weaknesses. Because the heat they produce must circulate throughout the room via air currents, it can take awhile to feel warmth from them. If you’re in a particularly drafty or large room, waiting on an oil heater on a chilly morning may seem like an eternity. Take advantage of their distinct benefits and use them in the proper locations instead.

Because of their heating method, oil heaters aren’t one of the most efficient heaters on the market. Compared to propane heaters, the cost per therm (a measure of heat) is higher. However, they are still a relatively inexpensive choice where more efficient heaters aren’t an option. Their small size and design also make them a very portable heater.

Nearly all modern oil heaters feature a thermostat which can regulate the heat output of the heater to match a desired room temperature. This helps prevent wasted energy from heating an already warm room, and allows you to operate the heater a higher efficiencies.

Oil heaters are generally a very safe heater.Like most modern electric and ceramic heaters, they typically feature a tip sensor that will shut down the unit if it’s been knocked or bumped over. They’re also less likely to start a fire, as the heating element is encased within the unit and can’t be directly contacted by flammable items such as drapes or curtains. However, please be sure to follow all manufacturer’s recommendations and safety precautions, as misuse can still lead to a safety hazard.

One other nuance of oil heaters is their cool-down time. Because the oil contained within retains heat well, it also tends to take a longer time to cool off. The heater can potentially be still hot enough to accidentally burn for a period of time after it has been turned off. However, a number of newer oil heaters utilize a fan to help cool the unit faster (as well as distribute heat throughout the room faster when in operation).

If you’ve got a space to fill but are low on cash and on space, check out an electric oil heater. They can provide a steady, comfortable heat for a relatively cheap price.