Best Kerosene Heaters of 2022

1. Why invest in a kerosene heater?

A kerosene heater provides an excellent heating solution if you don’t want or can’t rely on electricity to warm up your garage workshop or worksite. Gaining more and more popularity, this machine will allow you to save on your bills, a significant advantage in today’s world.

The primary concern of owners regarding kerosene heaters is the heating efficiency. But there is little to worry about. These small beasts can transform over 99% of the kerosene into heat.

If instead your concern regards the sourcing of kerosene, know that most units available on the market are capable of running on diesel and other fuels too. Wondering what else to expect? Here are some of the most common benefits of this apparatus.

Benefits of a kerosene heater

• Kerosene heaters are perfect to use in large industrial halls and the outdoors due to their high heat capacity. This feature increases the unit’s performance when used for domestic purposes.
• Kerosene is a very cheap Combined with the high heat capacity, it helps lower your heating bill.
• These heaters can usually run on multiple fuels including diesel, jet fuel, and oil, a feature that adds up to their convenience.

2. Types of kerosene heaters

Kerosene heaters can be broken down into radiant and convective, each coming with its pros and cons.

Radiant heaters

Are small units designed for small, indoor areas. They are perfect for single rooms and don’t actually heat the air in your environment but rather radiate heat to the objects located in their direct range. The air is then heated indirectly by the objects that absorb the radiated heat.

This system works great in rooms affected by moisture problems, or in places that don’t have proper insulation. However, they are not suitable to use in large areas or outdoors.

Convective heaters

Designed to heat large surfaces, these kerosene heaters work best in workshops, open plan homes, worksites, or for industrial applications. They transfer heat to the air directly by warming the air molecules in front of them. A fan system helps to distribute the warmed air evenly at a 360 degree radius.

Due to their high efficiency, convective heaters can be used either indoors or outdoors. As it is easy to expect, their performance is higher in enclosed spaces.

3. Heating capacity

The heating capacity is a crucial feature of a kerosene heater, determining its suitability for your specific needs. The size is expressed in British Thermal Units (BTU), a rating that shows how fast the unit can warm the air, ultimately determining the average square feet the heater can handle.

• Most domestic units have around 25,000 BTU and give their best in areas up to 1,000 square feet. However, they are usually too weak to warm the air in large spaces.
• Industrial or heavy-duty domestic units frequently exceed 75,000 BTU. At this rating, the machine can usually heat up to 2,000 square feet or more.

Since more BTU mean a larger heated surface, most inexperienced users believe picking up a unit with a high BTU rating is better from the perspective of efficiency. But as odd as it may seem, it’s not.

There are two main things to consider when buying a kerosene heater, especially if you’re planning to use it indoors, the efficiency and the production of carbon monoxide.

Efficiency

In terms of efficiency, a kerosene heater gives its best performance when operated at full capacity. Running your apparatus at a lower level may mean a comfortable temperature in your environment, but it also means a more significant fuel waste.

Carbon monoxide

Regarding the carbon monoxide ratings, a large unit with high BTU produces more of it than a small unit. The quantity of carbon monoxide released by the heater is usually negligible but a faulty machine can output high levels of the deadly gas. Ensuring a proper ventilation of the area is, therefore, essential. Bad odors caused by the incomplete burning of the fuel can also cause discomfort, and proper ventilation can help disperse them.

For these reasons, it is essential to invest in a kerosene heater with the BTU rating you need.

4. Fueling system

Another important feature to consider is the fueling system. Here, the size is also significant and in this case, the higher, the better. The size of the fueling system refers to the size of the tank you have to fill, usually a 6-gallon or smaller on domestic machines and over 14-gallon tanks on professional units.

The capacity of the tank, together with the type of fuel used, will determine how quickly you’ll have to replenish the fuel in the tank.

Regarding the fuel, most kerosene heaters can run on multiple fuels. Kerosene and diesel are perhaps the easiest to source and the cheapest, but you can also use jet fuel or oil. Powered by kerosene, a unit with a tank of about 15 gallons can run up to 10 hours continuously.

5. Safety Features

A kerosene heater uses a flame to warm up the environment, and it can be a quite hazardous apparatus unless it comes with essential safety features. The most important are:

• Over-heat protection: A central safety system designed to turn off the unit if it overheats. This serves two purposes. On the one hand, it lowers the safety hazards. On the other hand, it prolongs the unit’s lifespan.
• Tip-over safety: This safety measure helps reduce the fire hazards and the risks of getting burned in the case someone or something bumps into your heater.

Is it safe to use a kerosene heater at home?

Kerosene heaters are safe to use in your home and other enclosed spaces, as long as you take all necessary precautions. Here are the three most important things to consider:

• Combustion gases: Like all fuel burners, kerosene heaters release carbon monoxide into the air during operation. The quantity is usually negligible but to prevent risks, proper air ventilation is mandatory.
• Fumes: Besides combustion gases, you should also consider the toxic fumes emanated by the fuel. Kerosene, but also diesel and other fuels evaporate, producing toxic fumes which aren’t too noxious if inhaled for a short period but that can cause problems in the long run.
• Fire hazards: Kerosene heaters tend to get very hot during operation, posing a risk of burn injuries. Flames coming in contact with flammable materials can be a cause of fire or explosion if the material is a gas. Place the heater away from furniture and fabrics, and avoid using the unit in places where flammable vapors may be present and don’t touch the surface of the machine while it’s running.

6. Other helpful features

Besides all the above, there are a few other things to think of before purchasing a kerosene heater:

• Fuel autonomy / run time: The autonomy of a kerosene heater varies according to its power and type of combustion, heating capacity, and tank volume. It is expressed in hours of operation, and a mid-range unit can usually run for up to 10 hours.
• Portability: Kerosene heaters are versatile tools you can use to warm your house, a workshop, or even the outdoors. Invest in a unit that is relatively lightweight and easy to transport. Sturdy handles and heavy-duty wheels on the larger units are also a must.
• Ease of use: Not all kerosene heaters were created equal. Some are easy to operate with just a push of a button. Others have less intuitive control panels and are harder to manage. A few things to look for are automated ignition, easy access to the tank and perhaps a removable tank for easier filling and maintenance.