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Propane Vs. Kerosene Backup Heating ?
vainty ^

Posted on 01/06/2014 12:27:07 PM PST by virgil283

Advise for back up heat for house...kerosene or propane ? Price vs BTU output ...other ?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education
KEYWORDS: backupheating; doomage; heater; polarvortex
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Price vs BTU output ? about the same?

Bulk Kero [my container] is $4.95 gal here vs prop. $19 refill of 20 lbs tank

Is propane cleaner for indoor use?

Smell of either?

kerosene heaters seem to have issues with the wick [uneven, smoke, needs burn off] ?...

propane hazards?

using a hose to outside propane tank

needs fire proof surface to stand on?

need to crack a window?

what size for say 1000 sqft ?

breathing fumes from unvented heater?

any experienced advice is welcomed...{can't cut holes in roof or walls.]

1 posted on 01/06/2014 12:27:07 PM PST by virgil283
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To: virgil283

I’m VERY interested in this myself; thanks for posting this thread.


2 posted on 01/06/2014 12:28:41 PM PST by mlizzy ("If people spent an hour a week in Eucharistic Adoration, abortion would be ended." --Mother Teresa)
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To: mlizzy

Kerosene heaters can be a bit smelly. Plus, an advantage of propane is, if you have a fair amount of fuel left after a mild winter, you can use it up in your gas grill.


3 posted on 01/06/2014 12:30:03 PM PST by dirtboy
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To: virgil283

Whichever you use, only use a heater indoors rated for indoor use.

http://www.mrheater.com/product.aspx?catid=41&id=116


4 posted on 01/06/2014 12:31:24 PM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: virgil283

http://www.ehow.com/about_6560608_propane-vs_-kerosene-heaters.html

for my situation propane is better because kerosene is hard to find. And I can always use the propane for something else.


5 posted on 01/06/2014 12:32:42 PM PST by dblshot (I am John Galt.)
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To: virgil283

Note for the heater I linked above:

This heater requires a vent area of 18 square inches
(example 4 1/4” x 4 1/4” opening) minimum for adequate
ventilation during operation.


6 posted on 01/06/2014 12:33:45 PM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: virgil283

No comparison. Propane all the way. Propane is easier to store and will basically last forever. Ever burn a kerosene space heater? They’re sooty, they smell, and they suck all the oxygen out of the room.

Propane is cleaner burning, although of course, it emits deadly CO2 gas and will kill, but it is easier to manage than with a kerosene burner.


7 posted on 01/06/2014 12:34:14 PM PST by Obadiah (I Like Ted.)
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To: mlizzy
A friend installed a unvented nat. gas heater, a three tile wall hung, but later reading the owners manual discovered it was NOT to be used for more than four hour straight because of nitrite emissions....
8 posted on 01/06/2014 12:34:33 PM PST by virgil283 (When the sun spins, the cross appears, and the skies burn red)
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To: virgil283

When I lived in the mountains, we had a propane tank outside. Truck came to fill it now and then. It did not smell, it gave wonderful heat, we never had a problem, seemed cheap enough. For what it’s worth.


9 posted on 01/06/2014 12:34:38 PM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
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To: virgil283; NoCmpromiz
I have a little propane heater that's 10,000 BTU's. Set on 2, I use a 20lber in 5 days. If it gets as cold as it has been it burns it even faster because you have to turn it up to keep it at 60 by my desk. It's not in an enclosed space. It has no smell as it burns. Actually odor is added so if you smell propane you have a leak. You need copper tubing to connect to an outside tank.

A large kerosene heater needs filling about every 12 hours and it can have an odor but it cranks out more heat.

10 posted on 01/06/2014 12:36:18 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: virgil283

I have both, propane torpedo requires power and doesn’t smell.
Kerosene is a good heater, when we lost power, I cooked on the top of it and even made coffee. Very safe and little smell.


11 posted on 01/06/2014 12:37:05 PM PST by The Mayor (Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
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To: virgil283

I have a Kholer 20kw genset on Natural Gas. I love it. If I spend a little more money, I’ll make it dual fuel with a propane conversion kit. Our HOA doesn’t want propane tanks, but they are the best fuel storage out there. Diesel gensets are the best, last a long time, and good fuel storage with sta-bil, but a nightmare to store fuel.


12 posted on 01/06/2014 12:37:21 PM PST by DCBryan1 (No realli, moose bytes can be quite nasti!!)
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To: virgil283

Also, go to your local box store to find larger propane tanks. You can readily get 20lb, 30lb, 40lb, 60lb, and 100lb tanks, although the bigger the tank the less convenient it is to move around.


13 posted on 01/06/2014 12:37:26 PM PST by Obadiah (I Like Ted.)
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To: virgil283

If you are talking about unvented heaters, kerosene produces less humidity then propane. If you use it a lot this could be an issue. The smell of kero is noticeable but perfectly fine for emergencies- just don’t spill it.


14 posted on 01/06/2014 12:39:59 PM PST by Ford4000
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To: virgil283
Propane.

For emergency use only, with a window cracked, I use;

+

+

If Nat Gas is still flowing I use a battery array and inverter to fire up the furnace.

15 posted on 01/06/2014 12:42:04 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("Gun horror is not a productive emotion, it's learned helplessness disguised as moral superiority.")
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To: DCBryan1
" have a Kholer 20kw genset on Natural Gas."

Does it do co-generation with the waste heat?

16 posted on 01/06/2014 12:44:38 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Obadiah
, and they suck all the oxygen out of the room.

The same thing is happening with a propane heater for the same reason.

it emits deadly CO2 gas and will kill,

You are likely thinking of CO, carbon monoxide. CO2 is emitted when burning properly but not toxic. CO is usually from improper burning (bad flame tip or the like).

I but I would also choose propane inside my home over kerosene, if only for refueling.

17 posted on 01/06/2014 12:45:06 PM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
"I use a battery array and inverter"

Sine Wave inverter? (That's my major plan. I've only used the setup to run the refigerator and lights in the summer. I assume my furnace will eat the power output too.)

Diesel cars (with a large tactical Diesel fuel reserve) provide battery recharge/load coverage.

18 posted on 01/06/2014 12:48:07 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: Ford4000
Yes unvented, I should have specified, unvented and portable heater.
19 posted on 01/06/2014 12:50:13 PM PST by virgil283 (When the sun spins, the cross appears, and the skies burn red)
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To: thackney
Please use a CO2 (& combustible vapor and CO) level monitor(s) if combusting indoors. CO2 levels above 3-4% is not recommended.
20 posted on 01/06/2014 12:50:50 PM PST by Paladin2
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