Top 5 Non-Electric Heaters to Keep Your Workplace Warm This Winter
With the electrical and gas bills rising rapidly, we have all asked ourselves: Is there an alternative way to keep warm this winter? Thus, we decided to put together a buying guide discussing the different types of heaters available on the market and helping you to make an informed purchasing decision. Ultimately, we will provide you with a selection of the top five non-electric heaters for indoor and outdoor spaces.
Non-Electric Heaters: Benefits & Limitations
Understanding non-electric heaters’ limitations is critical before shopping for one. The primary gas or electrical heating system in your home shouldn’t be completely replaced by a non-electric heater. There are several risks when attempting to heat a home, primarily with a non-electric heater. For example, if carbon monoxide levels are not carefully monitored, gas heaters can produce high gas levels, leading to illness and even death. Moreover, non-electric heaters can be a fire hazard because they use an open flame and fuel.
Therefore, we do not recommend using these types of heaters at home. However, they are a great solution for your working site, garage or warehouse.
One of the main advantages of using a non-electric heater is the relatively low maintenance cost. They are also extremely silent heaters, yet non-electric heaters heat a room much slower than electric heaters.
A non-electric heater can be used as a backup during a power outage. Some non-electric heaters are lightweight and small, so you can bring them anywhere.
Since non-electric heaters operate without electricity, they can help you save a significant amount of money on your electricity bill.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| They will work during a power outage. Low Maintenance Cost. Use inexpensive alternative fuel sources that can be purchased ahead of time and stored safely. Useful for any situation where electric outlets are not available. Save money on electricity. | These heaters produce high gas levels. They present a fire hazard. They heat space slower than electric heaters. To use most of these heaters indoors, you need to vent them. |
Types of Non-Electric Heaters
The best option for heating your house without electricity is combustion heating. Combustion heaters are electric-free indoor heaters that burn propane or kerosene instead of electricity.
Propane Heaters
Propane heaters use pressurized gas to heat poorly insulated spaces. This type of heater uses refillable propane tanks and canisters of various sizes. The easiest to use and best for emergencies are disposable propane tanks (bottles). We advise stocking up on a minimum of two disposable propane tank bottles in case of a power outage.
Small canister propane heaters are portable. They are simple to move from room to room and, when used correctly, can be safe indoors and outdoors.
There are three main types of propane heaters: forced-air, convection and wall-mounted.
The Forced-Air Heaters use a fan to blow the hot air out of the unit. Forced-air heaters are powerful and warm things up quickly, yet they can be very noisy.
Convection Heaters (or Barrel Shaped Heaters) draw in cold air, which is then heated by heating coils at the top of the appliance. This works well to heat rooms of average size but can also be noisy.
Wall-Mounted Propane Heaters are exactly what their name implies—wall-mounted. Your home can be heated safely and effectively with a wall-mounted heater. There is no chance that the unit will tip over and start a fire because it is permanently fixed in place. Additionally, there is no chance of tripping over exposed electrical cords.
Kerosene Heaters
Kerosene is a great alternative to propane if you want a heater that will warm you up more quickly. However, you must remember that kerosene is more expensive and harder to get than propane.
There are two types of kerosene heaters: radiant and convection. Kerosene heaters that use convection have a tower-like shape with a wide base that holds the fuel and a cylinder that houses the combustion chamber. They can warm air in all directions because of their circular shape. Radiant heaters have a rectangular design and either an electric blower or a reflector that directs the heat they generate in a single direction.
Kerosene is a liquid oil, not a gas, like propane, so burning may not be impacted by higher altitudes. However, burning can be a problem due to insufficient oxygen and fuel.
Non-Electric Heater Characteristics
Max. Heat Output
The maximum heat output of a heater is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Unit). The BTU is a unit that represents the amount of energy it takes to heat one pound of water (about a pint) by one degree Fahrenheit. It is a non-metric unit mostly used in the United States but is also sometimes used in the UK. Some nations use the joule (J) to measure heat output. An energy unit is derived from the international system of units (SI). Around 1055 joules make up one BTU (or 1055 watt-seconds)
But how do you know how many BTUs you need to heat up your space? For instance, 7,000 BTUs are typically needed to keep a 300-square-foot room at a comfortable temperature, while 18,000 BTUs are needed for a 1,000-square-foot room. Your heating requirements can be calculated using a straightforward formula: (desired temperature change) x (cubic feet of space) x. 133 = BTUs required per hour.
Motor Power
As with most electric motors, a heater’s motor power is measured in watts. As you probably already know, a watt is a measure of power equivalent to joules per second or energy per second.
The motor’s wattage or watts represent how much power the motor can consume. Of course, the higher the wattage, the more powerful the motor.
Air Flow
Convective heaters circulate warm air upward and outward in all directions. They are never intended for a small, enclosed space like a bedroom; they are made for large areas or even multiple ventilated rooms. To increase the flow of warm air, some radiant heaters have electric fans.
The airflow of a heater is usually stated in the product specifications and is measured in m3 /hr.
Max. Fuel Consumption
If you have a portable kerosene heater, you’ll need to visit a fuel supplier frequently unless you’re on a delivery route.
Up to 52 litres (14 gallons) of fuel are required by one large convective heater running for 15 hours per day each week, equating to three 17-litre (5 gallons) kerosene containers.
Tank Capacity
If you have opted for a kerosene heater, you would need to look at the heater’s tank capacity. As mentioned above, kerosene is a liquid fuel; therefore, tank sizes are measured in gallons or litres. Large heaters burn more fuel, so they need a larger tank. On the other hand, smaller heaters have smaller tanks that need to be portable.
Suggested Heating Area
Most heaters have a recommended heating area that is listed in the product’s specifications, which, to be honest, saves you from having to use the formula above to figure out how many BTUs you need.
Toolden’s Top 5 Non-Electric Heaters
We’ve compiled a list of the most popular non-electric kerosene and propane heaters used by our customers to help you make your decision.
Sealey AB7081 Space Warmer® Paraffin/Kerosene/Diesel Heater 70,000Btu/hr with Wheels
Sealey’s selection of Paraffin, Kerosene, and Diesel heaters offers excellent value and has been workshop-tested. Testing pump systems can handle diesel, kerosene, or paraffin with only a small adjustment to the air compressor. A fuel tank gauge and a sturdy fuel cap are included in the model. It is fitted with a thermostat indicating °C.
This heater offers a 70,000Btu/hr heat output that can heat up an area of approximately 385m³.
Sealey AB2158 Space Warmer® Paraffin/Kerosene/Diesel Heater 215,000Btu/hr with Wheels
The Sealey AB2158 space heater is the 215,000Btu alternative of AB7081. This heater can heat up an area of up to 1200m³. Furthermore, it will operate for between 8 and 14 hours on a single fill of fuel. It is fitted with a flame-out device which cuts the fuel supply when the flame is inadvertently extinguished.
SIP 09288 Fireball 512 Propane Space Heater
The SIP Fireball 512 Propane Space Heater is a powerful heater built with a safety grille and heavy-duty powder-coated finish for durability. Ideal for garages and medium-sized workshops.
It works with propane and provides a maximum heat output of 51,182BTU/hr (15kW), which can heat up an area of approximately 345m³.
Hyundai HY125DKH Diesel/Kerosene Space Heater 37kW 125,000BTU
Hyundai’s 125,000BTU/hr HY125DKH industrial space heater is ideal for heating your medium-sized garage, factory or workshop. It offers a heat output of 125,000 BTU / 37kW and comes with a large 38-litre fuel tank that gives approximately 10.5 hours of heat.
Draper 01774 Jet Force Infrared Diesel Space Heater 124,000 BTU/34 kW
This powerful infrared heater is suitable for well-ventilated spaces. Manufactured with upper and lower heat deflectors, automatic ignition and photocell safety device with heat protection. This extremely economical and low noise, clean burning unit has a 40L fuel tank providing approximately 15hrs continuous use.
See our FULL RANGE Heaters.
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01358 726719 or at admin@toolden.co.uk.