kerosene fuel heater

[new welder guy]

how safe is it to run a kerosene heater in a shop for hours on end? the shop is vented ok i mean wind blows in that thing like driving your car with the window down at 90. also is it a good idea to get a c0 tester thing toknwo what the levels are in the shop. i just got a 215,00 btu heater and watn to make sure im as safe as can be shops about 30 by 50

[Thomas Harris]

To me kerosene heaters,(unvented), stink. I mean literally. They also produce a lot of by products in the exhaust. Be prepared for some additional rust on iron things as water vapor is one of the main emissions of normal, complete combustion of kerosene and most fosil fuels. They are epecially bad for rust if one brings an ice cold room up to temp with them. The tools will condese the moisture onto them and rust will form. As for dying from poisionous fumes...probably fine if the kerosene has the air necessary to burn complete, but I am not a big fan of unvented anything other than perhaps electric. One thing about kerosene is when it does not burn complete it will stink BIG TIME! This is different than natural gas and propane, which will simply kill you with odorless carbon monoxide when incomplete combustion is occurring. Bottom line for me is either go electric or vented. Some people seem to tolerate the fumes from an unvented kerosene heater better than others, but I find it burns my eyes and nauseates me. In our area unvented heaters, (propane, natural gas, and kerosene), although not against code, are installations refused by many hvac professionals. That tells me something right there. If I had a shop that size a small used forced air furnace would be my choice. There availible, as lots of people are upgrading to high efficiency units all the time. Prolly doesn't help you now with the kerosene in hand, but that's just my 2-cents, and it may be worth just that!

[Roger]

CO detector with alarm is good. Some have sensors that are replaced annually. Best way to know that a gas detector is giving correct readings is testing with calibration gas. Consumers don't do this so using new sensor before expiration date is more reliable than using old sensor.

Deadly amounts of CO is produced when flame is not getting enough O2. Your poorly sealed building should prevent CO problem. Unventilated space heater puts water in air that can promote rust.

[new welder guy]

this heater is for this winter and then outdoor thing that may need heat like my back hoe or semi trucks if they stop on a job or soemthing. next winter i want to do like youll said and go with a lp hanging heater and seal and finsh off the shop. i plan to pick up 2 75,000 btu hanging heater next winter for the shop one for my car side and one for the semi side. i just want to be as safe as i can this winter. i have used the kersoene type heaters before but i had a really old one and it did work right all the time. so i got this new one as i dont have my shop done yet and need heat right away

[SidecarFlip]

Obviously, the second poster has a sensitive nose and is probably a non-smoker and one who cry's when someone smokes within a mile of his nose.....

Of course they stink, they aren't meant to heat your home

Me, I have 2 kerosene fired salamanders that I run on B20, a 150K btu and a 250K btu. I agree, they stink but so does an improperly vented LP or NG unit and the LP/NG stink is accompanied by Co which will kill you, right now.

I use my salamanders for a quick warmup when working outdoors or somewhere where I can contain the heat without depletinjg the O2, like a drafty barn.

I've found a side use for mine, they make dandy pressed in bearing removers. They capabily heat a part allowing removal of the press fit bearing.

They have their place and uses, that's why I have a couple.

[Thomas Harris]

Obviously, the second poster has a sensitive nose and is probably a non-smoker and one who cry's when someone smokes within a mile of his nose.....

Of course they stink, they aren't meant to heat your home

Me, I have 2 kerosene fired salamanders that I run on B20, a 150K btu and a 250K btu. I agree, they stink but so does an improperly vented LP or NG unit and the LP/NG stink is accompanied by Co which will kill you, right now.

I use my salamanders for a quick warmup when working outdoors or somewhere where I can contain the heat without depletinjg the O2, like a drafty barn.

I've found a side use for mine, they make dandy pressed in bearing removers. They capabily heat a part allowing removal of the press fit bearing.

They have their place and uses, that's why I have a couple.

Yeah, I suppose if I smoked a lot of things wouldn't smell bad. Far as smokiing within a mile from me? Where the heck did that crap come from? The first post described a heating unit to maintain temps 24hrs. (hours on end) I didn't think a salamandar would work well for this. If he just wants to warm it up quick and do some work...salamandar away.

[daman1]

i do it all the time i have a 2 car and 50,000 BTU and run it for hours no problem.

how big is your shop?

[PaulChristenson]

If you have any electronics in your shop do NOT use kerosene heaters...the residue has been known to create "shorts" on circuit boards...

[drujinin]

Any combustion source IE: "salamanders" creates CO not just LP/NG. Leaky buildings are a good place for salamanders. I've been gassed before and almost all open combustion sources will make me nausaus.

[SidecarFlip]

Sometimes, it's better to me a little queasy that freezing your gonads off.

I've worked on farm tractors in the middle of winter, outside and a salamander with a tarp draped over the tractor is better than frostbite.

[SidecarFlip]

Yeah, I suppose if I smoked a lot of things wouldn't smell bad. Far as smokiing within a mile from me? Where the heck did that crap come from? The first post described a heating unit to maintain temps 24hrs. (hours on end) I didn't think a salamandar would work well for this. If he just wants to warm it up quick and do some work...salamandar away.

The crap came from me. Obviously, the second poster has a sensitive nose and is probably a non-smoker and one who cry's when someone smokes within a mile of his nose.....

Guess I pegged that.

You can smoke in my shop and it don't bother me at all, especially if you share.

Furthermore....
He stated that the shop is drafty, a prime candidate for localized warmth via a kero or diesel fired salamander. Far as running for hours on end, no problem if the air exchange is via drafty building.

[John Canfield]

My shop is 30' x 50' with a 16' ceiling and two 10' x 14' roll-up doors. I have one of those forced air multi-fuel (diesel, kerosene, jet fuel) heaters like you might see on the sidelines of a football game (but not that large.)

I've used the heater for two winters and I absolutely love it. There is not an obnoxious smell to me and the closed shop doors let in plenty of fresh air. That heater will raise the temperature of the shop about 10 degrees with 90 minutes of run time. I was amazed at the performance and now I can use the shop year-round.

The only issue for me is the noise - it sounds like you are on the flightline listening to a 747 starting its takeoff roll - I can't listen to my classic rock on the satellite radio while it is doing its thing.

I'm fine working in the shop as long as it's at least 55 degrees, any colder than that and I just get too miserable unless I'm really doing hard exertion.

[ths]

I have a Mr. Heater gas heater mounted in the ceiling. Very nice fast clean heat. I used to have a kerosene heater, used it for one winter. The fumes make you sick, and Kerosene is expensive.

'

To me kerosene heaters,(unvented), stink. I mean literally. They also produce a lot of by products in the exhaust. Be prepared for some additional rust on iron things as water vapor is one of the main emissions of normal, complete combustion of kerosene and most fosil fuels. They are epecially bad for rust if one brings an ice cold room up to temp with them. The tools will condese the moisture onto them and rust will form. As for dying from poisionous fumes...probably fine if the kerosene has the air necessary to burn complete, but I am not a big fan of unvented anything other than perhaps electric. One thing about kerosene is when it does not burn complete it will stink BIG TIME! This is different than natural gas and propane, which will simply kill you with odorless carbon monoxide when incomplete combustion is occurring. Bottom line for me is either go electric or vented. Some people seem to tolerate the fumes from an unvented kerosene heater better than others, but I find it burns my eyes and nauseates me. In our area unvented heaters, (propane, natural gas, and kerosene), although not against code, are installations refused by many hvac professionals. That tells me something right there. If I had a shop that size a small used forced air furnace would be my choice. There availible, as lots of people are upgrading to high efficiency units all the time. Prolly doesn't help you now with the kerosene in hand, but that's just my 2-cents, and it may be worth just that!

[Thomas Harris]

The crap came from me. Obviously, the second poster has a sensitive nose and is probably a non-smoker and one who cry's when someone smokes within a mile of his nose.....

Guess I pegged that.

You can smoke in my shop and it don't bother me at all, especially if you share.

Furthermore....
He stated that the shop is drafty, a prime candidate for localized warmth via a kero or diesel fired salamander. Far as running for hours on end, no problem if the air exchange is via drafty building.

If the draftines is there to stay you are absolutely correct. My preference meant no offense to anyone using, or considering the use of portable kerosene heaters, or to anyone who desires to smoke. I just gotta believe a process where one intentinally inhales combustion by products would tend to desensitize the nose to them over time.

[SidecarFlip]

Frankly Tom, I'm a little sensitive when it comes to smoking.

Without getting into personal stuff on a publically viewed forum, let is suffice to say that I've traded one vice for another. I made the trade over 26 years ago.

Maybe you'll understand with this....

'God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference'.

Have a great New Year and I apologize for being crass.