What type of heater should I choose for my event or temporary heating need?
Propane Top Hat Heater, 200k BTU
Heat where no electric is available, best for center of a room, heat radiates out 360 degrees and upward. Inexpensive to buy or rent Exposed flame, heater gets hot, always on (no thermostat) High output, up to 200,000BTU
Propane Torpedo Heater, 170k BTU
Forced air with thermostat (electric required), no ducting Directional, can point at an area of work Heat work areas quickly and efficiently, equivalent to Kerosene Torpedo heaters without the smell or mess.
Propane Battery Torpedo Heater, 68k BTU
Forced air Propane torpedo heater that runs on a Dewalt Battery No thermostat - always on
Propane Radiant Patio Heater
Effective to a max of 10 feet away Best for outdoor areas and events. Most effective when people stand around it or placed close to tables Keep in mind what is above heater (like a tent), top dome gets very hot. Runs 9 hours on a 20lb propane tank
Propane Premier Heaters, 40k, 80k, 170k BTU
Safe, contained flame. Air passes over flame, then through fan before exiting Air is still in contact with flame and produces as much carbon monoxide as any other direct flame heater, must have good ventilation. Good for tents, warehouses, wedding houses – only in well ventilated areas) 12’ Ducting available Lengthening duct or to many bends in duct will cause back pressure and shut heater down Fairly quiet
Propane Exchange Heater 175K
Exchange Heaters vent fumes and produce 100% clean heat, flame does not contact heated air Best for occupied spaces (Inside houses, wedding tents, office space, as temp heat in place of a failed furnace) Quiet because heater is outside and ducted in (up to 100’ total) Most efficient when used with return duct.
Kerosene Torpedo Heater, 200k BTU
Inexpensive raw heat, most inefficient heater. Best for outdoor work, i.e. Masons, Construction High moisture content, and smell Runtime 9 hours
Kerosene Battery Torpedo Heater, 90k BTU
Forced Air Kerosene torpedo heater that runs on a Dewalt Battery Runs on two 20V or 60V Dewalt batteries and has a thermostat for auto run.
Kerosene “Hot Gun” Heater 125k BTU
Efficient Kerosene heater, burns fuel efficiently and is cleanest direct flame oil heater Low smell Can be used in enclosed well ventilated areas Runtime 15 Hours
Kerosene Infrared “Val6” Heater 125k BTU
Radiates heat like the sun, not a forced air heater Burns clean with low smell, quiet Good for use outdoors, direct heat on masonry, outdoor events, or heating large spaces with high ceilings Runtime 17 Hours
Kerosene Exchange Heater, 175K
Radiates heat like the sun, not a forced air heater Burns clean with low smell, quiet Good for use outdoors, direct heat on masonry, outdoor events, or heating large spaces with high ceilings Runtime 17 Hours
Kerosene Exchange Heater, 500K
Exchange Heaters vent fumes and produce 100% clean heat, flame does not contact heated air Best for occupied spaces (Inside houses, wedding tents, office space, as temp heat in place of a failed furnace) Quiet because heater is outside and ducted in (up to 100’ total) Most efficient when used with return duct Setup in a trailer with duct work Runtime 20 hours
Kerosene Exchange Heater, 1 Million BTU's
Complete clean air heating system with on board generator that supplies the heater with its own power to run the twin exchange heaters. Equipped with a large onboard fuel tank that supplies both the generator and heaters
Electric 240V Forced air heater, 30K BTU
Good for indoor remodeling projects, Best in insulated, unventilated areas.
Electric Concrete Blankets
Creates heated area with insulation on top, heating element on the bottom Good for concrete curing, ground thawing or placing over anything to keep it warm.
Based on a poorly insulated structure but fully enclosed.
Cubic feet of area x desired temperature rise x .133 = BTU’s of Heat needed/hour
Example: 200,000 BTU Heats up to 4,700 sq. ft. (50' x 94' x 8'=37,600 cu.ft.) at 40 degree temp rise
How to size a heater for a tent
Cubic Feet of Tent × Temperature Rise Required × .25 (Insulation Factor of a Tent)=BTU’s of Heat needed/hour
Example: • A tent size of 40’ × 80’ × 15’ (average ceiling height) = 48,000 cubic feet • The forecast is 40° for the low that night and you want to maintain 70° inside of the tent = 30° temperature rise • 48,000 × 30 × .25 = 360,000 BTU/hour
Vaporization Rate
100 LB Propane Cylinders (approximate)
Maximum Continuous Draw In BTU Per Hour At Various Temperatures In Degrees F.
Lbs. of Propane in Cylinder
0° F
20° F
40° F
0° F
20° F
0° F
20° F
1 Tank
1 Tank
1 Tank
2 Tanks
2 Tanks
3 Tanks
3 Tanks
100
113,000
167,000
214,000
248,000
367,000
545,000
807,000
90
104,000
152,000
200,000
228,000
334,000
501,000
734,000
80
94,000
137,000
180,000
206,000
301,000
400,000
662,000
70
83,000
122,000
160,000
182,000
268,000
363,000
589,000
60
75,000
109,000
140,000
165,000
239,000
310,000
453,000
50
64,000
94,000
125,000
141,000
206,000
260,000
382,000
40
55,000
79,000
105,000
121,000
174,000
217,000
319,000
30
45,000
66,000
85,000
99,000
145,000
217,000
319,000
20
36,000
51,000
68,000
79,000
112,000
174,000
246,000
10
28,000
38,000
49,000
62,000
84,000
136,000
184,000
Hose Sizing
For low pressure heaters that use 3/8" hose, use 3/8" up to 50 ft, and use 1/2" for 75 ft to 150 ft.
for low pressure Natural Gas Heaters 150k and smaller, use 1/2" hose up to 50 ft, 3/4" hose up to 150 ft.
