How much propane needed for heat?

[belfert]

I was going to go out tonight and buy one of those 10,000 BTU propane heaters Cody was talking about.

But, I am thinking that I am going to spend a lot of money on propane and the 20 lb tanks I plan to use won't last long.  At 21,000 BTU per pound, I will use up a full 20 lb tank that costs $18 in under two days.  Is my cost analysis correct?

Maybe it isn't worth spending $125 on the heater and fittings if it will cost me a bunch to run it.

[TomC]

Diesel heat is the most heat per gallon, but it is expensive for either the Aqua Hot, or forced air heaters.  Propane is going to be the most bang for the buck.  At 10,000btu, the outside temp would have to be in the sub freezing range for the heater to be running continuously.  Usually you figure 1/2 to 1/3 running time with any heater.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

The temps I am looking at outdoors are under freezing.  I expect the heater will run all the time based on past experience.  If it really only runs 40 hours on a 20 lb tank I make just skip trying to work on the bus this winter.

Two electric heaters that should equal around 10,000 BTU barely make a dent.  Cody says he can heat his whole bus with this 10,000 propane heater.

I have a Proheat, but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet.  I hope it will be a summer project, but if I don't plan a fall trip next year it might get put off a year.

[Dreamscape]

By yourself as many heaters as it takes so you can work. Then when you are finished or it has warmed up sell them on CL. Every day lost is gone forever.

Paul

[John316]

Belfert,

Just go out, and get one of those 60K BTU multi-fuel torpedo heater. Homedepot sells them, and for rough work (not living, but just working), it does really good. We have used ours a ton, and it isn't that expensive to run. It isn't for finished work (when you live in your bus), because it puts off too much heat. If you hold paper in front of ours, it will start on fire. But it is easy to set up, so it is safe. Just a little clear space in front and your good. If you use kerosene, then it doesn't stink as much. Diesel in those, smells but I can handle that. You don't run them continuously, just for a little to warm up. When we we work in ours, we run it for maybe 10 min every hour.

FWIWYMMV

God bless,

John

[Jerry32]

I have 2 diesel fired D3LC  hot air heaters that each put out 12000 Btu and they are adequit till you get to sub zero temps.

[Lin]

If it's just for heating the work area and not meant to be your final system, these Mr Heater tank-top heaters would be great.  They are 100% efficient, but you do need to have air coming in.  I think that there may be other models that are even catalytic--still need air, but "no" CO.

http://www.mrheater.com/ProductFamily.aspx?catid=42

[James77MCI8]

I am using a Mr.Heater 15,000 BTU Tank top heater for working comfort in my 8. The temp. here is around 30 and it will heat the entire coach with no problem. I have to shut it off at times because it gets really hot. It heats the interior up in about 15 minutes. We still have the coach windows in and no insulation.

[belfert]

My bus is finished enough to be usable.  One of those tank-top heaters nearly poisoned 8 of us with CO poisoning.  It wasn't meant to be used at night, but someone started the heater without my knowledge and the CO detector saved us in the middle of the night.

This is why I am going to buy that vent free heater Cody recommends and I will also be sure the CO detector has good batteries.

[belfert]

I am planning to buy the Mr Heater Big Buddy instead of the heater Cody was recommending.  Northern Tool has the Big Buddy on sale for $99.99.  It has multiple heat settings up to 18,000 BTU and a circulation fan.  Northern Tool also has a $20 off $100 coupon for their stores right now.

[Van]

we just bought one, three settings. This thing is incredible for the price,and a second one is on the way from NT, very versatile and will suit our needs nicely, glad we got one(2)

[TomC]

Belfert-It almost sounds like your bus isn't insulated yet.  I've been in 25 degree weather with wind, and two electric heaters kept up (mostly) with the warmth.  The Propane heater would kick on about once an hour with the electric heat.  Insulation is one of the most important addition you can do.  Good Luck, TomC

[robertglines1]

Tom is right....Insulate.....I even insulated my bay doors and floors.....use a 10,000 cat heat when working on bus in winter ;to bring it up from freezing then switch to box heater to maintain...good luck....best heat yet going to Fla for 3 months after first or year...insulation pays back in ac also..

[cody]

We've also got a Big Buddy heater, we bought that when we got caught in that snow storm a couple of years ago when we made our run to the sun, another worthwhile investment with the big buddy heater is the 12 foot hose and adapter, if your going to use the little bottles that fit in the side compartments count on only about 6 to 9 hours of heat from a pair of them. I worked on one guys bus cabinets that was parked along side his garage in some pretty cold weather, what he set up was a Big Buddy heater with the 12 ft hose fed out his toll window to a 100 pound LP tank that he had set up beside the bus, that was a nice arrangement too but the pilot light is very touchy, it poofs out easily with a draft, we had to aim it away from the door as we went in and out.  Northern tool also has a portable heater that has the pads and holds a 20 pound tank in the cabinet, that one looks good but I don't know how well it works.

[belfert]

Belfert-It almost sounds like your bus isn't insulated yet.  I've been in 25 degree weather with wind, and two electric heaters kept up (mostly) with the warmth.  The Propane heater would kick on about once an hour with the electric heat.  Insulation is one of the most important addition you can do.  Good Luck, TomC

The bus came from the factory with spray foam in the walls, ceiling, and even under the floor except over the luggage bays.  When I covered all of the window openings I put 2" foam insulation in the space where I was not putting in new windows.  I have six 36x48" doubnle pane windows from Motion windows.

I think the large windows plus the huge windshields don't help things.