Propane heaters are a great economical heat source for a small uninsulated area such as a garage, shed, or tent. They are perfect to take camping, and to have handy around the house as a back-up in the event of a power loss. Propane heaters have a tank that stores pressurized gas, and when safely ignited begins to release heat almost immediately. There are many sizes of tanks available for heater use, so plan accordingly. There are many kinds of propane heaters on the market today, so be sure you do your homework so you are pleased with your purchase.

Portable propane heaters are heaters that can be moved around and placed just about anywhere. They do not require electricity to work, and the larger ones usually have wheels to make mobility easier. The smaller ones have a handle at the top for easy carrying. This is the kind of heater one would take camping, ice-fishing, have as a back-up heat source, use when working in the garage or shop, or out on the patio on a chilly night. There are a few different styles to choose from, and each one can be used for different purposes. Convection or radiant heaters are small and are most efficient when used in small spaces. There are taller heaters that have what is called a torchiere, more commonly known as a torch lamp. The torchiere acts as a shield and forces the warm air down. Physics come into play now. Warm air naturally rises, so the warmed air is cycled up, then cools, then descends and is reheated. Because these heaters are portable, it is easy to tuck them away when not in use.

There are some propane heaters specifically designed for indoor use. There are many homes that have a propane based central heating system. If an alternative is needed, there are plenty of portable propane heaters that can also safely be used indoors. There is also a large propane wall heater that is mounted directly to the wall, and will need access to an electrical outlet so the internal fan will blow to circulate the warm air. For these types of indoor heaters there needs to be a vent that leads to the outside so there is plenty of oxygen for both the heater and the home occupants. A permit may be required to install a fixed propane heater, so check with your city or county prior to installation. Check for leaks often so as not to get a carbon monoxide build-up in your home. A carbon monoxide alarm can be installed for additional protection. Propane is odorless so ethanol is added as an odorant to warn against such a dangerous build-up. Propane heaters are a good alternative to traditional electric heaters. They are safe and generally cost less to use.

As the economy continues to fluctuate and energy costs rise and fall, many people are looking to get into an alternative source of heating their homes.  Instead of just leaving the whole house open and blasting the furnace on all day, people are finding this to be much too expensive and costly, especially when energy costs are up.  One alternative is to close up parts of the house and seal up some ducts and try to focus on heating individual rooms instead.  This makes a lot of sense if a family is only using certain rooms rather than using the entire home.  It makes sense to just attempt to heat the rooms you are frequently using, and that is where propane heaters can come in handy.  You can save a ton of money on your energy costs if you buy a small heater, turn down your main furnace, and use the portable heater to spot-heat just one specific room.  People are finding this as a viable solution for saving money and more and more frequently these days.