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REPLY TO THREAD
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Subject
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Emergency Heater fuels and heaters Primer--propane, kerosene, diesel--revised
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Original Message
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Winter is coming.
Info on different fuels and heaters for those without natural gas or wood stoves.
Propane
Comes in cannisters of 1 lb, 20 lb, 30 lb, 50 lb and 100 lb.
The empty (tare) weight of the containers/tanks is 18 pounds for the 20 lb and 70 lb for the 100 lb. A woman can lift a full (38 lb) 20 lb canister, but it takes two strong men to lift the full 100 lb tank (170 lb). Propane weighs 0.51 of water, so a 20 lb tank contains about 4.7 gallons of propane.
A gallon of propane provides 90,000 BTU. A single tank-top heater is usually adjustable from 9000 to 15,000 BTU/hr.
At low setting (9000), a gallon would last about ten hours , so a 20 lb tank could last almost 47 hour--but it won't last quite that long.
Refills of 20 lb tanks costs about $16.
Kerosene
Kersosene can be purchased at Lowe's or other hardware for about $45 for 5 gallon can. If you can find a gas station that sells to put in your own container, it will cost $4-$5 per gallon.
Newer kerosene heaters have a catalytic burner that burns hotter than the older models. The newer models like Dynaglo have a fiberglass wick. It can survive hotter temps than the older cotton wicks. Clean kerosene is necessary for these wicks--they will plug up with diesel as a fuel. They are not adjustable as far as heating--you adjust them to get the right amount of flame for clean burning.
The heaters like Dynaglo can be purchased in 10.5 K BTU or 23 K BTU. The smaller heater will use 1.1 gallon (full tank) in about 8-ten hours. Heat adjustment is by turning off or opening window if too hot. Larger heater will burn twice as much fuel.
The tank should be burned to empty to help the wick stay cleaner
Diesel
The new ultra low sulfur diesel can be burned in the older kerosene heaters that have a cotton wick (not fiberglass). These are heaters like "Perfection" heaters. But additives are needed to keep the wick a bit cleaner--diesel fuel injector cleaner (pint per 100 gallons) and 91% isopropyl alcohol (pint per 5 gallons). This will help your wick stay clean.
Also, with the old cotton wicks, do not burn them till empty--that will burn off 1/4 inch of wick and shorten wick life.
Always fill and light your kerosene or diesel heater outside, and don't take inside till odor free and no smoke.
Always leave a window cracked in small rooms where combustible fuels are being used.
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