I'm pinning your comment because this is very concerning and I want other's to see it. If any professional gas meter company out there wants to lend me a pro meter to redo the test, I will be happy to mention you in the video.
@@highball7347 Propane...spoiler alert...COMBUSTS. Its made from oil. What planet are you living on where you think carbon oxides aren't released from COMBUSTION of propane? Are you kidding?
I have worked as a carpenter and tradesman on job sites and also my own garage for near 40 years using heaters just like that one. To each his own I say. Presently, I have a burner type that is attached to the bottle itself, and it is noticeably quieter, and works very well. To those that have to troll and be complete asshats about a man sharing his situation with you is his choice…and when I checked last, this is still America.
I do drywall taping and use mine mostly when I do basements and never had a problem with co2 but some propane is dirtier and burns the eyes. I always have every basement window open half an inch for air flow and to get rid of the moisture from the drywall mud. I also use mine in the garage and no issues other than running out of beer lol.
A properly working natural gas or propane appliance creates little to no CO. Otherwise, every gramma cooking a turkey all day in a gas stove would die.
I was going to say the same thing, my dad does propane work for a living and even propane logs are safe to run unvented up to around 100 and some thousand btus or something, I forget exactly
we use these types of heaters at work on the job site never a problem, also i use one at home in my garage. Works real good, i leave a window open about two inches for fresh air.
There is very little CO produced in a appliance with complete combustion. The only time any real CO is produced is durning a incomplete combustion. People use gas stoves and ovens everyday with no problems. But a CO monitor in the house is a must
Exactly co is a product of incomplete combustion garage have leaks everywhere, I use mine daily just crap couple of inches plus I run a diesel heater thats vents outside never had issues
I did the same thing... after the COVID-19 hit... I ended up setting up in the garage. At first I was using a small electric heater and then found a very similar propane heater on eBay for $60 it works FANTASTIC...!!! We have an insulated garage door so that helps a lot. I would do the same thing run it for a while then turn it off. My carbon monoxide reader never posted any ppm either and it’s always mounted on the wall. Not worried about that... just the flammables... if I’m using any.
Carbon Monoxide is lighter thn the normal air you breath - it goes straight up with the heated gas and stays there. Sensors are placed on the ceiling for that reason. In a large, unregulated volume I would place the sensor at least ten feet from the floor AND add a small extraction fan at the highest point in the space.
My house has a propane fireplace, if it is working appropriately it will be safe to operate in a closed garage. Just keep the carbon monoxide detecter up high cause the gas is lighter then the regular air. I keep a co detector above my fireplace.
I have thought about putting a carbon monoxide detector in my garage so I can do something like this, the problem is that carbon monoxide detectors don't detect carbon dioxide witch is the gas left over after propane burns.
I have a little bullet heater like this and it sucks the propane tank dry pretty fast. It heats up the garage pretty quick but I also have a box fan on low to push the air and I have two propane tanks left from a grill I used to own. My wife comes out to the garage once in a while but the smell (fumes) give her a headache. Only run it for a few days a years and I am not getting rid of it but get an actual mounted heater for the garage if you can afford it.
Taking a reading one foot from the floor is not a reading unless you plan on laying down all the time. You being in a garage with normal ceiling height you will be fine. I had a ventless in a storage shed 12x20 well insulated and had to remove it. The odor coming from it was making me sick. Guess I had to small of a space for it.
yes they do work well especially if the garage is not insulated, however if its not rated for indoor use it problably should not be used i say this from experience the indoor rating is the thing thats mostly overlooked. on really cold days opening the door almost defeats the purpose of heating the garage this way as well as the 15-20 dollars you need to spend for the 20 pound tank you need and this cost continues 2-3 times per week if you are working in the garage often. you cannot run one of these with the door closed please dont as was said .
You are reinventing the wheel. I parked the rocket in 1992. Get the wall heater, gas& ox sensor built in. It is all hopless with out a ceiling fan on low setting. Wall heater has thermostat and makes zero noise. worked in my Northern il garage mid 6os to now. 25 years to get it right, 31 years to use wall heater. I set it to 60, enough air leaks around overhead door. dont forget the fan!! the first 4 feet off the slab will be cold without it.
Maybe the Chinese maker of the First Alert reading "0" is most happy and really giving you your "Last Alert".. outside your door, ready to move on in with 2 or 3 other families. Be Alert
I need todo this...I have to extricate heaters on wall and my electric bill goes up to 800 a month and it only stays 50deg in garage so my question is running a torpedo heater constantly how long will that little propane tank last ????
I get the concept. I too want heat for a space in winter to work, but! What about open flames and gasoline in a garage? Gasoline while enclosed in a car tank which is vented should be considered, but what about leaks exposing the fumes? It wouldn’t take much to set off a catastrophic event. These type of heaters have pilot lights which stay on while operating.
I was wondering this too. Kinda scared to use it because I have gas cans in the garage and a boat 3 sleds and a car. I definitely don’t want to light the whole place on fire.
It would better to open the door to the attached garage and point a running fan into the house. Combustion of propane produces heat + carbon dioxide + water. Carbon dioxide diffuses easily at 1 ATM so air flow is better than opening to outside since heat is the purpose of running propane heater.
I used to have a alu roof in my garage.. the condensation was a nightmare till I fitted insulation! I came here to see what happens if you run a propane burner on butane! might just suck it and see!
A better idea is to run a large diameter hose from the outside to the inlet of the heater. In this way, the heater is only consuming outside air thus not depleting oxygen from the inside of the garage. I was in the military and we used this type of heater to heat tents during winter operations at minus 40 degrees and they were the only things that kept us from freezing our butts off. No one ever even got sick from CO. A lack of oxygen was the most concerning.
I just bought a new Remington 60,00 for my uninsulated 24x24 wooden garage..Peaked roof..I was thinking the same thing tonight..Hook up a flexible hose from the outside and connect it to the back of the heater..Makes sense..Fresh air and heat..
I've run my heater this was for 8 years. I have a solid galvanized dryer vent pipe that's open about 6 inches behind the heater's intake. It draws 90% of it's air from outside. I wouldn't connect it to the back of the heater. Having it in proximity seems to work well. No issues.
Most garages leak around the doors enough to be safe with a clean burning propane heater , that being said i would not feel safe sleeping with one in a small space
I just bought this exact unit. Ran it three hours and my doors were closed...I couldn't exactly explain how I felt maybe a lil drunk? I'm talking minor impairment. I just figured on how drafty my old garage is I'd be ok but after going in the house and breathing Good air for a minute or two I felt way more coherent. Yeah I feel dumb typing this but this was my experience.However this thing boosted the temperature on my 25x20 garage tremendously well.
I've used a propane torpedo heater in my garage for many years with no problems. Never leave it on when you are spraying brake parts cleaner, don't ask me how I know. Also, get a 40 lb tank and have it filled at a local propane dealer, you will save money over the tank exchange places.
@@JakeSeiner In a two car garage it could last you all winter. Less in a larger shop. What I like about the torpedo heater is that the outside of the heater stays cool. Propane is also cheaper and burns cleaner than Kerosene.
I have heated my shop 24 x30 12 ft ceiling in ontario canada for 4 years with a 90 000 btu DEWALT and have had no problems ITS alot less work than a wood stove
I just got one of these heaters just to raise the temperature. Leave it on about 15 to 20 minutes. Then I have the electric heater to maintain the temperature.
The byproduct of burning propane is carbon dioxide, and water. That said, your meter likely isn't checking for that, and they aren't usually an instant reading. What kills people with these propane heaters is not the creation of carbon monoxide, but oxygen depletion. Saw people falling sick time and time again every winter when I was a firefighter, no matter what appliance was left unvented. Vent it, no matter what it is.
Hey Steve, think back to your H.S. chemistry: Combustion, fire, (or as they say in the Nuclear Energy Industry "rapid oxidation") produces three bi-products: Carbon monoxide (CO) (from incomplete combustion), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Propane, aka Liquid Petroleum Gas, produces very little carbon monoxide. That's why it is used as a fuel for indoor fork lifts. A propane heater also produces very little carbon monoxide, so your detector wouldn't have a problem with it. Before the 'high tech' advent of solid state combustion analyzers (to determine the composition of combustion gases) HVAC techs used to use a mirror to identify leaks in a furnace heat exchanger. If it 'fogged' a mirror, there was humidity, aka water vapor; presumably along with the other dangerous gases. Danger! However, that having been said, there are two other factors you need to consider: carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the room air. Combustion consumes oxygen. I have seen a Honda 7000 generator crap out and quit during a power failure because the owner ran it in a closed garage (out of fear of theft) and the spark plugs fouled-out from oxygen starvation. Also, don't forget the astronauts in 'Apollo 13': piecubed.co.uk/apollo-13-co2-lessons/ Carbon dioxide levels above 15% impair human functioning and eventually lead to death. This emphasizes the need for ventilation to atmosphere (fresh) air. Also, the final bi-product is a real pain in the assets: Humidity; H2O. Everything; absolutely everything with any iron content will rust: Your drill press, your floor jack, every tool in your tool chest and even the clips on your suspenders. Ugh! Ask me how I know. Wanna get 'funny' looks from others in line at Home Depot? Show up with suspenders that have rusted metal belt clips and adjusters. :-D)
Lucky to be alive. Workers in an new 80’x200’ water treating building got dizzy after a couple hours with direct fired heaters. They called in an HVAC contractor and switched heating to indirect fired. Any building our company erects now has indirect heating.
I go through a propane tank about every three days in the winter when I’m doing wood projects, all doors closed, sometimes for 5 hours or more. every now and then I’ll raise the overhead door halfway and then immediately close it. Man door gets opened every now and then when I’m going in and out. I keep a pedestal fan running To move the air around.
I have the same concerns as well. Apparently gas is very efficient as generations have bee been using gas stoves in their kitchens without being poisoned by the fumes.
I use one in my garage here in Southeastern Michigan. They do work well and they are LOUD!! I don't run mine nonstop. I fire it up a let it run 15-20 min before start working. then turn it off for a while. When I notice it getting a little cool I fire it up. I just repeat as necessary.
I used those torpedo heaters for years, loud but work well. I've since switched to a radiant type that attaches to the top of the bottle, easy to move around, no hose, and a cheap box fan to circulate the air. I do crack the garage door a couple inches and have a bathroom exhaust fan above my bench, nice and toasty, quiet and half the fuel consumption of the torpedo.
My model is similar but has a valve button that the instructions says to hold for one minute upon start up. If I don’t do this there is a propane smell. For more than 10 years I have run it for hours in the shop especially if it is 30 or 40 below. Then, when it gets warm enuf I change to a 220 contractors heater. I guess I should get one of those C0 testers. But, obviously I haven’t had any problems, and no windows or doors open.
Any 120 volt heater will max out at roughly 1500 watts. It doesn't matter what the shape, size, type. 1500 watts, due to the electrical code 80% of a 15 amp circuit.
Exactly, and the 1500 watt fancy little heater w/ remote control is wonderful if shined directly on top of me. But compared to one of these propane blasters, its like holding a match up... instead of one of this big blasters that I've been borrowing from my buddy, I'm going to get one of those little Heater Buddies that should be "ok", much better than electric, but not like these blasters here... want to consider for possible camping purposes in tent where buddy would be ok, but that blaster... ;o) As for the 1500wt electric thingie... maybe if I mount it on an old garage door track... ;o).... i'm thinking about it...
Been using these things indoors for over 10 years now. Multiple CO2 sensors at different heights around the shop, never had a single reading from anything--but a motorcycle. As long as your garage has a little chimney stack and isn't a absolutely airtight vacuum you're fine. The lack of insulation just means that there's more airflow coming in, burning up oxygen creates a suction that pulls in more air anyway because atmospheric pressure is a thing.
Propane is the way to go, so much cleaner than kerosene. I prefer The tank mount radiant heater but also I have a 60,000 BTU Forced air heater like yours. When I first get into the garage I’ll fire both up to knock the chill off then just use the radiant to keep it warm.
I'm on my second blower, I use it whenever it gets cold and I need to spend time in my 2 car garage or my unheated basement. I've been using it for more than 20 years. I've got a high ceiling and have run it with the garage door open about 6 inches or so. Nice and toasty. Just this fall I was doing some bodywork and had it running for at least 4 hours. never had had a problem. Do need to make sure you don't point it towards combustible materials and It is loud, but at least its not cold.
i could be wrong but a propane heater in a garage to warm it up would be no different then this style, ive been in a garage with a propane heated garage with no problems for hours and hours.. im betting his meter is accurate!!
Years ago, back in the early 2000’s I’d work on cars in my buds garage all day long with one of those running. Never had a problem. I haven’t seen one since, I honestly wondered if it was one of a kind until this moment, I’ll never forget Rob or his jet engine heater
Decades ago my dad heated our 3 door uninsulated garage in Minnesota with a kerosene heater like the propane one shone here in the video. It worked really well, had a thermostat to keep the temperature even. It was a smelly burn but we survived never thinking of CO2.
I know this is a pretty old video but, I went along the same routes as you did. First, one, then two 1500 W radiant electric heaters, Second I added (to the first) additional 30 to 60,000 BTU propane Mr. heater salamander. Third, 5000 W electric shop heater and removed the Mr. heater salamander as it was adding too much moisture into the air. Fourth, I installed a SRP 30,000 BTU overhead radiant tube heater and removed all other heaters. Fifth, I was happy with the fourth but I installed a ceiling fan. I sold the Mr. heater salamander for $100. Half the price I paid for it. I sold the 5000 W shop heater for $125. Half the price I paid for it. The two 1500 W radiant heaters stopped working after three years. Trash. The SRP 30,000 BTU natural gas radiant heater has been running flawlessly for five years. $1300 for the unit, $800 for the installation. Best solution ever. Growing pains. When installing the SRP, I also replaced my garage doors Press board, with R12 Doors with triple vapor seals. $1500. I keep my garage at 68°F all winter long.
could have saved time and money. by just putting in a hanging gas heater that is vented. no worries about co2 then. do it right the first time. and be safe. and warm and happy
I recently purchased a Mr. Heater 30,000- 60,000 BTU Heater for my 10x16 work shed ( not insulated). I bought a 100# tank and mounted it outside, with a small hole for the hose. In 20 degree weather, I let it run for half an hour with a cracked window open 2 inches. Good working weather for about 2-3 hours.
I've been using one of these for 20 years in my garage, used it to heat my entire house one winter when the power went out. As long as you've got electricity or can make electricity there is no better emergency heater. You can't cook on it but you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs on sticks. I did not know there was such a concern over a proven technology that is used by thousands of construction workers to stay warm in the winter while working in a building with no heat.
Almost all attached garages have no insulation. Therefore, continuous fresh airflow is guaranteed even though all doors are closed. I will be getting one of these for my 32 x 24 shop/outbuilding
great video... we have been using propane heaters (different than yours) indoors on sites for 30 years with no carbon problems at all... we were using readers at first by after about 3 years they never went off so we stopped using them.. houses that do have carbon alerts never have gone off when we use them...we also use kerosene heaters sometimes but propane is way cheaper and less messy when traveling
The continuous build up small amounts of carbon monoxide in your body does plenty of damage. The CO2 alarms are for high CO2 and do nothing to protect or warn you about lower amounts. Those lower amounts are still absorbed and accumulated in your blood. Heed this warning.
You can run that thing all you want with the garage door closed. No issues. Propane is very clean burning, and garages leak way more than enough fresh air in for any problems to arrise. Just make sure you have the first alert alarm on just in case.
I work on my motorcycle and wood projects in the winter in my detached garage. I crack t bottom of garage door with a 2x4 , also roof has 3 air vents up there and garage is a comfortable 68 degrees in 22 degree weather. VENTILATION IS KEY AND YOUR GOOD
just last night i was chain smoking cigarettes in my uninsulated two car garage and had this thing running next to me for probably two hours with all the doors fully closed.
I have been using one for 6 months now and it does heat fast after it heats my garage I turn it down to its lowest setting. No problems and I can work in my garage during the winter. One 20 pound tank lasts about 9 hours on high and about 12 hours on low.
There are two reasons for leaving the door cracked. Both are due to the depletion of free oxygen. 1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) will increase. The chemical reaction of a good propane burn is: Three molecules of CH8 + five molecules of O2 are converted to three molecules of CO2 and four molecules of H2O (water vapor). Breathing as little as 7% carbon dioxide can cause unconsciousness. 2. The fire needs oxygen. If you run it in an enclosed room, the oxygen levels will start to drop. When there is insufficient oxygen, the propane does not completely combust, which will result in an eventual build up of carbon monoxide (CO). Breathing only a 0.02% concentration of carbon monoxide will cause confusion, fatigue, and loss of judgment, which could mean the person doesn't realize what is happening to them in time to get out. If that happens, the CO concentration will eventually increase until the person dies. CO binds to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin's normal job is to carry oxygen, but it can't do that when CO "highjacks" the blood cells.
Are you done trying to scare the shit out of people? These have been used in the construction trades for years with few problems! I think you should stop driving your car because people get killed ya know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just bought Carbon Monoxide readers for my home. They all said the same thing -- the meter will read zero until gases get about 30 ppm. I don't believe most of these are an actual gauge that will indicate ANY amount of CO. They only trigger past the safe amount threshold, meaning zero doesn't mean zero.
Great info. I’m a fitness trainer and I train clients outside under my huge tent. When it gets colder I’m considering that heater to make it comfortable outside. What’s your opinion?
Well if the garage is open that kind of defeats the purpose of running a heater just to open the door and let the heat escape. I guess propane heaters are not a viable option for the garage ( unless you open the door and let the heat escape while trying to heat it). I want a way to heat my small garage and was hoping for a propane type heater, I guess I will keep reading info on them. Thanks for sharing.
Not when the heater keeps your garage so warm that it doesn’t matter, it’s a safety purpose. It’s not letting the heat out, it’s making sure there’s not a bunch of carbon monoxide in the room as well. It’s basically use this or spend a lot of money finding another option that works as well
@@RobLessard I totally understand why it is necessary, but is it an efficient way to heat a garage if you have to run it at full blast to make up for what heat is escaping out the open door/window? It just seems like a wasteful expensive way to try and heat a garage, I know propane heaters are awesome at heating an area I just want it to be a safe method with no immediate or long term health issues. I have COPD and one good lung so I do not want any more adding to it.
I have a bigger torpedo heater similar to this heater,it is a wet heat and they put off lots of heat but the fan is so loud it drives you crazy.I use my wood stove in my shop now and only keep this heater for an extreme emergency.It's just to loud.
If you read the instructions those meters only read when it’s above 30 ppm which is considered hazardous over an 8hr period. Unfortunately most store bought meters won’t read anything below 30 parts per million. But keeping the door open like you said deff helps. It’s what I do.
I turn mine on and off. It does heat a normal garage easily. Run for about 5 mins then when you feel cold light it up again. Does have an odor. My wife knows when I have it on so it does migrate.
I used and serviced a brand name item like this .It heats up so fast .But can drain the gas bottle so fast it can freeze.NOT unsafe ..But also makes stockings vanish ..C02 not a problem (unless you sleep on the floor)
The biggest problem with these is lack of a thermostat. I know the higher dollar models will have a thermostat, but the cheaper, I mean more economical, do not. Theywill blast you out of a two car garage in no time, even with the door up a foot or so. You regularly are turning it on and off to regulate the heat. Still, beats being cold...
I work oilfield and we have propane torches in enclosed hooches for warmth, no CO2. If you're running an old or unstable source for propane heating that's when you have to worry. These modern burners burn all of it fast and clean.
@@crand20033 I’ve got one of those dinosaurs taking up room in my garage, the move to propane instead of Kerosene is a no brainer . So much cleaner burn. You can’t afford kerosene these days anyway.
Thanks for the video Steve. I have a 40' x 30' garage shop. The attic has 8" of blown in rock wool insulation. The 2" x 4" walls on 16" centers have pink R-19 batting insulation and are covered in the inside by 1/2" sheet rock. The ceiling is 5/8" sheet rock. The outside walls and roof are delta rib tin sheets. The inside ceiling is seven feet tall, with one south facing three foot double pained window and four panel garage doors (three on the north side one on the southwest corner). I have a 220 volt electric heater in the northeast ceiling pointed south southwest. I have it set at the lowest setting in freezing weather and it keeps the garage around 50-60* If I'm working out in the shop I turn that electric heater on to the half setting and I'm nice and toasty in twenty minutes. I don't use flame producing heat in my garage. Electric heat is expensive if used for primary heating but I prefer the safety aspect of it vs. the risk. I'm 73 and enjoy flipping a switch for heat instead of fooling around with a big production. Good luck from Yakima Washington :)
I have an upright canister propane heater for my garage, when im using it i have the garage door open about 2 inches from the floor, that is sufficient for fresh air to circulate in this space according to the instructions given with this heater, Always have a source of fresh air comming into your space. ALWAYS HAVE FRESH AIR. IT IS WRITTEN IN THE INSTRUCTIONS.......
If you remove the regulator, drill out the gas orifice slightly larger, change the connection fitting, you can hook up to natural gas. I've done it, works fine. Cheaper to operate than LP, more convenient too, no tanks to run out.
@@boriskarloff598 natural gas in my area has a regulator on the outside of the home. Which means then only ounces are at the appliances. Versus a high pressure LP tank why The regulators needed at the appliance. Because of the lower natural gas pressure you need a bigger orifice for gas to flow.
There is no way that zero reading is accurate ...please do not trust that .
I'm pinning your comment because this is very concerning and I want other's to see it. If any professional gas meter company out there wants to lend me a pro meter to redo the test, I will be happy to mention you in the video.
@@TahoeSteve did you ever get the air tested? Curious to know, want to run the heater inside garage too.
No but check out a few of the comments in this thread it will help you to make a decision
If you watched the video you can see that the tester is on the floor, near the opened garage door, so yeah the reader will read zero.
@@highball7347 Propane...spoiler alert...COMBUSTS. Its made from oil. What planet are you living on where you think carbon oxides aren't released from COMBUSTION of propane? Are you kidding?
I have worked as a carpenter and tradesman on job sites and also my own garage for near 40 years using heaters just like that one. To each his own I say. Presently, I have a burner type that is attached to the bottle itself, and it is noticeably quieter, and works very well. To those that have to troll and be complete asshats about a man sharing his situation with you is his choice…and when I checked last, this is still America.
I do drywall taping and use mine mostly when I do basements and never had a problem with co2 but some propane is dirtier and burns the eyes. I always have every basement window open half an inch for air flow and to get rid of the moisture from the drywall mud. I also use mine in the garage and no issues other than running out of beer lol.
A properly working natural gas or propane appliance creates little to no CO. Otherwise, every gramma cooking a turkey all day in a gas stove would die.
Propane and natural gas aren't even close to the same thing. Natural gas Burns much much much cleaner than propane
I was going to say the same thing, my dad does propane work for a living and even propane logs are safe to run unvented up to around 100 and some thousand btus or something, I forget exactly
we use these types of heaters at work on the job site never a problem, also i use one at home in my garage. Works real good, i leave a window open about two inches for fresh air.
There is very little CO produced in a appliance with complete combustion. The only time any real CO is produced is durning a incomplete combustion. People use gas stoves and ovens everyday with no problems. But a CO monitor in the house is a must
Exactly co is a product of incomplete combustion garage have leaks everywhere, I use mine daily just crap couple of inches plus I run a diesel heater thats vents outside never had issues
You made an excellent tutorial. GOOD work, much APPRECIATED! 👍
I did the same thing... after the COVID-19 hit... I ended up setting up in the garage. At first I was using a small electric heater and then found a very similar propane heater on eBay for $60 it works FANTASTIC...!!!
We have an insulated garage door so that helps a lot. I would do the same thing run it for a while then turn it off. My carbon monoxide reader never posted any ppm either and it’s always mounted on the wall. Not worried about that... just the flammables... if I’m using any.
Thank you for posting this video because I am looking to buy one myself I think this might be the one
Carbon Monoxide is lighter thn the normal air you breath - it goes straight up with the heated gas and stays there. Sensors are placed on the ceiling for that reason. In a large, unregulated volume I would place the sensor at least ten feet from the floor AND add a small extraction fan at the highest point in the space.
My house has a propane fireplace, if it is working appropriately it will be safe to operate in a closed garage. Just keep the carbon monoxide detecter up high cause the gas is lighter then the regular air. I keep a co detector above my fireplace.
CO2 is heavier than air, but when heated by combustion it becomes lighter than air and mixes homogeneously with the air in the room.
I have thought about putting a carbon monoxide detector in my garage so I can do something like this, the problem is that carbon monoxide detectors don't detect carbon dioxide witch is the gas left over after propane burns.
Just fyi those meters are normally time weighted average not a instant co readout
So the smart thing to do is run it till the garage warms up and turn it off...
Or use something else. I really don't think this is safe
@Jamie Powell been using it for a month to lift in the garage no problems still alive!! Love it
I have a little bullet heater like this and it sucks the propane tank dry pretty fast. It heats up the garage pretty quick but I also have a box fan on low to push the air and I have two propane tanks left from a grill I used to own. My wife comes out to the garage once in a while but the smell (fumes) give her a headache. Only run it for a few days a years and I am not getting rid of it but get an actual mounted heater for the garage if you can afford it.
my 30,000btu reddy heater will run 16 hours on a 20lb tank, $12.50 for 3 days worth of heat in an uninsulated garage isn't bad.
Taking a reading one foot from the floor is not a reading unless you plan on laying down all the time. You being in a garage with normal ceiling height you will be fine. I had a ventless in a storage shed 12x20 well insulated and had to remove it. The odor coming from it was making me sick. Guess I had to small of a space for it.
Well done, Steve! Thanks.
CO is lighter than air and will rise with the heat. Check your meter at face level.
yes they do work well especially if the garage is not insulated, however if its not rated for indoor use it problably should not be used i say this from experience the indoor rating is the thing thats mostly overlooked. on really cold days opening the door almost defeats the purpose of heating the garage this way as well as the 15-20 dollars you need to spend for the 20 pound tank you need and this cost continues 2-3 times per week if you are working in the garage often. you cannot run one of these with the door closed please dont as was said .
Thank you for review man! I heard that someone use diesel fuel I assume we can use kerosene too but may have more smoke in garage. How is it works?
You are reinventing the wheel. I parked the rocket in 1992. Get the wall heater, gas& ox sensor built in. It is all hopless with out a ceiling fan on low setting. Wall heater has thermostat and makes zero noise. worked in my Northern il garage mid 6os to now. 25 years to get it right, 31 years to use wall heater. I set it to 60, enough air leaks around overhead door. dont forget the fan!! the first 4 feet off the slab will be cold without it.
Thanks for sharing 👍🏽
Thank you…. Subscribed and liked
Welcome!
Maybe the Chinese maker of the First Alert reading "0" is most happy and really giving you your "Last Alert".. outside your door, ready to move on in with 2 or 3 other families. Be Alert
Great for large spaces but noisy as hell.
Agreed
I need todo this...I have to extricate heaters on wall and my electric bill goes up to 800 a month and it only stays 50deg in garage so my question is running a torpedo heater constantly how long will that little propane tank last ????
can not run constant
To all the commentors..... You either have DATA or you have an OPINION.
We used this kind of heat blower for BBQ 🤣
And why do you leave the door a little open if you want to heat the garage?
Little 2 much
I wanted to get one of these for the garage
After a few weeks of use, it's definitely worth it
I get the concept. I too want heat for a space in winter to work, but! What about open flames and gasoline in a garage? Gasoline while enclosed in a car tank which is vented should be considered, but what about leaks exposing the fumes? It wouldn’t take much to set off a catastrophic event. These type of heaters have pilot lights which stay on while operating.
I was wondering this too. Kinda scared to use it because I have gas cans in the garage and a boat 3 sleds and a car. I definitely don’t want to light the whole place on fire.
Would the garage door open 3 inches at bottoms be enough ventilation
It would better to open the door to the attached garage and point a running fan into the house. Combustion of propane produces heat + carbon dioxide + water. Carbon dioxide diffuses easily at 1 ATM so air flow is better than opening to outside since heat is the purpose of running propane heater.
Ha ha go ahead , melt that camera lens! 😬😳🙄😄😀🤣
I have a 210,000 btu in a 30×40. Uninsulated pole barn. Works dandy.
nice!
Why don't you try shutting your garage door and then check your meter for carbon dioxide
Did you watch the video? He did EXACTLY that.
@@mikeoxlong3504 I seen it at the end but I had already sent my comment out
I used to have a alu roof in my garage.. the condensation was a nightmare till I fitted insulation! I came here to see what happens if you run a propane burner on butane! might just suck it and see!
Amogus😱😱
would not have put next to trucks gas tank
A better idea is to run a large diameter hose from the outside to the inlet of the heater. In this way, the heater is only consuming outside air thus not depleting oxygen from the inside of the garage. I was in the military and we used this type of heater to heat tents during winter operations at minus 40 degrees and they were the only things that kept us from freezing our butts off. No one ever even got sick from CO. A lack of oxygen was the most concerning.
I just bought a new Remington 60,00 for my uninsulated 24x24 wooden garage..Peaked roof..I was thinking the same thing tonight..Hook up a flexible hose from the outside and connect it to the back of the heater..Makes sense..Fresh air and heat..
That is an excellent idea.
I've run my heater this was for 8 years. I have a solid galvanized dryer vent pipe that's open about 6 inches behind the heater's intake. It draws 90% of it's air from outside. I wouldn't connect it to the back of the heater. Having it in proximity seems to work well. No issues.
WTF if it were 53 degs. here i'd open the shop door. LOL That said i do respect the info thanks bro.
Most garages leak around the doors enough to be safe with a clean burning propane heater , that being said i would not feel safe sleeping with one in a small space
Why would you sleep with a heater, are you really that lonely 😞
I just bought this exact unit. Ran it three hours and my doors were closed...I couldn't exactly explain how I felt maybe a lil drunk? I'm talking minor impairment. I just figured on how drafty my old garage is I'd be ok but after going in the house and breathing Good air for a minute or two I felt way more coherent. Yeah I feel dumb typing this but this was my experience.However this thing boosted the temperature on my 25x20 garage tremendously well.
I've used a propane torpedo heater in my garage for many years with no problems. Never leave it on when you are spraying brake parts cleaner, don't ask me how I know. Also, get a 40 lb tank and have it filled at a local propane dealer, you will save money over the tank exchange places.
How long will one of those tanks last in the middle of winter in a insulated garage you think?
I'm glad I read this. Borrowing a buds heater today to do brake work. Didn't even think About brake cleaner flare-up..lol
@@JakeSeiner In a two car garage it could last you all winter. Less in a larger shop. What I like about the torpedo heater is that the outside of the heater stays cool. Propane is also cheaper and burns cleaner than Kerosene.
I don’t see anyone that died from one of these complaining in the comment section…
All jokes aside, thank you for the informative video.
I have heated my shop 24 x30 12 ft ceiling in ontario canada for 4 years with a 90 000 btu DEWALT and have had no problems ITS alot less work than a wood stove
I just got one of these heaters just to raise the temperature. Leave it on about 15 to 20 minutes. Then I have the electric heater to maintain the temperature.
Propane when it reaches "ideal burn" will not put off CO. However, propane will zap the oxygen out of the air, which can be pretty bad too.
The byproduct of burning propane is carbon dioxide, and water. That said, your meter likely isn't checking for that, and they aren't usually an instant reading. What kills people with these propane heaters is not the creation of carbon monoxide, but oxygen depletion. Saw people falling sick time and time again every winter when I was a firefighter, no matter what appliance was left unvented. Vent it, no matter what it is.
agree poor choice for enclosed
I'm a chemist, and I agree with you completely.
Hey Steve, think back to your H.S. chemistry: Combustion, fire, (or as they say in the Nuclear Energy Industry "rapid oxidation") produces three bi-products: Carbon monoxide (CO) (from incomplete combustion), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Propane, aka Liquid Petroleum Gas, produces very little carbon monoxide. That's why it is used as a fuel for indoor fork lifts. A propane heater also produces very little carbon monoxide, so your detector wouldn't have a problem with it.
Before the 'high tech' advent of solid state combustion analyzers (to determine the composition of combustion gases) HVAC techs used to use a mirror to identify leaks in a furnace heat exchanger. If it 'fogged' a mirror, there was humidity, aka water vapor; presumably along with the other dangerous gases. Danger!
However, that having been said, there are two other factors you need to consider: carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the room air.
Combustion consumes oxygen. I have seen a Honda 7000 generator crap out and quit during a power failure because the owner ran it in a closed garage (out of fear of theft) and the spark plugs fouled-out from oxygen starvation.
Also, don't forget the astronauts in 'Apollo 13': piecubed.co.uk/apollo-13-co2-lessons/ Carbon dioxide levels above 15% impair human functioning and eventually lead to death. This emphasizes the need for ventilation to atmosphere (fresh) air.
Also, the final bi-product is a real pain in the assets: Humidity; H2O. Everything; absolutely everything with any iron content will rust: Your drill press, your floor jack, every tool in your tool chest and even the clips on your suspenders. Ugh!
Ask me how I know. Wanna get 'funny' looks from others in line at Home Depot? Show up with suspenders that have rusted metal belt clips and adjusters. :-D)
All good info, thanks.
I've been using one in my garage for years with no open doors. I'm typing this so still alive and well
Me too ! Never had a problem
Same here. Shut it off from getting too hot and the noise.
@@jon15744 sometimes the tank will freeze up too when it’s getting low
Lucky to be alive. Workers in an new 80’x200’ water treating building got dizzy after a couple hours with direct fired heaters. They called in an HVAC contractor and switched heating to indirect fired. Any building our company erects now has indirect heating.
I go through a propane tank about every three days in the winter when I’m doing wood projects, all doors closed, sometimes for 5 hours or more. every now and then I’ll raise the overhead door halfway and then immediately close it. Man door gets opened every now and then when I’m going in and out. I keep a pedestal fan running To move the air around.
I have the same concerns as well. Apparently gas is very efficient as generations have bee been using gas stoves in their kitchens without being poisoned by the fumes.
I use one in my garage here in Southeastern Michigan. They do work well and they are LOUD!! I don't run mine nonstop. I fire it up a let it run 15-20 min before start working. then turn it off for a while. When I notice it getting a little cool I fire it up. I just repeat as necessary.
Yep, Exactly the same for me.
I used those torpedo heaters for years, loud but work well. I've since switched to a radiant type that attaches to the top of the bottle, easy to move around, no hose, and a cheap box fan to circulate the air. I do crack the garage door a couple inches and have a bathroom exhaust fan above my bench, nice and toasty, quiet and half the fuel consumption of the torpedo.
My model is similar but has a valve button that the instructions says to hold for one minute upon start up. If I don’t do this there is a propane smell. For more than 10 years I have run it for hours in the shop especially if it is 30 or 40 below. Then, when it gets warm enuf I change to a 220 contractors heater. I guess I should get one of those C0 testers. But, obviously I haven’t had any problems, and no windows or doors open.
Any 120 volt heater will max out at roughly 1500 watts. It doesn't matter what the shape, size, type. 1500 watts, due to the electrical code 80% of a 15 amp circuit.
Exactly, and the 1500 watt fancy little heater w/ remote control is wonderful if shined directly on top of me. But compared to one of these propane blasters, its like holding a match up... instead of one of this big blasters that I've been borrowing from my buddy, I'm going to get one of those little Heater Buddies that should be "ok", much better than electric, but not like these blasters here... want to consider for possible camping purposes in tent where buddy would be ok, but that blaster... ;o) As for the 1500wt electric thingie... maybe if I mount it on an old garage door track... ;o).... i'm thinking about it...
Been using these things indoors for over 10 years now. Multiple CO2 sensors at different heights around the shop, never had a single reading from anything--but a motorcycle. As long as your garage has a little chimney stack and isn't a absolutely airtight vacuum you're fine. The lack of insulation just means that there's more airflow coming in, burning up oxygen creates a suction that pulls in more air anyway because atmospheric pressure is a thing.
Propane is the way to go, so much cleaner than kerosene. I prefer The tank mount radiant heater but also I have a 60,000 BTU Forced air heater like yours. When I first get into the garage I’ll fire both up to knock the chill off then just use the radiant to keep it warm.
I'm on my second blower, I use it whenever it gets cold and I need to spend time in my 2 car garage or my unheated basement. I've been using it for more than 20 years. I've got a high ceiling and have run it with the garage door open about 6 inches or so. Nice and toasty. Just this fall I was doing some bodywork and had it running for at least 4 hours. never had had a problem. Do need to make sure you don't point it towards combustible materials and It is loud, but at least its not cold.
i could be wrong but a propane heater in a garage to warm it up would be no different then this style, ive been in a garage with a propane heated garage with no problems for hours and hours.. im betting his meter is accurate!!
Years ago, back in the early 2000’s I’d work on cars in my buds garage all day long with one of those running. Never had a problem. I haven’t seen one since, I honestly wondered if it was one of a kind until this moment, I’ll never forget Rob or his jet engine heater
haha that is exactly what I call it... most call it a Salamander. A bunch of companies make them, Dewalt and the like. =)
Its a good thing you decided to come out from under that rock
Great video. Especially because it was to the point and not a lot of frivolous bs. Good job.
I appreciate that!
All 120v electric heaters will heat the same because they are all 1500w.
Decades ago my dad heated our 3 door uninsulated garage in Minnesota with a kerosene heater like the propane one shone here in the video. It worked really well, had a thermostat to keep the temperature even. It was a smelly burn but we survived never thinking of CO2.
I know this is a pretty old video but, I went along the same routes as you did. First, one, then two 1500 W radiant electric heaters, Second I added (to the first) additional 30 to 60,000 BTU propane Mr. heater salamander. Third, 5000 W electric shop heater and removed the Mr. heater salamander as it was adding too much moisture into the air. Fourth, I installed a SRP 30,000 BTU overhead radiant tube heater and removed all other heaters. Fifth, I was happy with the fourth but I installed a ceiling fan.
I sold the Mr. heater salamander for $100. Half the price I paid for it.
I sold the 5000 W shop heater for $125. Half the price I paid for it.
The two 1500 W radiant heaters stopped working after three years. Trash.
The SRP 30,000 BTU natural gas radiant heater has been running flawlessly for five years. $1300 for the unit, $800 for the installation. Best solution ever. Growing pains.
When installing the SRP, I also replaced my garage doors Press board, with R12 Doors with triple vapor seals. $1500. I keep my garage at 68°F all winter long.
could have saved time and money. by just putting in a hanging gas heater that is vented. no worries about co2 then. do it right the first time. and be safe. and warm and happy
I recently purchased a Mr. Heater 30,000- 60,000 BTU Heater for my 10x16 work shed ( not insulated). I bought a 100# tank and mounted it outside, with a small hole for the hose. In 20 degree weather, I let it run for half an hour with a cracked window open 2 inches. Good working weather for about 2-3 hours.
I've been using one of these for 20 years in my garage, used it to heat my entire house one winter when the power went out. As long as you've got electricity or can make electricity there is no better emergency heater. You can't cook on it but you can roast marshmallows and hot dogs on sticks. I did not know there was such a concern over a proven technology that is used by thousands of construction workers to stay warm in the winter while working in a building with no heat.
Just a bunch of know it all's.
As of this post, Lowe's is throwing this exact model on clearance for $49, which is a steal considering how well they work.
good to know, thanks for sharing
Almost all attached garages have no insulation. Therefore, continuous fresh airflow is guaranteed even though all doors are closed. I will be getting one of these for my 32 x 24 shop/outbuilding
great video... we have been using propane heaters (different than yours) indoors on sites for 30 years with no carbon problems at all... we were using readers at first by after about 3 years they never went off so we stopped using them.. houses that do have carbon alerts never have gone off when we use them...we also use kerosene heaters sometimes but propane is way cheaper and less messy when traveling
The continuous build up small amounts of carbon monoxide in your body does plenty of damage. The CO2 alarms are for high CO2 and do nothing to protect or warn you about lower amounts. Those lower amounts are still absorbed and accumulated in your blood. Heed this warning.
You can run that thing all you want with the garage door closed. No issues. Propane is very clean burning, and garages leak way more than enough fresh air in for any problems to arrise. Just make sure you have the first alert alarm on just in case.
I use one of these i Northern Canada...where we get extreme cold temperatures...it is super effective...but...fresh air is a must...
I work on my motorcycle and wood projects in the winter in my detached garage. I crack t bottom of garage door with a 2x4 , also roof has 3 air vents up there and garage is a comfortable 68 degrees in 22 degree weather. VENTILATION IS KEY AND YOUR GOOD
I used one years ago to wire an uninsulated garage that was two story and 18x24. Dead of winter and worked without a coat and gloves. Loved it!
just last night i was chain smoking cigarettes in my uninsulated two car garage and had this thing running next to me for probably two hours with all the doors fully closed.
And you're communicating to us from the other side, right?
I have been running mine with no garage door crack for years with no issues.
I have been using one for 6 months now and it does heat fast after it heats my garage I turn it down to its lowest setting. No problems and I can work in my garage during the winter. One 20 pound tank lasts about 9 hours on high and about 12 hours on low.
Thank you so much for watching!
I would be more concerned about the drop in OXYGEN levels than co levels they burn very clean but they use a lot of oxygen
true
I have one, after about 15 minutes I always feel dizzy.
Just use a permanent cieling mount vented furnace and quit screwing around with these jobsite heaters
More expensive
@@Camvba what is YOUR life worth?...so many idiots die because they are cheap trying to save a buck...
Vaccine is 1000 times more dangerous.
Heat rises so mounting it on the ceiling never made sense to me
@@thedarkgreenvanman The fins blow it down, the whole room heats very evenly plus no condensation
Works to warm up. If you hang in it. You will get headache. Use the propane to warm up. Then use the electric.
Bingo. That is what I do with my workshop. I warm it up. Open the door to get in and also let fresh air in and then use electric to maintain temp.
There are two reasons for leaving the door cracked. Both are due to the depletion of free oxygen. 1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) will increase. The chemical reaction of a good propane burn is: Three molecules of CH8 + five molecules of O2 are converted to three molecules of CO2 and four molecules of H2O (water vapor). Breathing as little as 7% carbon dioxide can cause unconsciousness. 2. The fire needs oxygen. If you run it in an enclosed room, the oxygen levels will start to drop. When there is insufficient oxygen, the propane does not completely combust, which will result in an eventual build up of carbon monoxide (CO). Breathing only a 0.02% concentration of carbon monoxide will cause confusion, fatigue, and loss of judgment, which could mean the person doesn't realize what is happening to them in time to get out. If that happens, the CO concentration will eventually increase until the person dies. CO binds to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin's normal job is to carry oxygen, but it can't do that when CO "highjacks" the blood cells.
thanks
I'm glad of the info You have provided. I was literally about to buy one of these but now I'm against. Guess I'll have to find another solution 👍
@NonyaBusiness!
Well you don't find yourself dead someone else does lol.
Carbon Monoxide is "CO"
Are you done trying to scare the shit out of people? These have been used in the construction trades for years with few problems! I think you should stop driving your car because people get killed ya know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just bought Carbon Monoxide readers for my home. They all said the same thing -- the meter will read zero until gases get about 30 ppm. I don't believe most of these are an actual gauge that will indicate ANY amount of CO. They only trigger past the safe amount threshold, meaning zero doesn't mean zero.
Great info. I’m a fitness trainer and I train clients outside under my huge tent. When it gets colder I’m considering that heater to make it comfortable outside. What’s your opinion?
I dunno if this is the right choice for that. Perhaps one of these: amzn.to/3a5ZPip
Can that be run off a 100lb tank?
Well if the garage is open that kind of defeats the purpose of running a heater just to open the door and let the heat escape. I guess propane heaters are not a viable option for the garage ( unless you open the door and let the heat escape while trying to heat it). I want a way to heat my small garage and was hoping for a propane type heater, I guess I will keep reading info on them. Thanks for sharing.
Not when the heater keeps your garage so warm that it doesn’t matter, it’s a safety purpose. It’s not letting the heat out, it’s making sure there’s not a bunch of carbon monoxide in the room as well. It’s basically use this or spend a lot of money finding another option that works as well
Yea that's why I want a natural fas heater or an electric beater that way I can seal every gap in my garage/ man cave/gym
@@RobLessard I totally understand why it is necessary, but is it an efficient way to heat a garage if you have to run it at full blast to make up for what heat is escaping out the open door/window? It just seems like a wasteful expensive way to try and heat a garage, I know propane heaters are awesome at heating an area I just want it to be a safe method with no immediate or long term health issues. I have COPD and one good lung so I do not want any more adding to it.
I have a bigger torpedo heater similar to this heater,it is a wet heat and they put off lots of heat but the fan is so loud it drives you crazy.I use my wood stove in my shop now and only keep this heater for an extreme emergency.It's just to loud.
If you read the instructions those meters only read when it’s above 30 ppm which is considered hazardous over an 8hr period. Unfortunately most store bought meters won’t read anything below 30 parts per million. But keeping the door open like you said deff helps. It’s what I do.
Steve, looks like you have a great solution there it heated your garage quickly thanks for posting your video.🎄🎅🎄🎅👍👍
It gets toasty warm in there quick.
I turn mine on and off. It does heat a normal garage easily. Run for about 5 mins then when you feel cold light it up again. Does have an odor. My wife knows when I have it on so it does migrate.
beware , lack of concentration, blurry vision, and headaches..... if you listen to your body, your as safe as you can be, while warm...
Perfect, no fluff or frills just good information. Bravo!
will it heat, yes, is it safe, i don't know but im still alive... :)
I used and serviced a brand name item like this .It heats up so fast .But can drain the gas bottle so fast it can freeze.NOT unsafe ..But also makes stockings vanish ..C02 not a problem (unless you sleep on the floor)
The biggest problem with these is lack of a thermostat. I know the higher dollar models will have a thermostat, but the cheaper, I mean more economical, do not. Theywill blast you out of a two car garage in no time, even with the door up a foot or so. You regularly are turning it on and off to regulate the heat. Still, beats being cold...
I work oilfield and we have propane torches in enclosed hooches for warmth, no CO2. If you're running an old or unstable source for propane heating that's when you have to worry. These modern burners burn all of it fast and clean.
Nice video. Straight to the point and has all of the relevant information
These modern heaters give a "complete burn" so there is no real CO off gas worry.
thanks
How about the kerosene heaters?
@@crand20033 I’ve got one of those dinosaurs taking up room in my garage, the move to propane instead of Kerosene is a no brainer . So much cleaner burn. You can’t afford kerosene these days anyway.
@@lyndonwhitson2269 I am heating my garage. Propane is dangerous especially if you smoke in the same room.
Thanks for the video Steve. I have a 40' x 30' garage shop. The attic has 8" of blown in rock wool insulation. The 2" x 4" walls on 16" centers have pink R-19 batting insulation and are covered in the inside by 1/2" sheet rock. The ceiling is 5/8" sheet rock. The outside walls and roof are delta rib tin sheets. The inside ceiling is seven feet tall, with one south facing three foot double pained window and four panel garage doors (three on the north side one on the southwest corner). I have a 220 volt electric heater in the northeast ceiling pointed south southwest. I have it set at the lowest setting in freezing weather and it keeps the garage around 50-60* If I'm working out in the shop I turn that electric heater on to the half setting and I'm nice and toasty in twenty minutes. I don't use flame producing heat in my garage. Electric heat is expensive if used for primary heating but I prefer the safety aspect of it vs. the risk. I'm 73 and enjoy flipping a switch for heat instead of fooling around with a big production. Good luck from Yakima Washington :)
Lol that’s a lot of information I don’t think I’ll be scare on that garage since I know every corner of it ,
I have an upright canister propane heater for my garage, when im using it i have the garage door open about 2 inches from the floor, that is sufficient for fresh air to circulate in this space according to the instructions given with this heater, Always have a source of fresh air comming into your space. ALWAYS HAVE FRESH AIR. IT IS WRITTEN IN THE INSTRUCTIONS.......
Yes, you need to maintain O2 level in the air near 20% (normal air ratio)
If you do that, they will NOT produce any CO1, just CO2 and H2O.
If you remove the regulator, drill out the gas orifice slightly larger, change the connection fitting, you can hook up to natural gas. I've done it, works fine. Cheaper to operate than LP, more convenient too, no tanks to run out.
You can also take the burner unit out of water heaters (whose tanks have rusted out) and use them similarly.
No regulator? Bigger jet? Natural gas?
When does your house become the first moon settlement?😄
@@boriskarloff598 natural gas in my area has a regulator on the outside of the home. Which means then only ounces are at the appliances. Versus a high pressure LP tank why The regulators needed at the appliance. Because of the lower natural gas pressure you need a bigger orifice for gas to flow.
Of course infrared is only going to heat up the garage a few degrees. Infrared heats objects not the air.