Anyone running a diesel heater? Thoughts?

[SC Maintenance]

Having grown up dirt poor, part of that time in a trailer, I sympathize. Like trying to heat a tin can.

These Chinese space heaters are all the rage in the overlanding world. If you look up "MAV" on youtube, he installed one to heat the cap on his pickup. Seems he is still alive so they must work.

Are there no programs for reduced utility rates due to his disability?

Also, even though a electric heater is only half as efficient, you can use it to heat exactly where your at and move it around - ie only heat where needed?

 

[IndyIan]

Well he can burn wood but getting it and constantly bringing it in the house is an issue due to bad mobility/balance.

In that case a mini split heat pump is probably the best bet long term, although I'm surprised that 2-3 1500w oil radiators don't keep it warm enough? A small ceiling fan can keep the warm air from sitting at the ceiling. I use this little heater to keep my feet toasty under my desk at home(cold air slides down a window). It works well and if I tip it over it shuts off. A honeywell hce100
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/...2n27yCSyswaAvqaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=17

 

[LDM]

I bought one for my garage as I'm tired of using electric heaters in my garage for when I want to work on something out there in the winter. I need to finish setting it up but it seems to work fine. I still need to plumb the intake and exhaust out through the wall but I've been busy with work and other things and have been putting it off. Need to get it done soon as winter is already here.

I did have one problem with it during setup, the fan apparently wasn't being detected properly and I ended up having to order a new one. I think the motor was just bad as it didn't want to spin up without a little help. Other than that it seems to work without any issues.

I have it setup with a car battery so even if the power goes out it can still be run. I bought a battery charger that I will keep plugged in while in use so it will keep the battery topped off.

 

[Ranger83]

My Sprinter van has one built into the cooling system. Many van campers add an Espar ( or Espar clone) for overnight use. The Sprinter has a 26.7 gallon tank and an auxiliary pickup port.

Friend of mine built a portable unit for ice fishing, similar to the one below. You can buy off-road diesel for heating use, no road tax.



https://www.vevor.com/diesel-heater-c_10321

 

[thastinger]

Propane is about 2.00 a gallon around here.

Wow, it is 3.47 here ATM

 

[skyactiv]

He is on disability. Was in a car crash and got brain injury. Doesn't get around well.

Sorry to hear that and thank you for responding on it.

 

[02SE]

The Utility that supplies Natural Gas here, has a program that indigent people can apply for, and get reduced or even free NG delivery. They have also replaced furnaces for free for those without adequate means. With every bill, there is a line item wherein one can donate to the cause.

Maybe look into whether his Utility has such a program, and if he qualifies.

There might also be other charitable organizations which can help.

 

[andrew_j]

I’d recommend helping your brother with fuel assistance that is readily available and many times not all used in season for low income. Diesel heater costs money and has to be setup externally to hone and has limited BTUs. The transfer of heat is poor because using a tube which encounters heat loss.

 

[spasm3]

My worry reading this, is CO poisoning. Those heaters are pretty safe, but if he is running it all day every day, without ventilation, he could have a CO, problem and not wake up. Especially since he as a brain injury and may not be thinking of this issue.

I'd try some way to use his propane furnace.

Maybe contact social services? I mean is it safe for him to live alone in his condition ?

 

[We're Metals]

Its cheap enough, I'd try it.

 

[ZZman]

My worry reading this, is CO poisoning. Those heaters are pretty safe, but if he is running it all day every day, without ventilation, he could have a CO, problem and not wake up. Especially since he as a brain injury and may not be thinking of this issue.

I'd try some way to use his propane furnace.

Maybe contact social services? I mean is it safe for him to live alone in his condition ?

He used to have an aid at first but he is basically self reliant now and stubborn. As stated in another post he has balance issues and often falls.

 

[Snagglefoot]

That's equivalent in price to $3 per gal heating oil. Remember diesel/home heating oil is 1.5x more energy dense.

Note, not 'hotter'. It means that if it takes 1.5 gal of propane to heat your house to 70 deg, 1 gal of heating oil can do the same job.

Sadly, there is no free lunch when it comes to energy and the 'savings' that companies (and people) love to claim are generally nonsense.

I'd love to help you come to a solution, but my PA experience is that whether I was using propane, natural gas or heat pump, the winter heating bills were strangely similar.

May I suggest you simply pick the price for both propane and diesel, then post the price on a dollar per million BTU basis. I can help. What official price do you want to use for propane and diesel?

 

[Snagglefoot]

My Brother in law has a house and limited income. He can't afford the propane for his furnace so he suffers thru winter using portable heaters. Wondering if a diesel heater like these would be a good option. Thoughts? Do you have one yourself?

If you give us the price he is paying per kWh we can give you a better idea.

 

[Snagglefoot]

My Brother in law has a house and limited income. He can't afford the propane for his furnace so he suffers thru winter using portable heaters. Wondering if a diesel heater like these would be a good option. Thoughts? Do you have one yourself?

There was a lot of helpful advice but here is the bottom line assuming your BIL is in Michigan. Electrical heat is expensive. Did you say he has a propane hook up? Propane would be half the cost. Diesel heat would be more expensive than propane. These are based on 18 cents per kWhr for electricity, $4.13 per gallon for diesel, and $2.31 per gallon for propane. I converted them to BTU heating value for the comparison. If you want to give me more accurate prices I’ll be happy to re-do the numbers. Snag.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Somehow, you need to get some propane delivered to his house. It just makes sense.

 

[PandaBear]

It's basically a mobile home on a block crawl space.

In a mobile home that basically make a large expensive investment not practical. I am not sure if any non portable heat pump is worth it, or any remodeling to install central anything. I assume you guys already did all the insulation check to fix all the heat leak?

I would be careful about burning stuff indoor if it can cause CO poisoning for a disabled person with mobility issue. He may not be able to get out in time even if the CO monitor beep.

Can you get him some down jackets and pants to help? Heating mattress cover for his bed etc?

A BTU is a BTU unless you are using heat pump, so find the safest cheapest heat source per BTU with the lowest investment would be the best.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Here is a screenshot of one assistance program.

 

[maineiac]

That's equivalent in price to $3 per gal heating oil. Remember diesel/home heating oil is 1.5x more energy dense.

Note, not 'hotter'. It means that if it takes 1.5 gal of propane to heat your house to 70 deg, 1 gal of heating oil can do the same job.

Sadly, there is no free lunch when it comes to energy and the 'savings' that companies (and people) love to claim are generally nonsense.

I'd love to help you come to a solution, but my PA experience is that whether I was using propane, natural gas or heat pump, the winter heating bills were strangely similar.

That has not been my experience (not even close) which experience generally mirrors the data in the graph below (we have experience with heating using a number of these heating fuels). You can play with their calculator and the inputs here:

https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/heating-cost-comparison/.

Perhaps it has to do with differential pricing of energy sources in Maine vs your home state or maybe yours isn't a controlled study using degree days, normalizing source pricing/btu across time etc, etc:

 

[ZZman]

Just an update: A neighbor has decided to chop up wood and brings it in the house for my B.I.L. He is now good to go.

 

[JimPghPA]

I keep looking at these. Unfortunately they are just too small to be effective to keep the edge off in my insulated 24x36 garage. Maybe when I build a shed i'll get one to keep heat in it. Who knows.

I was told that my well insulated 24x36 garage wouldn't be able to get much above 45 or 50 running an 8KW unit around the clock. I have to assume running one of these to keep the edge off in a room or two in a house would be cheaper than running electric space heaters (and less risk of burning your house down).

I think I am going to buy a used mobile home oil furnace for my garage and plumb that into my heating oil tank.

What ever you end up with, be sure to include a battery powered carbon-monoxide detector. Heat-exchangers and exhaust pipes can rust and contaminate living spaces with CO.