There is, perhaps, nothing more convenient than a propane gas heater. Whether you’re working in your garage in the dead of winter or you’ve planned an outdoor dinner party and the weather turns cold, the best propane gas heater for a garage can turn a miserable experience into a warm and cozy one. Not all propane heaters are portable, and neither are they all those big stick patio heaters. You can find small ones, forced-air models, and some propane gas heaters that are meant to be installed in your wall and used indoors. Often though, for indoor use, a good electric space heater is better.
If you’re debating whether to get a propane gas heater or something else, take all the benefits of using propane into consideration first. Propane is affordable and easy to acquire. It’s more clean-burning than other options, such as wood or coal. To find out more about the best propane gas heaters, check out the information below, and don’t skip the best propane gas heaters reviews to help you pick the right one for you!
Table of Contents
Best Propane Gas Heaters Comparison Table
| IMAGE | MODEL | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Dyna-Glo BF30NMDG Natural Gas Wall Heater |
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CHECK THE PRICE |
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Mr. Heater F232000 Portable Radiant Heater |
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CHECK THE PRICE |
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Dyna-Glo TT15CDGP Tank Top Heater |
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CHECK THE PRICE |
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Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater |
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CHECK THE PRICE |
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Dyna-Glo RMC-FA150DGD Forced Air Heater |
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CHECK THE PRICE |
Ways You Can Use a Propane Gas Heater
Depending on the type of propane gas heater you own, it can be a versatile purchase that’s handy in all sorts of situations. Obviously, these heaters are meant to keep you warm, but where and when would they be the most useful?
GARAGES
When the temperatures drop, one of the last places you want to be is your uninsulated garage. It seems as though there’s a draft coming from every corner. If you have projects sitting in your garage and you’re waiting until spring comes to get back to work on them, you might want a propane gas heater. You can direct the heat from a portable heater right at you and your workstation to keep your hands warm while you work. This is definitely a case where the best propane heater for garage and large sheds comes in handy.
CONSTRUCTION SITES
Construction doesn’t stop just because it gets cold outside. To keep going on your DIY construction projects, a propane heater can make it more bearable. There are plenty of options out there, including powerful units that include fans to create a forced-air heater. Just aim it toward the area you’re working and fire it up. You and your team can stay toasty warm while nailing, screwing, and erecting all the building things.
A NEW HOME
Buying a new home is exciting, and you want to take care of all the little details before you move in. If you’re cleaning or doing repairs on an empty home with no electricity yet, then you might be a little chilly. A propane heater can help take the chill off that new, empty house while you work on it.
CAMPING
One of the most popular times to go camping in the fall. The cool, crisp air is perfect for keeping you alert while you’re hiking, hunting, or fishing. Sometimes the weather doesn’t quite cooperate and it’s much colder than you expect. If you plan for all possibilities, though, you probably have a propane heater with you that can warm up your tent while you sleep.
DURING WINTER STORMS
Surviving the long, cold days of winter isn’t too hard when you have central heating. However, there are going to be some days when a storm knocks out your electricity. Unless you’re running a natural gas heater at home, or you have a good fireplace, you’re going to get cold quickly. This is a good time for a propane heater, which can be a huge help during emergencies like this
YOUR PATIO
For outdoor lovers, it’s hard to imagine going a day without being outside – even if it’s on your porch or patio. To make sure you get the most out of your patio furniture, a propane gas heater is a must. Even when the temperatures are low in the evening or morning, you can still enjoy your time outside.
TAILGATING
There’s not much to keep a season ticket holder from enjoying every single game – and every tailgating experience. That means supporting your team even when it’s freezing outside, and you have to bundle up and drink lots of beer to keep warm. A portable propane gas heater can also make those outdoor tailgating parties more fun.
Propane Gas Heater Safety Tips
Not all propane gas heaters are meant to be used indoors, so you need to take some precautions if you choose to use one inside. Even when you use these heaters in the great outdoors, you need to do so smartly.
Ventilate
The first rule of using a propane gas heater that isn’t specifically meant for indoor use is to open a window! You need to make sure you’re ventilating wherever you use these to prevent harmful gases from collecting in the room and choking out the oxygen.
Monitor Carbon Monoxide
A tip for venting leads to this tip to get a carbon monoxide alarm or monitor. Many of the propane heaters today include one and might even have a feature to monitor oxygen levels and will shut off if oxygen is low and carbon monoxide is high.
Auto Shut-offs
The first rule of using a propane gas heater that isn’t specifically meant for indoor use is to open a window! You need to make sure you’re ventilating wherever you use these to prevent harmful gases from collecting in the room and choking out the oxygen.
Place It Carefully
To prevent those accidental tip-overs, to begin with, make sure you place your propane heater responsibly. A corner is a good place compared to the middle of a room where a pet or child could easily knock it over.
Check for Leaks
Periodically, you should check your propane heater for leaks. One way to check is to use a bit of soapy water (like bubble solution – more soap than water). Just rub some on the connections for the valve, outlet, and any other spots where there could be a leak. If you see bubbles while your heater is running, you know you have a leak.
The 5 Best Propane Gas Heaters Reviews
Dyna-Glo BF30NMDG Natural Gas Wall Heater
- BTUs: 30,000
- Weight: 24.85 lbs.
- Dimensions: 10.51 x 28.07 x 24.09 inches
- Warranty: 1 year
You may have asked by now what is the best propane heater for a garage? This particular one is a good place to start. It might be hard to imagine that there’s such a thing as a wall heater powered by propane, but there is, and Dyna-Glo’s BF30NMDG 30,000 BTU one might be one of the best rated. If you believe the manufacturer, this heater is supposed to be able to heat a 1,000 square foot space but take it from those who own this sucker – it does much more than that. That means you can use this to heat your whole house. Of course, you’ll need to vent this, just as you would any other vent-free wall heater.
There’s no thermostat included with this heater, which could be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your perspective. It isn’t going to regulate the heat in your home or garage – it’s just going to keep pumping out heat until you turn it off or it runs out of propane. There’s no fan included, but it hardly needs one. The heat settings are simply low to high, and almost no one needs to use the high setting. From installation to ignition, this is an easy-to-use wall heater that runs on propane.
PROS
- Push-button ignition
- Heats quickly
- Good for 1,000 sq. ft.
- Three heat levels
- Safe to use
CONS
- May shut off above 4,500 ft. elevation
- No thermostat
PRO TIP
Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Portable Radiant Heater
- BTUs: 9,000 BTUs
- Weight: 9.5 lbs.
- Dimensions: 14.17 x 8.97 x 14.37 in
- Warranty: 1 year
One of the most popular uses for a propane gas heater is for camping, and the Mr. Heater Buddy Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater is easy to take with you. It may be small, but it packs a lot of power and it can heat a space up to 225 square feet large. It includes the safety features you want, such as automatic shut-off if it’s tipped over, or if oxygen levels are low, which is ideal if you’re using this in a small space, like a tent. Also, this little heater works even at high elevations – up to 7,000 feet above sea level. Most units like this will shut down above 4,500 feet.
This is a no-frills heater when it comes to heat regulation and fans. There’s no thermostat, so you’ll have to run the heater until the area you have it is warm enough, and then shut it off. Also, there’s no fan to push the warm air around, but you may not miss having it. You’ll still need to make sure there’s a bit of ventilation to prevent gases from building up and pushing out the oxygen.
PROS
- Turns off if tipped over
- Quiet operation
- Shuts off if oxygen is low
- Portable
- Uses propane
- Works at high elevations
CONS
- Needs ventilation
- Only heats up to 225 sq. ft.
PRO TIP
Dyna-Glo TT15CDGP Tank Top Heater
- BTUs: 15,000 BTUs
- Weight: 2.42 lbs.
- Dimensions: 7.1 x 8.3 x 12 in.
- Warranty: 1 year
Let’s be fair about the Dyna-Glo TT15CDGP Propane Tank Top Heater – it isn’t pretty, but it works. What you get is basically the heating mechanism that attaches to a propane tank (not included, obviously). The heater only heats in one direction, but it includes a steel reflector, which helps increase the area it heats. Once you hook it up to your tank, just turn the knob to your desired heat setting and in a few minutes, you’ll be warm and comfortable. The heat pushes out to a 15-foot radius, which is impressive for this little guy.
This propane gas heater is portable, so you can take it with you to your outside workshop, to an unheated office, or your garage. Make sure you provide enough ventilation when using this unit, though. It has a tip-over safety detector that’ll shut off the valve for the gas and turn off the heater. The only issue is that this little sensor can be sensitive, so you shouldn’t move your tank while it’s on. It’s one of the most affordable options for heating your uninsulated area, though.
PROS
- Affordable
- Quiet operation
- Includes steel heat reflector
- Portable
- 15-foot radius
CONS
- Needs ventilation
- Tip detector can be faulty
Fire Sense Commercial Patio Heater
- BTUs: 46,000 BTUs
- Weight: 40 lbs.
- Dimensions: 18 x 33 x 89 in
- Warranty: 1 year
There’s no need to let your patio sit empty during the fall, winter, and spring months when it’s a little chilly outside when you have a patio heater, like this one from Fire Sense. It puts out 46,000 BTUs of heat with a 20 lb. propane tank, which is nice. You’ll only get about 10 hours of heat, though, so you may need to stock up on propane tanks. This propane gas heater is easy to use with its electric ignition, so anyone can operate it.
Fire Sense included the necessary safety features for this patio heater, such as the tip-over shut-off feature. If it gets knocked over while in operation, a valve shuts off and it stops throwing heat. It comes in seven different colors and finishes, so you can get the one that looks best with your patio furniture. Keep in mind the height of this unit – at just a little over 7 feet, you want to make sure your space is tall enough to hold it. There have been lots of reports of defective units and parts, but there is a one-year warranty, so you should be able to get it taken care of.
PROS
- Great for patios
- Quiet operation
- Easy push-button ignition
- Shuts off if tipped over
- Comes in seven colors
CONS
- Reports of defective units
- Only runs about 10 hours
PRO TIP
Dyna-Glo RMC-FA150DGD Forced Air Heater
- BTUs: 150,000 BTUs
- Weight: 20.13 lbs.
- Dimensions: 25.6 x 11.8 x 16.1 in
- Warranty: 1 year
Heating an uninsulated workshop is a big job, and if you don’t have central heating, then you might consider the Dyna-Glo RMC-FA150DGD propane forced air heater. This thing runs at 150,000 BTUs, which is mighty powerful. It can heat a space up to 3,500 square feet, and it isn’t just because of the amount of heat it puts out – there’s also a fan. That fan helps push the heated air around, which is useful. This portable heater could also work well outside, so it’s great for construction sites that won’t shut down just because it’s cold outside.
It includes some safety features, such as an automatic shutoff if the unit overheats. You should ventilate the area you use this in, otherwise, you could be overwhelmed by the fumes. You’ll need to use this with a 40 or 100-lbs tank of propane, which makes this a little less portable, but quite powerful. If you run this at 150,000 BTUs on a 100-lb. tank, you can get 14 hours of continuous heat. There were some reports of the auto shutoff being triggered without cause, but this unit comes with a one-year warranty, so you should be able to return it if you run into a similar issue.
PROS
- Powerful
- Heats up to 3,500 square feet
- Fan spreads the heat
- Includes hose, regulator
- Portable
- Shuts off if it overheats
CONS
- Needs ventilation
- Might shut off because of defect
PRO TIP
The Bottom Line
A propane gas heater is a smart choice for heating small areas that have good ventilation. They can quickly warm up an uninsulated place, like a garage, a workshop, or a portable office space. You can even use some of the heaters outside, like on a patio or at a construction site. Although each of these featured here offer different uses, there is one that’s an all-around best choice.
The Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater offers all the safety features you’d need in a portable heater, and it’s small enough to lug around with you when you’re camping or hiking. It works well in small spaces, and even outdoors. It even works in areas up to 7,000 feet above sea level, while others like this one will shut down at 4,500 feet. When you need the best propane gas heater to warm you up in cold places, this one could very well be your best bet.
*You might also like: Best Garage Heater Reviews
