Author Topic: Diesel Heaters  (Read 1093 times)

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Offline Prospect

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Diesel Heaters
« on: October 11, 2020, 07:00:43 PM »
I was thinking of getting a diesel heater for my uninsulated double garage to work on some bikes over the winter.  Don't know much about them but it looks like some of them do not require venting outside and some of the "stove" type looking ones need to be piped outside.

 Also, is it better to get a smaller unit that works longer to remove the moisture from the air vs. a big one that would run a short period of time and thus not removing moisture? 

They all seem to be very loud. 

On another note.  Can I use the portable ones to melt snow or ice on the driveway?

The price on these units has come down substantially over the years.
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1971 CB750K1
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Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2020, 07:10:08 AM »
I’ll be interested to see what others comment. My suggestion would be don’t. Unless the furnace has a complete heat exchanger and forced, chimney style exhaust. Years ago, I used a kerosene heater in a poorly sealed space (and a few small electric heaters). It stank, created extra moisture in the space and added a lot of risk......

Online newday777

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2020, 08:16:43 AM »
Construction Salamander heater?
Yes they are loud. Yes they stink. They eat fuel in insulated areas. Yes moisture is a problem when you heat cold items to make you comfortable.
Can it be done? Yes. I've bought the tshirt and wore it out.
Build a heatable/insulated work room....
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Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
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Offline simon#42

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2020, 10:19:38 AM »
I’ll be interested to see what others comment. My suggestion would be don’t. Unless the furnace has a complete heat exchanger and forced, chimney style exhaust. Years ago, I used a kerosene heater in a poorly sealed space (and a few small electric heaters). It stank, created extra moisture in the space and added a lot of risk......

yes that is it in a nutshell , they make a lot of moisture and breathing in burnt diesel or kerosene is bad !  . i bought one for heating the workshop but now only use it for heating crankcases when im fitting bearings  .

Offline Prospect

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2020, 05:49:46 PM »
Ok.  Looks like it's not the way to go then.  I might look into ones that are vented outside or go with propane.
Current Bikes

1969 CB750  Sandcast #256
1971 CB750K1
1972 CB750K1
1975 CB400F
1975 GL1000 Goldwing
1954 Harley Davidson Panhead
1957 Harley Davidson Panhead

Toronto Canada

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2020, 01:32:37 AM »
The IR heaters are very nice for heating you and your tools nicely so you aren't freezing and your tools pick up the warmth so they aren't ice cold.
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline BigJimG

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2020, 06:21:14 AM »
I have a two burner "Mr. Heater" propane infrared heater I use in my partially insulated 24x36 garage (need to finish it).  It does a decent job of making it not too bad to work, as long as you're busy.  I can usually get away with just a flannel, and keeping my mostly used tools on a small bench near the heater.  That being said, spending the extra money to insulate your garage is definitely worth it.  My biggest issue is my ceiling is open to the trusses, so I'm losing a s#!t-ton of heat through there...  My plan, once I get my ceiling finished is to put a hanging vented furnace running on propane, shouldn't be too expensive to keep the entire garage at about 40 degF all winter long.
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1975 XR75
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Offline Don R

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2020, 02:28:29 PM »
 They suck. I've used the propane ventless bullet heaters on construction sites but they also have noise and co2 issues. I did have a kerosene powered kerosun that only stunk when you shut it off. I gave it away last year.
 I have a high efficiency gas unit heater now love it and it takes no floor space. Since I got new unbent 2" foam insulated doors my heat bill has gone way down too.
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Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2020, 05:43:13 PM »
Not to mention the danger in a shop filled with gasoline, paints and solvents. Don’t miss mine either.

Offline Prospect

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2020, 06:39:50 PM »
Thanks for all the replies. I can't get propane to my garage and using the 20lbs bottles is probably too expensive with propane heaters.  I'll have to do the math on it.  I'm thinking of going the kerosene route.  Apparently it doesn't smell at all are quiet and safe for indoors.  Here in Canada it's about $3.25 a litre or about $14 per gallon. 


https://www.homedepot.com/p/DuraHeat-DuraHeat-Portable-Convection-Kerosene-Heater-Provides-23-800-Btu-s-of-Warmth-DH2304S/304697729


Current Bikes

1969 CB750  Sandcast #256
1971 CB750K1
1972 CB750K1
1975 CB400F
1975 GL1000 Goldwing
1954 Harley Davidson Panhead
1957 Harley Davidson Panhead

Toronto Canada

Offline scottly

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2020, 10:04:48 PM »
I've survived using a single "Mr heater" propane heater. They work well if they are pointed at you, and while they will take the chill off, don't expect them to raise the temp much in a large area. On the low setting, one will run for about 40 hours on a 5 gallon propane tank (the one in the pic is 7 gallon). I also have a propane bazooka/bullet/salamander type heater for when it gets really cold. It is noisy and sucks a lot of gas, but it will raise the temps to a comfortable level quicker than even two of the Mr heater units; once up to temp I shut it off, and let Mr heater maintain a comfortable temp. Propane here is about $2 a gallon, or less. 
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Offline 333

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2020, 06:41:12 PM »
ALL diesel/propane/kerosene heaters produce carbon monoxide and consume oxygen. This topic is well covered in camping forums.
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Offline scottly

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2020, 07:30:11 PM »
ALL diesel/propane/kerosene heaters produce carbon monoxide and consume oxygen. This topic is well covered in camping forums.
" Properly functioning propane appliances will produce what is called an "ideal burn" during combustion and present no danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. "
They will consume oxygen, and replace it with CO2, so care must be taken in enclosed spaces.
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Offline Don R

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2020, 05:28:26 PM »
 My friend has an electric unit heater, it's a small shop (24x24) and is well insulated but it works great. 
No matter how many times you paint over a shadow, it's still there.
 CEO at the no kill motorcycle shop.
 You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #14 on: November 19, 2020, 09:03:06 PM »
Used oil heaters are often used by many auto shops... They burn at very high temps and have outside air intakes. But it does require quite a steady flow of oil and you have to be able to store it for the year while not requiring heat.

Insulating and eliminating drafts and air leaks goes a long way in helping make the shop more energy efficient for either cooling or heating.
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline rb550four

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2020, 02:01:09 PM »
The local bone yards around here use those "used  oil heaters" , Not problem free , especially if the used oil isn't your own waste oil. People put any kind of fluid ( gas , antifreeze, solvents ....) all kinds of things that they don't know what to do with end up in the drum that you could be hooking up to your heater to which can either stop it from running or blow the guts out of it,or waste the seals, not to mention the crud that needs to be filtered. I see these guys fooling around with these things all winter here.
   Insulated walls and ceiling is always key, insulated doors too. Once you are sealed and insulated 220v baseboard electric is clean , easy to install and is safe...no Co to breath , no fuel oil or kerosene stink ( and they all do) and depending on it's locations less flame risk than open flame heaters as long as you don't spill or store flammable materials over, on, or near the units . Can run a room temp thermostat or a unit control either way you can flip them on a while before you want to use the space ,and shut them down when you leave.
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Offline Dunk

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Re: Diesel Heaters
« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2020, 02:33:57 PM »
I did it for a long time with a 60k BTU torpedo heater burning diesel. Smell was not an issue, it burned clean. It's loud though, and due to CO should only be used in a drafty garage or with a door cracked if it's fairly tight structure. Had to run it all the time though in a 540 sq ft garage, turn it off and it would be cold in 5-10 mins. There's also the moisture issue of using any unvented heater, they pump a crap load of moisture into the air as a byproduct of combustion. I now have a 720 sq ft insulated garage with a 45k NG unit heater vented outside, once up to temp it only cycles on briefly a couple times per hour and it's quiet with just a soft hum.

If I had no other choice I'd be inclined to insulate well and try a 5000w/7500w hanging electric heater. Might need to run a torpedo heater for 30-60 mins to get the space up to temp but if it's insulated the electric should maintain temp while working without costing a fortune.