Delonghi Safeheat Garage Heater

[SANDOVAL]

Now that winter decided to make it's presence I finally installed the Propane garage heater I purchased last year. BTW it is now on sale for 70% off on frontgate for $75 http://www.frontgate.com/fg/pdp.jsp?prod_oid=3836551&showarrow=y&search=y&cursor=6 . You will need a plumbing kit. So I went over to HD and picked up a 5' hose with regulator. The directions for the heater states you need a regulator off the tank. I also picked up a large 40Lb tank.

I ran the heater for about 45 min the room was nice and toasty I had to take off my sweatshirt due to the warm air. My garage is around 20x22. The heater did a great job heating the room quickly. especially with my 14' cieling.

I have a question though. When I went to turn the tank off I found from the tank past the regulator and about 10" up the hose a thick layer of frosted ice. I have never had this happen to my grill which uses propane. Am I doing something wrong? or is this normal? Do I have a leak?


I do highly recommend this heater, especially at the $75 price!

[alexblaster]

What a great price, but what is in this plumbing kit? Do I piece it together from HD, or buy kit as an option from somewhere?

-alex

[SANDOVAL]

You have to buy the plumbing seperatley I purchased my parts at HD. The various available parts are located in the grilling area by the propane tanks. I think I spent another $20. This is if you go the propane route. I also did quick disconects so I can store the tank and hose when not in use.

[Jay H 237]

I have a question though. When I went to turn the tank off I found from the tank past the regulator and about 10" up the hose a thick layer of frosted ice. I have never had this happen to my grill which uses propane. Am I doing something wrong? or is this normal? Do I have a leak?

If you had a leak you'd smell it in addition to the possible icing.

What you're doing is drawing the propane from the tank too quick. You might want to try turning the heater down a bit, it will take a little longer to heat the garage but you won't be drawing the volume you were before.

Liquid propane is cold. The tank is filled with liquid propane with just propane in a gasous state near the top of the tank. If you draw too much volume you use all the gas and start drawing the liquid causing the icing. If you slow down the rate of which you're drawing the propane from the tank the liquid has enough time to turn into a gas state before being drawn from the tank. This is also why they tell you to never use tanks, including acetylene, in a horizontal position. This isn't good for the regulator plus there's a chance the valve could freeze in the "ON" position.

[330Scott]

Yeah, what Jay H said.

Thanks for the link. We only have one heat vent in our basement & it does get a little too cool down there. I am thinking that the Safeheat unit might be just the ticket if it was taped into our natural gas line. Sandoval, what does the "easy-access natural gas cylinder tap" look like on the unit that you purchased?

If any HVAC members see this post, please chime in with your thoughts about using this heater in a basement using the existing natural gas line. Thanks.

Edit - I am starting to think that exhausting the burned natural gases from this heater may not make it such a great candidate for a basement.

[DynoDave]

Interesting. I'll have to read up on those a little when I get home. Thanks for the link.

[mrl05]

Sandoval,

Thanks for the write-up.

Since you are using propane, do you have to vent the garage when using the heater (even though it says ventless). I do have natural gas in my home and could get it run to the garage, but I may consider the propane route.

Thanks,
Mike

[mikeb9550]

I have a similar size garage (just a little bigger). I was thinking about picking one up but wonder what the temp was outside when you heated your garage up? I think this may be borderline for me but since I dont loose any heat from one wall or the roof, I may be ok (all walls are insulated and the house is attached).