Getting to be that time again

[brats.n.harleys]

Well it's starting to get cold again here around Chicago. We have a oversized 1 car garage (1 wide, 1 3/4 deep). I'm out there at least 5 nights a week working on the bike, painting, or doing something. Well last winter I had one of these
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:...ml&t=1&usg=AFrqEzejcfqBfLVrnJaCAUvIwuQReURr8A
It worked alright but took an hour to get comfortable. And I was replacing tanks like crazy. This winter I'd like to get something better/warmer The thing is we only plan on living here a few more years so I don't want to spend the money to put I. A furnace or natural gas heater. Thought about maybe the same type but one with 2 or 3 burners on it and just accept filling tanks once or twice a week.

 

[Red Green]

You could get a second one of the same type. Then you could spread the heat out better. If you want it to get warm in a hurry get a salamander.

Anouther Choice would be to put in a Big Maxx type hanging furnace and taking it with you when you move.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75961 this tread has lots of info about the salamanders

 

[porcupine73]

I had one of those style heaters too but it tipped over and the pipe ****** broke. I liked how it was portable and nice and quiet. It's true you might empty the tank but energy costs money whether its propane tanks, natural gas, electric etc. I was thinknig about getting one with two burners on it. The one burner was nice but it doesn't put out a ton of heat unless you're right on top of it.

In the main garage I did upgrade to the Big Maxx NG heater and I really love that thing, it was very worthwhile putting that in. It makes it so much more pleasant to work in the garage in the winters.

 

[sixball]

I have this one: http://www.menards.com/main/plumbin...erosene-radiant-heater/p-1398617.htm?cid=1307

I love it. It's alot quieter than a regular torpedo heater but works on the same principle, but it generates alot more heat radiantly instead of like a torpedo that just blows a hot air in one general direction. My garage is bigger than yours, but this thing heats my garage from the 30's to the 70's in about 20-30 minutes with the man door half open. I can even hear the radio with this on. It could get alot warmer in there, but 65-70 is good working for me, doing about the same thing as you do.

The BBQ top tank ones work, but you always run out of fuel at 1AM and end up freezing until morning. Plus they don't heat up like a torpedo will. I run diesel in mine. It sips the fuel. I think you'd be money ahead going with one like mine or even just a regular torpedo vs going with the propane tank tops.

Sixball

 

[brats.n.harleys]

Thanks guys. I was looking up some more heaters through google and found an article about propane prices and how the exchange is a rip off. Basically said 2 years ago a tank exchange was 14$ for a 100% full tank. Now as everyone knows an exchange is about 20$. And supposedly they only fill the tanks 75-80% now. The article then went into how by filling your own tanks (standard size, 20lb. ) it costs about 11$ for a 100% fill.
So I looked up places that fill tanks near my home. The closest one is 40 min away so I figured if I can get 2-3 more tanks it would be worth the drive. Looking on craigslist I found I guy with 100lb. Tanks for 20 a piece! Picked up one of them this afternoon. It's all sorts of rusted and chipped. Been grinding it down for about an hour with a flap disc and am about half done. I'll finish it tomorrow and then give it a nice black paint job with some pinstripping. Then I plan on buying another tank top heater, either with 2 or 3 heads. Now I should just be able to keep the 100 pounder full with a 20 pound backup.

Hopefully this winter will be better than last. Tha ms again everyone. That kerosene one did look nice!!

 

[Jeremy W]

here in indiana they check the date on the tanks before they will fill them, better make sure of the regulations where you live before you put too much work in your tanks, they may not fill them.

 

[brats.n.harleys]

Where would a date be. This one only says citgo on the bottom.

 

[Red Green]

The date should be stamped somewhere near the top where the cap ring is.

Check some of the local junkyards I know a lot around here have the old 20lb tanks sitting in a pile. If you ask I bet they would give you a couple. I have been taking them to Menards and exchanging them once for a tank with the new style valve. Then having them filled.

This week I had 5 20lb tanks filled. The bill was $48 total.

 

[sixball]

The Menards in my town has a 24 hour automated exchange deal. You have to use a Credit Card, and the gate opens, you put your empty in, and grab a full one. The catch is, you have to make the exchange with the correct valve, or they will charge your cad full price vs excahng price when they find out.

I'll admit, I have exchanged the old valve style for new, but always with an employee there that doens't know/care whats going on.

I'd check with the company thats doing the filling before I put in alot of work, regulations are strict on that stuff

Also the more heads on those top burners nean the more fuel there gona burn thru

Sixball

 

[jwillis]

I have used a Kerosun type kerosene heater in my home for 20 years now. I just built a 22X24 foot garage and I am going to try one out in here this winter here in SW Ohio. Over the years I put mine at the bottom of my basement stairs and it will heater my family room in the basement plus the heat goes upstairs and heats about half of the house. At the other end of the house I use space heaters and an furnace sparingly. But my heating bills over the years have never been over $400.00 PER WINTER. My house stays about 55-60* but I stay warm wearing sweats. Years ago I was building my kitchen cabinets in my 14X18 wood shop and it got up to 100* while I was staining and varnishing. I have sworn by them for years. 99.9% energy efficient. $3.00 worth of kerosene lasts all day. (12 hours)

 

[jwillis]

Forgot one thing- I try to buy my kerosene in the summer when prices are down to under $3.00/ gallon and store it in two plastic 55 gallon drums in my garage. I usually use under 80 gallons per winter. Like I said, I have always sworn by them. Just as fuel efficient as gas or fuel oil. Not as stinky, also.

 

[trythis]

The tanks have to have the three side handles. If not, it will be round. If it is round it is garbage. It must have an overfill protection valve and they just wont fill them if it doesnt.
http://www.propane101.com/opdcylindervalves.htm

 

[brats.n.harleys]

Alright so the 100 pounder I bought has the old style valve on it. Will they refill this? If not should I A) buy a new valve. Or B) just take one off a new 20 lb tank? I was googling valves to buy and one site was selling a 100 lb tank valve for $31 but it looks just like the old valve. It only had female threads and the handle was round. Is that standard?

 

[6768rogues]

Propane tanks are always considered as full when they are actually 80% full. The rest is head space for expansion and to make sure you do not get liquid propane to the appliance. I don't like unvented combustion, so personally I would not use an unvented heater.

 

[sixball]

Alright so the 100 pounder I bought has the old style valve on it. Will they refill this? If not should I A) buy a new valve. Or B) just take one off a new 20 lb tank? I was googling valves to buy and one site was selling a 100 lb tank valve for $31 but it looks just like the old valve. It only had female threads and the handle was round. Is that standard?

I've got a few small tanks that are empty with the new valves on them if your intersted in them I can take them off. I was just going to use the tanks for air bombs anyway. I'm in Indiana as well. I've also got a single head heater that goes on those tanks like in your picture that I bought just to run the propane out of one of my tanks with the old style valve. PM me if you need a valve or want the heater.

Sixball

 

[Andamo]

Don't paint that tank black ! They won't refill a tank that isn't silver or white painted. They build up pressure from the sun being a darker color. Even if you tell them it's inside, they won't refill it. Or at least they're not supposed to.

 

[DzNuts]

B'n'H, have you checked into the Mr. Heater MH25LP 22,000-BTU Propane Radiant Heaters? Anyone have any experiene with these. I have a 12x24 and was eyeballing one of them since it will stay up and out of the way. And in these smaller castles, our space is important.