Looking at used Heaters

[FunkyfullWidth]

I've been fighting myself over the waste oil/propane heater dilema. With the waste oil burner I get free fuel but with a high start up cost but sacrifice floor space with a storage tank. With a propane heater I get a cheaper start up cost, but spend more on propane...

I've basically convinced myself to go with propane and i've found several used ones but have limited to no experience with what to look for. I know that I do not want ventless and want one with around 100,000 BTU's. The area I'll be heating is 30x40 with 13' ceilings. Insulated all around. I'm spoiled, I want T shirt weather in the shop while i'm working, which is around 60*.

I see alot of natural gas heaters. One in particual that i'm looking at is a Reznor fe 130. How difficult/ expensive is a propane conversion on one of these. Anyone who has one, is it loud or overall a good unit?

Also, i haven't seen alot of posts as to the costs of propane. How much can one expect to spend on propane over the course of an average winter? Either with delivery or personal tanks.

 

[nehog]

... With the waste oil burner I get free fuel but with a high start up cost but sacrifice floor space with a storage tank. With a propane heater I get a cheaper start up cost, but spend more on propane...

I've basically convinced myself to go with propane ...

First, with waste oil you may find there are regulations about burning oil not 'generated' on your premises. I know of one company that did generate a lot of waste oil, but even their commercial operation didn't make enough for a full season (mid-northern MA) and they quickly learned that the waste oil burner was much less efficient when fueled with heating oil. I believe those are MA regulations.

Used... When I did my shop I looked at about 6 different used heaters. I even was given one for free. End result: all were units that I ruled out--the maker was out of business, not designed to meet the requirements for a shop heater, were well worn, etc. The bottom line, a used heater is for sale for a reason: it was not cost effective, reliable, whatever for the prior owner to use! So they replaced it. Why buy someone else's problems?

I ended up buying new (a Dayton tube unit heater) and am totally happy. Sure I spent quite a bit more, but I have a unit with a warranty, parts, is reliable and performs with reasonable efficiency.

I'd suggest a new heater is the best option if at all possible.

 

[volaredon]

why does everyone think that buying used = buying a problem? it aint necessarily true;
building teardowns, remodels, additions etc plus so many that "intended" to put them up but "never got around to it"

same deal with cars many can go 300K but people still get rid of them with less than 100K...

I have so much stuff here that I bought used and is working well for my intened purpose that it isnt funny; several mowers (including my zero turn!) (2) jeeps (2) Dakotas my compressor, my garage heater, my garage hoist my 4 ton floor jack my sandblast cabinet and Rockwell/Delta floor model drill press (those last 2 items were actually a "gimme") and more
stuff that I use all the time that I couldnt afford new if I wanted to;

and better yet stuff that can be taken apart and REPAIRED instead of thrown away and best yet is AMERICAN MADE rather than supporting China any more than absolutely necessary... you know what they say about not making things like they used to? It's a shame but is true. Not alot can go wrong with those heaters that can't be fixed easily/cheaply go ahead; spend $700+ on new; when my $200 100K BTU modine heater will do just as well.
To OP; keep an eye on craigslist both near by and in surrounding CL categories;

I just bought my Modine heater last nite on CL, 50 miles away; I had been talking to a few different people and size wise related to what I wanted, price and such this was the best deal... then TODAY one pops up on CL in my own town! same size and a few dollars more but not a 100 mile round trip to go get the thing....

I had 2 smaller ones that I do not think either of which would have heated my 30X36 alone that I listed on CL last nite (late) and by noon both were gone.

 

[philjafo]

Buying used doesn't always = buying someone else's problems, just be carefull to make sure its what you need and in good working order, cl sales are usually as is non returnable, and a good deal quickly goes sour if you need to fix the heater before you can use it. Also if you going propane KNOW!!! What it cost to convert from natural gas because some are just a spring and some orifices and others are a whole gas valve and orifices, big difference in price there.

 

[volaredon]

Buying used doesn't always = buying someone else's problems, just be carefull to make sure its what you need and in good working order, cl sales are usually as is non returnable, and a good deal quickly goes sour if you need to fix the heater before you can use it. Also if you going propane KNOW!!! What it cost to convert from natural gas because some are just a spring and some orifices and others are a whole gas valve and orifices, big difference in price there.

yup you can get bit in any deal but that does include new; compnies that offer warranty but don't offer it, among other issues.
most big names in furnaces and these type heaters know it is quite possible that an end user may need it to run on the "other" gas; so they offer kits
I saw some earlier today dont remember if it was Modine lennox or who but the conversion kits I saw were shown to be in the $30-35 range...

and depending on what work needs to be done and price paid it may well be worth buying one you know that needs a lil work;
I rarely buy anything not expecting to have to do "something" to it. if that winds up the case it is a good surprise

yeh i have had those times that i would have more $$ in something than a new machine may cost but by and large that isn't what I have found you don't necessarily have to buy the 1st, of what ever you find...

 

[Shop Specialties]

I have been doing nothing but waste oil heater sales and service for 21 years so I can help you out with that. With your size shop a waste oil heater would not be a good choice for you. You should be good with 65,000 BTU to heat your shop. If it was me I would choose propane.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I've been biased because at work we have a clean burn 2800 and usually about 1100 gallons to burn by the beginning of the season. The shop is about 60x100, mostly insulated. But as I said, it's noisy, and has a large foot print. but, it heats that building up from 45-60 in probably an hour in the morning. After that it kicks on about every half hour-45 minutes for a couple minutes.

with a heater size, is there such a thing as too big. How does the math add up. I'm assuming a larger heater heats the space up quicker. Does it cost less because of less run time, or are you burning that much more propane?