Mr. Heater Big Max propane usage?

[tom-ky]

Is there a way to determine how much propane a 50,000 btu heater uses per hour? Just try to determine what it would cost per hour to use.

 

[Jackfre]

There are about 21000 btu/lb or 92000/gallon. What is your appliances input X efficiency. Figure the net. You then need to know the heat loss and your cost/unit of fuel. Watch your lp use over time and against the outside temp. Best way to do lp cost effectively is to own your own large tank and control the buy.

 

[Velosprout]

Is there a way to determine how much propane a 50,000 btu heater uses per hour? Just try to determine what it would cost per hour to use.

A propane heater will cycle on and off with your thermostat setting, and will vary depending on your thermostat setting, the outdoor temps, your insulation values, number of door openings square feet being heated, how often doors are opened, and the wind speed outside. After the initial warm up, the heater will not be running constantly.

A gallon of LP has roughly 91,000 BTU, so at full-blast continuous use (quite unlikely) you would use 1.82 gallons per hour. At our current price of $1.65/gallon, that would be a max cost of about $3.00/hour.

If, after warming up to the desired temp, the burner is cycling on for only 15 minutes/hour, that would cost 75 cents per hour.




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[Climatecreator]

Is there a way to determine how much propane a 50,000 btu heater uses per hour? Just try to determine what it would cost per hour to use.

You could use one of these http://amzn.to/2CZ9hR8 for sure..... No guess work. Of course, you already need to have the heater to test it, and in assuming you want know before buying one.

 

[sleek98]

A propane heater will cycle on and off with your thermostat setting, and will vary depending on your thermostat setting, the outdoor temps, your insulation values, number of door openings square feet being heated, how often doors are opened, and the wind speed outside. After the initial warm up, the heater will not be running constantly.

A gallon of LP has roughly 91,000 BTU, so at full-blast continuous use (quite unlikely) you would use 1.82 gallons per hour. At our current price of $1.65/gallon, that would be a max cost of about $3.00/hour.

Is it 1.82 gallons or .54 gallons?

1.82 gallons @ 91,000 BTUs per gallon is 165,620 BTUs.

.54 gallons @ 91,000 BTUs per gallon is 49,140 BTUs.

Trying to figure it out since I am looking at getting one as well. I could easily be wrong just trying to figure it out.

 

[Velosprout]

Is it 1.82 gallons or .54 gallons?



1.82 gallons @ 91,000 BTUs per gallon is 165,620 BTUs.



.54 gallons @ 91,000 BTUs per gallon is 49,140 BTUs.



Trying to figure it out since I am looking at getting one as well. I could easily be wrong just trying to figure it out.

You are correct. That's what I get for answering forums too late at night.

If your heater is 80% efficient producing 50,000 BTU per hour might use .675 gallons of LP gas. I did the math incorrectly. Thanks for catching that.

To get the best propane price I suggest owning your own tank, find a summer full, and contracting ahead for gallons of LP gas out of season. Also by owning your own tank not only do you get a discount but you can shop between the different dealers.


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[sleek98]

I didnt think about it being 80%. That is actually not a horrible gallons per hour.

I never really paid attention to the usage rate, our lake house is a propane furnace. I just know that the 500 gallon tank lasts 2 mild winters keeping the house at 60 all winter long. This winter however I dont think it will go another. Its been dang cold down there.

 

[finn]

Owning your own tank seems to be a recurring theme her, but I personally do see a big payback. I have three leased tanks at different properties. In my case, that means I would have to not only buy, but install three tanks, piping, and regulators. Probably would run in the vicinity of $5k (?), plus they need to be certified periodically.

We have four suppliers, one being cheaper, but they have to travel 150miles round trip, so that doesn’t seem viable as far as scheduling goes.

The others generally have competitive prices, and it would take decades to recoup the initial investment.

I don’t pay a lease fee as long as I use a minimum amount, and, even then, they waive that If one of the three properties fails to hit the threshold.

I went with a local company rather than a national chain.

 

[Mark Mr.Oz]

Hello, new to the site so this question may get redirected. I am considering a Mr Heater Big Maxx (50,000 btu version) in my 22 X 30 garage (12ft ceiling). Ive seen many positives about it however Im not totally sure what my propane cost would be? I have read about the different factors but it still doesnt seem to compute to me? Propane here is roughly $4.00 per gallon @ 50 gallons in a 200 lbs tank. Metal building with closed cell spray foam on all walls and ceiling plus fully sheet rocked. Two uninsulated roll up doors but the openings at the top are sealed with dual curtains. THE question is: how long would you fellows with experience roughly estimate a 200 lbs tank would last with mild usage (keeping garage usually at 50 degrees) over a usual Northeast winter (upstate NY) using the above mentioned unit??

 

[Pruittx2]

I found this:
A burner or appliance rated at 60,000 BTU/hr (with burner turned on to "High") will burn 60,000 BTU every hour which means consumption of fuel is one gallon of propane every 1.53 hours. (92,000 BTU/Hr / 60,000 BTU/Hr = 1.53 hours that one gallon would last Providing the burner remains on "high" you can determine the number of hours your propane supply with last. To adjust for appliances, like a furnace, that are controlled by a thermostat and only cycle "ON" maybe a few minutes per hour, you would then need to adjust your calculations. For example if the furnace cycled on for 15 minutes every hour in the winter you would adjust by a factor of 4. (92,000 BTU/Hr / 60,000 BTU/Hr = 1.53 hours that one gallon would last x 4 = 6.12 hours of furnace use for each gallon in inventory)

So based on that math,, then an 80000 unit would burn approx 1.15hr per gallon of fuel. I would bet with initial warm up time, then a few cycles per hr, would use about 3-4 gallon in a day in the shop. let's say 4 gal per day, used on weekends only would be a long time! All guestimates at this point.

 

[Mark Mr.Oz]

That's sound Math, I guestimate the burner cycle at about 10-15 minutes thru winter months only (4-5 months). It will be on all day 24/7 at a constant 62 Deg then on 70 during the work time (weekends and a couple nights after work), so a once a season fill up is expected and Im totally fine with that , Thank you for the response Time to go post my garage pics and work on my profile...Great site!

 

[Tre900]

First, welcome to this site. The information is amazing it was the driving force in my getting my Big Max 75k installed. What I found is that I **** at calculating BTUs and Gallons and I just wanted to be warm when I was in the shop and I don't care when I'm not in the shop.

I did this: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=706191&d=1511275282

My unit is connect to an on/off switch. I go in, I flip it on and its very quick to warm up my space enough for me to get comfortable. I turn it off when I leave. I attempted to keep the space heated once last winter. I found it wasn't worth the cost, but admittedly, I found out by trial and error. Search my threads and you'll see. I had issues, first install and all that...but so far this fall my "on demand" Big Maxx on 100lb(x2) space heater with auto change over regulator is filling my needs well. I haven't had to refill yet this year yet either. Good luck and don't get discouraged. Almost every question you have has already been asked...the trouble is finding it.