being northern bush monkeys lack of heat could kill us quicker than zombie hordes. Anybody use one of these 23,000 btu jobs?? like this? .My wife is convinced its useless because you have to leave a window cracked for ventilation...we disagree.
I have used this heater and it does a fine job. Did NOT keep a window open for ventilation and during a desperately cold time kept one about 3 feet from my bed (house was drafty). The one thing it took getting used to, is that it seems to warm up slowly and as it warms the fuel below seems to also. After the first hour I would find myself turning it down (lowering the wick for less burn exposure). And I got 2-3 years out of one wick. now on the other hand this past season was difficult and when I had difficulty finding kerosene, I took #2 heating fuel, uh like diesel ? Anyway that stuff smoked and was downright nasty, definitely will NOT use that stuff again. Can't remember how much the wicks run, probably $6-7.00, and a good idea to have a spare or two on hand. This thing can heat 1,000 square feet easily and run you out. After months of usage I didn't even turn it off to refuel, that's a plus. Oh and it's a good idea to get familiar .. trial run.... before you really need it.
No. 2 fuels are too heavy to properly wick in an upward direction, hence the extreme smoke. Now I will tell you how to thin No.2 Fuels to the level of Kersene. Take and add some acetone to your No. 2 fuel intill it wicks up a string. It will not require a lot of acetone per gallon, just don't overdo it. I have done this qiute a few times and it does work properly.
What do the instruction say about leaving a window open a crack? I'm not as worried about myself as I know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning but the young ones would be an issue as they may not understand the ill feeling they may be having until it was too late Other than that looks like it would be a good thing to have around, just wonder how it would heat when it hits -40
I've got one, and used it. They do heat well. I did go ahead and crack a window figured that it wouldn't hurt and I'd much prefer to loose some heat vs waking up dead. I noticed that the Kero smell did linger for quite some time tho. That was somthing that I have to say I wasn't too thrilled about,but, if I was relying on it for true heat the smell would be a non issue. I will use it again and do quite often in the garage when I'm working out there during the winter. I fire it and the Mr.Heater up and in about 15 or so minutes it's nice and toasty. Hope this helps. Take care Be safe Poacher.
Seriously doubt that I would have records for the amount used for a total winter. I can say that we used this for 3 winters & toward the end of the last one, I was filling 7 containers at a time or 35 gallons, which would last usually one to two weeks. We started this because the house had electric heat & with a heat pump, which I used for maybe 2 weeks which meant a $400.00 electric bill. Perhaps that heat pump was not installed properly, because they are supposed to be a good thing. Something I forgot earlier, is that it is important to stay with or check on the unit frequently after lighting to check for smoke and adjust wick down as needed. Tank holds about 1 1/2 gallon of fuel and should last all nite or at least most of it. Ah, something else, the fuel (qty) guage doesn't always work so well but it is so simplistic I'm sure you could modify it to improve on it. When adding fuel, remember to little is MUCH better than having it run over onto the pad, where it really smells and takes bunches of paper towels to clean up. We have a couple of little squeeze type pump things to transfer fuel, I assume they came with heater but can't remember. The hand pumps are carried at Orschelns....& probably Ace hardware.
I hate heat pumps. Theoretically they work great, but only in Southern climates. The system must be oversized for houses in a Northern temperate climate, about twice the size per square foot. Adding a geothermal loop will help, if you have the capability to do it.
Heat pumps above the Mason-Dixon (in the east) aren't very good economically unless ground sourced rather than air sourced. If you get the cold side pipe below frost, they work very well.
