Reviews for the Best Kerosene Heater of 2017

A portable kerosene heater is a great way to get heat if you for any reason you suffer a power outage or do not have access to an electrical supply point. You can also use them in any outdoor spaces, such as on camping trips or to make sitting out in the garden more comfortable as the evening draws in.

Types of Kerosene Heater

There are two different ways that kerosene heater provide heat on the market today. Convection kerosene heaters and radiant kerosene heaters. Both types of heater use a wick as a source of burning for the fuel.

Convection kerosene heaters

As with all convection heaters, a kerosene convection heater provides heat by creating radiant or conductive heat onto some form of heat exchanger, usually fins with a large surface area. The fins then warm the air surrounding them and as the warm air rises it is replaced with cooler air from below which in turn is heated. Convection kerosene heaters often shaped as small towers, with the heat-exchanger surrounded by a metal frame preventing unwanted contact.

Radiant kerosene heaters

Radiant kerosene heaters are perhaps the more traditional form of kerosene heater. The burners are placed at the center of a reflector area which directs the heat forward. This radiant heat warms objects that fall in the line of sight of the heater. They do not directly warm the air, but after a period of use the air temperature will tend to increase to due heat transference occurring from the heated objects being heated by the heater.

Due to the design of the radiant heater and the need to reflect heat in one direction only, parts of radiant kerosene heaters can become extremely hot and extra care should be taken when using them.

Important Kerosene Heater Features

When choosing the best kerosene heater you should ensure that the model you are considering has some important features that ensures it operates safely and effectively.

• It should be UL or ETL listed, or CSA certified.
• It should have an auto shut off feature in the event that the heater overheats for any reason.
• It should incorporate a tip-over switch that turns off the heater should it be knocked over.
• Your kerosene heater should have a carry handle that allows you to carry your portable kerosene heater easily without having to come into contact with any hot areas.
• Always consider the heating capacity of your heater. Try to buy a kerosene heater that closely matches the area you intend to heat with the power of the heater.

The Advantages of the Best Kerosene Heaters

Although the kerosene heater has largely been replaced most American homes by electric space heaters, the reality is that owning a kerosene heater, even one that is only occasionally used has a number of distinct advantages.

• The obvious advantage that a kerosene heater has over electric space heaters is that it does not need an electrical supply to operate. This means that having a kerosene heater is an extremely useful back up heating device. They are also useful for using in situations where an electrical supply is not readily available, such as on camping trips.
• A properly maintained heater burns kerosene very efficiently. Unlike other forms of heating that burn fuel this means that the heat provided by kerosene heaters is very clean and does not result in the build-up of soot and other by-products.
• Kerosene heaters are versatile and can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments. There is a general concern often expressed that kerosene heaters should not be used indoors, but by taking sensible precautions noted below and by ensuring the space you are heating is properly ventilated there should be no risk to their indoor use.
• Kerosene as a fuel is stable and can be stored for long periods of time. Additives are also available that will ensure long term storage is extended further still. This ensures that kerosene heaters are indeed a useful device to keep stored for use only in the event of power outages or similar emergency.
• Modern kerosene heaters tend to be well made and robust, and you should ensure that any kerosene heater you are considering have a UL listing or similar quality assurance mark. With few if any moving parts within your heater you can expect a long life of inexpensive and efficient heat from your heater.

Kerosene Heater Safety

It is a fairly common misconception that kerosene heaters are dangerous. However, kerosene heaters do burn fuel in order to provide heat and therefore anyone using such heaters should behave sensibly and take basic operating precautions.

• Using impure, or the incorrect fuel in a kerosene heater may well cause pollution and a sooting up of the burner. This may increase the risk of fire. Only use 1-K grade kerosene in your heater. If it is not water-clear then it is not 1-K grade quality. Never use gasoline or other volatile fuels. Using such kerosene alternatives are potentially very dangerous as you risk fire or worse, an explosion.
• If you intend to store your kerosene then you should ensure that you store it in a container specifically designed to keep it. Not doing so increases the risk that the kerosene will become contaminated, which will affect the efficiency of burn. Do not use gasoline containers as this may result in confusion and you may well risk burning the wrong fuel in your kerosene heater.
• Only purchase kerosene from a supplier who is able to certify that it is 1-K grade kerosene.
• Take particular care when refueling your heater tank. Do not refuel indoors. You should only refuel outdoors in an area that is clear of anything that might be easily flammable. The heater should always be off and cool when refueling. Never overfill the tank. Only fill to the “full” mark.
• Should the heater flare-up for any reason, of if unexpected or uncontrolled flaming does occur then you should immediately attempt to turn off the heater, either using a manual “off” switch if the heater has one, or cut-off the fuel from the heater. Under no circumstances should you try to move the heater. This is potentially very dangerous and might result in serious injury. If you cannot reach the heater to turn it off, then you should leave your property and call the fire department.
• Ventilation is a commonly misunderstood topic when it comes to kerosene heaters. Kerosene heaters do not, in fact, emit carbon monoxide or other pollutants into the atmosphere. They tend to burn very efficiently. It is advisable however to ensure the room is properly ventilated. This can be achieved by simply opening a window by as little as an inch. This ensures an adequate flow of fresh oxygen to keep the heater burning efficiently. Ventilation also helps address any issue of condensation arising as a result of the burning fuel indoors.
• The wick is perhaps the most important element of your kerosene heater. You should ensure it is clean and in good condition by undertaking a simple cleaning and maintenance. This cleaning and maintenance routine should be provided to you by the kerosene heater manufacturer.

Regular Kerosene Heater Maintenance

Kerosene heaters are great heating options with several pros over other heating solutions. Unlike electric heaters, they can be used anywhere whether indoors or outdoors. Unlike gas heaters on the other hand, kerosene heaters are very safe. If you have one or are thinking of getting one, below are four tips on how to maintain the kerosene heater.

Regular replacement of the wick

The wick is probably the most important part of the kerosene heater. However, it also happens to be the main culprit when the heater starts to malfunction. To avoid this, make sure that you regularly replace the wicks whether they are cotton or fiber glass. This is because prolonged use leads to build up of tar on the wick surface. This reduces the efficiency of the entire heating system.

Clean and lubricate the wick raising system

Failure to pay attention to this system also leads to functionality problems with continuous usage. Contact with the kerosene on the wick increases attraction and accumulation of dirt and tart on the raising system. This could lead to clogging that makes it difficult to raise the wick. To avoid this, make sure to regularly clean the raising system to remove accumulated dirt and grime. You can use a toothbrush and some warm water. Just make sure to fully dry the system before putting it back into the heater.

Regular cleaning of the oil filter and oil plate

The oil filter and the oil plate are two other important parts that require regular cleaning as part of the heater’s maintenance. With the filter, the aim is to get rid of the accumulated particles in order to allow proper filtration. Here, you can first manually scrap off the grime then clean the filter with pure kerosene and leave it out to dry. For the oil plate, you will have to pump out the excess oil and dirt that accumulates there in order to allow proper functioning of the heating system.

Regular cleaning of the fan filter

The fan filter filters air sucked into the system for the combustion process. With continuous use, dust and other particles in the air might accumulate on the filter causing obstruction of the air pathway. To avoid this, make sure that you regularly clean the filer. You can do this by removing it, rinsing in clean water and drying it before reassembling the heating unit.

After all is said and done, your kerosene heater’s longevity is entirely dependent on how you take care of it. The tips above should help you maintain it for long term optimum functioning.

Summing Up

Kerosene heaters were at one time a very popular portable space heater option. However, advances in space heater technology and the far greater extent to which the electric current is cheap and available in our homes has meant that kerosene heaters are a less common choice of portable space heater.

However, as we have seen above, there are times when having a space heater that does not depend upon power in your home can be a valuable item to own. Indeed anywhere where access to electric power many not be taken for granted will benefit from a kerosene heater. For this reason we recommend that all households have at least one kerosene heater available should they need it.

Kerosene is a fuel that is readily available and can be stored, using sensible storage precautions, for long periods of time safely. In addition, kerosene heaters are very affordable and it should be an easy process to identify and purchase the best kerosene heater you can for the budget and for your household needs. We recommend you review our list of best kerosene heaters and purchase one for your family today.

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