In this modern age, when indoor heating is widespread and we are no longer struggling to stay warm in the wintertime, issues such as the kerosene vs propane heater dilemma have replaced the fight for survival that used to be so commonplace less than a couple hundred years ago.
Nevertheless, it’s important not to take our heating systems for granted. While electric systems are considered by some to be adequate, most experts agree that the most efficient and widespread heaters are those based on kerosene and propane. But which one is best?
Price and Availability Concerns
When comparing kerosene and propane heater models, prices can vary greatly and will depend on the type of heater you are looking for and the specifications you require, both fuels however will typically fluctuate around the $3/gallon mark, although prices can again vary greatly based on your specific region with the mid west generally experiencing the lowest prices and the east coast usually the most expensive.
Experts will tell you that propane is typically more readily available than kerosene. While you can usually find kerosene tanks at local camping and home improvement stores, in some areas it’s much harder to find.
Propane, on the other hand, can be found not only at most home improvement stores, but also at grocery and convenience stores. Propane tank rental programs make the process more convenient, and you’ll typically find better pricing options for propane in areas where kerosene is less readily available (and, therefore, expensive).
Kerosene vs Propane Heater: Performance
Kerosene is an excellent fuel you can use to heat your home. Even a basic, portable kerosene heater can deliver more than 20,000 BTU of heat and heat up a space of more than 1,000 square feet in under a minute. This impressively fast and powerful heat generation capability is the main strong point associated with kerosene heaters. Also, as an added bonus, kerosene heaters are good at humidifying the air, so they are great if you live in a dry area.You can check out the best kerosene heaters here.
Unfortunately, kerosene heaters require regular maintenance such as brushing the fibers and dry burning the wick, in order to maintain top performance. Also, kerosene units typically have no adjustable heating settings, so if it gets too hot you just have to shut them down.
When it comes to the efficiency of propane heaters, you’ll find they can offer similar advantages to what you can gain from a common kerosene heater. A propane heater can heat up remarkably fast, and it’s capable of heating up large spaces without much difficulty.
Probably the only problem you will find with propane heaters is their lower efficiency when it comes to delivering full BTU burning temperatures. Compared to kerosene heaters, they feature about 20% less power and a somewhat dry burn.
When it comes to a kerosene vs propane heater comparison, it’s also worth mentioning that the latter doesn’t have the same problematic maintenance issues and uncomfortable smell you get from using kerosene. Moreover, the heat output can be adjusted without a problem, which is a huge benefit when compared to kerosene heaters.
Heating During a Crisis
In a crisis it’s our opinion that propane is the better overall choice. Not only is it cheaper and more readily available, but it’s less problematic maintenance, better odor and easily adjustable heat output will be a godsend.
Because of these considerations, when comparing kerosene vs propane heater models, you’ll find that it takes a lot less time, care and effort to manage your propane heater, and it’s also much easier to ration a limited amount of propane, should you be stuck with fewer resources over a longer period of time.
