8 Best Kerosene Heater For Garage – Reviews 2022

Want to keep working in your garage once the temperature drops? Or want to heat your garage but has no electric supply?

It is the right time to invest in the best kerosene heater for garage that is not only a useful heat source but also efficient and quick to ignite.

If you’re not sure which kerosene heater model to select, this article is for you. I’ve reviewed some of the best kerosene heaters for indoor use. Some are ideal for small rooms, while others are suited for large rooms.

Best Kerosene Heater For Garage Comparison Table

Pros and Cons of Kerosene Heaters

It’s a naturally portable, Kerosene-fueled, unvented space heater. 

It’s the primary source of heat in most countries. However, in the United States, it’s considered an emergency heat during a power outage. 

Ideally, power outages inevitably hit every winter. Many homeowners find themselves without a source of heat, which is why investing in this heater is a good idea.

Kerosene, propane, and natural gas heaters are usually the best options during power outages. 

Although saving energy with kerosene heaters may seem predictable, questions about health and safety haven’t been settled to many people’s satisfaction. 

Before purchasing a kerosene heater, consider making safety a priority. Further, check for protection grills and fuel gauge to prevent burns or to overfill.

If you face any problems using a kerosene heater, always ensure to follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.

Pros

• Portable
• No chimney required
• Minimal maintenance
• High combustion efficiency
• Low initial investment

Cons

• Risk of burns from hot surfaces
• Some areas restrict sale or use

Propane vs. Kerosene Garage Heater

Working in your garage during the colder months for hours could be devastating, and kerosene and propane heaters may help keep you warm. While they come in diverse sizes and shapes, they offer dozens of portable heating options.

Kerosene or propane heaters are affordable, reasonably standard products that can be easily chosen to accommodate the space you need to warm. 

Although they are both perfect for indoor use, we’ll start by discussing what makes them different. 

Propane heaters for garage are majorly considered as the cleanest, most eco-friendly way to keep your garage warm during winter.

Although it’s slightly costly than Kerosene, it’s widely available. Kerosene heaters, on the other hand, are in high demand because of their incredible heat output. They are designed to give out more heat than most space heaters.

In a nutshell, if you’re more conscious of how much you spend on fuel, consider going for propane since it’s more efficient. Besides, it burns so cleanly, lasts longer, and doesn’t create any smoke.

Nonetheless, a portable kerosene heater will bring your garage to temperature in a flash. With Kerosene, your garage will warm up more quickly, and you’ll heat square footage with a single unit.

Are Kerosene Heaters Safe to Use in a Garage?

When it comes to using a kerosene heater indoors in your garage, your safety majorly depends on how you maintain, operate, and locate it. Always take time to know and understand the precautions outlined in the user manual. In case you don’t understand some aspects of safe operation, feel free to ask the dealer.

Can you Leave a Kerosene Heater On All Night?

It’s never appropriate to leave even the most efficient kerosene heater run all night. Always ensure you turn it off when going to bed. Keep an eye on the tank as you refill it to avoid spillage, which may cause a fire. If you have children and pets, it’s wise to position the heater where it’s not easily reachable by them.

Do I need to Vent a Kerosene Heater?

Ventilation is of great importance when it comes to using a kerosene heater. A Kerosene heater can emit pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, or Sulphur dioxide, creating a risk to the elderly, pregnant women, and young children. Consider using a modern vented kerosene heater as a safety measure.

Here is how to vent a garage heater through the wall

Do Kerosene Heaters Give Off Fumes?

Sure, mainly when operated inappropriately. It draws in air and releases heat from the internal combustion of Kerosene. Although the combustion process may be efficient, certain toxic fumes such as Sulphur, carbon, and nitrogen oxides are released.

The building’s characteristics, the room’s size, and the type of heater all contribute to the potential build-up of toxic fumes. Ensure you operate your kerosene heater in a well-ventilated room. You can as well keep your heater clean and install smoke detectors for maximum protection.

 How Long will a Gallon of Kerosene Burn?

Well, with a portable kerosene heater, you’re more likely to make frequent trips to a kerosene dealer. One large convective heater operating 15 hours a day needs up to 14 gallons of fuel a week. 

This means that it takes over 8 hours on a full tank to burn evenly while the wick takes forever before getting the carbon spots on top.

For precautionary measures, never mix gasoline and Kerosene, don’t even attempt to use a gasoline can as a substitute for a kerosene container. A garage is preferable to the house. Resist the temptation of refueling a hot kerosene heater in a warm house.

Also, ensure you follow the siphon pump instructions and fill only about 90 percent of the tank. This is essential since cold Kerosene expands in a heater tank as it warms to room temperature and could overflow if there isn’t enough vent.

Can you Use Fuel Oil in a Kerosene Heater?

For standard basics, you must never burn an oil fuel in a kerosene heater. Manufacturers don’t recommend any other fuel to be burned in a kerosene heater other than Kerosene. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that it can’t be done.

Conversely, Kerosene is a light grade of diesel, while heating oil is heavier and less explosive than Kerosene. If burned in a kerosene heater, heating oil smokes up and emits noxious fumes.

Besides, it increases cleaning and maintenance costs since it tends to leave unburned deposits on the wick. Although it may work on a kerosene heater, it hardly seems to be worth the trouble.

Also read – Kerosene vs Diesel Heater

Best Kerosene Heater For Garage Reviews

Sengoku HeatMate OR-77 Portable Kerosene Heater

The average one-car garage 12 x 22 feet (264 feet squared). 14 x 22 (308 feet squared), or 14 x 24 (336 feet squared). A typical two-car garage is 18 x 20 feet (360 feet squared). That makes this kerosene heater excellent for both one-car and two-car garages because it can heat rooms as large as 380 square feet.

It has a large capacity gallon that can hold up to 1.2 gallons (4.5 liters) of fuel. That should be enough to give you warmth for 12 to 14 hours per fill. 

You can use it for emergencies as well as everyday supplemental heating. Even if you have another heating source, it’s good to have a kerosene heater just in case your primary heat source fails (for instance, if there is a power blackout)

If your garage is larger than 380 square feet, this heater won’t do. Some two-car garages are 20 x 20 feet (400 square feet) and 20 x 22 (440 square feet). This heater is only effective up to an area of 380 square feet.

Pros:

• Lasts up to 14 hours per fill
• Excellent for outdoor use
• Automatic safety shut off
• Burner design protects it from wind
• Easy to assemble

Cons:

• Cannot service larger garages

2. Dura Heat DH2304S 23,800 BTU Indoor Kerosene Heater

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This heater produces more heat than the Sengoku above (which does 10,000 BTUs). This one provides 23,800 BTUs. It projects heat in a 360-degree radius, so every corner of the room will be heated equally since the heater is distributing heat all around.

Dura Heat DH2304S design considers safety. It’s easy to burn your fingers when you are operating a heater. To protect you from that, the heater’s design features a protective grill that encircles the hot surface areas.

It, however, does not last as long per fill as the Sengoku heater above (which lasts 12 to 14 hours). This one does between 8 and 12 hours per tank of fuel. That’s still a lot of time, though, especially in times of emergency.

One noticeable con is that there is a kerosene odor. The odor is not so extreme that it is overwhelming, but it is still noticeable.

Pros:

• Easy assembly
• High heat output
• Projects heat in 360 degrees
• A protective grille ensures you don’t burn your fingers

Cons:

• Has a noticeable kerosene odor

3. Mr. Heater F270270 MH75KTR Contractor 75,000-BTU Forced-Air Kerosene Heater

If you are looking for a durable heater built to last, consider Mr. Heater F270270 MH75KTR. It’s constructed using rugged, durable steel. It also has a heavy-duty, high-output fan.

The heater operates for about 11 hours on a full tank. That’s almost half a day of providing heat that is instant, economical, and efficient.

It has an incredibly high heat output compared to the two we have already reviewed above (10,000 and 23,800 tBTU’s). Consider that its fixed heat output is at 75,000 BTUs.

The area heated is also quite large. Mr. Heater can cover an area up to 1,875 square feet. It also has a thermostat and can heat a large area of space quickly and effortlessly. It’s excellent for those cold winter days when you are outside working in your car or your garage.

The one problem we can see is that the fan is rather noisy. But at least there is no kerosene odor.

Pros

• Has a thermostat
• High heat output
• Durable construction
• Heats a large area
• Instant heat

Cons

• Noisy fan

4. Mr. Heater F270370 MH175KTR Kerosene Heater

This Mr. Heater has a higher heat output and covers even more space than the one above. If you have a big garage and want something to keep you warm during winter while working on your car, even outdoors, this is undoubtedly it.

It is a forced-air kerosene heater that produces 175,000 BTUs, and the heat covers an area of up to 4,375 square feet.

The fuel tank lasts up to about 10 hours on a tank full of fuel – the tank can handle up to 14 gallons of fuel. It also has an adjustable thermostat.

The heater weighs 68.5 pounds (30.8 kg), which is quite heavy. Transporting would be a problem. The heater’s design solves that problem by including oversized pneumatic tires that ensure transport is smooth and convenient!

However, it does raise a bit of a racket in operation, which some people may consider intrusive.

Pros

• Easy to transport because of pneumatic tires
• High heat output
• Covers a large area
• Has thermostat

Cons

• Not quiet

5. Kero World KW-24G Indoor Kerosene Heater

With a heat output of 23,000 BTUs and covering an area of 1,000 square feet, this kerosene heater should be ideal for the average garage – and even a bit bigger than average. For instance, three-car garages are typically 32 x 22 feet (704 square feet). It is an excellent heater for small to medium indoor spaces.

It is also highly efficient, giving you 12 straight hours of heat from its built-in 1.9-gallon fuel tank. The kerosene heater is something you will need when fixing a car in your cold, lonely garage during those cold winter days. It is also great for providing emergency heat, like when you lose power in the house.

Furthermore, it’s a highly convenient source of instant heat. It has matchless ignition, and you don’t have to plug it in either. That means you don’t have to go through a lot of hassle to get it going.

Burning your fingers while trying to grab the heater is something you don’t want to experience. This is why this heater’s ergonomic design prevents that by including a 360-degree protective grill: it ensures safety.

It does have a strong odor, though, especially if you are operating it indoors.

Pros

• Easy to light, easy to adjust, and to fill with kerosene
• Simple, convenient, matchless ignition
• Efficient fuel use
• Portable design
• High heat output
• Covers a large enough area

Cons

• Strong odor

6. Dyna-Glo RMC-95C6B Indoor Kerosene Convection Heater

The beauty of a kerosene heater is you don’t need electricity; it is something you can use in times of emergency. This particular one provides a heat output of 23,000 BTU/hour that makes it a pretty powerful kerosene heater that can satisfactorily warm up your garage in winter.

The heater can provide heat for rooms up to 1,000 square feet, making it ideal for the average garage. That means, it can adequately provide heat for a one-car garage, a two-car garage, and even some 3-car garages.

Ease of use is always a plus, especially considering that when the weather is freezing, you want a heating appliance that you can quickly turn on and warm up your space in the least time possible. It has automatic ignition, so turning it on is easy. Shutting it is also easy (a one-touch shutoff).

There is almost no odor, but when you turn it off, you’ll likely smell the kerosene fumes.

Pros

• High heat output
• Automatic ignition
• Easy to shut off
• Easy to assemble

Cons

• Produces odor during shutoff

7. Sengoku HeatMate HMN-110 Kerosene Heater

Featuring a large capacity tank (1.2 gallons or 4.5 liters), the Sengoku HeatMate HMN-110 kerosene heater will keep you sufficiently warm for up to 14 hours per fill of the tank. If you are in your garage working on something, that means the fuel will last all day (from morning to evening).

The heater is also easy to use. For instance, you don’t require any matches to start it; all you have to do is press the “start button.” Furthermore, it comes with an automatic safety shutoff. Other features include the EZ flame adjuster and tip-over switch.

For safety, to ensure you don’t burn your fingers, the heater features protective safety grills.

Unfortunately, this heater, if you have a large garage, does not provide heat for a large area. For instance, it’s not ideal for a three-car garage and even most two-car garages. The heat produced can only cover rooms up to 380 square feet, which makes it more appropriate for small to medium garages.

Pros

• Safety grill
• Automatic safety shutoff
• Fuel lasts long
• Press a button to start

Cons

• Can only service smaller spaces

8. DeWalt F340675 DXH75KT Kerosene Heater

Construction professionals have been known to use these DeWalt kerosene heaters as a reliable heat source on the job site.

Therefore, you can rely on it to provide enough heat to warm up your garage in winter. These DeWalt heaters have high-output, fully enclosed motors, glove-friendly controls, and factory-installed thermostats.

It weighs 35 pounds (15.88 kg). Fortunately, it has wheels, and that makes it easy to transport. It also has ergonomically designed handles to make the burden of transport easier. The controls are also glove-friendly. This is significant because you may not want to take your gloves off when the weather is frigid.

Cleaning is always an issue for most people – cleaning should be easier than it usually is. This kerosene heater features a rugged two-piece split barrel to ensure cleaning and maintenance are easier and safer for you.

It is easy for parts to get damaged on a job site or working in the garage. Therefore, for durability, the heater features recessed controls and thermostat control – this minimizes the risk of the knobs or valves getting damaged.

This heater is not the best for indoor use – unless it is a well-ventilated place. That is because it does give off a strong smell.

Pros

• Comes with thermostat
• Easy to transport
• Ergonomic handles
• Glove-friendly controls
• Easy to clean
• Recessed controls, for durability

Cons

• Generates strong smell

You can also check – reddy heater troubleshooting tips

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Wrap Up

Kerosene heaters play a significant role during power outages. If it’s well-designed, it emits no strong odor or smoke during regular operations.

However, you’re more likely to notice a faint kerosene odor when you enter the house. Misuse of kerosene heaters could replace room oxygen with carbon monoxide, resulting in death by asphyxiation.

Therefore, it’s crucial to have adequate ventilation in your house as a source of fresh air. What’s more, read and understand the user manual and ensure you remember all the safety and operating features. Good luck!