What's the best type of portable heater for quick heat in the morning as we only have central heating and no gas fire.
Also has to be portable to warm the garage as and when necessary.
Calor Gas?
Oil-filled radiator?
Electric convector heater?
Any suggestions anyone?
Cheers,
Pat...
Good old Calor gas heater.
Electric radiators take a while to warm up and even then don't give out a great deal of heat. Electric convector heaters can be good but a decent
one will use loads of electric.
Just make sure you have good ventilation if you decide to go Calor gas heater.
Can you not set your central heating to come on in the morning? If not, get a new timer. You can then keep the gas heater in the garage
[Edited on 19-11-05 by Hellfire]
About £70 for a new one.
Doesn't sound bad to me.
Pat...
from 85 quid inc vat delivered.
http://www.mobilegas.co.uk/mobileheater/index.htm
mate was looking in the week. recons that B and Q had the Delonghi in stock last winter....
atb
steve
[Edited on 19/11/05 by steve_gus]
They still cost a fortune to run compared to mains gas. Then there's the water they chuck out as previously mentioned.
In our last house we had electric storage heaters when we moved in which was obviously a disaster. When we had the gas main installed we had to wait a
bit for the central heating to go in so we used a calor gas heater for a bit until it occurred to me that a flame is a flame. So, I binned it and
fired up the gas cooker when required. Much - much cheaper than using a calor gas heater.
Can't drag it out into the garage right enough.
Anyway - if you need instant heat, spark up the cooker for a bit. Way cheaper than buying and running a portable.
[Edited on 19/11/05 by zilspeed]
Zil - a flame is a flame yes. However the Calor Heater also has plates on the back to make radiant heat which the cooker gas flame doesn't thus
making it very inefficient for heating. Also Calor Gas burns at a higher temperature than Natural Gas, again making sense to use Calor. There is also
a safety issue. An unguarded lit cooker is obviously dangerous if you have kids or pets... IIWY use Calor every time.
There is the issue with moisture but we haven't sufferred this problem AT ALL... strange but true! Central Heating Timer about £40 Pat... good
luck!
You want an electric infrared heater or a blow heater or something like a halogen heater.
http://www.alt-gifts.com/shop/shop/page/product/product_id/2979
Ive got £20 halogen heater, table top patio heater and 2 super sers. Just use whatever has gas in / required to remove ice.
Also have small fan heater - good for sperading superser etc heat around. No point spending good cash - all can be hap chaep.
If you fancy splashing out why noy get autumn bargain patio heater for multi use heater.
I got a second hand super ser for 20 quid out of the free adverts paper in Aberdeen. The calor dealers offer a free annual check if you're
worried about second hand. It only takes 5 -10 mins on setting 3 to bring the temperature of a large single garage up from the Aberdeenshire winter to
an acceptable level. Then maintains it on setting 1 for as long as you want. Also useful in the house if you inadvertantly forget to top up the
central heating oil.
[Edited on 20/11/05 by Baldrick]
one on ebay at the moment if youre after one quick and cheap
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORTABLE-CALOR-GAS-HEATER-ALVIMA-CAROUSEL-CHESHIRE_W0QQitemZ6012580459QQcategoryZ93630QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem quite a few on ebay
actually 
some as cheap as £10 if you are willing to collect
[Edited on 20/11/05 by daz]
quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire
Zil - a flame is a flame yes. However the Calor Heater also has plates on the back to make radiant heat which the cooker gas flame doesn't thus making it very inefficient for heating. Also Calor Gas burns at a higher temperature than Natural Gas, again making sense to use Calor. There is also a safety issue. An unguarded lit cooker is obviously dangerous if you have kids or pets... IIWY use Calor every time.
There is the issue with moisture but we haven't sufferred this problem AT ALL... strange but true! Central Heating Timer about £40 Pat... good luck!
Why not fit a central heating radiator in the garage - cheap to run.
Or even better a salamander. You can those puppies on any old waste oil you like.
Just get a couple of these, jackets that is[img]http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/a284904-images[4].jpg[/img]
I'd go for a 2kw fan heater if you've got electric.
Less than a tenner to buy, they warm up instantly and you can direct the heat at where your working rather than just heating the general area.
There's also no flames (so less chance of igniting anything) or gassing yourself lol
[Edited on 20/11/05 by MkIndy7]
the halogens are good...they're cheap(mine was about £18) give you instant heat with 3 settings they also oscillate and have emergency power cut
off if tipped over which is cold to touch straight away and are very light which is better than the old bulky superser type of gas burners
just my two penneths worth
Was also thinking for the house as we only have gas central heating and no gas fire.
It is on a Timer Hellfire, and we use it, but it isn't on in the middle of the night if baby wakes up and takes a while to warm the house up.
2kw electric one is looking good so far for immediate heat and background warmth in the garage,
MkIndy7 - thanks for the offer with the boiler, but t'other half managed to get someone out that day and get it all serviced etc. and it's
all running fine at the mo.
Pat...
How about this:
Rescued attachment Heater.jpg
Even better as 2.4kw:
Rescued attachment Heater.jpg
Not sure if you've got a Tesco near you but am sure we got a good make (Glen or something like that) for about £10.
Might be worth trying the bigger supermarkets or maybe even B&Q.
2.4Kw will probably be near the limit of a 13a plug as well, the socket etc might get a little hot, or a definate No No on an extention in the garage
if needed!
Not sure the Ocilating bits really nessacery either it might just make it feel draughty as the heat will keep moving towards and away from you.
[Edited on 20/11/05 by MkIndy7]
Ok, Simple solution, will heat a 50m2 room and 2 year guarantee.
Instant heat as well.
Can always take it back if it's poo!
Pat...
Rescued attachment Untitled-1 copy.jpg
The electric halogen heaters are good - also useful if you want some light, but this is a drawback if you want it warm and dark in the house as the two don't go together!
Why not make a waste oil heater in true Locost style.
I made one years ago out of a couple of truck rims welded together with a little tap to control the drips/heat output. It was capable of making the
truck rims and the entire six foot of 6" exhaust glow orange to white hot when turned right up.
Great for heat-treating, toasted sarnies, paint stripping and de-rusting old parts etc. etc.
Here's a version.
And another.