How Much Kerosene Does A Heater Use? - HVACseer.com (2024)

FAQs

How much kerosene does a heater use? ›

Handling fuel

One large convective heater operating 15 hours a day needs up to 14 gallons of fuel a week - an amount that would require three five-gallon kerosene containers.

It will run for approximately 9 hours on one tank. Using that to calculate from, I should get about 22 hours of heat from 5 gallons.

Uses only 1-K kerosene. Burns with 99.9% efficiency, providing 8-12 hour run times per each 1.9-gallon tank of fuel.

It will go through a full tank of kerosene in about 10 hours. So, a 5 gallon kerosene can will only last you about 25 hours.

How long will 10 gallons of heating oil last? Following our previous calculations, 10 gallons of heating oil at a consumption rate of 1.7 gallons per hour should last 5.8 hours. (10-gallon tank / 1.7 gallons per hour = 5.8 hours).

Kerosene tends to be slightly more expensive than heating oil, and can also be harder to find, as not all fuel providers offer kerosene.

Kerosene is cheaper than propane, which makes it a better option for some.

Proper Use of a Kerosene Heater

Heaters should never be left burning overnight or while sleeping. There is a potential for adverse health effects caused by pollutants produced by unvented space heaters.

Since kerosene produces 135,000 BTUs per gallon, that means it will emit 675,000 BTUs total (for five gallons).

Never use kerosene heaters as a permanent heat source:

Although these machines can heat spaces well for the cost, they are only meant to be short-term or even emergency solutions while you find a more permanent heating system. Be aware, too, of the legal issues surrounding use of kerosene heaters in your area.

How many square feet will a kerosene heater heat? ›

Q. How many square feet will a kerosene heater heat? The amount of space a kerosene heater heats depends on BTU output. Low-output heaters, in the 25,000-BTU range, may heat 1,000 square foot spaces, while 135,000-BTU units can heat over 3,000 square feet.

Adequate ventilation is necessary for safe operation of the kerosene heater. Burning kerosene consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases.

The only fuel approved for indoor kerosene heaters is K-1 kerosene. K-1 kerosene is most commonly found at local convenience stores and service stations. Only buy kerosene that is rated K-1. Lesser quality fuels will produce odor and may cause other problems.

For your heater to burn to its maximum efficiency, you should regularly dry burn the wick as it accumulates deposits. Many people dry burn the wick as much as once a week. The first dry burn should take place within a week of using the heater or after burning 3.5 tanks of kerosene.

Although prices have risen, natural gas is the least costly form of space heating. This is followed by electricity, propane, and heating oil, from the next cheapest to the most expensive.

Most sources put the shelf life of kerosene at 2-5 years, yet there are plenty of stories from people who found old kerosene, which had been sitting for 10 years or even 20 years, and the kerosene fired up without a problem. Old kerosene will usually burn and, in this sense, won't go completely bad.

Propane has an indefinite shelf life, so you don't have to worry about it going bad. By contrast, kerosene typically does go bad within 2 to 5 years. There are kerosene additives that will extend the shelf life, but these are an additional cost. You can also clean old kerosene fuel, but it might damage your heater.

Using kerosene in your home's heating system can offer a number benefits that will help maximize the efficiency of the heating process and reduce total heating costs in the future.

As a general rule, heating your home with a natural gas furnace is the cheapest way to keep warm through the winter months. Electricity is usually significantly more expensive than gas, so even the most efficient heaters will be a bigger drain on your pocketbook than a traditional furnace.

It is not a complicated task and it should not take long or cost very much. Since diesel and gas oil are more expensive than kerosene, using diesel/gas oil would only make sense where this fuel is bought in bulk, such as by those in the agriculture industry.

What can I use instead of kerosene for heater? ›

The Solution: Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO)

There is an alternative liquid fuel in hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) with distinctive environmental benefits which can act as a direct replacement to kerosene.

Although kerosene units are more efficient than electric models (90 percent compared with 100 percent fuel efficiency), kerosene is a much cheaper fuel source than electricity. On average, kerosene heaters cost $70 less to operate per season than conventional electric models.

What it revealed is that electricity has historically been about 3.8 times more expensive per kWh than kerosene (assuming 90% oil boiler efficiency)...which is just about the same as the advertised SCOP of our ASHP.

A space heater that is not installed right or not working properly can release carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes into the room and use up much of the oxygen in the room. Most space heaters use kerosene or natural gas for fuel.

Although kerosene heaters are very efficient while burning fuel to produce heat, low levels of certain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, are produced. Exposure to low levels of these pollutants may be harmful, especially to individuals with chronic respiratory or circulatory health problems.

Sooty black smoke is a sign that the fuel/air mix may be off. Make sure the chimney is seated correctly, or you may notice a very high flame on one side. If the high orange flame is all the way around, the wick may just be too high. Try rolling the wick adjuster knob down within the adjustment range.

Kerosene contributes to greenhouse gas emissions

All fossil fuels, including kerosene, release 'greenhouse gases' like carbon monoxide. This is directly attributed to global warming.

Most kerosene heaters will run for 8 to 14 hours. Make sure you know your heater's run time before purchasing. Many kerosene heaters come with a fuel gauge to alert you when it's time for a refill. You should only refill the heater outdoors when it has cooled down.

He added that seven of nine states, including New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio and Maryland, that prohibited the use of kerosene heaters had in the last two years changed their laws. Only Massachusetts and California still ban the heaters, he said.

Any kerosene advertised as 1-K kerosene can be used in your heater, but use red dye with caution. We recommend using clear 1-K kerosene, because it is easier to see potential contaminations and better for your kerosene heater wick.

How many BTU is a gallon of kerosene? ›

U.S. Department of Energy from Cornell paper: kerosene (No. 1 fuel oil) – 134,000 Btu/gal; No. 2 fuel oil – 140,000 Btu/gal; and propane – 91,600 Btu/gal.

Place your kerosene heater at least three feet from combustible materials. Avoid skin burns and combustion of clothing from direct contact with heater. Place your heater in an area that has little to no traffic to prevent knock over. Keep all children and pets at a safe distance from operating heaters.

1,200 square foot home would take between 35,000 and 75,000 BTUs. 1,500-square-foot home would take between 45,000 and 90,000 BTUs. 1,800-square-foot home would take between 55,000 and 110,000 BTUs.

As a rule of thumb, you will need 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of floor area in a room. This means that a 1,500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet.

For a 2,000 Sq. ft. home, you will need to install a 60,000 – 80,000 BTU furnace.

A: The main difference is the sulfur content. K-1 is very pure kerosene with low sulfur content and is most commonly used. K-2 can have as much as 10 times more sulfur. The fewer the impurities in the fuel, the cleaner it will burn.

Kerosene is also called #1 diesel fuel oil, whereas regular diesel is designated as #2 diesel fuel oil. Some people consider it similar enough that they may try to use it interchangeably with regular (#2) diesel fuel.

Premium kerosene is better for your boiler

The fuel additives of premium kerosene reduces deposit build up around your nozzle and heat exchanger within your boiler. This helps ensure that the cleanliness and performance of your boiler is maintained for longer following its annual service.

The average home uses 5.3 gallons of oil on 30-degree days and 4.5 gallons on 35-degree days. Therefore, the average home in the Philadelphia area will use about 4.9 gallons of heating oil per day during winter. A 275-gallon supply of heating oil will last for approximately 56 days at the rate of 4.9 gallons per day.

Kerosene Heater Indoor Air Pollutants

Always operate your kerosene heater in a well ventilated room. Airflow with a cracked window or door will protect your from the buildup of toxic fumes. Also, an old/dirty wick and low quality fuel are the main causes of toxic fumes. Buy a new wick here.

Is 10 year old heating oil still good? ›

Heating Oil Storage

Heating oil can be stored in your oil tank for a maximum of two years without any problems. As a matter of fact, it can even last for up to ten years if stored in ideal conditions. Heating oil is a stable liquid compared to natural gas or its other counterparts.

When demand is low, the price of heating oil drops, making the summer the best time to get oil for a reduced cost. Specifically, oil is generally cheapest between April and September. During the summer months, most people don't need to heat their homes.

During the colder months, temperatures can fluctuate between the 20s and the 40s with an average of about 30 degrees F. So, an average home will need approximately 5.3 gallons of oil per day. In this case, during the coldest months of the year, a full tank will last about 52 days or 1 month, 3 weeks.

He added that seven of nine states, including New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio and Maryland, that prohibited the use of kerosene heaters had in the last two years changed their laws. Only Massachusetts and California still ban the heaters, he said.

Quick answer: For occasional or emergency use, propane heaters are the better option. Compared with kerosene heaters, propane heaters are easier to maintain, and you don't have to worry about the fuel going bad. For regular use, kerosene heaters are more convenient and cheaper if you have access to bulk kerosene.