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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Dyna-Glo 23000 BTU Convection Kerosene Heater
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tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 15:41
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Anyone ever use of these to heat your cabin?

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 17:20
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Me again...I had to google that and I don't know what brand we have but it is basically the same thing I think. We use ours in our big cabin while the wood stove is first started up. The air is, of course, very cold inside but it just takes a short while to heat up the cabin (926 sq ft) while we are unpacking on a Friday night. I love this thing! We call it one of the best purchases we've made. I think it was only 170.00 at Menards. When we start it we stick it out the door so all the odor goes outside-it smells like jet fuel or the tarmac back in the day before the roving walk through tunnels.

Like I said we only use ours to start the process of heating, then we let the wood stove take over. ( maybe 20 minutes at most...it is so fast). I can't tell you how it would work over a longer period of time

VC_fan
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 17:32
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Yes. It's not a great solution but it's cheap and effective. Our shack is 16x20. It's essentially two stories with a loft over half, so half of it is open from the floor to the second floor ceiling. Insulated. If you do as it suggests and burn it outside for a few minutes when you light it there's very, very little odor. And it really cranks out the heat. After an hour or so it will raise the temperature maybe 20 degrees inside. Unless it was really cold outside you'd probably need to crack a window after a few hours (which you're supposed to do anyway in an enclosed space) or you'd get run out. I usually just turn it on in the morning for a while and hover over it - feels great. Typically when I post I receive a flood gate of responses indicating what a moron I must be, so I'll try to nip those in the bud by saying that IF I use it before laying down at night I always open the window by my bed. It lives inside the shack all the time and I notice no kerosene odor. I agree that there are better solutions but for the money and difficulty of installation (that would be zero) I think this is an excellent one. One caution - bulk kerosene is getting hard to find in my area and the box stores charge a small fortune for the packaged gallons. Good luck.

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 17:56
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Quoting: VC_fan
Typically when I post I receive a flood gate of responses indicating what a moron I must be

Ha ha...that just cracked me up!!!

Quoting: VC_fan
One caution - bulk kerosene is getting hard to find in my area and the box stores charge a small fortune for the packaged gallons.

Good point you made there. We are able to buy it in bulk and it is much, much cheaper.

TomChum
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 19:37
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Her's a picture of a Dyna-Glo 23000 BTU Convection Kerosene Heater
Dyna-Glo 23000 BTU Convection Kerosene Heater
Dyna-Glo 23000 BTU Convection Kerosene Heater


tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 20:03
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they sell them at Lowes and at Tractor Supply (for $129) and on both websites the reviews (about 50 between the two stores) all rate it 4 and 5 stars. many of the reviewers mention that, unlike the old kerosene heaters, it is completely odorless except when it is shut off - then it can smell for 10 min or so. my place is just 12x16 with a loft. for a number of reasons i can't put a woodstove in for a year or so and I'm hoping this will get me through the winter. For those that have one (or one like it) is there any problems lighting it when its cold - like 10 or 20 degrees.

i'm going back and forth between one of these and a Mr Heater Big Buddy. leaning toward this kerosene one.

thnx
Matt

trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 20:56
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Ooops, I guess my google search was too quick. We have a different type. Ours is a "torpedo" style-forced air 70,000 btu with a fan and it spreads the heat out in all directions instead of a blast straight out. We put a metal cookie pan on the floor directly under the heat so that it doesn't scorch our sub floor.

Sorry for the wrong information. As soon as I saw what TomChum posted I knew that was a different type.

TomChum, you may consider what we have for a very quick warm up of your log cabin. I recall you saying it took a long time to get warm because of all the cold your logs retain. No fun to be freezing while waiting!

johng
Member
# Posted: 13 Sep 2012 22:24 - Edited by: johng
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I used one like you pictured for several winters.
Kerosene heaters do smell at start up and shutdown, the burn between those 2 points is clean and intense.
If soot is coming out of the top the chimney, it is not seated correctly.
Use the scented wick oil and keep the wicks clean and free of creosote buildup. Creosote is not a problem if you use good fuel and have wick set at blue tipped flame burn.
If creosote builds up on the wick (hard brittle caramelized tips), do a quick burn outdoors and use pliers to break up creosote.

Keep in mind that any flame source is burning oxygen that you also need (and unventilated creating carbon monoxide), so using one while you are sleeping is not being minded.

TomChum
Member
# Posted: 14 Sep 2012 00:35
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Quoting: trollbridge
TomChum, you may consider what we have for a very quick warm up of your log cabin.

Good suggestion, thanks!

luther
Member
# Posted: 19 Sep 2012 07:25
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I have one of these at my 20x20 insulated with 1/2 loft cabin and it works great (at times too much heat). Again as others have mentioned there is some odor at start up and shut off. Mine stays in the cabin all the time and there is no smell of kerosene. I would definitely recommend one of these heaters.

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 19 Sep 2012 15:21
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luther,
thanks. do you use anything other than 1K kerosene? is it possible to buy the 1K in bulk from a fuel supplier or only prepackaged?
matt

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 19 Sep 2012 15:41
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Luther,
Do you use the red-dyed kerosene?
matt

VC_fan
Member
# Posted: 19 Sep 2012 16:36
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The red stuff (I think that's K-2 but I'm not completely sure) is what I use. The small country store near me has a dedicated kerosene pump for it. And I also add a little bit of the scented stuff as somebody else suggested.

luther
Member
# Posted: 19 Sep 2012 23:18
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Tcmatt. I use k1 kerosene. I have never used the dyed type. I do not seem to go through that much as I can't leave the heater on for that long as it heats up the cabin to an uncomfortable temp. I usually buy the kerosene in 4 or 5 gallon containers. I do not know of anywhere close to me that sells it bulk from a pump.

Good luck


Luther

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:37 - Edited by: tcmatt
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VC and luther,

thanks for your input. the owners manual for the dyna-glo contradicts itself on one page it says to never use anything other than K1 water-clear kerosene, then on another page it says if you suspect your fuel is bad (contaminated with water or old) be sure to replace it with water-clear K1 or red-dyed K1. I talked to a local fuel supplier yesterday, he said that the red-dyed that they sell is K1 and aside from the dye, no difference. of the 50+ reviews on Lowe's website and Tractor supply company's website many say they use KI from a bulk supplier because it's half the price. All the bulk suppliers I call say that all of their K1 is red, so I'm not sure you can even get water-clear in bulk. Of course, one reviewer said they used the red-dyed and it created all sorts of smell and soot issues.

VC, is yours a dyna-glo (23,000btu)? by the way, i checked out your place - super cool. mine is posted as "my 12x16" under projects.

VC_fan
Member
# Posted: 20 Sep 2012 18:53
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Thanks for the compliment but that may have been intended for somebody else - not sure I have any decent pictures of our shack on here. But I'll take the compliment anyway. I'm 99.9% sure that's the brand and the output - it came from Lowe's maybe 7-8 years ago and looks identical to your picture. I think there are still a few brands but they're essentially the same. I was over last weekend and could have checked. Next time I'll try to remember.

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 2 Oct 2012 18:08
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Well, I bought the Dyna-Glo. I've tried it in the garage and I pretty impressed. Will take to the cabin this weekend with a CO monitor and let you all know how it works. Don't worry, I won't sleep with it on.

luther
Member
# Posted: 2 Oct 2012 19:25
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I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It gives off a nice glow at night also.

Cheers

razmichael
Member
# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 10:13
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I picked up a "Kero World 23000" at Lowes Canada last week. It looks exactly like the Dyna-Glo and may just be rebranded for Canada. It works great! As stated by many - light it and turn it off outside and there is no smell. I would not sleep with it on (despite having a CO monitor) but it was great to start it in the morning and heat the place up (no insulation yet and almost freezing overnight). It is big - much bigger than it looks in the pictures!

tcmatt
Member
# Posted: 3 Oct 2012 22:53
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razmichael, is yours white or black? I bought a black one at Lowes in northern Michigan. No smell at all when lighting, only at shut off for me. how big is your cabin?

razmichael
Member
# Posted: 4 Oct 2012 08:37
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tcatt, it is the black one - looks identical to the Dyno-glo so I'm sure it is just re-branded to kero World in Canada. My cabin build is at Cabin Build . Without insulation yet I can only give a gut feeling on how it would work in an insulated cabin. I have a Dickinson P-12000 vented propane heater (not installed yet) that will by my day-to-day heater but this will not put out nearly the same BTUs as the kerosene heater so I may find I will use the Kero World on occasion to bring the cabin up to a nice temperature and then maintain it with the propane heater. The downside to the Kerosene heater is the large size and, when you read the manual, the ongoing maintenance requirements specified - which I will not be good at doing!

creeky
Member
# Posted: 10 Oct 2012 17:12
Reply 


thanks for the tips ... bought the 10k btu dyna-glo and it was a toasty 84 F in the cabin this a.m.
the manual specifies either clear 1k kerosene or the red dyed. red dyed 1k is what they sell at my local "farm" supply gas station.

daddy2kids
Member
# Posted: 31 Jan 2017 06:56
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Hello everyone.
I need a good kerosene heater. Any ideas which one to get?
I want to buy one but I'm confused with all the information I'm reading on reviews.
Can anyone tell me which one is good to buy in this review?
Reviewing kerosene heaters
Thanks.

bobrok
Member
# Posted: 31 Jan 2017 11:43
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Quoting: TomChum

Her's a picture of a Dyna-Glo 23000 BTU Convection Kerosene Heater


We have that exact unit. It does work for smaller spaces and I've used it to supplement our propane heater on start up in cold weather.

The main problem I have is the wife doesn't appreciate the kero smell and she says it leaves a film on everything.

SE Ohio
Member
# Posted: 31 Jan 2017 12:16
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Daddy2,

We use the Dyna-Glo sometimes, works great. Used it in our work-week home one time the power was out, kept our 2200 sf house at 55 degrees with some help from our fireplace. However, I rarely use it at the cabin anymore.

Why?

'Cause I keep it in my shed and would have to drag it out.

When I need to supplement the woodstove, I light my kerosene 2-burner range. Uses similar wicks to Dyna-Glo, but has two burning versus only one. And the rest of the time, I cook with stove, also using Coleman oven over one burner at times. You can find these kerosene ranges in 1 or more burner configurations, some with built in oven. You have to cook anyway, right? Available at Lehmans, etc. Pricey when new, though.

If your two kids are younger, you might also consider the safety of a kerosene range versus propane. My boys are now old enough not to turn stove knobs willy-nilly, but I would have worried about a propane stove knob being turned on and unlit in presence of lit wood burning stove. Boom!

If you do go with the Dyna Glo, keep in mind that "depreciation rate" of a new kero heater. I see these often little or unused at garage sales for $10-$20 off season. Check the wick condition first, as a burn-out wick would result in extra cost and effort.

Ohio-Buck, Daddy of 3
Perfection Kerosene stove
Perfection Kerosene stove


Carl Martin
Member
# Posted: 12 Aug 2020 02:33
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I have done this before, and the effect is actually okay.

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