When temperatures drop to frightening lows, you’ll most likely need a heater to keep your home warm and cozy.
When it comes to choosing a heater, many options are at your disposal. However, if you’ve decided to go with a direct vent propane heater, it’d be prudent to not only know what your viable options are, but to also know the exact value you’d be getting for your money.
Though vented propane heaters heat spaces very fast, and are incredibly energy-efficient, finding the best direct vent propane wall heater to invest in is no walk in the park.
Thus, we’ve gone to great lengths to create this guide. It’ll provide you with a thorough idea about which brands stand out. Plus, our tips will help you decide on the best vented propane heater to serve you well.
Reviews of The Best 5 Vented Propane Heaters
There are tons of vented propane heaters on sale. Knowing which particular one to choose is an extreme sport.
Therefore, we’ve pieced together five of the choicest vented propane heaters out there. Keep in mind that this list is in no particular order.
Martin Direct 8,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater
- BTU: 8,000
- Weight: 29 pounds
- Dimension: 11.9 x 7.1 x 22.7 inches
- Capacity: up to 194 sq.ft
- Warranty: 1 year
US Store AGDV12L Ashley Direct Vent Propane Gas heater
- BT: 11,000
- Weight: 33.7 pounds
- Dimension: 7.62 x 20 x 17.3 inches
- Capacity: up to 350 sq.ft
- Warranty: N/A
Rinnai EX08CP Wall Mounted Direct Ventilation Furnace Propane
- BTU: 3,000-8,000
- Weight: 39 pounds
- Dimension: 15 x 19 x 28 inches
- Capacity: up to 450 sq.ft
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
Empire Comfort Systems Direct-Vent Wall Furnace
- BTU: 35,500
- Weight: 101 pounds
- Dimension: 40 x 33.5 x 13 inches
- Capacity: up to 1000 sq.ft
- Warranty: N/A
HouseWarmer Slim-Profile Direct Vent Heater
- BTU: 15,000
- Weight: 48 pounds
- Dimension: 15 x 16 x 22 inches
- Capacity: up to 525 sq.ft
- Warranty: 10-year limited warranty
#1 Martin Direct Vent 8,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater
The Martin Direct Vent 8,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional. This heater requires no electrical supply to operate, and its die-cast aluminium body ensures durability of the unit.
The heating system also features an easy-to-clean grill which allows for better flow of heat. Also, the unit makes no sound whilst operating, and its built-in thermostat allows for easy regulation of temperature during thermal variations. These features make this heater the ideal choice during the night-time.
Offering 8,000 BTU per hour, the unit will heat an area up to 194 square feet of space. This small vented propane heater weighs just 29 pounds and is quite easy to install.
The heater’s body does get hot rather quickly. You might want to be extra careful if you have kids or pets around.
The manufacturer offers you a one-year warranty for the product.
Pros
- In-built thermostat for temperature regulation.
- Easy to install
- Heavy-duty grill for better heat flow
- Safe
- Stylish
Cons
- Device might get too hot
- No alternative source of power other than propane gas
#2 US Store AGDV12L Ashley Direct Vent Propane Gas heater
The AGDV12L Heater is a simple yet aesthetically designed unit that’ll mesh nicely with your interior design and requires no electrical supply to operate.
Offering up to 11,000 BTU every hour, the heater will adequately heat a space of 350 square feet. Though suited for smaller spaces like your bathroom or bedroom, the heater is likely to do a satisfactory heating job in larger spaces if temperatures aren’t too low.
The heater isn’t difficult to operate and will easily mount on an outside wall for direct venting. Because of the unit’s piezo ignition system, lighting the heater is pretty straightforward.
Plus, like the Martin Direct Vent 8,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater it comes with an inbuilt thermostat that makes it easy for the temperature to be regulated during changes in thermal activity.
The unit is very safe to use. Its automatic shutoff feature ensures that the system doesn’t overheat to potentially cause a fire.
Again, the unit is equipped with a thermocouple safety valve which will stop gas leaking and dangerously saturating the atmosphere when flame dies out. You should therefore have no concerns using this device in your bedroom.
The body of the heater also doesn’t get too hot, and will be safe if you’ve children and pets around.
The AGDV12L Heater will be an ideal option for you if you’re not looking for massive heat output but simply a reliable heating option for your small space anytime the need arises.
Pros
- Compact
- Produces no fan noise
- Safety valve will prevent accidents
- Inbuilt thermostat
Cons
- May not be suitable for large spaces
#3 Rinnai EX08CP Wall Mounted Direct Ventilation Furnace Propane
This Rinnai EX08CP heater is a sleek, cabinet-designed heater that will do a more than decent job for your small or medium sized area. The unit sports a rather simple control interface, making it a very easy device to navigate.
With an adjustable thermostat, this heating system allows you to determine accurately, the heat level you’d like to enjoy within the space, allowing you to save cost in the process. What’s more, you can choose to adjust the temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.
What’s unique about this Rinnai heater is how efficient it is despite its rather small size. With an AFUE rating of 82%, this direct vent propane heater outputs 82 BTUs of useful heat for every 100 BTUs of propane it burns. Such efficiency means you’ll be saving good money on heating costs every year.
Though the heater comes with an in-built fan for added circulation, it barely makes noise. With a number of safety features including the child safety lock, you should have some peace of mind operating this device.
We think the Rinnai EX08CP will be a great choice if you have a small space and will offer you excellent value for your money.
The manufacturer offers you a five-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Great for smaller spaces
- Child-safety lock
- Programmable thermostat
- Efficient
Cons
- Might need help with installation
#4 Empire Comfort Systems Direct-Vent Wall Furnace
This Empire Comfort System is a unit that looks simple and aesthetically pleasing at the time. Its beige color will mesh nicely with the interior decor of your home.
The unit will mount perfectly on any wall exterior, and because it vents out its back, you will require no chimney or flue to pass out noxious gases. The heater also does not rely on any form of electrical supply to operate.
Suitable for larger spaces, the heater offers a BTU output of 24,500, and will heat up to 1,000 square feet of space. Like the AGDV12L Heater, the unit’s pilot ignites with its matchless piezo system. Plus, the heater comes with an internal blower just like the HouseWarmer Direct Vent Heater. This feature is optional though.
It is not very easy to install this unit. Therefore, you’re likely to require the services of a professional during installation.
This manufacturer’s warranty covers only the unit’s parts.
Pros
- Suitable for large spaces
- Matchless piezo ignition system
- Inbuilt blower
Cons
- Not easy to install
#5 HouseWarmer Slim-Profile Direct Vent Heater
The HouseWarmer Direct Vent Heater is a functional but simple-designed unit that requires no electrical supply to operate. Weighing only 48 pounds, the heater sports a slim design making it suitable for smaller spaces.
The heater comes with a built-in blower for added circulation. The heater offers a BTU of 15,000 and will heat a space of up to 525 square feet.
This unit leans towards a radiant heating system, and though it comes with an oxygen depletion sensor, it does not come with a thermostat option. Like the AGDV12L heater, the HouseWarmer heater comes with a thermocouple safety valve for added protection within your space.
With clear instructions on how to install the product from the manufacturer, you will need no professional assistance during installation.
The manufacturer offers a 10-year limited warranty for this product.
Pros
- Ideal for small spaces
- Easy to install
- Inbuilt blower
- 10-year warranty
- Oxygen depletion sensor
Cons
- Comes with no thermostat
| Product | Vital metrics | Key Features | What reviewers like most about product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Direct 8,000 BTU Propane Wall Heater | BTU: 8,000 | Inbuilt thermostat | Easy to install |
| Weight: 29 pounds | Glass-ceramic window | Stylish | |
| Dimension: 11.9 x 7.1 x 22.7 inches | Die-cast aluminium body | Portable | |
| Capacity: up to 194 sq.ft | |||
| Warranty: 1 year | |||
| US Store AGDV12L Ashley Direct Vent Propane Gas heater | BTU: 11,000 | Simple design | Easy to install |
| Weight: 33.7 pounds | Safety shutoff valve | Fast heater | |
| Dimension: 7.62 x 20 x 17.3 inches | Compact | ||
| Capacity: up to 350 sq.ft | |||
| Warranty: N/A | |||
| Rinnai EX08CP Wall Mounted Direct Ventilation Furnace Propane | BTU: 3,000 - 8,000 | Cabinet-style design | Easy to install |
| Weight: 39 pounds | Self-diagnostic control module | Not noisy | |
| Dimension: 15 x 19 x 28 inches | Child-safety lock | Small,yet powerful | |
| Capacity: up to 450 sq.ft | In-built fan | ||
| Warranty: 5-year limited warranty | |||
| Empire Comfort Systems Direct-Vent Wall Furnace | BTU: 35,500 | In-built fan | Efficient |
| Weight: 101 pounds | Piezo ignition system | Radiant heating works well | |
| Dimension: 40 x 33.5 x 13 inches | |||
| Capacity: up to 1000 sq.ft | |||
| Warranty: N/A | |||
| HouseWarmer Slim-Profile Direct Vent Heater | BTU: 15,000 | No thermostat | Easy to install |
| Weight: 48 pounds | Oxygen depletion sensor | Works quietly even though it comes with a fan | |
| Dimension: 15 x 16 x 22 inches | Inbuilt blower | ||
| Capacity: up to 525 sq.ft | |||
| Warranty: 10-year limited warranty |
Considerations Before Buying A Vented Propane Heater
Here are a couple of key factors to consider when shopping for your vented propane heater.
Heat Output (BTU)
BTU which means British Thermal Unit is a way of measuring energy.
One BTU refers to the load of energy required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. With relation to your heater, the BTU rating indicates how powerful your unit is, and it signifies just how much energy it can process to heat your room. The higher the BTU rating of your heater, the more powerful it is.
How much heat output you’d require will depend on the size of your space. If you have a bigger space, it’d be more advisable to get a heater with a high BTU rating.
Thus, you may want to calculate the area that you’ll need to heat before making your purchase. That way, you can judge whether the BTU output of the heater would cover the area that you need to heat.
Many heaters will divulge information concerning the area size they are suitable for. Plus. they also give an approximate BTU rating.
With such information, you can then decide whether the heater will be sufficient for your needs.
Steps In Calculating Your Heater Size
The basic formula to determine your heating needs is (0.133 x total cubic feet of space x desired temperature change). This will give you the total BTU’s you’ll require per hour.Calculate the total cubic feet of your space by multiplying the length, width, and height of the room you want to heat.Thus, if you have a room that’s 10 feet long, 12 feet wide and 12 feet high, your area would be 1440 cubic feet (10 x 12 x 12)Subsequently, you ought to figure out your desired temperature increase by subtracting your cold outdoor winter temperature from your preferred indoor room temperature. Therefore, if your area’s winter temperature averages a low of say 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and you prefer a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need a temperature increase of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.The next thing is to multiply the figure of 0.133 by the desired temperature change as well as by the total cubic feet of area already determined. This measurement (rounded off) will give you the total BTU or heater size appropriate for your space.Thus, from our earlier calculations, our total BTU would be 1960 x 53 x 0.133 which will give us 10,150.56. Rounding this sum off would mean we’ll need a heater of 10,000 BTU’s to provide us with the temperature we prefer indoors.
You can also use our Heating BTU Sizing Calculator to get a more accurate size of vented propane heater.
Safety Features
Propane heaters could be hazardous. Because the fuel, propane, is flammable, the slightest malfunction of the heater could trigger an accident. Since we want you to enjoy complete peace of mind during usage, we’d advise you to stick with an indoor propane heater with an abundance of inbuilt safety options.Pertinent safety options include the:
- Tip Over Safety – An anti-tip over switch allows your heater to automatically stop running when knocked over accidentally.
- Inbuilt Overheat Protector – The unit will shut off if it begins to overheat.
- Oxygen Depletion Sensors – This feature leads to the immediate deactivation of the heater anytime oxygen levels are low.
Thermostat Options
Thermostats allow you to accurately control your home’s heating temperature.
This feature not only makes for a more comfortable ambience, it also helps reduce your overall energy costs.
Though not all vented propane heaters are equipped with inbuilt thermostats, it’s especially rare to come across modern vented propane heaters that don’t come with one.
Yes, vented propane heaters with programmable thermostats cost more. Yet, in the long run, you’d end up saving chunks of energy costs as they provide the option of reducing heat output especially when it isn’t needed. We’d therefore advise that you stick to heaters that come with a thermostat.
Mode of Heat Production
Heaters make use of a variety of methods of operations to provide warmth. These include:
- Radiant Heating System
These systems don’t have to warm the air. They produce heat waves that only warm objects that the rays come into direct contact with. They produce no noise and will be great for offices or bedrooms.
- Convection Heating System
These circulate warm air using a fan.
They’re more likely to increase the temperature of much larger spaces than the radiant heater can. They’re much noisier anyway.
Considering the fact that a convectional heating system will have to slowly warm the air within an area before transferring heat, they are considered less efficient than radiant heating systems. This is because air absorbs heat quite poorly and heat may easily be lost if your insulation is poor.
With radiant heating systems providing concentrated beams of heat which will uninhibitedly be absorbed by their intended target(s) very quickly, such units are more efficient.
However, they’re more suitable for warming smaller areas. Thus, if you want the provision of sustained heat over an extended period of time in a larger space, you might want to go with a convectional heating system. Otherwise, stick with a radiant heater for its better efficiency.
Portability
Heaters come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. If you move around a lot, you might want to consider one that is smaller and portable.While they are easy to move around, they also eliminate the need for power cables.These days many heating units come with wheels or handles. You may want to lean more towards a heater on wheels if you can’t afford to strain your back lifting especially if the heater is filled with fuel at the time.Should you desire to transport the heater around often, you should check the product description to make sure that it is not too heavy to carry.
Heating Costs
How much you’ll spend on a monthly basis will depend on the BTU on the heater as well as the size of your space. With knowledge about the market rate for propane gas, you’d be able to figure out your monthly heating costs easily.
The unit price of propane is about USD 2 per gallon. We’ve already established that it takes about 100,000 BTU to exhaust one gallon of propane.
If your heater produces 20,000 BTU per hour for 10 hours a day, and it costs $2 per hour to operate, you’ll pay about $4 a day to run your heater.
Tips For Using Propane Heaters
You need to know how to use your propane heater right. Follow these safety tips when using a vented propane heater.
Keep Heater Far From Combustible Materials
You should always position your heating unit far from flammable materials. These include curtains, towels, bedding, and the likes.If you wish to mount your heater on a wall, take care that the wall material is not combustible. Again, be sure not to spray deodorants, hair sprays, or air fresheners near your heater.
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Some propane heaters don’t come with an oxygen detection sensor to detect when oxygen levels are low.
If you’ll use such a heater indoors, make sure to have a carbon monoxide detector installed.
Read Manual Instructions
You need to familiarize yourself with instructions provided by the manufacturer of your small vented propane heater.
There, you’ll find pertinent information regarding installation and usage. Furthermore, you’re likely to find instructions on how to curb hazardous situations like when there’s a leakage.
Have a Regular Delivery Schedule
A regular delivery schedule of propane gas will ensure you don’t completely run out of gas till the next refill date.
If you allow the tank to completely run out of gas before the next refill, it may result in leaks after the system has been refilled.
Furthermore, there’s likely to be the infiltration of air or moisture into an empty tank. This could result in the buildup of rust.
Have Your Heater Inspected Regularly
To ensure consistent, long-lasting performances of your tank, engage the services of a specialist tol inspect and service your heater annually.
How To Install A Vented Propane Heater
Follow the instructions below:
- Choose the location you’d hang the propane heater.
- Drill the holes at the position you will mount the heater
- Remove hardware from plastic wrapping
- Secure hardware unto wall using screws
- Create a hole in wall through which propane hose will go
- Place heater onto brackets
- Insert propane hose into hole to connect heater to the gas tank outside
- Turn propane tank on
- Push heater knob down click on igniting button repeatedly
- Release knob when flame starts
People Also Ask (FAQs)
You may still have pressing questions regarding the best vented propane heaters.
Let’s put you at ease with the answers you need.
How Much LP Will My 20,000 Btu Heater Use?
A gallon of propane weighs approximately 4.2 lbs. And it takes about 92,000 BTUs/hr to burn one gallon of propane.For the sake of calculations, let’s round this figure up to 100,000 BTU/hr.
Therefore, if your heater offers 20, 000 BTU/hour, we can determine that your unit will consume propane at a rate of about ⅕ gallons per hour. Thus, a gallon of propane will power your 20,000 BTU propane heater fully for about five hours.
How Do I Start My Propane Heater?
- Turn the valve control knob on the propane tank anti-clockwise to open it.
- Turn the knob so it points to the “Start” or “Light” position.
- Push the knob and hold to unlock the propane valve and send gas to your unit.
- Press the ignitor button on the heater so that it closes
- Adjust control knob to temperature of your choice
How Long Will My Propane Heater Last?
The average lifespan of a propane heater is between about 10 to 15 years. This is subject, of course, to how well you maintain the device. Your unit might last even longer with regular cleaning and servicing.
Are Vented Propane Heaters Safe?
Vented propane heaters are generally safe.
Unlike vent-free heaters vented heaters will not introduce undesirable combustion products like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide into your indoor space to deplete oxygen.
However, an outdoor propane heater might be dangerous when used indoors as it may increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Do Vented Propane Heaters Give Off Bad Smell?
Propane heaters will not give off any foul smell during and after operations. Any offensive smell from your unit should be an indicator that something is wrong.
Conclusion
We don’t doubt that you’ve already guessed what direct vent propane heater you’d be incorporating into your indoor or outdoor space. We did well to cherry-pick only the best vented propane heaters – ones that hold much allure to users.
If you’ve noticed the best vented propane heaters are highly efficient, portable, and are low-maintenance. Also, they’re very safe to use. Plus. they will do a more than satisfactory job in keeping your space warm. They also come in a variety of designs that make them quite pleasing to the eye.
Do you have any experience using a direct vent propane wall heater? What made you fall in love with the particular type you used? We’d love to hear all about the encounter in the comments section below.
