Non-mains heating

[robotiser]

I wish to find out what heating solutions there are that don't connect to the mains electricity or gas supply. Something that could be used to heat a single room or so. I thought that there were oil burning heaters, but the ones I find online are generally large "permanent" heaters. Wood pellet burning stoves seem to need proper installation and a hearth. Are there any types of heating that are worth looking at? I would prefer something small and relatively cheap-ish, which can be plonked down in a carpeted room as a heater.

[Travis Jordan]

Propane or kerosene heaters are in wide use in the US. Here is one reputable brand:

[Travis Jordan]

I see you are posting from London. Perhaps this will be of use:

[Joseph Meehan]

You are asking a lot. About the only thing I can think of, and would not want to use myself. would be a kerosene heater. They tend to smell, have been known to have CO problems and have been responsible for too many fires to make me happy.

[m Ransley]

Get a porta-nuke heater

[robotiser]

Thanks for the replies. After reading what you say and the links, I don't think a portable combustion heater would be a good idea.

I note that one website discussing Kerosene heater safety says the following

"Newer models are manufactured with numerous safety features, but operator errors such as using gasoline instead of kerosene, failure to provide adequate ventilation, fuel spills, etc. have resulted in numerous home fires."

Using gasoline instead of kerosene? Would this sort of thing qualify for the Darwin award?

[hallerb]

you might be better with a single super insulated room with say 2 feet of insulation perhaps foam to minimizes losses.

still you need water sewer lines and prevent them from freezing and enough ventilation so you can live.

sadly theres no free lunch and wood pellets can be expensive...

[Toller]

You don't want electric, you don't want gas, you don't want a portable combustion heater... Try using people, as in "the matrix".

I had a flooded basement during a power outage. Every 2 hours, 24/7, for a week I had to put gasoline in a pump, and every 6 hours kerosene in a heater. I am a bit surprised I didn't get them mixed up.

[nicksanspam]

"Mains" sounds UKsian. If an 8' cube has 2' of Styrofoam insulation with a thermal conductance of 6x8'x8'/(24xR5) = 3.2 Btu/h-F, a 300 Btu/h person could warm it 300/3.2 = 94 F. Then again, I bought a $10 pair of British Army surplus Arctic pants with 1" of padding.

A writer might enjoy a trash can with a tilting lid that would ignite balls of paper tossed into the lid, maybe something with a propane torch and a small chimney to the outdoors.

Nick

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Real small? Camping stove. Coleman type.

[JimL]

I used a gasoline heater for years, but it required an exhaust.

[Joseph Meehan]

Yea, but I have seen it done a few times around here. It is a sad thing to have happen.

[Stormin Mormon]

Kero containers are yellow, gasoline containers are red.

Blue for diesel.

[Stormin Mormon]

I can't remember where I heard this, but Coleman type stoves emit a LOT of carbon monoxide. Also charcoal pumps out monoxide.

Would not be safe to use indoors.