My garage has a nice radiant heat floor which keeps my set temperature of 58 degrees really nicely. But on occasion I want to take the chill off or make the place a bit warmer. The forced air style heater can quickly heat up an area due to the moving air. I’ve been using a kerosene torpedo heater for years as the extra heat source but it was tired and needed to be replaced.
I did some research and decided that a propane one would be a better fit since they are generally smaller in size, smell less and burn cleaner. There’s a few models of this style heater and most of them are good quality and do the job well. The propane one does require a separate propane tank, mostly the style you use with a grille.
The Bauer Heater, rated at 30,000–60,000 BTU is a forced air style propane portable heater available at Harbor Freight. The Bauer heater is a popular choice for heating large spaces like garages, workshops, and construction sites. The Harbor Freight model is an excellent and competitive price when compared to similar models.
Product Overview
- Heating Capacity: Adjustable between 30,000 and 60,000 BTU, suitable for areas up to 1,350 sq. ft.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Bauer heater runs up to 10 hours on a standard 20 lb. propane tank.
- Features: Includes a 10 ft. hose and regulator, quick-start electric ignition, variable heat control, and an adjustable delivery angle.
- Design: Lightweight at 13.9 lbs. with glove-friendly controls for ease of use.
Pros
- Effective Heating: The Bauer heater quickly warms up spaces due to the forced air design.
- Portability: Lightweight design makes it easy to move between locations.
- User-Friendly: Simple setup with included hose and regulator; controls are easy to operate even with gloves on.
Cons & Safety Considerations
- Indoor Use Warning: Not recommended for enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation due to carbon monoxide risks. It is advised using it in well-ventilated areas only. NOTE: Here’s where I’m bending the recommendation. I am using this in the garage which is pretty well insulated but I do take precautions. I don’t run the heater very long (maybe 5-10 minutes max) and the heater location in the garage is at the garage doors that do not seal perfectly.
- Humidity Increase: Direct-fired heaters like this can add significant humidity to the air.
Installation
Unlike a kerosene version of this type of heater this Bauer heater is very light and compact in size. There’s no fuel take to fill so I decided to mount the heater off the floor to allow it to be in a permanent position that was out of the way. I built a small shelf between the two garage doors and made some mounting brackets to keep the heater secured. The supplied 10′ hose easily reaches the tank on the floor below.
Review
The Bauer heater is a solid choice for those needing an affordable and effective heating solution for well-ventilated spaces. Its ease of use and portability make it suitable for various applications. The heater is very light so it can be transported and stored easily. When compared to the weight of a similar style kerosene with a fill tank it’s nothing.
The heater is easy to ignite and cools off quickly after shut down. It’s not quiet by any means but it seems on par with similar style heaters. Most of the noise is from the fan.
There is minimal odor from the combustion which is very nice over the smell of the kerosene version along with no lingering odor. There’s no plume of smoke when starting the heater up.
Like discussed earlier safety is very important when using any type of combustion heater. Maintain proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to the short run times I am using my heater I have a CO detector installed just incase the heater is running too long. I’ve never heard the alarm go off.
In the end the Bauer heater is very effective and easy to use. It does the job I expected for it and I imagine it will serve me well for years.
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