People are discovering portable gas heaters as a safe and economical alternative to electric heaters. Take a few minutes to learn about the different types of heaters that are available and find out which heater is best for your needs.

When most people think of portable gas heaters, they are thinking of radiant infrared heaters. Usually, the gas fuelled flame heats ceramic tiles which radiate heat. Radiant heaters make ideal heaters for those who need spot heating in a large room or outdoors. They are generally cheaper than other types of portable gas heaters.

Convector heaters include a fan to spread the heat evenly throughout the room. Convection portable gas heaters are recommended when you want to spread an even heat throughout a room. There is no exposure to a naked flame with convection heaters, so they are safer to use around children than radiant heaters.

If you are just looking for a space heater to keep a small area warm, then a radiant heater will do the job at the cheapest price. If you want to heat an entire room, you need to take the room size into consideration. First measure the area of the room and then consider the ceiling height.

Gas heaters are rated in mega joule input. Simply put, this means that the more fuel you burn, the larger the area that will be heated. Convection heaters require slightly less mega joules than rad/con heaters. Radiant heaters generally burn less fuel than either of the alternatives because they are designed to heat just a portion of a room or outdoor space.

Gas heaters burn LPG or natural gas. While these are relatively clean burning fuels, they do produce some carbon monoxide, so ventilation is required. Because of this, they are not recommended for use in sleeping areas, where they will be left unattended for long periods of time. For outdoor use, portable gas heaters can pose a fire hazard. In damp or wet areas, they are a probably a safer option than electric fireplace heaters.