Influencer I
Sino Air Conditioner supply professional and honest service.
Enthusiast III
Off-Road Ranger I
Advocate I
I think the biggest pro of a DH is the dry heat versus the moist heat produced by the buddy's catalytic heating process. I tend to see most of the knock off Chinese DH's there will some "assembly/modifications required" but tend to work fairly well of the box, if you chose the name brands like Webasto, Heatso (Espar & Eberspacher), or Propex (Propane versus Diesel version) you will be paying substantially more as they are 100% ready to use, built to last, most are waterproof, and backed by long standing companies with warranty. It really comes down to your preference and price point.The biggest pro of a diesel or other heat-exchanger-based heater is the safety of knowing you're not going to burn down your tent which could cause a forest fire, etc. The second biggest pro is the dry heat that doesn't create condensation. People using Buddy or other open flame heaters inside their tents are really rolling the dice by doing so. These Buddy heaters are radiant heaters (They heat an element), there is no catalyst (chemical reaction). Reactions: Shahn
In addition, search around in the forums here, you will find lots of folks builds on the Chinese DH's, that may shed some light on how they function out of the box.
Check out this thread also Diesel Heater?
Good installation tidbit on this thread Diesel Heater Exhaust Recommendations.
Hope this helps!
Off-Road Ranger I
The biggest pro of a diesel or other heat-exchanger-based heater is the safety of knowing you're not going to burn down your tent which could cause a forest fire, etc. The second biggest pro is the dry heat that doesn't create condensation. People using Buddy or other open flame heaters inside their tents are really rolling the dice by doing so. These Buddy heaters are radiant heaters (They heat an element), there is no catalyst (chemical reaction).Thanks, I've corrected my comment! :) Reactions: Hogan
Advocate I
Thanks, I've corrected my comment! :)It's all good, perhaps it was a bit pedantic but wanted to avoid confusion since there are catalytic propane heaters that don't have open flames and produce no carbon monoxide so they are actually quite cool (not literally, of course) and a little safer than things like Buddy heaters.
Advocate III
Member III
Off-Road Ranger I
I only use my Buddy heater to break the chill before bed, and before I get out of bed in the morning. I rarely have it on for more than a few minutes. the thing I don't like about DHs, and I don't have one, is the need to carry another fuel source, and the noise of them running. I'm not quite sold on them personally.Agreed, we carry gasoline, and propane. If I had a Diesel engine, then I would have purchased a diesel heater instead of my Mr Buddy heater.. as you, we warm the tent up in the evening, shut it down just before lights out. I’ll get up around 5, and heat up the tent for getting up and dressed. Reactions: Shahn
Off-Road Ranger I
I only use my Buddy heater to break the chill before bed, and before I get out of bed in the morning. I rarely have it on for more than a few minutes. the thing I don't like about DHs, and I don't have one, is the need to carry another fuel source, and the noise of them running. I'm not quite sold on them personally.Yes, I also didn't want to add another fuel source, so I went with the Propex over the diesel heater since I always carry propane.
Advocate I
Steward II
Yes, I also didn't want to add another fuel source, so I went with the Propex over the diesel heater since I always carry propane.How is your Propex working for you? They seem great but I hear reviews that they don’t work that well? I’m looking at the HS externally mountable unit. Reactions: Shahn
Off-Road Ranger I
How is your Propex working for you? They seem great but I hear reviews that they don’t work that well? I’m looking at the HS externally mountable unit.@PapaDave still going strong, I've used it a dozen times over the last year and no issues. It definitely gets hot, it's taken some time to figure out the balance, but found that if I turn it up and warm it up real good before bed I can turn it down really low throughout the night and it will run a few times and won't over heat as it pushes out a lot of heat. I also am looking to externally mount it to my trailer this season, as right now I have it in a tote that I set up each time.
Advocate I
How is your Propex working for you? They seem great but I hear reviews that they don’t work that well? I’m looking at the HS externally mountable unit.We ordered our trailer with the Propex furnace, it's mounted on the side of the trailer in a metal box. Heat output from the unit is very good, both in terms of temps and airflow. It'll heat things up inside quickly, we've also used it at over 12,000FT elevation and it never missed a beat. My only complaint was with the mechanical noise from the fan that was carried inside the cabin of the trailer due to the type of ducts that were installed from the factory. I ordered 2 sections of acoustic ducting (Propex 60mm Acoustic Ducting (One Meter Length)) and now it's super quiet inside.
Steward II
We ordered our trailer with the Propex furnace, it's mounted on the side of the trailer in a metal box. Heat output from the unit is very good, both in terms of temps and airflow. It'll heat things up inside quickly, we've also used it at over 12,000FT elevation and it never missed a beat. My only complaint was with the mechanical noise from the fan that was carried inside the cabin of the trailer due to the type of ducts that were installed from the factory. I ordered 2 sections of acoustic ducting (Propex 60mm Acoustic Ducting (One Meter Length)) and now it's super quiet inside.I’m trying to engineer a cool way to mount it under my RTT and possibly create ducting to move the heat through the honeycomb base. But it sounds like neither of your two builds have the unit exposed? Reactions: Shahn
Influencer I
Off-Road Ranger I
Educator III
The DH is highly recommended. I’m installing a hydronic Espar diesel heater in a troopy build For water to air cabin heat and instant hot water. We used one in a sprinter van for cabin heater, radiant floors and instant hot water. Troopy will not have radiant floors. That thing is amazing and mounted under the body attached to the frame.This is interesting. In principle, this is just like a diesel heater to heat the engine's cooling water circuit. But in this case, it's a separate reservoir of coolant and the whole thing remains independent of the engine. So simply a separate hot water heating with heat exchanger and fan for the interior or or a heat exchanger for heating water. Right? Reactions: Shahn
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Influencer I
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Portable Diesel Air Heater.
This is interesting. In principle, this is just like a diesel heater to heat the engine's cooling water circuit. But in this case, it's a separate reservoir of coolant and the whole thing remains independent of the engine. So simply a separate hot water heating with heat exchanger and fan for the interior or or a heat exchanger for heating water. Right?Exactly. In a sprinter van we had one more circuit with a heat exchange for heated floors. Radiator fan heated the cabin in 10 min to 71F and shut off and floor was set to 74F. Thermostatic valve was set to 90F for the floors with an aluminum plate covering the 4 copper pipes. One heat exchange for hot water the second for the floors. Floors had a 1 gallon glycol tank as a secondary circuit. Van was at 74F with 1’ snow on the roof.
Selecting the right heater can make all the difference when it comes to staying warm, whether indoors or outdoors. Among the most popular choices are kerosene and diesel heaters. Each has unique features, benefits, and drawbacks, making the selection process challenging.
Therefore, in this article, we will explore the differences between diesel heater vs kerosene heater, discuss their features, and identify suitable use of each. No matter whether it will be a heater for your house, workshop or for the next hiking tour, this article gives you useful information.
Kerosene heaters work in the same way that they burn kerosene to generate heat. It is towards a wick from which the fuel is drawn, where the fuel is vaporised and burnt in a combustion chamber. This creates either radiant or convective heat depending on the heater in use, according to the research done.
Two main types of kerosene heaters are available:
Kerosene heaters are generally portable, and some of them come with the following safety measures: an off switch.
Kerosene heaters excel in:
Diesel heaters burn diesel to produce heat through combusting it Electric heaters on the other hand use electricity to produce heat. When air is supplied into the heater and it mixes with the fuel, it burns. This generates hot air that is then circulated around the building, convectors being most appropriate to the environment.
Modern diesel heaters, like the VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, feature advanced technology such as automatic altitude compensation and Bluetooth control for seamless operation.
Diesel heaters are commonly used in:
As the heaters produce heat at high rates, kerosene heaters are perfect for uses where high temperatures are required instantly. They are also able to raise the temperature of a room and or space rapidly hence they are ideal for purposes of increasing heat just enough for outdoor activities or as stopgap measures.
However, there is a disadvantage, where while they are quick to heat, they are not very efficient when in use for an extended length of time.
Diesel heaters however are designed to continually heat up and are generally more efficient over the longer stretch. They are quite suitable for maintaining uniform heat for long times and good for large or enclosed areas. Diesel heaters, like the VEVOR Diesel Air Heater, have high-efficiency fuel pumps that significantly reduce fuel consumption, often as low as 0.16 L/h, which means fewer refuels and better overall cost efficiency.
In terms of heating large spaces, diesel heaters are normally preferable. The heaters often have higher BTU (British thermal unit) than kerosene heaters, thus they are better suited to heat large rooms or other large spaces with ease. Gas heaters in turn can yield constant high productivity for instance in areas where heat is needed for long periods of time.
Transport heaters are commonly rated to provide a longer runtime on a tank full of fuel in comparison to kerosene heaters. Kerosine is also easily obtained and in most cases cheaper than Diesel and therefore makes a more economical prospect in the long run for those requiring frequent or continued heating. For instance, the VEVOR Diesel Heater uses a precision fuel pump that increases the efficiency of fuel utilization hence cutting the running cost in the long run, and is suitable for home and business use
The availability of fuel is the other factor to consider when deciding between two types of heaters. Diesel can be obtained from urban and rural centers compared to compressed natural gas which as seen is limited to urban centers only.
Kerosene, however, can be harder to find in urban regions and may require more effort to purchase in large quantities. Diesel’s accessibility and lower cost per liter make it the more economical choice for long-term heating.
Kerosene and diesel heaters work by emitting gases that alter indoor air quality though the two present different results. Kerosene heaters normally give out more carbon monoxide which necessitates adequate air circulation to prevent a dangerous level of buildup. They also burn out more, where they let out more soot and particulates into the atmosphere.
Modern diesel heaters are produced with high-efficiency combustion systems that reduce emissions into the atmosphere. While they still diffuse some gases, are in general less toxic, and more suitable for indoor use than their predecessors.
Safety-wise, both types of heaters should be handled with care on the flip side they are quite useful. The heaters must be adequately ventilated to prevent the accumulation of carbon monoxide and both mobile and stationary should be regularly checked and serviced for the best performance.
Heaters that use kerosene need more maintenance than any other part and chiefly the wick and the fuel tankage. The wicks have to be either cleaned or replaced periodically so that they will not collect too much carbon and get in the way of good burning. Fuel tanks should also be cleaned to eliminate contamination risks at some time.
Diesel heaters, by contrast, are generally lower maintenance. They do require occasional inspection of fuel lines and air intake, but models like the VEVOR Diesel Heater are designed for minimal upkeep. The precision components in diesel heaters are often more durable and require less attention compared to kerosene heaters.
Noise can be a significant factor in choosing between kerosene and diesel heaters, especially for indoor use. Kerosene heaters tend to be noisier due to the fuel combustion process and mechanical operation. Diesel heaters, however, are typically quieter and more refined. The VEVOR Diesel Heater operates with low noise, which is best for use in environments where peace and quiet are important, such as sleeping areas or small living spaces. This makes diesel heaters a better choice for anyone who values a quieter, more comfortable heating experience.
When choosing between kerosene vs diesel for heating, it’s important to evaluate several factors based on your specific needs:
Diesel heaters are considered to be more appropriate for indoor use, at least with regard to certain and rather restricted areas such as RVs, boats or cabins as they are created for producing heat in a relatively safe and controlled manner.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, kerosene heaters are effective in places that are not fully closed, for instance, garages or construction areas where there is no question of air circulation.
If the portability of the heater is essential, then kerosene heaters are even more portable most of the time due to compactness and lightweight. They can also be easily moved for use mostly in outdoor activities such as camping or even for use in a workshop.
You can check out VEVOR’s Kerosene Forced Air Heater for optimal performance.
While diesel heaters are expensive initially they are cheaper in the long run and have a longer lifespan than gasoline heaters. Diesel engines consume less fuel than kerosene, thus fewer refueling and overall operational costs making them suitable for extended or intensive usage.
Recommendations for Specific Use Cases
While some kerosene heaters can burn diesel, it’s not a recommended practice. Diesel has a higher viscosity and contains additives that can clog the wick, leading to poor performance and increased soot production. This reduces heating efficiency and increases maintenance needs. Always use the correct fuel type for your heater to ensure optimal performance and safety.
Kerosene heaters can be safe for indoor use if proper precautions are taken. Adequate ventilation is essential to prevent the buildup of harmful emissions like carbon monoxide. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, use 1-K grade kerosene, and keep a carbon monoxide detector in the room for added protection against potential risks.
Diesel heaters are generally more economical due to their superior fuel efficiency and durability. They consume less fuel while producing consistent heat, making them ideal for frequent or prolonged use. Additionally, diesel fuel is often less expensive and more widely available, contributing to lower long-term operating costs compared to kerosene heaters.
Diesel heaters, such as the VEVOR Diesel Heater, are designed for low-noise operation, making them more comfortable for use in indoor settings or vehicles. In contrast, kerosene heaters can produce a noticeable hum or crackling noise during operation. Diesel heaters’ quieter performance enhances user comfort, especially in small or enclosed spaces.
Both kerosene and diesel heaters have unique benefits, and your choice should align with your specific needs. Kerosene heaters are excellent for portability and quick heating, while diesel heaters offer long-term efficiency and durability.
For a reliable and efficient heating solution, the VEVOR Diesel Air Heater and VEVOR Kerosene Forced Heater stand out. With advanced features like Bluetooth control, automatic altitude compensation, and low fuel consumption, it’s a perfect choice for various applications.
Stay warm and efficient—explore VEVOR’s range of heaters today!
For more information, please visit One-Stop Air Equipment and Spare Parts.