Kerosene heaters

[alwaysacowboy]

Last summer we bought an older kerosene heater at a garage sale.
Now I'm wondering about using it to supplement our older natural gas fired hot water system.
I'm not sure how to phrase the question, but I'm looking for some relationship between the cost of fuel and the BTU output to see if it's worth running the kerosene heater.
We are also considering a propane catalytic heater and have the same question about economy.
Also, whats the best way to shut off the heater? Years ago I had a cylindrical shaped kerosene heater. If I just turned it off, I got a strong kerosene smell, probably from the hot wick vaporizing the kerosene.
My solution was to take it outside and turn it off.
That was okay for that unit, but the one we have now is a big box shaped unit that I couldn't just pick up and move.
Thanks,
Art

[jott]

I have an excel sheet made up with most of that so I can quickly compare fuels. here is some raw data

fuel oil 140 000 btu/gal
propane 91 500 btu/gal
electric 3413 btu/kWh
nat gas 104 000 btu/CCF
coal 20 000 000 btu/ton

[jott]

did a quick surch and found this page
http://www.uwsp.edu/CNR/wcee/keep/Mod1/Whatis/energyresourcetables.htm

don't forget efficacy in your calculations. Example most natural gas heaters are only about 85% efficient because some heat is going out the vent, oil heat mite only be like 60% if you have an older model. Electric can be considered 100% efficient because all of the energy in goes into heat that stays in the house. Actually in my apartment last winter electric was the cheaper then the natural gas heat I had.

[cubcadet]

I`m going to post a separate thread on the issue of dyed and so-called white kerosene. I hope those who are concerned on this issue to go to it. I am trying to get input on anyone who uses dyed kero.

[kawalekm]

HI Art
If you are spending 5$ per gallon for kerosene, I'd say no, it won't be cost effective. If however, you can get kerosene at the pump at your local gas station, than it might be cost competetive. Our local stations don't sell kerosene at the pump, but I have a Corona heater that I tried regular diesel in and that works almost as good as kerosene. It seems though that the diesel is a little thicker, which results in a smaller maximum flame, but it still heats the whole cabin. Since I'm using a non-standard fuel in it I have CO detectors alarms distributed through the cabin.

[RueTheDay]

There is a gas station not too far from my house that sells kero for $3.75/gal. Much better than the $7/gal Wal-Mart charges (and I don't even think the jugs it comes in are a full gal). Definitely try to find a gas station that sells it.

[annabella1]

bio diesel will also burn well in a kerosene heater, and depending on your vegetable oil source it might just smell like french fries.
check out this link
http://www.journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html