What gas heater to choose for a dacha

Selecting the ideal gas heater for your dacha is crucial to guaranteeing coziness throughout the winter months. It can be difficult to choose the best option for your needs when there are so many on the market. Gas heaters are a popular option for dachas and other seasonal homes because they provide effective and affordable heating solutions.

There are a few things to consider when thinking about getting a gas heater for your dacha. First and foremost, it’s important to measure the area you plan to heat. There are heaters made to fit various room sizes, so it doesn’t matter if your cottage is bigger or smaller. Your dacha’s layout and square footage will help you choose a heater that will provide enough heat.

The kind of gas heater that best suits your needs is a crucial factor to take into account. For example, convection heaters evenly distribute heat throughout the space, but radiant heaters emit heat in a particular direction, which makes them perfect for spot heating. For more reliable heating, you may also choose permanently installed fixtures or easily movable portable heaters.

When selecting a gas heater, energy efficiency is crucial, particularly for dachas where heating expenses can mount up over time. In order to cut down on gas usage and utility costs, look for heaters with high energy efficiency ratings. To further increase their efficiency, some models come equipped with cutting-edge features like eco-friendly settings and programmable thermostats.

Furthermore, when choosing a gas heater, safety should always come first. To reduce risks and prevent accidents, make sure the heater has all the required safety features, including oxygen depletion sensors, flame failure devices, and automatic shut-off valves. To maintain the heater operating safely and effectively, regular maintenance and proper installation are also necessary.

In conclusion, you should think about things like size, type, energy efficiency, and safety features when selecting the best gas heater for your dacha. By determining your heating requirements and weighing your options, you can choose a heater that will consistently keep your dacha warm and comfortable, making visits enjoyable all year round.

4 types of gas heaters for summer houses

There are four types of heaters that burn natural or liquefied gas that you can purchase to warm a summer house in the winter:

• stoves or wall-mounted appliances with a ceramic infrared burner;
• the same with a catalytic burner;
• heating convectors;
• heat guns.

Note: Since we are discussing low-cost heating options, we will not be discussing costly heat-power appliances such as water heating boilers or gas fireplaces.

The gas heaters on this list are, well, portable. Applications include heating garages, summer homes, workshops, and even tents used for tourists. Convectors that are permanently installed are an exception (usually suspended from the outside wall). We suggest familiarizing yourself with each kind of heating device in turn.

Pros and cons of ceramic heaters

A reducing reducer connects the device’s main component, a gas burner with tiny ceramic honeycombs, to a propane cylinder. The following is the operating principle:

1. After passing through the reducer and dosing jets with a calibrated hole, the gas enters the chamber under the ceramic element, then distributed to the honeycombs.
2. After ignition (done manually or with the button of a piezo element), there is a uniform small flame distributed over the entire surface.
3. Due to the combustion of fuel, ceramics is heated to a high temperature, giving into the room infrared radiation. In parallel, the air passing through the burner is heated.
4. Combustion products of propane-butane mixture are emitted directly into the room. Oxygen is also taken from it to burn the gas.

There are two types of infrared heaters available for Dacha: a floor, wall, or ceiling burner and a small steel stove with an internal cylinder that has a three-stage burner and a piezo igniter.

More costly upgrades come with a thermostat that, once the room reaches the desired temperature, turns off the gas supply to the main burner. Small tabletop models have a special pot grate that allows them to be used as stoves.

Citation. You can select a heater at the dacha that has a 1.2…5 kW capacity. At least 100 grams of gas will be consumed per hour by the 1.5 kW burner.

Why are ceramic gas heaters so appealing?

• compactness and autonomy, independence from electricity;
• low price;
• Since the heated products of combustion remain in the room, the efficiency of the apparatus is close to 96% (however, this is a two-way stick);
• rapid heating of the room compared to an electric heater;
• possibility of use outdoors, in gazebos, summer verandas.

The release of flue gases into the heated room is a major drawback of heaters. We inhale harmful chemicals such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide through the use of a ceramic apparatus. For this reason, the manufacturers’ instruction manuals mandate that supply and exhaust ventilation, or intensive ventilation, be arranged in the room.

Let’s enumerate every drawback that gas infrared heaters have:

• It is impossible to heat living rooms of private houses and apartments;
• intensive air exchange will take the heat of combustion products to the outside, so the efficiency of 96% is unattainable in reality;
• burner – infrared radiator – strongly heats objects in front of it at a distance of 1 m, combustible materials (e.g. wooden floor) can ignite;
• the device consumes room oxygen;
• burning propane produces water vapor, which condenses on cold surfaces and penetrates the walls;
• the ceramic honeycomb gradually deteriorates.

One more drawback mentioned in user reviews is how hard it is to ignite the gas stove after the cylinder is filled. It’s easy to escape; just open the cylinder valve (ideally outside) and let the gas out for three to five seconds.

Advantages of catalytic heaters

The burner design is the only difference between these heaters’ devices. A fiberglass catalytic panel coated with platinum powder is utilized in place of ceramic. The process of direct oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel in the presence of a catalyst is known as "flameless gas combustion."

As a result, less harmful substances are released into the atmosphere because carbon monoxide (CO) burns to produce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide (NO) to produce harmless dioxide. Despite the fact that manufacturers frequently assert that a gas catalytic heater is more cost-effective than a ceramic heater, the amount of heat released is roughly equal.

Citation. Automobile exhaust system neutralizers operate on a similar principle. Toxic compounds and unburned gasoline fumes travel through the platinum-coated grid, oxidize, and transform into innocuous chemical compounds.

Benefits of heaters that use catalysis:

• reduction of harmful emissions, no odors;
• compactness, mobility;
• since the device emits infrared heat, it can be used as an outdoor heater;
• quickly warm up the room;
• acceptable gas consumption, model 1.5 kW consumes no more than 100 g/h.

Fans are used by some manufacturers (like Bartolini PRIMAVERA) to distribute heat through convection. In addition, there is a safety automatic, ignition system, thermostat, and combustion intensity control.

The primary drawback of catalytic heaters is their expensive cost. The device is twice as expensive as the ceramic one, and it still has most of the drawbacks, such as intense heating near the burner, moisture release, and oxygen consumption from the room. Pollutants and smells are released in smaller, but still detectable, amounts.

What a gas convector is good for

The heater is a type of air heating appliance. That is to say, only a small portion of infrared radiation—up to 30%—is transferred into the space through convection. The layout is as follows:

• A burner with an igniter is installed inside a steel or cast iron heat exchanger;
• The gas supply is controlled by non-volatile safety automatics, most often the SIT 630 gas valve;
• A chimney is connected to the vertical heat exchanger, which expels gases outside through the wall;
• air for combustion is taken from the street or from the room, depending on the type of chamber – closed or open;
• outside the unit is covered with a decorative casing with holes for the passage of air.

Note: Cast iron heat exchangers need to be handled carefully and are more expensive than steel ones. It is impossible to run the heater "at full speed" at below-freezing temperatures because of the abrupt changes in temperature.

Liquid gas and mains can both be burned by a convection gas heater. It is necessary to replace the nozzle and adjust the pressure in order to switch to a different fuel; this work is best left to a craftsman. Convectors that have been modified are positioned close to the interior walls and linked to the standard vertical chimney.

Benefits of installing a gas convector in your dacha

• safe operation, harmful substances and water vapor are not emitted into the room;
• regulation of combustion, setting the heating temperature;
• energy independence;
• reliability, long service life of the device;
• quick warming of the room air in winter;
• the device can heat 2 communicating rooms, it is only necessary to determine its heat output correctly (the power of convectors is within 2.5…15 kW);
• heaters with a closed combustion chamber do not take oxygen from the room.

Naturally, it will take two to three hours for a chilly cottage to fully heat up since the convector only warms the surrounding air while the items stay cold. Another thing to keep in mind is that manufacturers occasionally include a forced-air fan with their products, which requires electricity to operate. On the other hand, the heating function is independent of the power source.

Cons of using gas convective heaters:

• lack of mobility;
• convector installation costs – drilling a hole in the wall, installation and mounting of the device, connection to the mains or cylinder;
• the size of the device is noticeably larger than a ceramic burner and a traditional water heating radiator;
• hot heat exchanger of the heater dries the air strongly, it is necessary to take measures to moisten the room;
• the price of budget convectors is comparable to the cost of high-quality catalytic stoves.

The steel heat exchanger’s clicking sound during the heating or cooling process is a secondary drawback. If you move to the dacha permanently, you can get used to the crackling.

About heat guns

These are traditional fan heaters. The cylindrical body contains a gas burner in place of an electric heater, and an impeller is attached to the end of the "pipe" for added functionality. Two categories of heaters exist:

1. Direct-heating heat guns expel combustion products into the room. Accordingly, the heat output of the device is higher, but requires effective ventilation, which safely carries away part of the generated heat.
2. Indirect gas heaters are connected to an outdoor chimney, no harmful gases enter the room.

Citation. Over 90% of the heat from heat guns is transferred to the air, and very little infrared radiation is produced. 10 kW of heating power and 0.7 kg of propane fuel used per hour.

Gas heater-guns are typically used to heat industrial spaces or construction sites because they cannot be considered economically efficient. A direct heating device is not very expensive; for instance, a 10 kW BALLU BHG-10 heat fan costs 75–80 u. е.

When choosing a gas heater for your dacha, it"s crucial to consider factors like efficiency, safety, and convenience. Opting for a vented gas heater ensures proper ventilation and reduces the risk of carbon monoxide buildup, safeguarding the health of occupants. Additionally, look for models with adjustable heat settings to maintain comfortable temperatures without wasting energy. Portable options offer flexibility, allowing you to heat specific areas as needed. Prioritize heaters with reliable safety features like tip-over switches and oxygen depletion sensors for peace of mind. Lastly, consider the overall cost, including initial investment, fuel expenses, and maintenance requirements, to make an informed decision that suits your budget and heating needs.

Choosing a dacha heater

Let us begin by defining the term "dacha." A dacha is a country mansion, although some define it as a small summer house where one can unwind and store gardening tools. In the second scenario, which we do not examine, you require a complete heating system, either an air or water system.

Let’s now discuss some suggestions for selecting a gas heater:

1. If in winter you visit the cottage infrequently and without overnight stays, it is easier and cheaper to buy a portable ceramic stove with a cylinder for 5 liters of propane. It is convenient: the stove is not difficult to transport, it can be used in other places – garage, workshop.
2. For longer stays, you should take care of your health and buy a catalytic combustion furnace, it emits much less harmful emissions.
3. For permanent residence, definitely choose a convector stove. If the house is gasified, you can heat it all the time. In terms of reliability, the device is equal to a gas boiler and is quite capable of working safely without human intervention.
4. A convector installed in the central room is best suited for heating 2-3 rooms. Interior doors should be left open.
5. You have arrived at the cottage, started the boiler, but the temperature in the house grows slowly. The simplest ceramic heater will help to quickly heat the living room.

Heizfans/guns are not very effective in heating dachas. Unless you want to quickly warm a greenhouse or a cold patio. An indirect-heating furnace is overpriced, and heaters use a lot of propane and release the same amount of hazardous exhaust.

Vital. Only convector and even fireplace gas heating systems are suitable for residential building heating. Infrared burners made by responsible manufacturers state in the manual that they are intended for use in utility, technical, and home rooms.

Lastly about the heat output of the appliance

Gas heater performance for summer homes is measured using a double reserve. Three reasons are behind this:

• usually these cabins are poorly insulated;
• In winter, the building gets very cold or even freezes;
• When the owners arrive, they want to heat the rooms quickly.

Thus, it makes sense to use a heater with a capacity of 2–2.5 kW for a room measuring 10 m², rather than 1 kW as suggested by the conventional enlarged methodology. Determine the convector’s heat output by adding the areas if it is intended to heat two rooms. But keep in mind that the second room’s temperature is always going to be 3…5 degrees lower.

Watch the video to see one of the reviews for the ceramic gas stove.

Selecting the ideal gas heater for your dacha is essential to guaranteeing warmth in the wintertime. With so many options available, it’s critical to take things like usability, safety, and efficiency into account.

The portable propane heater is a well-liked option. These heaters are handy since they are lightweight and portable, allowing you to place them wherever you need heat in the dacha. They are an excellent choice for people searching for a hassle-free heating solution because they are also reasonably priced and easy to use.

Alternatively, a wall-mounted gas heater can be the best option if you’re searching for a more long-term heating solution. With their direct wall installation, these heaters offer a constant source of heat for the entire room. Although expert installation may be necessary, they provide long-term efficiency and dependability.

The most crucial factor to consider when choosing a gas heater is safety. Seek for heaters that have built-in safety features like oxygen depletion sensors and automatic shut-off valves. Additionally, to avoid the accumulation of dangerous gases, make sure you adhere to the recommended ventilation guidelines.

The ideal gas heater for your dacha will ultimately rely on your own requirements and tastes. Investing in a high-quality heater will guarantee that you stay toasty and cozy in your dacha all year long, regardless of whether you choose a wall-mounted or portable propane heater.

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