It’s getting colder out there! Making sure your gas portable heater is working properly must be a top priority. This can decrease the chances of unwanted heater mishaps. When renting out a portable heater, you want to ensure construction projects are completed successfully and without setbacks. Lack of knowledge when operating a portable heater might lead to unexpected malfunctions. Luckily, we’re here to help! Here are some portable heater mistakes to avoid:
Mistake #1: Restricting Ventilation Of The Portable Heater Duct
A common mistake users make when setting up a portable heater is bending the heater duct. Bending the duct creates an obstacle for the warm air and restricts proper air flow. If the air is unable to flow freely throughout the duct, the heater will eventually shut off. The best thing to do is to make sure the duct is set up straight. Reducing the bends on the heater prevents overheating. As a result, your heater will be able to maximize its efficiency and prevent delays on your project.
Mistake #2: Not Troubleshooting Your Portable Heater Correctly
Most of the times a user comes across heater malfunctions, the fastest way to fix the issue is to turn to troubleshooting instructions. Luckily, the issue is most likely a quick “troubleshoot fix” away. However, instructions can sometimes be overlooked or misread. Taking the time to carefully read through the instructions and following the indicated steps will most likely solve your heater malfunction. For instance, in a lot of the cases things like checking the power outlet, gas tank, or leaks could indicate the issue. If you’ve rented out an On Site standard or ground heater, please make use of our troubleshooting checklist. We provide an easy step-by-step guide for our heater users. Carefully read through instructions before turning to professional assistance.
Mistake #3: Improper Placement Of Thermostat
A portable heater’s thermostat ultimately controls the way the heater is going to function. Particularly the temperature of the heat output, as well as the amount of gas consumed. The placement of the heater thermostat control could affect the readings. Our heat technicians advise not to place the thermostat control on the floor. This could result in inaccurate temperature readings. The thermostat control would be best placed close by the heater and off the floor. As a result, this could prevent portable heater mistakes caused by imprecise temperature readings.
Mistake #4: Not Having Enough Gas Tanks For Your Portable Heater
Deciding on the amount and size of a gas tank for your heater could be a tricky task. Without proper knowledge on the specifications of your heater, you could mistakenly set up your heater with the wrong amount of gas. Some factors to take into consideration when purchasing gas tanks for your heater are the space where it will be placed, as well as the heater’s BTU (British Thermal Units).
One way to determine the amount of liquid propane for your heater is to base yourself out of the fact that the heater requires 1.1 gallons of liquid propane for every 100,000 BTU. You can determine the BTUs by taking a look at the product’s specifications. For On Site heaters, you can easily find this information on every heater product page. For example, our F400T and S405 Direct Fired Heaters have a heat output of 400,000 BTU/hr. This means that these particular heaters use about 4.4 GPH (gallons per hour) of liquid propane, or 400 CFH (cubic feet per hour) of natural gas. Our On Site Heat Technicians advise users to rent these heaters out with at least four 100-gallon gas tanks for proper functionality.
Mistake #5: Choosing The Wrong Portable Heater
Choosing the right heater for your project is essential to prevent any mishaps on site. The correct type of heater to rent out could depend on how far along the construction project is. For example, convection heaters are only recommended if there’s no power on site. This makes them ideal to use when the construction project is on its foundation stages. The flame of the heater can be measured with its gas tank, which makes it more difficult to use when the project is more advanced. For more advanced projects, our On Site Heat Technicians recommend switching to direct fired, indirect fired, or direct fired enclosed flame heaters.
On Site Heat Solutions
To sum up, stay ahead of any unwanted portable heater mistakes! Be informed how to properly operate your portable heater. For your convenience, we can provide you with the best temporary heating solutions. Want to make sure you are well informed and rent the right heater for you? Call us now at 800.210.8407 or request a quote online and an On Site representative will gladly reach out to you.
