Portable gas heater - recommendations and advice

Hippodrome Song Owl · 22-12-2024 06:56PM #1

I'm looking at getting a portable gas heater to have in case of power cuts. House has oil heating, and I know nothing about gas at all.

The Superser I remember from the 80s still seems like a popular option at approx €150 and is 4.2kW. Then there are fancier, more expensive options like the Manhattan at €200+ and Provence at €400. These heaters look pretty but are only 3kW.

Is there any reason not to choose the Superser? Are people paying that much extra for lower heat output just for aesthetics?

Advice and recommendations welcome.

Lenar3556 · 22-12-2024 07:46PM

I think it comes down to aesthetics mainly. They are all the same principle of operation. Note they have no flue, so should only be used in well ventilated areas.

An alternative option would be a get an 12V inverter which would run from your car, or a battery that keep charged. This provides a 230V socket and should be comfortably able to power your oil heating. You might need your oil service guy to install a plug and socket on your burner/pump for the purpose.

something like this;

https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=12v%20inverter%20300w&tbm=&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#piu=ps:8&oshopproduct=gid:9304532894438223595,mid:576462715202474246,oid:13527998339740337229,iid:4409753873772910887,pvt:hg,pvo:3&oshop=apv&pvs=0

Wearb · 22-12-2024 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122983655#Comment_122983655

I did the calculations on an inverter with a car battery some time ago. While I cannot now remember the results. I think that it would work for less than 10 hours. Maybe a little longer nowadays with digital circulation pumps.

Lenar3556 · 22-12-2024 09:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122983816#Comment_122983816

Which would be a good start.
You could run it off the car indefinitely.

Wearb · 22-12-2024 09:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122983852#Comment_122983852

Yes. I did the calculations for customer who was thinking of using a fully charged car battery. They didn't have a car. But as you say, 10 hours would be better than nothing.

Hippodrome Song Owl · 23-12-2024 10:07AM

I don't have a car and am not sure of the hassle of keeping a battery charged and getting it connected to the boiler. Having the gas heater there just in case seems like an easier option!

I live in an urban area, so I wouldn't expect prolonged power cuts, although they have become more frequent in the past couple of years.

Wearb · 23-12-2024 10:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122984527#Comment_122984527

As you aremost likely aware, good ventilation (even if it seems counterproductive) and a CO alarm are very important with those.

Quay_Koncept · 23-12-2024 10:26AM

I have a provence i got from woodies years ago works well and looks very nice, although i was suprised at the build quality when saw recent the updated models in woodies the one I had weighed and was built like a tank the newer ones feel less well build and much lighter. Probably put out same heat thou!

Hippodrome Song Owl · 23-12-2024 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122984556#Comment_122984556

Yes there will always be a CO monitor. The ventilation safety requirements do concern me a little. The house has poor windows and a very poor sliding patio door, so it is drafty and there are vents in every room. The wind also whistles down the chimney in the living room where the heater would most likely be used. I could also leave the windows open a crack on the ventilation setting.

Hippodrome Song Owl · 23-12-2024 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122984563#Comment_122984563

It is a very attractive looking heater compared to the ugly Superser. But it is a lower kW rating.

Calahonda52 · 31-12-2024 10:05AM

What about a glass fronted gas fire in that chimney, fed from a gas cylinder.

IIRC they dont need

CapEx might be a bit higher but…

3 advantages

stops draft in chimney, even when is off

65-70% efficient

no fire risk as you have with an open fire

no ventilation issues and no condensation issues as usual get with the superser

it will need a permanent vent in an external wall if the existing wall vent can be closed

You need to select a basic one which can be lit with a piezoelectric and not require a power supply

Calahonda52 · 31-12-2024 10:05AM

ps, 40 to 50% of the house heat is going out that chimney 24/7

Hippodrome Song Owl · 31-12-2024 11:03AM

@Calahonda52 Yes, getting some sort of stove in the fireplace is the ideal. But the flue is almost certainly damaged so I have been advised not to use it and to look at getting a flue dropped down inside it to install a stove. So it's a bigger cost and not an option at the moment.

Calahonda52 · 31-12-2024 01:30PM

wouldn't be looking at a dropped flue in a damaged chimney as they don't last that long.

A camera down the chimney would be a useful stating point

samyo30 · 06-01-2025 01:36AM

The Superser is a popular portable gas heater, and at 4.2kW it offers plenty of heating power for a small to medium sized room. It’s a model that has a good reputation for its robustness and simplicity. Here are a few reasons why it might be a good choice

192.168.100.1 192.168.1.1

cnocbui · 06-01-2025 03:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123003617#Comment_123003617

I have a wood burning stove, I installed the highest fire rating flexible flue I could get down the existing chimney flue, sealed it at the bottom and then filled the gap between the two flues with vermiculite as insulation, and then sealed it at the top and put a hood on the flexible flue.

The flexi flue innerlining is titanium. 23 years in use and no issues.

Portable gas heater - recommendations and advice

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