People in southern climates think that Northerners love the cold, but really, some of them look for their portable gas heaters with the first sign of the bitter cold. Gas heaters are very handy for using in the garage or workshop, too, if you have the regular furnace keeping the rest of the house warm.
There will always be nights when you need more heat than your furnace can keep up with. On nights like that, no heater can beat a portable gas heater. You can use them indoors to heat up a room efficiently and quickly, if the furnace is acting up. They can give you forced air convection or radiant heat, and some of the newer models come with handy negative ion generators that will help reduce the respiratory problems that many people have. Gas heaters can also be used on the patio or deck to keep you toasty and warm for Spring and Fall cookouts and outdoor dinner parties.
A gas heater can provide heat in the 4000 to 20000 BTU range, depending on the model you happen to be using. Contractors will quite often utilize portable LP heaters to heat their shops or garages, warehouses and loading docks. Portable heaters are popular at pre-game tailgate parties and they are sometimes used in barns in the winter, but not near the horses' stalls or the hay or straw, because those are so combustible.
Radiant heaters happen to be just about the most efficient heat source when you'll only be using a room for a few hours. Portable gas heaters expend energy in infrared radiation, heating a target area or a person, rather than the whole room. They usually cool down very quickly, too, so they're safer to use around pets and children.
Space heaters give you an effective and convenient way to add heat to a chilly room, or to warm up an area that has been unheated. Ceramic heaters work great in small areas like around desks. If you use heaters for your entire house, you'll want a portable gas or electric unit that is programmable, to keep the temperature more steady.
When you shop for a portable gas heater to use in your home, choose the most efficient, economical and simplest model you can, including free standing models or umbrella radiant models. Some heaters are available with remote controls, so that they are easier to light and to turn off. For your best heating, place the heater close to a wall, to help concentrate the heat in the area where you want it. Don't place a heater too close to any flammable items, to avoid fires.
When you use a portable gas heater, observe safety rules to avoid fire hazards. Heaters with thermostats will avoid energy over-usage, and select the right heater for the size of the area you need to heat. Always check any heater and its filter before you turn it on, and don't use extension cords with electric heaters. Place your heaters out of traffic patterns, and don't let your portable gas heaters run when you are not home, or run overnight, as they may become too hot.