LPG Gas Heater Reviews by Type – LPG Heaters
When you compare types of LPG heaters for a house, the best indoor LPG gas heater for the home is the one that fits your needs.
To be the best indoor LPG gas heater, is sized correctly for your space, be it flued gas heaters (gas fixed flued heater) or an unflued (portable LPG heaters).
It also has the features you want possibly including remote control, thermostat, timer and safety features.
The best indoor LPG heaters for a house is from one of the quality gas heater manufacturers with a strong warranty, like a Rinnai gas heater.
They also need to be the ones with a price that gives you good value for money.
Concerned that what types of gas heaters your retailer recommends may not be the best choice for your home?
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We review what types of gas heaters for the home and prices, comparing the pros and cons of the various gas heating alternatives, to help you make an informed decision…
LPG Gas Heater
An LPG gas heater is a gas space heater used for room heating or outdoor area heating fuelled by LPG (propane, butane or a mixture of the two).
The two general types of gas heaters are flued gas heaters (vented) and unflued gas heaters (unvented).
Gas Heating
Gas heating is the heating of a room or outdoor area using a home gas space heater fuelled by natural gas, LPG (propane or butane) or biogas.
Indoor types of gas heaters include unflued portable gas heaters, flued gas heaters, radiant gas heaters, convector gas heaters, radiant-convectors, and gas fireplaces.
Natural Gas Heating
Natural gas heating can also deliver a warm and comfortable home without an uncomfortable energy bill.
Gas heaters are fuel efficient, economical, and durable, as well as the perfect way to stay snug and warm during the cold winter months.
How to Choose the Best Indoor LPG Gas Heater for a Home
The best LPG gas heater for a home depends on what suits your needs.
There are 4 major decisions to make when you choosing from new LPG heaters for the home.
1. Type of LPG gas heater: Should you choose a Portable (Unflued) gas heaters or flued gas heaters?
2. You must also choose from the sub-group types of gas heaters for a house. These include radiant, convectors, radiant-convectors, flued gas heaters power flued, flued gas heaters radiant and wall heaters.
3. You need to determine what size LPG heaters for the home you need for the size of the space you want to heat.
4. The LPG gas heater manufacturers you consider should be known for quality and reliability. The Rinnai LPG gas heater or Paloma gas heater ranges have both.
These topics are covered in the following review…
Types of LPG Heaters for a House – Home Gas Space Heaters
There are three different types of LPG heaters: Radiant gas heaters, convection heaters that use a fan to circulate the warm air and radiant convectors that combine the two.
These are the types of LPG heaters based on heating methodology.
Types of gas room heaters for the home are grouped by gas heating methodology, venting, and heat output.
The two different types gas heaters based on venting are flued gas heaters and unflued gas heaters.
Five Types
There are five types of gas heaters based on heating methodology, including convectors, radiant and radiant convectors.
♦ Portable Convector types of gas heaters: Unflued gas bayonet types of gas heaters for a house using a fan to distribute the heated air around the room
♦ Portable Radiant Convector types of gas heaters: Unflued bayonet types of gas room heaters using radiant heat panel and distributes the heated air around the room with a fan
♦ Power Flued Gas Heaters types of gas heaters: Flued gas heaters types with one fan driving combustion gases out of the flue and the other fan to distribute the heated air around the room
♦ Console or Inbuilt Flued Gas Heaters types of gas heaters: Flued gas heaters type with a with a fan to distribute the heated air around the room
♦ Gas fire heaters, Gas Log Fires, Gas Fireplace types of gas heaters: Decorative flued gas heaters. Most are flued gas heaters and almost all use a fan to distribute the heated air around the room
Some types of LPG heaters have advantages over other types, including electric space heaters, wood fireplaces and heat pumps, as well as the gas heater manufacturers.
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Home Indoor LPG Gas Heater
There is an extensive range of types of LPG gas heater, all of which will keep you warm and cozy.
The best LPG heaters are high quality and very reliable.
Gas fire inserts fit into an existing fireplace so you get warmth for your living areas and a beautiful home highlight.
LPG heaters provide heat to selected rooms of your home, as opposed to whole house ducted heating systems.
Home LPG heaters come in different types, including convectors, radiant-convectors, flued gas heaters and wall gas heaters for home.
Indoor LPG heaters are also an energy efficient way to heat your home.
Gas Consumption & Heat Output
For indoor types of LPG heaters, gas input is expressed in MJ/hour. Heat output is measured in kW for LPG heaters.
Generally speaking, greater gas input equals increased heat output, taking into account the relative energy efficiency ratings of the models being compared.
Star Ratings for the Best Indoor LPG Gas Heater
LPG gas heater manufacturers in Australia must have all indoor gas heaters tested and labelled for energy efficiency Star Ratings.
Understanding the types of LPG heaters and what ratings mean can save you lots of money because the LPG gas heater Star Rating is based on net heater efficiency.
For more details, please see Energy Efficiency & Star Ratings for Gas Heaters
Best Portable LPG Gas Heater – Unflued Gas Heaters
The best portable LPG gas heater has a number of beneficial features. These include thermostatic control, twin programmable timers, remote controls, child lock function, tip over cut-off safety feature, and a solid warranty.
It would also have 5.8 or 5.9 star energy rating, a high heat output in the 6.2 kW range.
The best selling Rinnai Avenger 25 portable gas heaters has all of the aforementioned features.
This Rinnai gas heater is arguably the best of the portable gas heaters.
To be best portable gas heater for home it must also fit your needs.
In addition to capacity sizing and available features, consider weight and physical size for ease of portability.
Emission levels can also vary. Some advanced models of this type of LPG gas heater eliminate about ½ the permissible amounts.
Portable gas heaters are very energy efficient types of gas heaters.
The typical Star Ratings for a portable gas heater is 5.8 or 5.9 Stars.
This means that they convert about 90% of the gas to usable heat.
These types of portable gas heaters require no installation, if you already have a gas heater bayonet fitting.
They and can be stored away when not in use.
Unflued gas heaters do emit some combustion gases into your home, with the maximum levels specified by government safety regulations.
Heater Safety
Care should be taken if the family includes very young, unborn, elderly or individuals with some medical conditions, as they may be more sensitive to the emissions.
LPG heaters should not be used in sleeping rooms or very small rooms, like bathrooms.
However, for the majority of people, they are quite safe when you follow all of the manufacturer’s safety instructions, including providing adequate ventilation.
Portable heaters come in three sub-types of gas heaters, based on how they distribute the heat within the room:
Gas Radiant Heaters
Radiant heaters warm you much like the sun.
This type of LPG heaters allow specific spaces within an indoor area to be heated since they primarily warm only the people and objects positioned in front of the unit.
They also come in smaller sizes for minor heating applications.
The advantage of radiant types of gas heaters is that they are generally the lowest cost option because they require no electrical connection.
Disadvantages are an older style appearance and uneven heat distribution in the space being heated since most of the warmth is felt in the area directly in front of the heater.
Radiant gas heater manufacturers include Rinnai gas heater and Paloma gas heater.
Home Gas Space Heaters
Rinnai has a wide range of home gas space heaters that combine high quality and energy efficiency with cozy warmth and Rinnai reliability.
They offer radiant types of LPG heaters that provide spot heating in front of the heater and fan assisted convection home gas space heaters.
Gas Convector (Convection) Gas Space Heaters
When you compare types of LPG heaters, gas convector (convection) types warm your space using convection or air movement.
Along with the gas burner, they incorporate a fan since it helps distribute the heat more evenly throughout the space.
Gas convectors are also sometimes referred to as Space Heaters.
The advantage of convectors is that these types of LPG heaters also tend to have more advanced features.
These include remote controls, timers, low emissions technology and electronic thermostatic controls, as well as a more contemporary appearance.
Disadvantages are that convectors are a bit more expensive than radiant types of gas heaters because they do require an electrical connection to power the fan and a gas fitter.
Gas convector or space gas heater manufacturers include Rinnai gas heater, Braemar and Paloma.
Radiant Convectors
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Radiant convector type of LPG gas heater combine the two methods of heat distribution.
They provide radiant heat to the area directly in front of the unit and distribute heat around the space using fan driven convection.
The advantage of these type LPG heaters is that you get spot heating as well as space heating.
Pricing is in between radiant and convector models.
The disadvantages include the need for an electrical connections, lack of some of the more advanced features and more dated styling.
Radiant convector gas heater manufacturers include Rinnai gas heater and Everdure.
Best Flued LPG Heaters
Flued gas heaters are fixed in place by the flue (gas fixed flued heater).
They offer the warmth of LPG heaters with no indoor combustion emissions.
The term “fixed flued” refers to the fact that the combustion gases generated when the gas is burnt are directed out of your home.
This is done by means of a fixed flue pipe through the wall or ceiling.
Traditional flued gas heaters have the flue pipe go straight up through your roof and are fixed in place (gas fixed flued heater).
Powered flued gas heaters give you many more design options because the exhaust gas is fan forced horizontally or vertically, depending on the model.
Additional possibilities include 90° bends and the allowable flue length may also be longer.
This allows for wall outlets as well as roof exhausts.
Flued gas heaters are also available in direct vent or balanced flue models.
They draw the combustion air from outside your home, so there are less drafts and the fireplace is unaffected by closed doors, etc.
The amount drawn in is balanced with the exhaust sent out because this eliminates drafts.
Flued gas heaters do cost more than portable gas heaters and must be installed by a gas fitter.
These LPG heaters are not as energy efficient as portable gas heaters.
They can have a broad range of performance, with Star Ratings from 1.0 to 4.8 Stars.
Flued gas heaters come in three sub-types of gas heaters, based on installation options:
Flued Radiant LPG Heaters
Radiant types of flued gas heaters are radiant convectors that incorporate a flue for the combustion emissions.
They provide radiant heat to the area directly in front of the unit and distribute heat around the space using fan driven convection.
The advantages of these types of LPG heaters is that you get spot heating as well as space heating and no indoor emissions.
They are also sized to fit into existing fireplace opening or as a stand-alone console.
The disadvantage of flued gas heaters is that they do not have power flues and the installation options are a bit more limited.
Gas fitter installation is also required and the dated styling.
Rinnai gas heater is the major gas heater manufacturer of these types of flued gas heaters.
Power Flued LPG Gas Heater
Flued gas heaters, with a power flue, are convection types of flued gas heaters with a power driven flue.
The power flue provides more LPG gas heater installation options.
The advantages are that you get more evenly distributed space heating and no indoor emissions.
Styling is very contemporary and more advanced features like remote controls, timers, and electronic thermostatic controls are available.
The disadvantage is that power flued gas heaters models (gas fixed flued heater) tend to be the most expensive option and all require installation by a gas fitter.
Flued gas heaters with power flue manufacturers include Rinnai LPG heaters and Braemar.
Best Wall Furnace – Gas Wall Heaters
The top wall furnace would probably be the best selling gas wall furnace made by Braemar.
The best wall heaters or wall furnaces are types of flued gas heaters for home that is designed for an on-wall or in-wall installation.
From an operating cost point of view, the best wall furnace is gas, not electric.
In most cases, these are being used as replacements for older gas wall furnaces because the gas supply is already plumbed in.
Adaptor kits are also available for the best wall furnace to fit them as replacements for old style wall furnaces.
The advantage of these types of flued convection style LPG heaters is more even heat distribution.
The ability to retro-fit into existing openings is also a big plus.
Disadvantage is that wall furnaces can be a bit expensive because they do require installation by a gas fitter.
Best wall furnace gas heater manufacturers include Braemar, for these types of flued gas heaters.
Gas Fireplace & Gas Log Fires
Gas Fireplace & Gas Log Fires are yet other types of flued LPG heaters for your home.
For more comprehensive information, please see Gas Fireplace for Your Home
The Best Indoor LPG Gas Heater for Large Room
The top type of LPG gas heater for a large room is one with a high kW/hour rating since that is the measure of heat output.
The best indoor gas heater for large room is not necessarily the one with the highest MJ rating, as MJ/hour is the measure of gas input.
Generally speaking, greater gas input equals increased heat output.
But you must also take into account the relative energy efficiency ratings of the models being compared.
LPG Gas Heater Sizing
The size LPG gas heater you need for a small room (29m³ – 42m³) has a heat output of 2.9 – 4.2kW.
A medium room (42m³ – 66m³) needs a gas heater size with 4.3 – 6.6kW.
Large rooms (66m³ – 82m³) need a gas heater size with a heat output of 6.7 to 8.2kW.
Remember, megajoules per Hour (MJ/hr) ratings on appliances actually indicate the gas consumption of the appliance, not the heat output.
Do not go by MJ ratings, as heat output can vary greatly based on gas heater efficiency.
Look for the kW rating in the specifications since it indicates the net heat output of LPG heaters.
These LPG gas heater sizes are all approximations and your situation may be different.
Variables include climate, insulation, ceiling height, the number of fenestrations, window coverings, drafts, floor coverings and sub-flooring.
Rinnai has a very good LPG gas heater sizing calculator that takes many of these variables into consideration.
It is important to get the right size gas heater for your home.
You want to select the ‘Goldilocks’ of LPG heaters since it is just right for your gas heating needs.
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Eric Hahn has over a decade of experience in the LPG industry and has become a key figure in shaping how LPG is marketed and communicated. As the creator of one of the world’s first LPG blogs, Eric has authored over 200 technical posts, helping educate and inform the industry and consumers.
Eric has served on multiple committees for Gas Energy Australia and the World LPG Association (WLPGA), contributing to important discussions and advancements within the global LPG sector. He has presented at WLPGA Annual Conferences, sharing his expertise as a speaker, panellist, and panel chair.
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Steve Reynolds
Technical Consultant
Steve Reynolds is a leading expert in the LPG industry with over 22 years of experience. As part of the national management team at ELGAS, Steve ensures the safe and efficient storage, handling, and transportation of LPG. He serves as the lead investigator for incidents and collaborates with authorities on industry developments.
Steve is a technical advisor to Standards Australia and Gas Energy Australia (GEA), and an active member of the World LPG Association (WLPGA), contributing to global standards and technical reviews. He holds a BSc. (Hons) in Industrial Chemistry from UNSW and has held senior safety and technical roles at ELGAS, making him a trusted authority in LPG safety and standards.