I am installing a modine garage heater (Hot Dawg) and I was wondering if I can hook it up to a large portable propane cylinder, 100lb I think (it stands about 5 feet tall). It would simplify installation over having to run a permanent gas line from the other end of the house, and I already have a practically new cylinder. Any thoughts?
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Somewhere we built a house and had to use a propane tank until the permanent gas was brought into the site. We had to build a stand outside and put a bollard in front of it. Of course we had an inspection issue you might not have.Rejetted the furnace and water heater also.
Make sure you get the propane model
No inspection issue here, just wondering about performance and safety?
I use a propane heater to bring my shop up to temp and let it coast on a 5kw electric box heater. The hot dawg is vented so that would not be a problem so it seems to be whether it's safe to have to have the tank indoors.
You might need a pressure assisted tank system if you have your propane tank outside in cold weather. Pressure drops as the tank level declines and it can fall below what your heater needs in cold weather.
We use propane heat as temp. source on jobsites all winter long inside and out but sometimes we have to take those tanks in to warm them if they are outside.
Go to your bulk propane dealer and pose your question to them and go with what they say.
Now as I was typing all this i was preheating my shop went outside and it was cold because the other side of portable tanks is, no matter how large they run empty. And that's the other thing we do is have two tanks.
The hot dawg is vented so that would not be a problem so it seems to be whether it's safe to have to have the tank indoors.
The Hot Dawg is power vented for exhaust, but keep in mind it gets its supply (combustion) air from the room its in. This is why its not rated for use in confined spaces.
There's very detailed installation instructions on the Modine web site; venting design, gas pipe sizing, etc.
Keep in mind that propane is heavier than air, so if a leak develops, it builds up from floor level.
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