Before you buy one, check your local fire department or fire marshal for any restrictions on use in your area. Picking the Model There are two types of portable kerosene heaters - convective and radiant. The convective heater usually is circular in shape. Its fuel tank is located below the wick and combustion chamber. The wick absorbs and delivers fuel to the combustion chamber.
Convective heaters circulate warm air upward and outward in all directions.
They're designed for large areas or even several rooms, but never for a small, closed area such as a bedroom. Some owners report that one or two of these units can adequately heat an entire house when the temperature stays above freezing. Convective heaters must be moved for refueling because they don't have a removable fuel tank. Generally, refueling is done with a siphon pump. Be sure a convective heater has a fuel gauge.