We all like to feel cozy and comfortable in our own homes during those colder months. Your central furnace may be adequate at heating your home now, but energy prices are spiraling higher and higher year on year. Before you know it, keeping your home warm enough through the winter could end up costing more than you can afford. 

A wall-mounted propane heater can solve this expensive problem! They’re effective and exceptionally energy-efficient, but not every unit will be equipped to meet your specific home-heating needs.

Keep reading to learn what to look for from a wall-mounted propane heater, or skip to the section you need most using this table of contents.

I’ve used everything I’ve learned in my decade as a licensed Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) expert to bring you this essential propane wall heater buying guide. I’ve also reviewed the best propane wall heaters your money can buy in 2021.

Let’s start by looking at the most important pros and cons of investing in a propane wall heater.

Propane Wall Heater Pros And Cons

To find the right propane space heater for you, you’ll need to understand their benefits as well as their drawbacks. 

Propane Wall Heater Pros

Here are the great advantages that put the PRO in PROpane!

Extremely Efficient 

Propane gas burns at an incredible 99.9% efficiency. This means that 99.9% of the fuel used is converted into heat, and only 0.01% is wasted. Propane also gives off twice the amount of heat as natural gas so, you’ll spend less by using half as much propane as natural gas to heat the same sized space.

Propane Is A Clean Fuel

The Energy Policy Act 1992 lists propane as a clean fuel, releasing no methane, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen oxides. Using propane instead of natural gas, oil, or petroleum can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. 

By using propane, you’ll be doing your part to slow down climate change and reduce air pollution for generations to come!

Cost-Effective

Heating your home with propane is cheaper than most other fuel types. Compared with the cost of using electricity, a propane wall heater can save you around $2,000 in fuel costs over its lifespan. 

As a bonus, burning propane leaves less residue than, for instance, burning oil in a furnace. That means less maintenance and fewer replacement costs.

Versatility

Propane and natural gas are far more versatile than electricity when heating your home and powering your appliances. Refrigerators, freezers, grills, generators, clothes dryers, and of course, wall heaters can all be powered by propane gas.  

Emergency Back-Up Fuel

If you rely on a heating system that runs off your electricity supply, a power outage in the middle of the winter can be disastrous. Millions of homes in the US suffer from this exact scenario every year.

Most propane heaters use a battery-powered electronic ignition to run, independent from your mains power. You’ll always have a reliable backup heating option, so you’ll never go cold in winter again!

Propane Wall Heater Cons

Propane isn’t perfect, and it has some drawbacks you need to bear in mind.

Safety Concerns

One of the most common reasons people choose not to use propane is concerns over its safety. When burnt under the wrong conditions, it can release carbon monoxide, a highly toxic and very dangerous gas. 

Propane has to be flammable to be burned as a fuel source, but a propane leak can cause a build-up of gas, leading to an explosion if it comes into contact with an ignition source. 

As long as your propane heater is professionally installed and you use a carbon monoxide detector, your propane wall heater should run safely.

Propane Tank Delivery And Storage

Propane is readily available in the majority of US states, but the hassle and cost of propane tank delivery can be an issue. 

Delivery to more remote locations will usually cost more. Storing propane tanks can also be difficult. They can take up space that some homeowners just don’t have, so make sure you have somewhere you can use to store tanks before you decide if propane heating is right for you.

Upfront Cost

Most propane wall heaters will cost more to buy upfront than an electric heater, and ones with advanced features such as a digital thermostat are often way more expensive.

Propane Wall Heater Buying Guide

Now that we’ve weighed up the pros and cons of buying a propane wall heater, let’s go through the most important decisions you’ll have to make when choosing the right one for your home.

Vented Vs Ventless

The first and one of the biggest choices you’ll need to make is whether to buy a vented or ventless propane wall heater. 

Vented propane heaters, sometimes called direct vent heaters, are connected to a vent that runs outside your home. The simplest way of doing so is by installing a small vent pipe into the wall behind your heater, which expels any fumes outside.

Direct vent propane heaters can be considered very safe, but they need to be installed by an HVAC professional which can add around $150 to the upfront cost of your heater.

Vent-free propane heaters don’t need to be vented outdoors. Ventless heaters instead release exhaust fumes into the air inside your home. 

This may sound dangerous, but a ventless heater is specially designed to be safely used indoors. They cost less upfront, are easier to install, and offer more placement flexibility than vented heaters. 

Heat Capacity

Next, you’ll need to work out what heating capacity your propane heater should have. Heating capacity refers to how hot the unit can get and is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs). A heater with a higher BTU rating will heat a bigger room more quickly than a heater with a lower BTU rating. 

20 BTUs can heat 1 square foot of indoor space, so a 1,000 square feet room would need a 20,000 BTU heater. You can use this metric to work out how many BTUs of heating capacity you’ll need from your propane heater too. 

Automatic Ignition Or Manual Ignition?

There are 2 different types of propane wall heater ignition: automatic and manual. Using manual ignition involves lighting the wall heater pilot light, usually with a match. With automatic or electronic ignition, you can simply push a button to create a spark and light up your heater.

Both types do the same job, and both are safe, so choosing comes down to which type you prefer. 

Radiant Or Convection Heat?

Choosing between a radiant or convection heater will depend on the size, type, and most likely age, of your home. To understand what I mean by that, let’s look at how each type of heater works.

A radiant propane heater works by heating a steel or ceramic surface within the unit. The heat from this surface is emitted as infrared radiation that heats the outer walls and furniture in a room. If you live in a big, old, or poorly-sealed house, a radiant heater is the better choice for you because the heat can’t be blown around by a draft.

Convection heaters (or blue flame heaters since they burn with a blue flame) warm the surrounding air first, which naturally rises and collects near the ceiling. 

This means convection heaters aren’t a good choice for big houses with high ceilings because they’re much more effective in newer, smaller, airtight homes. 

Propane Wall Heater Safety

Many propane wall heaters come with safety features that can make them even safer to use. Keep an eye out for the following features when buying propane wall heaters:

Safety Guard

A safety guard is the most basic form of protection against you or anybody else in your home burning themselves.

ODS Sensor

Propane needs to burn at a ratio of 4% propane to 96% oxygen to prevent the release of highly dangerous carbon monoxide. An ODS (Oxygen Depletion Sensor) will automatically shut off the fuel supply to your heater if it detects oxygen levels have dropped below 96%.

It’s a potentially life-saving feature that has been legally required in all vent-free heaters since the 1980s. 

Overheat Protection

Propane heaters generate a lot of heat to work effectively, so the best propane wall heaters will be equipped with overheat protection. This feature turns the heater off if unsafe heat levels are reached, preventing the unit from becoming a fire hazard. 

Cool-Touch Exterior

A cool-touch exterior keeps the outside of your propane wall heater cool even when the inside is hot. It’s a great way of keeping curious kids or prying pets safe but is usually only included in the most high-end heaters. 

Tilt Switch

A tilt switch will shut the gas supply off to the space heater if it gets knocked over, reducing the chance of a fire breaking out. 

Extra Features

There are some extra propane wall heater features to look out for  that can make them more effective or easier to use: 

Thermostat

A propane wall heater with thermostat heat settings gives you extra control over your heating. Some of the best propane wall heaters have a digital, programmable thermostat for super-easy and accurate temperature control.

Blower

A blower fan can be attached to most wall heaters. They’re especially useful for circulating the heated air in a room with a vent-free heater, so you’ll notice the warmth more. Propane wall heaters with thermostat and blower technology are quick and effective.

Dual Fuel Technology

Propane-powered heaters with dual-fuel technology can use two types of fuel to operate. If you’re ever out of liquid propane, you could use your natural gas supply to run the heater instead. 

Best Propane Wall Heaters Reviews

There are lots of propane wall heaters to choose from on the market. To narrow down your search, I’ve reviewed the best propane wall heaters for homes you can buy today!

Best Propane Wall Heater 2021

This model from Mr. Heater is a blue flame propane heater with 30,000 BTUs heat output.  A blue flame heater will usually have a much lower BTU rating, around 9,000 to 15,000, but this unit is powerful enough to heat rooms up to 750 square feet by itself.

It can also be a reliable backup to your central heating system, using blue flame technology to create an even convection heat. No one part of your room is hotter or colder than the rest!

Safety features are rightly a top concern for many when choosing the right propane wall heater. The included Oxygen Depletion Sensor should go a long way to put your mind at ease and will automatically switch the unit off if oxygen levels are too low to prevent carbon monoxide release. 

For such a powerful heater, this model is very energy-efficient. By burning through an impressively low 1.389lbs of propane per hour, it’s done enough to be certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). You’ll spend fewer dollars by burning less propane to heat your indoor spaces.

What We Like:

• Mr. Heater is a well-established and trusted brand
• 30,000 BTUs to heat spaces up to 750 square feet. 
• Oxygen depletion sensor (ODS)
• On-board thermostat
• Electronic ignition
• Costs under $200
• CSA certified

What We Don’t Like:

• No blower included 

Best Ventless Propane Heater

Another unit from Mr. Heater, this ventless propane heater, uses infrared technology to heat the room quickly. That makes it effective at heating rooms up to 750 square feet. It’s made even quicker by a handy blower fan that distributes heat evenly.

Infrared heaters are a great choice for larger, older homes that are more prone to drafts. This unit is no exception because it doesn’t need to directly heat the surrounding air to make it feel warm. Rooms with drafts, thin windows, or high ceilings will feel warmer for longer.

This unit can be used as a floor-mounted or wall-mounted heater, giving you more placement options if you’re short on wall space. The wall mounting hardware is a bit flimsy, though, and you’ll probably need to spend a few extra bucks buying your own to keep it securely in place. 

That’s a minor drawback, though, considering it’s among the best ventless propane heaters that use infrared technology. 

What We Like:

• Mr. Heater is a well-established and trusted brand

• Fast and efficient heating in spaces up to 750 square feet
• Infrared heating technology
• Best propane wall heater with blower
• Oxygen depletion sensor (ODS)
• Electronic ignition

What We Don’t Like:

• Wall mount fittings are low quality

Best Small Wall Mounted Propane Heater

Dyna-Glo has produced some great high-quality and reliable propane room heaters. This vent-free propane heater doesn’t need a flue or chimney, making it great for use in a cabin, motor home, or garage, as well as your home.

Using a blue flame burner, this vent-free heater has a heat output of 10,000 BTUs, ideal to supplement your central heating in spaces up to 300 square feet. Ventless wall heaters like this one can be easily picked up and moved around, too, giving you plenty of placement options. 

Useful safety features like a propane regulator are included. The regulator reduces the high pressure in the liquid propane tank down to a lower pressure than the heater needs. It essentially stabilizes the propane and makes liquid propane consumption much safer!

This small propane wall heater also has a stylish, black finish that would add to the aesthetics of any room you decide to use it.

What We Like:

• Wall propane heater indoor ideal for vent-free supplemental heating 
• Perfect for smaller spaces up to 300 square feet 
• Includes 10ft propane hose and regulator
• Adjustable thermostat with three heat settings
• Rugged and sturdy build

What We Don’t Like:

• Blower fan sold separately

Best Propane Heater With High Capacity

If you need a heater that can heat an entire small house, look no further than this model from Japanese tech company Rinnai. By releasing up to a whopping 36,000 BTUs of heat per hour, you’ll feel warm and toasty during even the coldest winter nights!

It’s a great choice if you have kids or pets. With safety features, including a cool-touch exterior and a panel lock, you can have peace of mind that your kids or pets can’t hurt themselves around this heater.

An advanced smart thermostat gives you control accurate to 1 degree, and you can set a timer to let you know when the desired temperature has been reached. It’s also quiet for a blue flame propane heater and exceptionally easy to use.

The premium price tag makes this unit a long-term investment, so this heater comes with a generous warranty when professionally installed. It covers the heat exchanger for 10-years, parts for 5-years, and labor for 2-years. That means that you won’t be out of pocket for repairs and replacements for a good chunk of the heater’s lifespan.

What We Like:

• Can release up to 36,000 BTUs of heat per hour
• Great for homes with pets and kids
• Won’t switch off at higher altitudes
• Electronic heat settings and self-diagnostics

What We Don’t Like:

• Premium price tag
• Can’t be used for backup heating

Propane Wall Heater: Frequently Asked Questions

Are Wall-Mounted Propane Heaters Efficient?

Yes, they are! The best ventless propane wall heaters burn at 99.9% efficiency, meaning just a tiny 0.01% of the fuel is wasted. Only electric heaters are more efficient. 

What Type Of Propane Heater Is The Most Efficient?

Both blue flame propane heaters and radiant propane heaters are exceptionally efficient. Choosing between a blue flame heater and a radiant heater comes down to how well insulated your home is.

How Much Propane Does A Ventless Wall Heater Use?

1 gallon of liquid propane can provide around 91,000 BTUs of heat output. That means a 30,000 BTU heater will run for about 3 hours on 1 gallon of liquid propane. That’s about $0.80 per hour to run.

Are Ventless Propane Heaters Safe?

As long as they’re installed and used properly, propane wall heaters are safe to use. Even ventless heaters are designed to be safe to use indoors. Many of the best propane wall heaters are fitted with extra safety features too.

My Final Thoughts

As we’ve learned, investing in a propane wall heater has lots of advantages! While finding the best propane wall heater for you and your home will depend on your specific needs, the models I’ve reviewed are a great place to start looking. 

Whichever you choose, you’ll soon be able to enjoy the warmth and comfort that a propane wall heater brings!