Although construction sites are usually associated with hot temperatures during winter, this temperature falls drastically low some other times regardless of construction activities, and in a case where work has to keep on going, the best construction site heaters come in handy. The construction heater’s work is to keep the temperature at a comfortable level, enough for workers to thrive in.

The best heater for a construction site could either be an electric or gas-powered type, depending on the site’s conditions. In a situation where the area is very large, the high capacity of gas heaters, makes it more ideal as the best job site heater, while in a smaller and less demanding space, you could be better off with the best electric construction heaters.

There are some qualities which need to be taken into consideration; however, when searching for the best heater for construction project specifically. Generally, we would pick the Mr. Heater F271400 MH170QFAVT product as the best heater for construction work. This device possesses all the necessary qualities for construction site heaters, having a very high output capacity of up to 170,000BTU, as well as overheat protection for safety. It can serve large areas up to 4,250sqft in size.

What type of heater is best for a construction site?

The best heater for construction site is a gas heater, because of their incredibly large heat output. Gas heaters produce tremendous amounts of heat in BTU, which makes them able to cover far larger areas effectively, keeping numerous individuals warm at the same time.

They are, however, not as safe to use as electrical heaters, but with proper installation and positioning of the propane tank, as well as an overheat protection system, you are good to go.

What are the heating option for builders?

There are five different heating options to choose from for builders. They are;

  • Direct fire heaters:

These heaters function by heating air as it passes through an open flame. As combustion occurs, the air is pushed across by a fan, heating up and the process and released back into the atmosphere. Direct fire heaters are the most effective when it comes to raw heating and are also cheaper to run than the indirect type.

  • Indirect fire heaters:

In this heaters, the flame is produced in an inner chamber, where cool air also passes around a heat exchanger, and warm air released into the atmosphere.

Also read the difference between direct and indirect fire heaters

  • Electric heaters:

These ones are more suited to small areas, and makes use of filament or ceramic discs to create heat by passing electricity through them. They could serve as the indoor construction heaters. But they should be used in dry areas only and are expensive to purchase too.

  • Hydronic heaters:

This product works by heating alcohol mixture, which is pumped into heater hoses that are stationed in the areas needed to be heated up. They can only heat areas where their heater hoses extend too, which makes them limited.

Top 4 best construction site heaters in 2024

1) Mr. Heater F271400 MH170QFAVT Forced Air Propane Heater 

Mr. Heater F271400 MH170QFAVT Forced Air Propane Heater

Mr. Heater is one of the most prominent manufacturers of gas heaters in the world today, leading the market with their forced-air propane series. They have an array of heavy devices, which all come with low pressure (L.P) 10feet hose ad regulator, while equipped with safe operation features.

Heat generation capacity

The main selling point of this heater is its heat generation capacity. With a range that spans between 125,000BTU – 170,000BTU, this heater possesses the impressively high capacity, which is enough to serve construction space as large as 4,250sqft. This gas heater surely has you covered though out working hours in the construction site. It is able to run for up to 17 hours on a 100lb tank when setting on the lowest (120,000BTU).

Safe operation

Due to being gas-powered, safety features have been put in place in order to prevent accidents. Before we go into these features, this product is CSA certified. It has an inbuilt high-temperature switch and a thermostat, which both work in hand to monitor heat levels, shutting off the device as soon as it becomes too hot. With this device, you can rest assured of a good amount of heat combined with proper monitoring. The heater itself

Mobile and quiet

Although propane gas heaters are not known for their quietness, this device is built with a technology that reduces the expected noise level by half. This technology is a compact housing, coupled with quiet burner technology (QBT), reducing the noise generated by conventional propane heaters by 50%, making it half quieter.

Pros:

  • High heat output of 170,000BTU on the highest,
  • high-temperature switch with thermostat for overheat protection,
  • automatic solid-state ignition,
  • Special housing technology which dampens noise produced by 50%,
  • compact and lightweight with carrying handle for easier mobility,
  • the package includes a gas hose and regulator,

Cons:

  • due to its high capacity,
  • it consumes a lot of gas,
  • which makes it expensive to run.

2) TPI Corporation HF686TC Fan Forced Portable Heater

TPI Corporation HF686TC Fan Forced Portable Heater

Low running costs

Electric heaters simply require a power outlet (220V or 110V) to function, instead of being powered by combustion. They work by passing electricity through an element, which converts electrical to heat energy that is dissipated by a fan. This makes electric heaters far cheaper to run compared to the gas-powered types. They are also much more efficient with power, converting 100% of electricity received to heat, compared to gas heaters.

Good heat output

Being electrical powered, it’s not surprising that it falls way below a gas heater in heat generated. This product is only able to afford roughly 1/6th of what Mr. Heater F271400 MH170QFAVT can at 19,107BTU, which is decent enough for heating small to fairly medium-sized construction sized areas. We can only call this output good, and not exception like we would have loved.

Rugged and mobile

As per casing, that of this device is built with a moisture-proof material, which resists the degrading influence of high moisture environs over time. The material is also painted with special corrosion-resistant paint, which helps it resist rust.

In essence, this heater is sure to stay around for a long while. The housing of the heater also has a handle at the top side, while being very light in weight, these qualities combined make mobility much easier for the user.

Mounting options for spot heating

Good positioning would always make a heater more effective, and it almost as important as running the heater itself. This is why this product was made with several mounting options to choose from, wither on the floor, wall, or ceiling.

The swivel base makes it easily adapt to these different positions, allowing users to adjust the direction of heat output. This product is great for spot heating due to an average capacity; therefore, it wouldn’t really heat the air, but rather the objects in the room directly. With spot heating, the impact is felt far more quickly.

Pros:

  • Being electrically powered makes it cheaper to run compared to gas heaters,
  • very lightweight and portable with handle for travel friendliness,
  • corrosion-resistant, and moisture-proof material,
  • contains a thermostat for temperature control and overheat protection,
  • good heat capacity rating of 19,107BTU,
  • Comes with swivel base for floor,
  • wall or ceiling mounting,
  • it makes use of spot heating for a faster heat impact on the body,

Cons:

  • it requires a 220V power outlet to function rather than the conventional 110V;
  • its relatively low capacity means it cannot match the same area as a propane heater in the same price range.
  • In essence, it would be more suited to small construction sites.

3) COSTWAY 150000BTU Portable Forced Air Propane Heater

COSTWAY 150000BTU Portable Forced Air Propane Heater

High capacity

Once again, back to another propane heater. This costway forced air propane heater, boasts of a very high heat production rating in BTU, as a conventional gas heater should. Its number stands at 150,000BTU, which is very impressive, making it suitable for construction sites of all sorts of sizes.

By the manufacturer’s standards, this product is able to heat areas of up to 4000sqft, making it suitable to be used over large sized areas. We also recommended that the heater runs in areas with proper ventilation only to avoid any form of hazards.

Airflow and adjustable direction

While its combustion is able to produce up to 150,000BTU of heat, another admirable quality of this device is in its airflow. At 395CFM, this device pretty much moves air very impressively, ensuring there is proper circulation of heat in the area.

Apart from this good quality, the pointy output end of the heater is also adjustable across different angles for precise heating. This is possible due to it being attached to a swivel stand.

Overheat protection/mobile

For safe heating and all-round operation, the heater comes with overheat protection, which keeps tabs on temperature level at all times. As soon as the product becomes too hot, it shuts off automatically, preventing damages and other possible hazards.

Note that this feature doesn’t work with ambient (atmospheric) temperature, but rather the temperature of the heater itself. For a much better user experience, it is built to be lightweight, with a handle that makes it very easy to lift off the floor. This makes it very mobile.

Pros:

  • High heat output of 150,000BTU makes it very effective in large areas up to 4000sqft,
  • adjustable height provides a variable heat output,
  • excellent airflow of 395CFM,
  • overheat protection which cuts off the flame when the device becomes too hot,
  • lightweight with easy to carry handle,

Cons:

  • it is very noisy

4) Dimplex #DCH4831L 4800-Watt Portable Construction Heater

Dimplex #DCH4831L 4800-Watt Portable Construction Heater

Low running cost

This a second electrical powered heater in this review, and like general electric heaters, it can boast of a few advantages over the gas type. The major advantage is its relatively low running cost since it needs just a power outlet, rather than propane gas. A 240V heavy-duty power outlet is needed to power this heater, after which you are good to go for the entire life span of the product, compared to the regular refills of gas heaters.

Thermal cutoff

Being electrically powered means that it makes use of an element that heats up as current flows through. This element makes heat monitoring very easy, and coupled with a thermal switch at the back of the heater and a thermostat; it works to maintain a set temperature.

As soon as the user set temperature is exceeded, the device automatically enacts a cutoff, turning off the supply to the element as a result. This is simply a protection system against overheating.

Powerful fan

For an electric heater of such size, the fan is pretty powerful. It is able to circulate air at 300CFM, which is very impressive, although it is ultimately let down by the area it can serve due to a poor heating capacity. It is best suited to small-sized construction areas of about 225sqft, and for the heat’s impact to be better felt, the area would have to be insulated.

The heat capacity of this device is poor, and we wouldn’t recommend it for construction sites except its in a very small area. If you are looking to get a heater for proper construction sites, then you would really be better off with some order one than this, except on an extremely tight budget.

Pros:

  • being electric powered gives it a lower running cost than gas heaters,
  • overheat protection,
  • separate indicator lights for running, and
  • cut-out mode makes monitoring much easier,
  • the good airflow capacity of 300CFM,

Cons:

  • low heat capacity makes it best for small-sized rooms of up to 225sqft,
  • numerous complaints about poor customer service and quality of the product.
  • It is very noisy.

4 Essential Qualities of the best construction site heaters

  • Heat output:

construction sites are usually very large and open spaced or poorly insulated. For this reason, they require a heater with high capacity to actually get the area heated up. This is why you are most likely better off with a gas heater for construction sites because they produce a tremendous amount of heat.

  • Overheat protection:

The ever constant risk associated with using a heater. This both causes the device to get damaged, as well as taking out another thing that stands in its way, which is why it should be avoided at all costs.

The most effective way of doing this is by installing an overheat protection system in the device, which shuts it off when it goes beyond an unsafe level of heat. This feature is nonnegotiable; therefore, must be present in any heart you decide to settle for.

  • Cost and warranty:

let’s face the fact, heaters are pretty expensive, and you should be ready to part with a considerable sum of money if you intend to get a good one. How much you depart with, however, is left to your budget, but the better the device, the more expensive it would be. The best way of securing your investment too is to go for only products with manufacturer’s warranty, and background of good customer service.

  • Mobility:

Construction sites usually accommodates numerous workers, working on different projects at the same time, with constantly changing arrangement systems. This is why a heater that is lightweight, compact, and has a handle is more preferred, as it aids mobility because you just might not know where it would have to be positioned tomorrow.

Construction site heater danger and precaution

The major dangers associated with using heaters in construction sites are:

  • Carbon monoxide poisoning:

The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning always exists with the combustion of fuel. Incomplete combustion always leaves carbon monoxide residues in the air, which, when inhaled, could cause a series of health issues, including death.

  • Fire and burns:

Although fire risks exist in electric heaters, it is significantly greater when it comes to their gas counterparts. Generally, there are several ways through which heaters can start a fire, like placing it too close to combustible material, the heater falling face to the floor, or overheating itself and going up in flames as a result.

  • Moisture accumulation:

A high amount of heat is accompanied by a high amount of moist in the air, which could quickly become a problem. Molds would grow in the area and could cause health problems for workers.

Abide by the following precautions when making use of heaters in a construction site

  • Gas tanks should be located away from combustibles and secured with protection. Installing in an outside location is most preferred, to prevent fumes or gas leakages from entering the construction site.
  • The heater should be placed on a non-combustible leveled ground and should be regularly inspected and maintained. Inspection should cover hoses, fuel tanks, and the heater itself.
  • Ensure electronic flame sensors and safety valves are in place around the site.
  • Install carbon monoxide sensors and alarms around the site.
  • For electrically powered heaters, ensure the power outlet is rated correctly for the unit.
  • Electrical heaters should only be used in dry environments.

Final Verdict In selecting the best Construction Site Heater

Picking the best of each category, gas and electrically powered heater, Mr. Heater F271400 MH170QFAVT comes out clear as the best gas-powered product, while TPI Corporation HF686TC makes the top for electrical devices. With 170,000BTU, Mr. Heater’s product is able to produce a very high amount of heat, which we are confident would serve any size of construction space efficiently, and with overheat protection, it does what it does in a completely safe manner. It is also 50% less noisy than a conventional gas heater, due to its housing.

The TPI product, on the other hand, stags a good claim in the realm of electrical heaters, although not as powerful as even the least gas-powered type. With 19,107BTU, it produces a good amount of heat for an electrical product, although relatively low still. It also offers a very firm control overheating levels to users, as well as a thermostat for overheat protection. Lastly, having an option to be either floor, wall, or ceiling mounted crowns its decent quality with good and flexible positioning.

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