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Reddy RLP30 Utility Heater Product RLP30 Key FeaturesType Utility / PortablePower Source GasFeatures Carrying...

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Reddy Heater RLP30 BTU Propane Forced-Air Heater

Heat Output in BTUs: 30,000

Capacity: Heats up to 700 Square Feet

Safety Features: Heater shuts off automatically with loss of flame.

Ignition: Built-in Piezo “Matchless” Ignition System

MSRP: $110.00

—– Where to use Reddy Heaters —–

Anyone with a background in construction, remodeling, or any of the building trades has no doubt seen a Reddy Heater at some point. The distinctive red and yellow tubes thundering like jet engines are a staple of most jobsites in the fall and winter. They are portable, run on propane or kerosene fuel, and are nearly bulletproof for rough handling. These larger units are made solely for huge, open areas under contruction. Jobsites are seldom airtight or sealed so CO and CO2 emissions aren’t a problem. But what can you use in your workshop or garage that won’t either burn you out or gas you out?

The answer is a baby heater, the RLP30 unit. This heater is small enough to use in a single car garage yet big enough to heat a modest pole barn. The only reason to choose a larger unit would be if you need rapid warm up or recovery from garage doors opening to the cold.

—– Using the RLP30 —–

Thanks to the self contained ignition system it’s very easy to setup and use the RLP30. First you’ll need at least a 6’ extension cord to plug in the unit’s blower motor. Next you’ll need to connect the 10’ propane hose to either a 20lb or 100lb propane tank. Remember the threads on propane fittings are reversed from normal, and always check your connections for leaks before using.

Now you’ll need to turn on the main propane tank all the way. The last step is to press and hold down the safety valve button and press the Piezo Ignitor button several times or until you hear the burner ignite. Once the burner is lit continue to hold the safety valve button for another 20 seconds or so, then let go. The RLP30 will continue to run until you either turn the gas off or the propane runs out. To shut down the RLP30 just turn the main valve on the propane tank to off. Let the burner run until it goes out, that will burn up all the propane in the gas line. Lastly, unplug the power cord and you’ve successfully shut down your heater.

Estimated run times on a 20lb tank are between 7.5-14 hours according to the manufacturer. In my experience it’s usually much closer to 7.5 than 14, and it seems to average out to about 8 hours. It’s hard to be sure since I usually use it over several days time.

—– Bottom Line and a few words on safety —–

This heater is very useful for many circumstances, although it’s not the fastest heater out there it gets the job done. I’ve stepped up to a larger 42,000 BTU heater for my 500sq/ft shop mostly because I want to heat it up quickly. For cold fall days I still use the Reddy Heater to keep the shop warm, a job at which it excels.

A word about safety, like most area heaters there’s a few things you need to watch out for. This is what I call a cool-touch heater, by this I mean if you touch the barrel of the RLP30 while it’s running you’ll feel hot metal but it won’t burn you. This is because the forced air blowing past the combustion chamber keeps the body much cooler that it would be otherwise. You do however have to be very careful about keeping combustibles away from both ends of the heater. While you don’t see a flame shooting out the end of the barrel, there’s plenty of heat there to ignite a box or papers if they are too close. Lastly, there’s the subject of fresh air and combustion gasses. The manufacturer recommends you keep a 1.5’ hole for fresh air to come into the closed space where the heater is located. Use your own discretion and be responsible with your heater, when not used properly an area heater can be dangerous. By all means keep small children away from all Reddy Heaters, they aren’t designed or intended to be childsafe.

If you’re in a milder climate than the northernmost states you’ll be fine with a 30,000 BTU heater for most of the year. It will take the edge off those cold evenings and let you work longer at comfortable temperatures. If you live where it gets below freezing or even close to zero you’ll need a more powerful heater. If you like the tubular forced-air style units the Reddy Heater RLP55V is an adjustable heater for variable conditions that goes from 30,000 BTU to 55,000 BTU when needed. The only locations where you wouldn’t be able to use the RLP30 would be where there isn’t 120 volt power avalable. The unit won’t work without the forced air blower running. If you’re looking for a radiant style heater make sure and check out the line of units from Mr. Heater.

Related Links:

Mr. Heater MH42T Three-Burner Utility Heater

Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!

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