15,000 BTU Portable Radiant Propane

I bought and tested this Thermablaster (actually, I eventually bought four) and compared it to Mr. Heater MH15C. Both are rated at 15,000 BTU. For my purposes the Thermablaster is superior because: 1) it has a piezo ignition, whereas Mr. Heater requires a match or lighter, 2) it is slightly adjustable up and down (so when on a surface it can be pointed slightly up and not burn or ignite the surface, and 3) has a tip-over switch (which some chose to disable because of their particular application and/or because it can be temperamental). The only potential downside I can identify is that the Mr. Heater is slightly less bulky, easier to disassemble, and thus slightly easier to transport. I bought a quick-disconnects so that I can easily connect and remove the propane hose, which makes moving it around and transporting it a little easier. If you're going to do that though, you might consider also buying a 90 degree elbow and direct the quick connect to the rear so it doesn't stick out so far to the side and thus, become bulkier (as you can see in the picture). The only advantage I could find in the Mr. Heater is that it is designed to be used (and stored?) outside. The Thermablaster is not. So if yours is an outdoor-only application for long periods of time (i.e., days), the Thermablaster may not be as suitable for you. All that said, there are some downsides to the product that I wish the company would pay attention to. First, virtually everyone who reviews the product says that when they received the device, the box is damaged to one degree or another. All four that I bought had damaged boxes, although the devices themselves were undamaged. It's very obvious why the damage to the box is occurring in transit (and probably in some instances, to the device itself). S why not fix the problem. Second, I'm not keen on their support, which is email only. Third, I'm not enthusiastic about the design they've chosen to affix the heater-head to the frame (i.e., two tiny screws). Lastly, I found that on more than one of the devices, the "guts" and "plumbing" of the heater is not mounted as securely to the device as it should be, which then allows a small amount of movement when connecting and disconnecting the propane hose (especially if outfitted with a quick connect). Over time this represents a point of failure. I had to disassemble the "plumbing" to get to and tighten the screws that hold the "guts" to the frame. I can't imaging a typical homeowner having the tools, experience or patience to do what I did.

We've had Mr Heater.... They shot flames out of the device.... This is far superior.... Good heater great service from Home Depot .. Totally give 5 stars to all. Thanks Home Depot for keeping us warm ..

On low setting it works for a little while and it turns itself off. It appears that the thermo bulb is mounted too far away from the fire so it cools down and turns off.. This is the only complaint..

It won’t stay on, I haven’t been able to use it because there’s something wrong with it where it just shuts off. Do not recommend!!

Product in consideration

The product construction is flimsy. The product ignites well and the infrared element starts emitting heat in a few seconds. The heat output is fair, and given it has to be used in a well ventilated (or partially open) area, the heat dissipates away quickly. I returned the product.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Not bad…very safe…very little movement and it shuts off