Grid Down Heater Review -KeroHeat CV-2230
Although I primarily heat with wood, I do like to have backups for heating (redundancy is key, remember?) just in case my wood runs out or on days where the wood is saturated from a rain storm.
A couple years ago I reviewed a great little emergency heater called the Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater (you can read the Big Buddy review here). It’s been my go-to heater for spot heating sections of the home or for emergencies prior to getting a wood stove.
Since getting the Big Buddy, I’ve heard some great things about Kerosene heaters from a number of readers as well as through my own online research and have wanted to pick one up for some time now. For more information, End Times Report is a fantastic site that has some great info on kerosene heaters.
About 2 weeks ago I decided to pick one up (specifically the KeroHeat CV-2230) to see how it performs and here’s my overall review:
Overall I was impressed with this little heater and I think it makes a great addition to my off-grid heating preps.
It pumps out a fair amount of BTUs (23,000) that is capable of heating the main floor of my living space, and as I mentioned in the video above, it kept the house at a comfortable 65 F when the temps outside were in the mid teens.
The fact that it runs off of Kerosene is another big plus. Kerosene is a very stable, long-lasting, easily stored fuel that I have no issues even keeping (in small amounts) indoors.
Dislikes?
The carrying handle (especially under the weight of a full tank of kerosene) feels pretty flimsy and bends slightly under the weight. Overall the construction seems a bit on the cheap side but looking at these types of heaters as a whole and you’ll notice there’s not much too it — it’s essentially millenia-old technology (wick and fuel) wrapped in a modern container.
If you’re looking for a good off-grid option for heating your home, I’d recommend taking a closer look at either the KeroHeat CV-2300 or Mr. Heater Big Buddy. Both have worked well for me.
Recommendations…
If you plan on buying one of these for your off-grid/emergency heating needs, be sure to pick up some extra wicks (they’re around $18). It’s the one element on the heater that will “wear out” with time.