Customer Reviews

Universal 80-VC 30,000 to 80,000 BTU Convection Heater

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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This is a great heater! My shop is a 24 x 24 pole style. With the open ceiling, there is that much more area to heat than some shops, however, not with this heater. It really puts out. You can set it from 30 to 80,000 BTU and is variable unlike the similar Master brand, which has just 3 settings. I looked at several brands, Mr. Heater, Master, and Universal. I decided on the Universal because vary the temperature setting, good warranty and was the biggest bang for the buck. There are several types of heaters. There is kerosene. I had one like that, but it smelled bad, particularly after starting and shutting it off. There is the radiant type. Those are fine as long as you stand in front of them, but the minute you move away, you are cold again. That's not practical in a shop setting. There is the fan forced type. These put out a lot of heat, but sound like a jet engine. I don't know about you, but the shop tools make enough noise without adding more. Then there is the convection type. These heat the surrounding air. They are much quieter that the fan forced type. After speaking to various manufacturers of these products one mentioned that the convection would be best for a shop. He also suggested that I install a ceiling fan to help circulate the air. Wow was he right! It can take my shop from 40 to 68 degrees in 10 minutes with the ceiling fan on and the heater set on high. I went to go get some propane for the heater after it arrived and found out the local rental establishment carried the same one. I asked the owner how he liked them and his reply was "these are great heaters... they get a lot of use and abuse, and nothing goes wrong with them." I was pleased to hear that! I have a 7 gallon propane tank and fill it about once a month. However, the amount of gas one uses will depend on how often you use the heater. During the winter months a cold shop often gets little use. With this heater however, you have no excuse!

This baby screams heat! It heats my 20 X 30 foot garage from 30 degrees to 70 in about 10 minutes during the winter. Excellent for car repairs, painting, or hanging out to avoid cabin fever during the winter. It is very efficient on fuel use and I am very happy with it.