Back porch in the winter
 

It's starting to get a little chilly here in the evenings, and I'm exiled to the back porch when I go to light up.

So, for the others that are in this same situation -

Propane patio heater or chiminea, and why is your choice better than the other?

Thanks for the advice.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Both are probably good, another option is a UFO infrared if you have the coin. Those things pump the heat to a cold pair of hands. Multiple settings, the one with the remote is just a waste of cash. If you can find them at the hardware joint....249.00-269.00 ish. I tried a propane heater and the only thing is that it seemed like I was always filling up the tank. I tried a kerosene blower and fumed myself into oblivion!! Threw off the taste of the cigars!!

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Kind of in the same situation. I have a back porch that I don't want to close in with permanent means, but I want to get some clear plastic/canvas edged siding to put around the porch (kind of like the flying saucer downtown if you've ever been). That way I could put some kind heater in there and there might be a little bit of heat retention and less wind.

Also, anybody have any idea what those would be called so I could search for a place that sells them? lol :p (sorry to potentially threadjack)

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Tarps and a heater.

An easy-up with the zippered side can work very well. It will block the wind and keep in some of the heat.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Brief smokes

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Smoke briefs?

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Not at all. Any info on keeping warm is great. Besides, my porch is set up perfectly for those, and they'd make the dog happy, too. :D

I'm hoping to get something knocked out before it's too late, but that deadline's closing in quick from what I felt the past few evenings.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I live in TN so I just put on a light jacket and choose a 30-45 minute smoke. Or a leather jacket and smoke whatever I want.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/a...ponds/fire.jpg
After dinner I get it burning on my patio. It's raised off of the ground so it can be used on a deck too. I also have a chiminea and have found them to be too much work while I'm trying to enjoy a smoke.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I use a propane heater up here in chilly New England. I have a 3 burner, and a two burner. I'll use them on the back deck till it gets too cold, and then smoke in the garage (they come in handy there too).

A chimnea might be nice, but for a quick smoke it would probably be a pain to get it going.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I'm starting to go for rides in the car...

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

That's kinda what I was thinking about the chiminea, but wasn't sure.

Are those the ones that attach directly to the tank? How do those work in open air? Or, would the porch need to have a wind block like Brutus2600 was talking about?

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Well, I use it on my back deck, and while its somewhat protected I would say the heater does a decent job at radiating heat. If its that windy, ill smoke in the garage.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

As a lifetime resident of Houston TX, I rarely get to brag about the weather, but it is nice to never worry about freezing my a$$ off while smoking a cigar.

The downside might be worse though. Suffering 100% humidity in +100 degree weather during the summer is also damn near unbearable.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I'm thinking about this issue as well. I have a screened porch and it's downright cold now if I want to smoke a cigar out there. I don't want the mess/smell of a propane type of heater. I don't really want an exposed flame. I wonder if an electric fireplace would do well in this type of situation?

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I have two different propane heaters (one high and one low :)). The first is a Mr Heater:

http://www.mrheater.com/images/products/MH24t.jpg

Then I also have a more traditional propane heater from Costco:

http://content.costco.com/Images/Con...e/510357LL.jpg

The tanks last me about 6 weeks or so with regular use. My deck is not covered so I use an outdoor umbrella to keep the rain off of me and in this case I only use the Mr. Heater.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Oil radiator heater or a fire pot.

The radiant heater isnt bad if you just sit beside it. No flames or smoke either an no noise to speak of. Works best when its just a tad chilly.

The fire pot I light up when its cold as taters.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

This is good advice. I've been in the DFW area during the holidays and it doesn't get THAT cold. I know it's all relative, but one of the propane tank heaters should be more than enough. They work well in both open air and in porches or garages. You do need some ventilation, but not nearly like the old kerosene heaters. Some half finger gloves might be a good pickup too.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Been pondering the same issue myself. Might just have to insulate the garage and add some kind of air exchange system. If I can find a quick and dirty system, so much the better. I'm surprised the radiant heaters keep anyone warm enough in the open air, but I never have tried them.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I know ozone air purifiers have had some bad press, but they do a good job of killing smoke smell in rooms and on objects. If my garage was my only refuge, I would insulate, propane tank jeater (they are like $20-$30 I think), and put in an ozone air purifier if you're worried about smoke smell. If you're only going to be in the garage for one smoke, you might not even need to ventilate. More than one, I would crack the door at least.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Currently rolling with the outside firepit. If its cold we will layer up with a blanket. But thats pretty relaxing...

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I have an electric radient heater in my garage that I picked up on sale from Costco:

http://content.costco.com/Images/Con...uct/284457.jpg

Works great at keeping me warm in the garage (when it's too windy and rainy to smoke outside). The catch is that I have so much stuff in my garage that the smoke settles into everything and hangs around. I have not smoked in my garage since last winter and you can still smell it... It does not bother me but my wife always brings it up :rolleyes:

I need to try an Ozone Purifier to see if that helps. The other thing I do while smoking in the garage is cover up the air intake on our furnace so that the smoke does not get pulled into the house (I checked with the company who did some maintenance on the furnace and they said that covering up the intake would not hurt the furnace or cause a problem in our home).

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

GREAT THREAD!!!!!

I'm asking the same questions. We just bought a new house and IT HAS A GARAGE!!! It also has a storage shed in the back that I hope to turn into a manastery, but there's no power out there.

I've smoked a few times in the new garage. Last night there were 4 of us smoking with the garage cracked. I walked out this morning and the smoke smelled like a B&M!

I'm looking to get one of those heaters that mounts to the head of the propane tank, and just keep it near by me.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Here in Northern Colorado, I use a backyard fire pit unless it's very windy or if precip is falling. In that case I use the garage, and I usually crack the door about a foot or so. I use a propane tank heater in the garage and have an electric space heater that I sometimes turn on when it's REALLY cold outside (< 10F). I also use a window well corrugated metal retainer to put on the back side of the firepit when it's very cold to try to direct some of the heat my way.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Good points about the garage. I have plenty of work I always need to get done in the garage. I can probably use the opportunity to smoke more in the winter while working on projects.

I do need a heater in my garage, though.... hmm, sounds like a Craigslist or Ebay special. ;)

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I would think propane, never had a problem with them but that's just me ;)

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I have a wife with a nose like a bloodhound when it comes to cigar smoke. In the winter I just open the garage door and set up a butterfly chair. The beverages I drink while smoking help to keep me warm.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

You're forgetting your audience. They are complaining it's too cold in Dallas/Ft Worth in winter to enjoy a smoke. :rolleyes:

















j/k...I love Texans. I even married one.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I went through all of this in early January 2009 because I planned on smoking in my car and apartment (no longer in the car). A commercial grade Odor Free ozone generator solved the problem. I picked up the Villa 1000, because I rather have too much than too little. Does what it's supposed to...kills any and all odors, in my apartment or car.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

The jacket goes on when the temperature hits 65, and the sight of one snowflake causes 8 cities to shut down!! :r



My would be good for me alone, but I usually have friends over when I smoke. Too much crap in there and nowhere to sit.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

+1 on the IR propane heaters. Wood fires are great but they require a lot more prep time. With the propane you are more willing to go out and light up both the heater and a smoke.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Shoot, 65. I rarely set my thermostat over 65 in the winter.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Funny you should say that. We get sent sometimes in February to do disaster recovery testing in Chicago. My coworker knocked on my room door at the hotel and when I opened it said "Damn, I can feel your heater here in the hall. What do you have it set on?", to which I replied "Texas". :D



Anyway, I think I'm going to run to home depot this weekend and see if SWMBO will approve the purchase of one of those uprights.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Yes, I did forget......and, just for the record, the highest my thormostat goes in the winter, unless we have company that complains about the cold, is 67 (and that's just to keep the wife happy).

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Hey Matt when you smoke in the garage with the door cracked try putting a box fan under the garage door with and board about the same size as the fan so that your pushing more air out than whats comeing in, thats what me and Tabb use to do. Works pretty well, and burn a sented candle like apple cinnamon or something with a fairly strong scent and you should be fine and not freeze.


Knip

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

As soon as it hits below 65 I'm sitting in the garage. :ss

And as soon as it hits below 50 I'm turning on my tank top dual propane heater, though I mostly just use one burner, and that one on low or medium and I just crack the door a bit. Haven't passed out yet. :D But the propane heater is awesome, so much better than my electric (which I ended up giving away) and a tank usually lasts me about two months. I have a small propane radiant heater that uses the small bottles, but the bottles just don't last that long, maybe two nights. But it's nice for emergencies or just a tad extra heat on my feet.

As for the smell in the garage, I don't care, it can smell away. The wife actually suggested I just smoke in the house, but I think that's cause she doesn't want me holed away in the garage the whole day. :D But I refuse to smoke in the house, I don't want the smell in there.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

:tu I Use The 2 Burner "Clip On" To The propane tank- < $90 @ Lowe's. Works Great in 32* Mobile Weather!:)

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

At least my garage is detached. When I smoke in it the wife and kids wrinkle their noses, but what are they going to say? The major project is getting it cleaned out enough to insulate it. Time for a major sale and more sticks money!

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

SUCCESS!!!!!!

Home Depot has one of the tall porch heaters for $99 for black friday. They'd already dropped the prices in their system, so I scored one while I was there last night.

Just enjoyed a breakfast cigar under it, and it kept me toasty at 40 degrees with a decent wind comming through. That was set at about 66%. It should get down to 30 tonight and I'll see how it does full blast.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

I wonder how well this would work on my porch. My house is behind me to the west, so most of the wind is blocked.

http://bfads.net/Menards-Black-Frida...nfrared-Heater

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

A pic of the firepit in our backyard.

Eazy Smoke-Cave in the winter
 

Here's an idea for an outside tent to smoke in with side walls:

www.hutshop.com and search for Sidewalls.

Build a deck or attach to your outdoor deck. Add heater of choice. Clip, light, smoke. Ahhh. . . winter man-cave.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

change that: SEARCH for sidewall not sidewalls

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Here in Ottawa we live just a 10 min drive from a Cigar Lounge, so in our chilly winters I just head there, wait til the warm summer again to do the outdoors...

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Happy to have found this thread (and apologies if my question is already answered somewhere in it ... I did not read through its entirety).

I borrowed two propane heaters from my neighbor over the winter holiday period b/c we were having a number of cigar smokers over for various parties. They worked well enough (winter’s been pretty mild here) but these were older models and seemingly not too efficient. I wonder if anyone would recommend a model they’ve found particularly effective? I’ve read some positive reviews about a model from Fire Sense that pushes out what seems like an astonishing 46,000 BTU, but the price seems almost too good to be true.

Any guidance/opinions would be welcome. Thank you.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

Read the thread, many effective models of propane heaters are discussed above.

Re: Back porch in the winter
 

May I ask how you like the model from Costco? Does it do well "throwing" heat say >5' away from the unit?