InoKraft MaXheat MH68 68,000 BTU Forced Air Propane Heater, Portable for Garage, Adjustable Liquid Propane Torpedo for Shop, Jobsite, Construction Sites - Hose Regulator 10ft

Why I reached for the MH68

Cold snaps don’t pause projects, so I’m always looking for a dependable way to get a frigid garage up to working temperature quickly. After several weeks with the MH68, I’m convinced it hits the sweet spot for capacity, simplicity, and portability in the propane “torpedo” heater category. It’s sized to make a meaningful difference in bigger spaces without getting unwieldy, and it has a control scheme that’s straightforward when your hands are in gloves.

Setup and first fire

Out of the box, setup is simple: connect the included 10-foot hose and regulator to a 20 lb propane cylinder, plug the heater into a standard outlet, and you’re ready. The regulator threads engaged cleanly and the hose length is generous enough to park the tank up against a wall. I always check for leaks with soapy water before lighting—no issues here.

The first ignition was uneventful in the best possible way: click, fan spin, ignition, and a quick transition to a steady flame. Warm air arrives fast, with that familiar propane whoosh, but the tone of the fan is lower than many heaters in this class. It’s not silent—no forced-air heater is—but I could talk over it and listen to a podcast without cranking the volume.

Heat output and real-world performance

The headline spec is a variable 30,000–68,000 BTU output, and it feels every bit of that. In my uninsulated 24x24 ft garage (about 576 sq ft with 10 ft ceilings), the MH68 bumped the air from 36°F to 55°F in just under 10 minutes and to 65°F in roughly 20 minutes on a 22°F day. That aligns with the claim of rapid warmup and leaves plenty of headroom for larger or leakier spaces up to around 1,600 sq ft.

What matters as much as raw output is how the heat spreads. The fan’s airflow is balanced; it doesn’t feel like a leaf blower, but it throws a coherent plume of warm air far enough across a two-car bay to take the edge off corners while you work. The adjustable barrel lets you nudge the airstream up or down, which helps get heat off the floor and prevent hot spots. I’ve had torpedo heaters that blast a narrow jet and leave cold zones—this one is better than average at distributing heat.

Controls and usability

Operation is straightforward: a clearly marked control dial sets output, and a simple switch handles power. On my unit, setting a target temperature allowed the heater to cycle as the space warmed, maintaining a comfortable baseline without babysitting. That’s a nice touch—especially if you’re in and out of the space and don’t want to return to a sauna or an icebox.

The carry handle is well placed for a balanced one-handed move, and the chassis feels sturdy enough to live in a truck or bounce around a job box. The finish held up to a couple of accidental scuffs without scratching to bare metal.

Noise, comfort, and working around it

Noise is often the trade-off with forced-air propane heat. The MH68 is quieter than a lot of peers; the fan hum is lower-pitched and less shrill, and the combustion tone is steady. If you’re right in front of the muzzle while it’s on high, it’s still loud enough to mask conversational voices, but stepping back a few feet makes a difference. I would have liked a slightly stronger fan on high for moving heat across long bays, though the payoff for the current tuning is the lower noise profile.

Power and fuel considerations

Forced-air propane heaters require electricity for the fan and ignition. The MH68 drew comfortably from a 50-foot 12-gauge extension cord with no hiccups; if you’re on a jobsite, a small generator will do fine.

On propane consumption, a rough rule of thumb is about 21,600 BTU per pound of propane. At full tilt (68,000 BTU/hr), you’re looking at around 3 lbs of propane per hour—so a 20 lb tank yields approximately 6 hours of runtime. Dialing back to 30,000 BTU/hr stretches that to roughly 14 hours. In sustained cold, a larger cylinder (30 or 40 lb) is worth considering to avoid frost-up and extend runtime. In my use, I typically blast on high for 10–15 minutes to preheat, then settle near mid-range to maintain.

Safety and ventilation

Propane heat is efficient and clean-burning when properly vented, but you still need fresh air. I keep a door cracked and a small window open to create airflow, and I recommend a CO detector in any enclosed space. The MH68 carries CSA certification and includes overheat auto shut-off and flame safety protection. I intentionally blocked intake airflow during a test; the unit shut down as expected and relit without drama after clearing the obstruction and a short cool-down.

The heater’s footprint and barrel length help keep the hot end away from cords and clutter, but you still need to be mindful of clearances and not point it at anything combustible. The adjustable angle and stable base make it easy to aim safely.

Where it fits best

• Garages and shops: Ideal for 1–3 car spaces, with enough headroom to handle 4–6 cars if you’re willing to run it longer or maintain on medium.
• Job sites and outbuildings: Great for preheating work zones, curing adhesives in cold weather, or taking the edge off large, drafty areas.
• Covered outdoor use: Patios or event tents where ventilation is a given.

I wouldn’t use it in a tight, sealed room. This is a work heater designed for ventilated spaces.

Build quality and maintenance

The metal shell, welded seams, and hardware feel robust. The hose and regulator are standard fare and easy to replace down the road if needed. For upkeep, I vacuum dust from the intake screens every few weeks, check the hose fittings for leaks, and keep the barrel clear of debris. After a few cycles in slushy conditions, the finish still looks good and all fasteners are snug.

What I liked

• Strong, adjustable heat output with fast warm-up
• Quieter fan tone than many similarly sized torpedo heaters
• Simple setup; 10 ft hose and regulator included
• Thermostat-style cycling reduces babysitting and fuel waste
• Portable, balanced carry with an adjustable heat angle
• Solid safety suite and CSA certification

What could be better

• The fan could move a touch more air on high to push heat deeper into long spaces
• Like all unvented propane heaters, it mandates thoughtful ventilation and a CO detector
• Requires AC power, so plan for an outlet or generator on remote sites

Practical tips from use

• Preheat on high, then back down to maintain—this saves propane and reduces noise.
• Use a larger propane cylinder in sustained cold to avoid regulator freeze.
• Keep a small crack in a door or window for airflow; pair with a CO detector for peace of mind.
• Aim the barrel slightly upward to mix warm air and minimize hot spots near the floor.

The bottom line

The MH68 hits a smart balance of capacity, noise, and portability for shops, garages, and job sites. It heats fast, the controls are easy to live with when you’re wearing gloves, and the safety features inspire confidence. While I’d enjoy a bit more fan push on the top end, the trade-off for a quieter working environment is worth it for most scenarios I encounter.

Recommendation: I recommend the MH68 to anyone who needs reliable, fast heat in a ventilated workspace up to around 1,600 sq ft. It’s efficient, straightforward, and built to handle the realities of cold-weather work without becoming another piece of gear you have to fuss over. If you’re heating a sprawling, drafty warehouse, step up to a larger unit; otherwise, this one checks the right boxes for daily use.