GASLAND MHA18BN Propane Radiant heater, 18,000 BTU Warm Area up to 450 sq. ft, Portable LP Gas Heater for Garages, Workshops and Construction Sites, Ultra Quiet Propane Heater with LP Regulator Hose

Why I reached for a cabinet-style propane heater

I brought the Gasland cabinet heater into a cold, drafty single-bay garage that doubles as my workshop. I wanted something that didn’t need electricity, could roll out of the way, and would warm me (not just the air above me). After several weeks of use in the garage and a couple of early-morning patio sessions, I have a solid read on where this heater excels and where it doesn’t.

Setup and safety

Out of the box, assembly is minimal: attach the wheels and handle, tuck a standard 20 lb propane cylinder inside the cabinet, and connect the included regulator and hose. The cabinet form factor is the key differentiator; it swallows the tank, so you’re not tripping over a bottle and hose snaking across the floor. With the tank on board, it’s not light, but the caster wheels roll well on smooth concrete and short-pile shop floors.

Lighting is straightforward. Press and hold the control knob to “Pilot,” click the piezo igniter, then hold for 30–60 seconds to heat the thermocouple before turning to Low/Med/High. Occasionally on cold mornings I had to repeat the process or hold the knob a touch longer than I’d like—fairly typical for propane devices with a pilot.

Built-in tip-over protection and a low-oxygen shutoff (ODS) are table stakes for this category, and they work as intended. That said, these are backstops, not licenses to run a heater in a sealed space. I operated it only in well-ventilated areas, added a battery CO detector nearby, and kept clearance in front of the radiant panels and above the cabinet. If you work at higher elevations, remember most ODS systems can be finicky or trip more easily; check the manual’s altitude guidelines.

A small but meaningful design touch: a heat deflector below the radiant elements. It helps keep the floor from getting cooked directly under the heater—nice peace of mind on vinyl or painted concrete.

Heating performance

This is a radiant heater rated up to 18,000 BTU with three settings that essentially control how many ceramic plaques are lit. Radiant heat behaves differently than a forced-air torpedo: you feel it on your shins, hands, and tools in its line of sight almost immediately. In my garage (roughly 400–450 sq. ft., insulated walls, leaky door), Low took the edge off, Medium created a comfortable working envelope within about 10–15 minutes, and High was my “get-it-warm-fast” option.

In an open or breezy area, think of this as spot heating—you’ll be warm in front of it, but the space won’t equalize without help. A small fan (set several feet away, not mounted on the heater) goes a long way to circulate warmth and even out hot and cold pockets. Indoors, where permitted and ventilated, it can cover its claimed footprint; outdoors, manage expectations accordingly.

One caveat: radiant heat can create hot zones. Sitting 3–5 feet in front of the plaques is toasty, but move laterally and you’ll feel a clear drop-off. That’s not a flaw; it’s the nature of radiant panels. If what you want is uniform whole-room heating, a vented wall heater or a forced-air propane unit will be better.

Noise and comfort

There’s no fan onboard, so operation is nearly silent beyond the faint hiss of gas at higher output. That’s a relief for shop work, conversations, or reading on a cold morning. I noticed a slight odor during the first couple of hours of burn-in; after that, no persistent smell as long as the area was ventilated and the flame was clean and blue.

Portability and design

The cabinet format is genuinely convenient. There’s no external cylinder to knock over, the footprint is smaller than a tank-with-heater combo, and the handle makes repositioning simple. Stability is good—bumping it won’t send it tumbling—but the tip-over shutoff adds reassurance.

Fit and finish are decent for a utility heater. The steel cabinet and front guard feel sturdy enough for shop use. The front grill is tight but still wide enough to brush debris off the plaques with a soft brush when the unit is cold.

Fuel use and operating cost

Propane runtime depends on your setting and the weather. As a rule of thumb with a 20 lb cylinder (roughly 420,000–430,000 BTU of fuel):
- High (18,000 BTU): about 24 hours of continuous burn
- Medium (~12,000 BTU): roughly 35–36 hours
- Low (~6,000 BTU): roughly 70+ hours

In practice, I rarely run it continuously on High. My routine is 10–20 minutes on High to warm surfaces, then Medium or Low to maintain. That pattern spreads a tank over a couple of weeks of after-work sessions. If you’re replacing electric space heaters, the cost-per-BTU of propane is often favorable, especially during peak electric rates. The real win, though, is capability during power outages.

Reliability and maintenance

Across several weeks, the igniter lit reliably, with the occasional need for a second click. One morning the pilot didn’t transition to full burn on the first go; holding the knob down longer and relighting fixed it. That’s not unusual with cold cylinders and low vapor pressure.

A few maintenance tips that help any propane radiant heater last:
- Keep the plaques and air inlets free of dust; a can of compressed air and a soft brush work well.
- Inspect the regulator and hose periodically; replace if you see cracks or kinks.
- Use leak detection solution (or soapy water) on connections each time you swap tanks. The included regulator uses flare fittings—do not use thread tape on those joints.
- Store the unit covered when not in use to keep shop dust off the burner assemblies.

If the igniter ever quits, you can still light the pilot with a long-reach lighter through the access window—handy, if not as convenient.

Where this heater fits (and where it doesn’t)

Best use cases
- Ventilated garages, workshops, and job sites where electrical outlets are limited
- Patios and outdoor work areas for spot radiant heat
- Emergency backup heat during outages
- Quick warm-ups for small outbuildings, sheds, or farm spaces with airflow

Use caution or avoid
- Enclosed bedrooms or sleeping tents (even with ODS, you need ventilation and a CO detector)
- Tight, sealed modern spaces without a plan for make-up air
- High-altitude environments where ODS systems are known to trip or behave unpredictably

Comparisons and trade-offs

Against a forced-air propane “torpedo” heater, the Gasland cabinet heater is quieter, safer to be near, and better for comfort within its radiant footprint. The trade-off is slower whole-room equalization. Compared with popular portable radiant units that run on 1 lb cylinders, housing the 20 lb tank inside the cabinet is a big convenience and reduces the hassle and cost of constantly changing small bottles.

It lacks an integrated fan and there’s no thermostat, so you’ll be adjusting output manually. I actually prefer the simplicity—fewer parts to fail—but it’s something to note if you want set-and-forget temperature control.

Limitations and small gripes

• The control knob requires a firm press-and-hold on cold starts. Not hard, just a patience test on chilly mornings.
• No thermostat or remote. You’re the controller.
• Like most radiant panels, it’s line-of-sight heat. If you’re moving around a lot, pair it with a small fan in the room to even things out.
• The wheels are best on hard surfaces. On rough concrete or gravel, you’ll end up lifting the front to reposition.

The bottom line

The Gasland cabinet heater does exactly what I wanted: quiet, quick radiant warmth without needing an outlet, with the convenience of a 20 lb tank tucked neatly inside. It brought my 400–450 sq. ft. garage from teeth-chattering to workable in minutes, ran economically on propane, and didn’t add another whirring fan to the shop. Safety features are present and sensible, and the cabinet form factor reduces clutter and trip hazards.

Recommendation: I recommend this heater for garages, workshops, and ventilated utility spaces where you want immediate, quiet, line-of-sight heat and the practicality of an integrated 20 lb tank. It’s a strong value if you’re replacing power-hungry electric space heaters or need reliable heat during outages. Just be mindful of ventilation, add a CO detector, and consider a small room fan if you’re chasing more even heat distribution. If your priority is whole-room temperature control with a thermostat, a different style of heater will suit you better; but for portable, dependable radiant warmth, this one earns a spot in the shop.