These cylindrical, fuel-fired heaters burn propane or kerosene to blow intense heat into uninsulated buildings during winter work. Crews rely on them to keep pipes from freezing and to maintain the minimum temperatures required for curing concrete, drying mud, or applying paint. Because their glowing orange elements are visible from a distance, they frequently trigger false alarms from passersby who mistake them for structural fires.
Grab another tank of propane for the salamander before the mud freezes on the drywallers.
Never run one in a fully sealed room without cracking a window, as they consume massive amounts of oxygen and pump out carbon monoxide.
Also heard as
- torpedo heater
- salamander heater
Related terms
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Constructed entirely by stacking stones or masonry units without the use of mortar.
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Set
A temporary extension block used in pile driving to transfer hammer blows to a pile below the machine's reach.