In an emergency, propane heaters are an easy and cheap way to heat your home, but are they safe to use inside? Only a propane heater that is made for indoor use is safe to use inside. You shouldn’t bring a propane heater from outside into the house because it can give off carbon monoxide or use up the oxygen you need to breathe. Read on to learn more about how to safely use a propane heater, especially inside.
A good propane heater can be your backup if the power goes out. It can help keep you warm if your furnace is on its last legs, or it can make your camping trip a little more comfortable. The trick is to use them effectively and safely.
What Is A Propane Heater?
Propane is a gas that has the formula C3H8. It is a simple alkane. That means it is made of nothing but carbon and hydrogen, both of which can be burned cleanly when it is used as a fuel. This means less dirty than, say, gasoline or coal. One reason propane is so popular as a fuel is that when you put pressure on it, the gas turns into a liquid. This makes it much easier to transport safely than, say, canisters of methane.
Indoor VS Outdoor Propane Heaters
The combustion management features of outdoor heaters are different from those of inside heaters that use propane. Carbon monoxide and other incomplete combustion are made by both indoor and outdoor propane heaters, but they handle them in very different ways. This is nothing to worry about because anything that makes a flame will also make smoke, but there are ways to deal with it safely.
Outdoor propane heaters are made to be used in well-ventilated areas where natural air currents carry away any extra carbon monoxide from burning propane. Even if there isn’t any wind, carbon monoxide doesn’t build up in outdoor spaces well enough that propane heaters don’t need a failsafe to stop it. This is why you should never bring an outdoor propane heater inside.
There are many kinds that can be used inside, such as propane wall mount heaters. These are made to be used with the knowledge that carbon monoxide won’t be swept away by open air. To keep you safe, propane heaters have switches that turn them OFF on their own. The switches are connected to oxygen sensors that measure the amount of oxygen in the room they are in all the time. If there isn’t enough oxygen, the heater will turn OFF on its own because of the automatic shutoff.
Are Propane Heaters Safe?
For extra safety, some propane heater models come with carbon monoxide monitors that can be used with the heater. Having these in the room together but not right next to each other makes sure that your space is safe, warm, and comfortable. In the end, it is perfectly safe to use propane heaters inside as long as you make sure to use a model that is made for indoor use.
How to Use Propane Heater Safely
For your safety, here are some guidelines for operating a propane heater:
Prior to using any new gadget, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the instructions. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have working with propane heaters; each model has its own set of instructions and methods of operation. As a result, not every propane heater serves the same purpose. You should know everything there is to know about operating and maintaining your equipment.
To be used solely in the outdoors, outdoor heaters are not intended for use indoors. That rules out bringing them into any enclosed environment, including rooms, tents, campers, garages, and the like. The risk of CO poisoning and other serious health problems will rise dramatically as a result.
To avoid a buildup of gas, use a propane heater only in a well-ventilated area, such as near a window or an open door. Propane heaters are safe to use indoors, but only if there is adequate ventilation. Don’t go to sleep with a propane heater on.
