This applies to you if you are using a propane or natural gas heater inside your tent. Which many people like to do, as these heaters typically do a great job at heating the interior of a tent. As well, they are a great option for many due to the fact that most of us don’t have electricity when out in the backcountry.
However, yes propane or natural gas heaters, also known as Catalytic heaters may be a great option for heating a tent. But they do possess some dangers that need to be accounted for and understood. As failing to do so could result in harm to yourself, and/or others or even worse.
It is extremely important that you do all you can in order to educate yourself as well as buy the proper equipment, or gear that will be required to keep you, and those you care about safe.
Which leads us to the big Questions
Is It Safe To Use A Propane Heater Inside A Tent?
For the most Part, It is, but only if you are using the proper Heater, as using the incorrect one could become fatal. Different heaters are made for different uses. For example, some propane heaters are developed to provide a large amount of heat to keep you warm when you’re outside. And well, because your outside that heater needs to be quite powerful in order to produce enough heat so you stay warm…
Typically these propane, or gas heaters that are meant for outdoor use will burn at a much more rapid rate, which works great in terms of keeping you warm outside. However, this makes it easy for incomplete combustion to occur during the burn process. Which then produces Carbon Monoxide
Which Is obviously what you do not want when using a propane heater inside your tent. For this reason, It is best you use a heater that is designed to be used for indoor use. Indoor safe propane heaters are designed to burn much cleaner, in order to keep the user safe in an area where oxygen flow may not be as fluent as it would be when outside. This then leads us into the next large question to be asked:
What’s The Difference Between Indoor Safe & Outdoor Propane Heaters?
Indoor safe propane heaters. Like said above, are designed to burn clean, and more efficiently then those that are typically used outdoors. This means Little to no CO produced during the burn process.
The way to make a propane heater safe for indoor use is by achieving what is known as an “Ideal Burn” This is the point where the air to fuel mix ratio is perfect which results in no Carbon monoxide being produced.
However, If the air to fuel ratio is off? this can result in Carbon Monoxide being produced which then can become dangerous. Typically outdoor propane heaters either were not designed fully in order to achieve an “Ideal Burn” or they just simply aren’t equipped with the technology in order to do so?
I’ve heard it said that when you see orange flame like what you see during a campfire, This is equal to an incomplete burn. However, they say that when you see a blue flame that it is equal to an “Ideal Burn”… Not sure exactly how true this statement is? However, it does make sense and is worth mentioning.
Now I just want to make something clear: Given that this article Is about safety when heating the inside of your tent, I think it’s preferred to suggest that when using a propane heater or other heater alike inside of a tent this counts as Indoor use. Just because you are out in the back-country, So To Say, Participating in what many call and Outdoor activity. You are still considered as indoors when you are inside a tent. For this reason, you need to be using an indoor safe heater.
Requirements For An Indoor Safe Heater
First of all Check the labeling on your specific heater. It must say it is “Safe To Be Used Indoors”
Many Indoor Safe propane heaters will also come equipped with extra safety features such as a “Tip over, Auto Shutoff” Function that will shut of the heater in a situation that the heater is knocked over.
Also, Some Heater will come with an Oxegen Sensor that will then shut off the heater if oxygen is becoming depleted. However, even if your heater comes with such feature. I’d suggest you take a little more caution and use a separate Oxygen / Carbon Monoxide Sensor. Many tend to like This One As it has a Digital CO display.
The biggest thing you’ve got to look for when searching for an Indoor Safe propane heater is simply the statement “Indoor Safe” Or something very much alike. If you are not sure whether or not your current Heater is Safe to be used Indoors? Simply scan the heater by eye in search of documentation that states if it is “Indoor Safe”.
If you are unable to find such print. Yet you are fairly certain the heater is Indoor compatible. I suggest you get on the internet and begin researching the heater. It is vital that you know if your heater in Indoor compatible before using it indoors.
How To Safely Use Your Propane Heater In Your Tent
You Must Be Present And Cautions when running a propane heater. This means do not fall asleep or go to sleep without shutting off the heater completely. Same goes if you need to leave the tent for a period of time. Any time you need to leave your heater for a moment or more you should always shut it off, and place it where it will not be able to catch anything on fire, as it will likely still be very hot.
It is best to get into good habits when using a heater, especially inside a tent. As the material most tents are made of will catch fire quick. Which i’m assuming is something you absolutely do not want to happen, Correct?
Not to mention the repercussions that could come right after you tent catches fire. If you are in a heavily wooded area, odds are quite high that that fire will spread from your tent to the woods around. Which then turns into a massive forest fire and so on…
I don’t mean to scare you out of the whole idea of using a heater in your tent as you camp. For the most part, heaters make the trip even more enjoyable. But I do think its good etiquette to provide you with the possible dangers you could be facing if you don’t take the proper precautions necessary.
Now lets go into How you can Safety conduct using a Propane heater inside your tent:
Ventilation
Ventilation is probably one of the most important parts of using a propane heater in a tent. Right next to Common sense topics like “Don’t place it near the walls”, And “Keep and Eye on it”…
Without proper ventilation, you put yourself at greater risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if for some strange reason your O2 And CO Sensors quite working at some point (Which is a Possibility). Now you can mitigate the risk of that occurring by using multiple sensors but that’s a topic to be covered later…
Now, your probably saying “But if i ventilate my tent I’ll get cold because now all the warm air is getting out”. Well, obviously the idea when using a heater, especially in a tent is to keep yourself warm, I Know. But there are ways you can employ that will allow you to both, Ventilate your Tent, As well as Heat it.
By simply ventilating the tent lower to the ground, you will be able to retain the heat in the mid to upper portion of your tent. Think of it like placing a bucket upside down in a large reservoir of water. The bucket will trap the air that is inside, and the water will flow by underneath and on top.
Well given that warm air rises, theoretically you should be able to trap most of what floats to the mid / upper portion of the tent, but also keep new air circulating in the the bottom walls of the tent…
I know, kind of a strange, and not so applicable analogy. But I think you get the idea somewhat? Use a little Idea generation and you could probably come up with a clever way to vent your tent so you can get Adequate ventilation, yet still keep some of the heat being produced.
However, one large positive to ventilating a tent is less condensation buildup. Condensation becomes a problem with tents when ventilation is lacking. So think of if like getting 2 birds with one stone. First your keeping yourself safe of CO Poisoning. Second, your lessening the possibility for condensation.
Heater Use
Check out the Video below. He does a great job explaining how to use a heater in a tent, as well as the Items you need to think about when using a heater.
Primal Outdoors – Camping and Photography
Dangers To Be Aware Of
Obviously, there can be many dangers when using a propane heater if it’s not used correctly, and responsibly. The 2 largest dangers you face when using a heater are the likely hood of catching something on fire if to close, as well as the possibility of carbon monoxide.
Not to say you should stress the whole trip about using you heater, just simply take all the precautions you can in order to protect yourself and others.
What Is Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide Occurs Due to Incomplete Combustion during the Burn Process of propane and other natural gases alike.
What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide poisoning is basically the effects that occur when someone has been exposed to carbon monoxide for a period of time. Now things can definitely escalate past simply just CO Poisoning. However, when you or someone with you begin to experience the effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning you must find fresh air. As continued exposure could result in Far worse circumstances such as death.
What are The Symptoms Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Some of the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Include:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea & Vomiting
- Shortness Of Breath
- Blurry Vision
- Confusion
- Loss Of Consciousness
If you or Someone you are with experience these symptoms during the use of a propane heater? Get to fresh air and obtain professional help if need be.
Conclusion
Heating a tent, While cozy and comforting, Can also be dangerous and terrifying if don’t improperly. But by simply educating yourself, and getting hold of the necessary equipment in order to keep yourself and others safe, You can put yourself Closer to the safe side.
I hope you take what you have learned from above, and expand on it as needed. Continue Educating yourself, as well as using the proper equipment.
If you’d like to check out the heater I used when I go camping it is listed Here on amazon.
Otherwise, Check out some of my other resources (Listed below). I think they will provide you with some other great ideas for staying warm as you camp!
Other Resources That May Interest You:
- Check out this post If you’d like to learn Some Other Methods for Heating, or warming Your Tent.
- Or This one If you Prefer to Make your Sleeping Bag, and System Warmer
Disclaimer:
Outdoor Luxuriez and those associated do not recommend the use of open flame or burning fuels to be used inside a tent. Burning fuels, and open flames can be extremely dangerous if proper care is not taken.
