Propane space heaters

[Ashley274]

I found a space heater its small more for camping and was thinking if a power outtage hit due to weather ...this happens here often....how bad would it be to use it in the house in one room just to stay warm??? I got it YEARS ago for camping and came across it while in my garage...It takes cylinders of propane...Any help would be appreciated ..Thank you ahead!!

[TomH]

I found a space heater its small more for camping and was thinking if a power outtage hit due to weather ...this happens here often....how bad would it be to use it in the house in one room just to stay warm??? I got it YEARS ago for camping and came across it while in my garage...It takes cylinders of propane...Any help would be appreciated ..Thank you ahead!!

Propane is used for home heating in rural areas quite a bit.

The problem with the one you have may be a case of burn efficiency.

Some camp heaters that are made for outdoor use, may not have the efficiency requirements for indoor use.

There's usually a warning label on them for restricted use such as "not for use in an inclosed environment.

If the warning tag is missing, you should be able to go online with the model no. and get the info.

Usually they will tell you to have good ventilation,( a window in the room slightly open)

[Ashley274]

Wow thank you Tom I will look on the box ..it is a Coleman ...I left it in the garage but was wondering about it in an emergency situation..though I bet I would need a few cylinders IF I can use it in the house I will check....again thank you!

[TomH]

Ashley, please remember, even if the heater is okay to use indoors, be sure you have ventilation, (a window slightly raised).

Any open flame uses oxygen. If the room you're using it in is tightly sealed, the heater will use the oxygen in the room.

There have been known cases of people suffocating because of this.

Use caution.

[Ashley274]

I sure hate to open a window in that situation but will if need be. I do not think I have really well sealed rooms as I have been hanging blankets over my curtains in my windows as we are being hit with a huge winds and soon snow I heard ..My windows btw are only maybe 10 years old I put all new windows in when I purchased this house..all but 3 ....but these aren't all that great I guess.

Thank you I did not know that about the oxygen ..how scary....Bless you!

[Firefighter]

The heater I have in my deer stand (a Coleman Catalytic) requires only 36 square inches of ventilation. That means lifting up a standard home window only an inch and a half. If you look at Walmart, they have a real (read looks like the electric ones) propane powered room sized space heater with a built in oxygen sensor that will turn off the gas if the oxygen gets too low in the room. It is only $85. Families die every year from using gas heaters in their home without proper ventilation, so please be careful.

[Ashley274]

Thank you FF. I still haven't gone back into the garage we have some really bad weather here and I didn't want to leave the house...I could have the same kind you have but I do not know...its small. I will check into the bigger propane one with the oxygen shut off for the future..I am very afraid of fire....this year I have heat but last year I had to run my oven till it started to overheat and ran lots of space heaters all around....yes s fireperson's nightmare. I was just thinking for this year if an ice storm hit I would have something for me and the pets. I forgot I even had one. I did try a Kerosene heater ..what a nightmare it smoked the place up..black smoke all over the house ...my walls were black....I live way out in the country and have a big propane tank outside. This year it is full...But I still like to be prepared for ice storms and such...Thank you