Keeping Safe While Staying Warm with a Propane Heater

grex22 | Nov 29, 2010 |

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With winter getting closer, it may be time to start looking for a propane or electric heater to stay comfortable in the cold months ahead. While they're great for keeping warm, they can also be dangerous if used improperly. Of course you'll want to follow all safety recommendations from the manufacturer regardless of the style of heater you're using. However, heaters that burn gas or fuel require a bit of special attention.

Keep the Heat On and Stay Safe

When it comes to operating portable propane heaters, safety should always be at the top of your priorities. The USCPSC estimate 3,000 deaths and 25,000 residential fires each year are the result of improper use of space heaters. Each year, thousands more are admitted to hospitals for burns and other injuries caused by space heaters. By simply following basic safety recommendations for your heater style and model, you can help to keep safe this winter and avoid becoming a statistic.

According to HeaterHut, electric heaters (like ceramic heaters and oil heaters) and fuel-burning heaters (like kerosene or propane heaters) must only be operated in an appropriate and safe environment. Despite a handful of exceptions, this typically means using electric heaters indoors and fuel-burning heaters outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

No matter the style of heater, you'll always want to carefully and thoughtfully position a heater within its room or environment. Flammable objects and materials, such as drapes, curtains, and tablecloths, should be removed from the immediate area. A drafty window or fan could blow drapes or curtains into the heater, so be sure to give them extra space.

It's best to try and anticipate any possible objects that could be accidentally knocked into the heater. Is it possible that a pet could accidentally brush against the hot surface of the heater? Could a table lamp be knocked into the heater on accident? Simply anticipating these possible accidents will go far toward reducing the overall safety hazard that a space heater could present.

You'll also want to use a heater that has a built-in tip sensor, and that it is operational. These safety switches automatically detect if the heater is toppled or knocked over, and will instantly shut down the heating elements. If you've got an older heater, you may not have one of these valuable safety sen sors. I t's probably best to replace your old heater with a modern one.

Propane Heaters and Ventilation

As propane heaters burn fossil fuels to produce heat, you should be aware of another set of concerns regarding their safe use. Propane gas, once burned inside a combustion heater, will release carbon monoxide into the air. If you don't properly ventilate this gas, it can produce an asphyxiation hazard if inhaled -- even in small quantities. Because of this, you'll want to be sure to only use propane heaters in a heavily ventilated area or in an outdoor space, such as a deck, patio, etc.

Finally, you'll always want a carbon monoxide detector nearby wherever you're using a propane heater. These relatively inexpensive alarms will alert you to unsafe concentrations of the gas. You may have also heard of 'ventless' gas heaters, but don't place too much confidence in their claims. While these heaters are often outputting less dangerous gases as compared to other heaters, it can still produce a hazardous condition over a moderate period of time.

Safe operation and the proper safety equipment is the key to enjoying a space heater this winter, no matter what style of heater you're using. Avoid becoming a statistic and operate your heater safely and smartly.