Portable Propane Heaters: Indoor & Outdoor Portable Propane Heaters

Shopping online for portable propane heaters can be somewhat confusing with so many different models and brands available on the market these days.

These heaters have become increasingly popular due to their environmentally friendly characteristics and the fact they can be quite cheap to use. They can be very flexible and useful and have a wide variety of uses including:

• Warming the patio or deck on chilly nights
• Special functions outside on cooler nights, such as weddings, birthdays and anniversaries
• Handy for maintaining temperatures in greenhouses
• Camping
• Heating only certain portions of the house
• During lengthy electrical outages in winter
• Ice fishing houses/tents
• Basements and garages
• Home offices, living rooms and kitchens

The initial purchase can be a little expensive due to the cost of cylinders and accessories, in comparison to an electric heater, but the ongoing savings makes it well worth while because propane gas is cheaper than electricity and other types of gas.

There are essentially two types of propane heaters on the market - Ventless Propane Heaters and Vented Propane Heaters. The first are generally safe for use in living areas but are not recommended in confined areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms (see safety below). These are smaller heaters that do not have an external venting system as they have a low capacity and therefore emit a low level of exhaust gasses. The vented types are designed to feed these exhaust gases outside of the home, garage, shed or wherever they are installed.

They can be lit using a match or with the push of a button if they have electric ignition. In the case of electric ignition, you may want a heater that can be lit by match in the event that the mechanism fails.

These heaters can use small disposable gas cylinders or are attached to a tank of propane gas, usually in a compartment, and can be wheeled or carried around for easy transport from one place to another. They can easily be stored away when not in use and are efficient for heating areas quickly.

Their heating power is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). This measurement indicates the heating output of the unit. So, in order to heat a smallish area such as a living room, study or kitchen, a unit with an output of around 2,000 - 4,000 BTU's should be adequate.

On the other hand, if you are planning to heat a larger area such as a greenhouse, large office or warehouse, you would need a more powerful heater with an output of around 8,000 to 14,000 BTU's.

Some units have multiple settings, allowing you to use a lower output (and therefore burn less propane) in smaller areas while also giving you the ability to warm larger areas as your requirements may vary from time to time.

For example, a popular heater with Amazon customers is the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy propane/gas heater which is great for both indoors or outdoors. It is very lightweight at only 8 lbs, allowing it to be easily moved from one area to another and includes a low-oxygen shut-off safety switch making if safe for indoor use. It also has 2 settings, allowing you to save fuel when set at 4,000 BTU for smaller areas, and can also heat up to 200 square feet when set to 9,000 BTU.

Propane gas bottles, also known as propane cylinders, vary in size and are suited to different uses. For example, 2 lb cylinders may be useful on a hunting trip or any activity where carrying around a 20 lb canister would be inconvenient due to space and/or weight restrictions or difficult terrain. They would also mainly be suited for smaller output portable propane heaters.

The 20 lb and larger cylinders are much more appropriate for most uses as they avoid the need to constantly change cylinders as would be the case with 2 lb ones. In most cases, the more heating output you require, the bigger the cylinder required for convenience.

Portable Propane Heaters Safety

Safety is paramount when using these portable propane heaters. Therefore you should look for ones that include a safety anti-tip switch that will turn the unit off if it is accidentally knocked over, which can easily happen in confined spaces, such as a tent or RV.

Another important feature, especially for the ventless models, is an oxygen depletion cut-off system that is activated if the surrounding oxygen level drops too low for safety. Also, always try to allow some degree of outside air to enter to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Manufacturers add a chemical compound to propane giving it a rather foul odor, like rotten eggs, that makes it easier to detect a leak or spill. Having said that, be aware that if you have a cold, sinus congestion or related medical condition you may not be able to pick up the smell of leaking propane.

Lastly, when shopping online check out the reviews for various models online, as there is a lot of very good information from both satisfied and dissatisfied customers on sites like Amazon. This can save you a lot of future frustration.

Also, we will be reviewing various portable propane heaters in future articles on this site, so please be sure to bookmark this site and check back here regularly.

Video: Portable Propane Heater Buying Guide and Safety Tips