Winter might seem like a less-than-ideal time to pack up your tent and head out to your favorite campground. But, camping in winter allows you to extend your love for the great outdoors all year round. Winter camping can be magical, with frosty days and fewer people. It sounds like a perfect way to explore the great outdoors in the winter months. On the other hand, spending a night in your tent, listening to the November winds howl as you huddle in your sleeping bag can feel as cold as ice. There must be a better way to stay warm in a tent. Have you considered a tent heater? If you are a first time winter camper you might be wondering: are camping tent heaters safe?
Is It Safe To Have a Propane Heater In a Tent?
Yes, it is safe to have a propane heater in your tent to prevent you from freezing. However, following the manufacturer’s guidelines is essential, and it is vital to consider safety precautions. It is best to have a heater specifically designed to use in a tent and not the one you might use at home. Tent heaters have been produced with the idea to use in a confined space. With this purpose in mind, to make camping tent heaters safe, they have additional safety features, including:
- Cool outer housing – lowers the risk of a flammable material making contact with the heater and catching fire
- Automatically turn off if they overheat
- Tip-over switch – if the heater tilts too far, a switch will automatically cut off, preventing a fire if the heater was to fall onto flammable gear
- Automatic carbon monoxide shut off
- Auto shut off if low oxygen levels are detected
Here is a helpful video describing whether or not you can use a propane heater in tent:
Having a heater in a tent is a potential hazard. Using a heater in a tent with a flame is a real risk and best avoided. You may have read stories about tent deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Often referred to as the ‘silent killer’, it is without color, taste or smell and rapidly turns toxic in a small space. It can lead to people becoming ill or, worst-case scenario, even death. Even electric heaters can come into contact with a sleeping bag, and when it is hot, it can cause the material to melt and catch fire. So with a few safety precautions, you can avoid frostbite and safely use a propane heater in your tent.
Are Coleman Tent Heaters Safe?
This question is difficult to answer. A quick internet search will say yes, they are safe to use. Although, trying to buy a new one is tricky. Coleman’s website does not have tent heaters in their list of products available. Delve deeper into finding an answer to the question, and you will discover reports mentioning lawsuits filed against Coleman for deaths allegedly associated with using their heaters. This article in the Denver Post lists some of the cases against Coleman and their heaters. The products have not been recalled and are still available to buy through second-hand websites and garage sales. Some countries, including the US, offer certificates to show the product is safe to use in its intended market. To be sure you are buying a safe product and using it correctly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter and purchase a tent heater with the relevant certification.
Are Catalytic Heaters Safe In Tents?
You can rest assured you can be toasty in your tent with a catalytic heater as they are safe to use. Unlike traditional gas heaters, which burn fuel to create heat, a catalytic heater uses a chemical reaction known as oxidization. Oxidization is a chemical process involving oxygen that changes one substance into another substance. In the example of a catalytic heater, oxidization changes the fuel’s state, usually propane, into heat, without using a flame. A catalyst combines oxygen and fuel to complete the process. A platinum metal plate usually serves this purpose. The process does not produce carbon monoxide as the fuel does not burn. However, before the procedure can begin, the catalyst needs to be heated. To achieve the heating of the catalyst plate, burning a small amount of propane gas is necessary. Once the plate is heated, the chemical process begins, and the burning of the propane gas stops. The diagram below shows the process.
Do Catalytic Heaters Need To Be Vented?
Yes, ventilation is key to guaranteeing your catalytic camping tent heaters safe to use. The oxidizing chemical reaction uses oxygen. Therefore it is essential to ensure you do not run out of oxygen in your tent. If there is not adequate ventilation, there is the potential risk of asphyxiation. So you must open a vent to allow the flow of fresh air and oxygen into the tent. A vent will also remove the CO2 you have built up through breathing. Too much CO2 can cause dizziness, headaches, fatigue and muscle twitching. One of the significant advantages of a catalytic heater is that they should not produce carbon monoxide. However, faulty heaters can produce Carbon Monoxide, so keeping up to date with maintenance checks is vital. Opening a vent will help as an added precaution if you have missed a fault on your heater. Catalytic heaters can have a low-level oxygen monitor that switches off the heater if oxygen levels become too low. The switch cuts off the propane supply, forcing the heater to turn off.
Do Electrical Heaters Produce Carbon Monoxide?
No, electrical heaters do not produce carbon monoxide. Only heaters that burn combustible fuel, such as coal, wood, gas and oil, produce this toxic gas. An electric heater has elements heated by electricity, and then the heat is transferred into the room. The heat transfer does not emit fumes and therefore does not give off-gas. You might be thinking that burning oil produces carbon monoxide, so undoubtedly, an oil radiator must release the silent killer gas. Fortunately, this is not the case. These heaters are oil-filled and heated by using electricity. The heated oil then radiates the heat outwards into the room. This process does not burn the oil, so it does not produce carbon monoxide. Although electrical heaters are a safe option to provide heat in your tent where carbon monoxide is concerned. They do come with a fire risk.
Heaters get hot, and an electric heater is no different. Take caution not to smother the heater, creating a potential fire risk. Also, electricity and water do not mix. It can be easy to mix the two in a small space like a tent. If the two elements do mix, you risk an electric shock. Rain and condensation can also pose a threat to an electrical appliance. Keeping all this water away is not always easy in a small tent. Electric heaters have the bonus you do not have to store a combustible gas bottle. There is no concern about a gas leak. Depending on where you choose to camp, finding a source of electricity may prove to be a little troublesome in the great outdoors.
What is the Risk of a Tent Heater Death?
Finding statistics on the risk of a tent death caused by a heater is difficult. If you search on the internet, you will discover reports where people have died, as mentioned earlier with Coleman heaters. Most cases found are about isolated incidents cdc.gov. Any death is tragic and sad, but as far as numbers go, the lack of data on the subject implies that these numbers are not significant to compile a list. Unfortunately, people die from tent heaters. Any heater can be deadly. A heater has potential risks even in your house, so putting a heater in a small confined space like a tent surrounded by flammable materials can have deadly consequences. Do not be put off by these reports. Yes, take them into account, but if you are vigilant and do a little research into which heater will suit your set-up, you should stay safe, warm and cozy on a cold winter’s night in your tent.
Tent Heater Safety Tips
With a suitable tent heater, you can stay warm in your tent and extend your camping trips into the winter months. There will always be an element of risk in using a heater, but you can significantly reduce these risks by choosing the right heater and following a few safety tips.
Look for Safety Features
Buy a purpose-built tent heater, specifically designed to use in a confined space like a tent. Ensure it has safety features, including:
- An auto-shut-off if the heater tips over.
- An oxygen depletion sensor,
- A thermocouple cuts off the gas supply if the flame goes out.
Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Always take a carbon monoxide alarm with you camping. It is such a small device that could ultimately save your life.
Ventilation
Tents usually have vents, so opening a vent can help any toxic gases escape and fresh air flow inside when your heater is on. Do not worry about your tent getting cold. It is not like you are opening a window. Your heater is more than sufficient to keep up with a small fresh air flow from a vent.
Positioning
You might be thinking there is no room in a tent to ensure a camping tent heaters safe and in the correct position. Nowadays, tent heaters do not have huge flames. Instead, they tend to radiate heat, so you do not need a huge space around your heater. Modern-day heaters still get hot. After all, that is the idea, so you need to make sure your heater cannot contact flammable materials such as your sleeping bag, clothes, or your tent’s sides. Position away from sleeping areas or where children might play.
Stability
You also want your heater to be stable. Even though it should have an auto tip switch, it is best to avoid the heater falling over. Choose a heater which has a large enough base, so the heater does not wobble. Some heaters even have eyelets so you can secure the heater to reduce the risk of moving.
Never Leave Your Tent Heater Unattended!
Even considering all the other safety precautions, to be on the safe side, it is still preferable to be cautious and never leave the heater unattended or leave it on when you sleep.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you feel reassured about having a camping heater in your tent. For the most part, camping tent heaters are safe. Choose a specifically designed tent heater with all the safety features. This is incredibly important. Choose one with a safety certificate and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Remember to open those vents to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, remove the CO2 and bring in some lovely, clean, fresh air. Think about the safest place to position the heater and make sure it is stable. Do not leave the heater unattended or fall asleep with it still going. You can try using the heater as little as possible with a warmer sleeping bag, extra blankets, hand warmers and a hot water bottle. Be sure to have a great time camping in those colder times. While it may be arctic outside, you can be as snug as a bug inside your cozy tent.