Guide on How to Use Camping Heaters Properly & Safely!

Tent portable camping heater

It’s undeniable that if you ask what the staple items for campers then camping heaters are one of those staple items. They are so useful equipments to keep the body warm, especially to warm up the tent in the night or if you choose to go to camping in the early or end of the winter season. Most of them usually are designed can be re-installed easily (portable). They also come in a wide variety of types, fuels, sizes, features (particularly safety features), etc. Some people say that using a heating appliance for outdoor is not as easy as like if the unit is operated for indoor. Therefore, there are some points that you should take into consideration to use outdoor camping heaters properly and safely!

As well, we know that electricity and gas are two familiar fuel types of camping heaters. Each type has the disadvantage and advantage values, which one is the best? It is relative and usually the answer closely depends on the preferences and requirements of campers. Electric models are more popular with their safety performance since the combustion process that result carbon monoxide is not required when they working. They are able to covert the electric energy to the heat energy almost 100 percent, it is the perfect efficiency. Unfortunately, the electricity energy itself is relatively more expensive than gas. On other hand, although we have to ensure the room or area where will be heated has adequate ventilation when using gas units, but they seem more economical and also more powerful when we are getting the extreme cold air.

Ok, the following is helpful guide on how to choose (buy) and use camping heater safely and properly:

1. Whatever the type of the unit, don’t miss to ensure the unit has already been tested and approved from the recognized safety license. We should also read the safety precautions and the manual instruction carefully.
2. There are available some models that already equipped with helpful safety features. And some of those safety features that you should not be ignored are the ODS (O2 depletion sensor) and overheating automatically shut down feature.
3. Concern about the location where the unit is placed (tent, cabin, or else) and how you take or transport the unit to the campsite (such as by using car or backpack option).
4. Check and test all parts of the unit and make ensure all of them work properly before transporting it to our campsite. If you use the gas propane unit, ensure there is no odor of gas leakages.
5. If the hike-backpack option is required to transport the unit to the campsite, then calculate the weight and analyze how far you can do it.
6. Provide adequate space (minimum; two feet from anything materials that can be easily burn) for the unit when working. It is simply idea but so useful to minimize the fire risk incident. Choose the place for the installation that far away from the foot traffic! And if your unit is gas or produce CO2 as the byproduct of combustion, then like mentioned before, make ensure the heater has adequate ventilation to let the flow of air circulation runs properly.
7. The last, please avoid to use the camping heater units out of their proper function. Don’t use them for reading light, cooking or drying your wet clothes!

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