Winter camping can be great. This can be a unique adventure, but you have to be prepared. One of the most important questions to ask yourself is "What's the best way to stay warm at night?".
The best and most obvious answer is to use a heater, but which tent heater is the safest for your next camping trip?
If you're careful, the answer is yes. So let's take a look at the benefits and dangers of using catalytic heaters in tents and discuss when it's safe to do so.
What exactly is a catalytic heater?
Simply put, a catalytic heater is a portable heater without a flame. It relies on natural gas such as propane as a catalyst for chemical reactions that generate heat.
This makes it safer to use in tents than anything with an open flame. However, this does not mean that there is no fire risk when used indoors. Catalytic heaters can still get very hot, so if a flammable item (such as a firearm) gets too close, there's still a risk of fire. B. Your sleeping bag.
However, this means safer use indoors and in tents. Things are less likely to catch fire. No flame means no smoke.
This makes it an excellent choice for use as a tent heater. A campfire is always nice, but it doesn't help when you're trying to put yourself to sleep.
But the risks of catalytic heaters still exist, and while it's an ideal option, it's important to understand how they work and take the right safety precautions.
Related Article: How to Winterize Your Tent
What are the risks of catalytic heating?
There are risks in using heaters or heaters in enclosed spaces.
As I mentioned before, while the risk is much lower than an open flame, there is a risk of fire with any type of heater, including catalytic heaters.
If it is placed too close to the wall or roof of a tent or sleeping bag, there is a risk of fire. Placing other objects too close to them will also ignite them.
The heater can also be especially dangerous if knocked over, as it will likely burn off anything that falls on it.
In addition to the fire hazard, some catalytic heaters produce small to large amounts of carbon monoxide (CO), depending on the make and model. This can make the use of catalytic heaters risky, especially when sleeping at night.
While using catalytic heaters in tents is not without risks, there are several ways to minimize these risks.
Which catalytic heaters are safe to use?
The best room heaters, especially in tents, are propane heaters that don't produce carbon monoxide. These minimize your risk during use, especially with proper ventilation.
The best heaters are those with CSA 4.89 certification. All heaters with this certification meet the standard for heaters that produce as little CO as possible.
It's a good idea to do some research on the tent heater you're considering buying to see what other users think about its functionality and safety, but CSA 4.89 certification is an easy way to tell safety if it's worth being so safe.
Propane heaters have several safety features. Some heaters have their own carbon monoxide detectors for early detection of malfunctions or dangerous gas formation.
Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning
carbon monoxide concept
Of course, even if you're careful, things can go wrong. That's why it's important to pay attention to the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Symptoms may resemble the flu. So if you suddenly feel like you've caught something after falling asleep, it might be time to turn off the heat and get out of the tent.
The main early symptoms are headache, dizziness, loss of judgment or confusion. In very acute cases, this can accelerate to nausea, weakness, chest pain, vomiting and convulsions.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
What is the safest way to use a catalytic heater in a tent?
The most important thing to consider when using catalytic heaters safely in any type of indoor environment is ventilation.
While opening the tent while warming up may seem counterintuitive, degassing is very important. The opening doesn't have to be huge, a small tear in the zipper near the heater will do. As long as there is fresh air in, you can go.
Keep your heater away from everything else. This includes tent walls and ceilings. If you only have a small 2-person tent, you may need a larger tent.
Larger tents may have more room for heating, but they will reduce the risk of part of the tent burning.
Make sure your heater is also away from other objects. Leave as much space as possible around the heater to avoid accidents.
You can put a cloth bag or something non-flammable under your heater. That way, there's an extra layer of protection between it and your tent in case it gets knocked over.
It's also a good idea to keep the fuel tank outside the tent. Just make sure everything that connects it to the heater is sealed tightly. If your tank is completely leaking, it shouldn't get into your tent this way.
If your heater doesn't come with a carbon monoxide detector, buy one and keep it near the heater.
Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any safety tips for using catalytic heaters? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to share.
