Are Propane Patio Heaters Safe Or Not?
Lots of people are turning to outdoor patio heaters so they may enjoy their backyard patio or deck even when the weather turns cold. Inasmuch as propane patio heaters involve connecting to a propane tank to generate a flame that produces high heat, should one be concerned with their safety?
It depends on what level of safety you are looking for. If you want guaranteed safety, do not buy an outdoor patio heater. Likewise, do not live in a home equipped with gas or electric heat, get rid of all appliances, and trade your car for a horse.
Ultimately, no one can guarantee anything is perfectly safe, including patio heaters and horses. However, the way we use that patio heater or horse is a huge determining factor in its safety. Learning and following common sense safety measures, such as those presented here, will go a long way toward making sure your experience is a safe and enjoyable one.
The most common propane source for patio heaters is the traditional, reliable 20 lb. propane cylinder used for years with outdoor gas grills. It should ease your mind to know that it would take a great deal of conscious, tireless effort for you to explode a propane cylinder. It just does not happen very easily.
The connections between a patio heater and propane tank should receive more attention, because if they are faulty, a gas leak may result. A burning flame, no matter how it is fueled, also should demand attention. This is not to say that old rusted, dented or otherwise damaged propane cylinders, valves, collars or footings should ever be used. They should not, because of the increased likelihood of a gas leak.
If you smell gas and your instincts tell you to turn the gas off, you have very good instincts. Definitely shut down the fuel source and extinguish the flame. If you are unsure whether you have eliminated the problem, do not be shy about calling your gas supplier or fire department. They will be able to eliminate the problem and restore your sense of security.
Smell is not the only test for gas leaks. Applying soap and water to connection points with the gas valve open will create visible bubbling where there is a leak. Owner’s manuals may suggest other ways to test for leaks. One very important and often overlooked precaution is to read and follow owner’s manual guidelines.
Checking for leaks using a match or lighter is not a recommendation you will find in any owner’s manual. Either is smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. If you are not sure why, please advise your friends and family so they may wait in the street.
Even though better manufacturers check factory connections for leaks, parts can loosen as a result of movement during shipping. Make up your mind to take the time to double-check every connection. Also, most patio heaters require at least some assembly, so take whatever time is needed to do a good job.
When you put things together, if you are one of those persons who, despite intense concentration and pure intention, somehow end up with extra parts laying around, this would be a good time to lay around while someone else makes sure the heater is assembled correctly.
Outdoor patio heaters should not be used indoors, as every owner’s manual will state. Indoor fireplaces have chimneys for a reason. Burning anything requires proper ventilation, and patio heaters are not equipped with a chimney. Combustion of propane creates carbon monoxide, which, in enclosed areas, can kill you.
Another common sense precaution is to keep things away from the heater that could catch fire. Clothing, paper products, toys, the siding on your house, shrubs and other vegetation are all examples of things you should keep at least three feet from the heater. If the manufacturer recommends greater clearance than that, then follow those guidelines. For instance, materials such as gasoline, paint, and other flammable liquids and vapors require far greater clearance.
The dome and burner of an outdoor patio heater are extremely hot during operation. The surface of a heater’s emitter can reach temperatures approaching 1600 degrees Fahrenheit.
Alert everyone, therefore, of the high temperature, especially children. Set clear boundaries for not touching or getting too close to the heater. Then, listen to your own advice, such as not trying to move a patio heater while it is in operation. As you may expect, leaving a patio heater unattended while it is lit just does not make sense.
Quality made patio heaters are equipped with automatic shut-off switches that turn them off should they tilt. That will not eliminate every undesirable thing that could happen should the unit topple. To really be safe, do not use the heater if winds exceed 10 mph. Also, make sure the unit is sitting on a hard, level and stable surface.
Are propane patio heaters safe? Yes. Higher industry standards and expanded regulations have greatly enhanced the fundamental safety of outdoor patio heaters and propane usage. A better question is whether the person using these products is safety minded, which you are if you have read this far. For you, therefore, propane patio heaters are safe.
Chris Basher is recognized as an authority on outdoor patio heaters , fire pits, outdoor patio fireplaces, and other backyard products. He is the owner of www.FirePitNow.com, an outstanding Internet source for these and similar products. For other helpful, free information regarding outdoor patio heaters and similar items, be sure to visit his website.
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