Are Tent Heaters Safe? What You Need to Know

Are tent heaters safe? 

Tent heaters can be a great way to keep warm during camping trips, but it’s important to know whether they are safe or not. Are tent heaters really worth the risk? 

To help you decide, we’ll explore the potential risks and benefits of using tent heaters. So come along for the ride and let’s dive right in!

Potential Dangers Of Using Tent Heaters

When camping in cold weather or the winter camping season, tent heaters can be a great way to stay warm and comfortable. 

However, they can also present some dangers if not used properly. It’s important to understand the risks involved with using tent heaters so you can take the necessary steps to ensure your safety.

Tent heaters can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if not adequately ventilated. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can build up in unventilated spaces, leading to dizziness, headaches, nausea, and even death. 

Additionally, tent heaters can easily start fires if placed too close to combustible materials like blankets or sleeping bags. In order to avoid these dangers, it’s important to read the product instructions and make sure your tent is properly ventilated before using a heater inside of it.

It pays to be vigilant when using a tent heater; being aware of the potential risks and taking appropriate precautions will help ensure that you have a safe and warm camping experience.

Fire Hazards of Tent Heaters

Tent heaters can pose a fire risk when they are improperly operated or maintained. No matter what type of heater you are using, be sure you’re using it right. 

Proper fuel usage, proper ventilation, and properly sized cords for electric heaters all come into play here. 

When using a tent heater, ensure that the area is well ventilated. Open windows to allow fresh air in and prevent fumes from building up. 

Additionally, make sure you place the heater on an even surface away from anything flammable such as bedding or clothing. 

Carbon Monoxide Risks of Tent Heaters

When using a tent heater, it’s vitally important to be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. This dangerous gas can silently seep into the air and have serious consequences.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas that is produced when burning any type of fuel. 

Tent heaters that use propane or kerosene as their source of fuel can create this hazardous byproduct. It can build up in small spaces like tents and cause symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea

These effects can worsen quickly, leading to more serious medical conditions like brain damage or death. 

To prevent these risks:

• Always use a properly functioning carbon monoxide detector. 
• Only use tent heaters that state they are “indoor safe”. 
• Properly ventilate your tent. 
• Don’t use a heater that has been altered or appears damaged in any way. 
• Never let your tent heater run overnight or unattended.

Taking these precautions can help keep you safe from carbon monoxide poisoning when using a tent heater.

3 Types Of Tent Heaters

There are three main types of tent heaters you can use to warm your tent. Propane, electric, and wood stoves. It’s important to note that wood stoves can only be used in dedicated hot tents. 

Electric Tent Heaters

Electric tent heaters are the same kind of electric space heater you would use in your house. 

These heaters plug in to your campsite electrical outlet and you use them like normal. 

The wrong sized extension cord can be a fire hazard, so do your research about your heater’s power needs and get an appropriately sized cord. If your cord gauge is too thin, it can overheat and start a fire. 

Propane Tent Heaters

Propane tent heaters are typically radiant heaters that run on a propane tank. Many tent heaters operate with the small 1lb propane bottles you can find at any camping or department store. However, you can purchase attachments to use a larger propane tank. 

These heaters use an actual flame, so they can be a fire hazard if they are in use near combustible materials. 

Propane heaters will heat your tent very quickly and produce a cozy, strong heat. 

Be aware that propane heaters can produce condensation as they burn. 

Propane tent heaters shouldn’t be left on overnight while you are sleeping. Instead, heat your tent before you go to sleep for the night. If you wake up and feel cold, turn it back on to heat up your tent and turn it back off before going back to sleep. If you learn how to insulate your tent, it will stay warmer longer!

Caution: not all propane heaters are made alike. Some of them are not meant to be used in an enclosed space, so always read the label!

Wood Stoves as a Tent Heater

Hot tents come with a flue opening in the ceiling for using a wood stove as your tent’s heating source. 

This is one of the best ways to keep your tent warm in the winter. Once they are set up properly, you can run them all night long as long as you keep feeding the fire!

Since you need a special tent for wood stoves, they’re not always the most practical option. But if you plan to do a ton of winter camping, it’s a worthy investment.

What To Look For When Selecting A Safe Tent Heater

When it comes to selecting a tent heater, it is absolutely essential that safety is the number one priority. There are many safety features that high-quality tent heaters have. Look for heaters that have these safety features: 

• Rated specifically for “indoor use”. 
• Low oxygen shut off sensors.
• Tip-over safety shut off feature.

Rated For “Indoor Use”

When selecting a safe tent heater, one of the most important factors to consider is whether the heater is rated for “indoor use”. 

This rating indicates that the heater is designed to be used in enclosed spaces, and it carries with it certain safety requirements. It’s important to make sure that any tent heater you purchase has this rating, as it ensures that the model meets specific safety standards and won’t put your family at risk.

Low Oxygen Shut Off

When considering tent heaters run by propane or another type of combustion, it’s important to look for one with a low oxygen shut off feature. 

This feature automatically shuts off the heater when the oxygen in the tent or space has dropped to an unsafe level. It helps prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, which can have dangerous and even fatal consequences.

Tip Over Safety Shut Off

Any tent or space heater of any type should have a tip-over safety shut off feature. This feature ensures that the heater will shut off immediately if it is bumped or tipped. 

This can be kind of annoying if you’re shuffling around in your tent and accidentally bump the heater and it shuts off… but it’s a literal lifesaver if the heater were to get knocked over without your knowledge. 

Anytime I bump or move my Buddy heater, it shuts off immediately. All you have to do is turn the knob to “off”, and then relight or restart the heater like normal!

Should You Run A Tent Heater While You Are Sleeping?

Crawling into a tent on a cold night can be a daunting prospect; however, tent heaters provide the perfect solution. But is it safe to run one while you are sleeping? In general, it is not recommended to run a tent heater while you are asleep. Even electric heaters are risky when left unattended. 

Although every high-quality tent heater on the market today has great safety features, none of them are intended to be running unattended. And yes – sleeping is considered “unattended”. 

The only tent heater that is safe to leave running while you are asleep is a wood stove. And even with a wood stove you will have to wake up to feed the fire at some point in the night!

How To Use Tent Heaters Safely

I highly recommend winter camping, and I also recommend using a tent heater when doing so! Here are some safety tips to use your tent heater safely. 

• Never leave a heater running unattended or while sleeping. 
• Make sure your heater is placed away from anything combustible or flammable. 
• Only operate your heater on a flat, non flammable surface. 
• Use a carbon monoxide detector for every combustion-style heater (wood stoves included). 
• Properly ventilate your tent when running a propane or combustion heater. 
• Use a properly sized power cord for any electric space heater. 
• Only use heaters labeled “indoor safe”. 
• Always check your propane heaters for fuel leaks before every single use. 

By following these safety tips, you can stay warm during cold nights without putting yourself at risk. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Best Tent Heaters On The Market?

In our testing and experience, the Mr. Heater Buddy and Little Buddy propane heaters are some of the best tent heaters on the market today. 

These radiant heaters run on propane and are indoor safe. They have low-oxygen shut off sensors and tip-over safety shut offs, too. 

The Little Buddy heater is good for a small tent. If you want to heat up a bigger space or heat your tent faster, the regular Buddy heater is a great choice. 

What Is The Difference Between A Tent Heater And A Space Heater?

Many tent heaters are essentially space heaters – there’s not much difference. In fact, you can use a regular electric space heater in a tent, provided you have the right size cord. 

Tent heaters ARE space heaters… they’re just space heaters made specifically for the outdoors and rugged conditions.

So… Are Tent Heaters Safe or Not? 

By now, you should know that the answer is “yes”… as long as you follow proper operation guidelines and use them responsibly. 

Even with proper operation, tent heaters can pose a risk due to the fact that many of them operate with flame and combustion, and any heater can malfunction and produce carbon monoxide. 

Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel better armed for operating your tent heater safely. Remember to use the proper sized cord for electric heaters, and always check your propane connections before each use of a propane heater. And never operate a combustion heater or wood stove without a carbon monoxide detector!