dangers of portable gas heaters
in a confined space

frosty start - Polblue in Barrington Tops NSW in May

Extreme caution should be used when thinking of using gas, dual fuel, kerosene, heat beads or a gas stove for heating inside an enclosed area such as a tent, camper trailer or caravan to keep warm on a cold night camping. Please make sure you have all windows open so the fumes will not build up.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas, slightly lighter than air. It is formed whenever any carbon-based substance, which is most substances, is burned with an inadequate supply of air. Even when there is adequate air, carbon monoxide is produced if the burning reaction is only partly complete. Burning anything in a small enclosed space presents two main dangers.

THE DANGERS

The first and most serious is carbon monoxide poisoning. Even in small amounts, carbon monoxide is deadly to all warm-blooded animals. A 0.2% concentration can kill within 30 minutes. Carbon monoxide kills like this. Haemoglobin in the blood normally transports all-essential oxygen throughout the body. Unfortunately haemoglobin is massively addicted to picking up carbon monoxide. If there's any around, haemoglobin will grab 250 parts of carbon monoxide for every one part of oxygen. This rapidly deprives the brain and everything else of that vital oxygen. There are only minor indications: headache, nausea, fatigue and then unconsciousness. If you were asleep at the time, the odds are against your ever waking up again. Carbon monoxide is rightly called the 'silent killer'.

The second hazard is direct oxygen deprivation. Just by breathing we contaminate the air. We take in about a half a cubic metre of air every hour and convert about 4% of that into carbon dioxide. As a result the exhaled carbon dioxide level rises and the available oxygen level falls. The latter can however drop from its normal 21% or so, to as low as 15% before symptoms such as fatigue set in. Oxygen deprivation through this cause can be serious in an unventilated space – heated or otherwise.

Catalytic heaters are a little safer and are labled as 'Can Be Used In Ventilated Tents'. A gas cartridge can run this type of heater for 8 hours. Catalytic heaters produce a number of byproducts that necessitate ventilation. Please still use extreme caution when using this type of heater, even when labeled safe. Only use in a well ventilated tent area ie all windows open.

DO NOT USE A GAS HEATER IN THE TENT AREA WHILE SLEEPING

SYMPTOMS

The signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for other illnesses, such as food poisoning or flu. Symptoms can include, headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, drowsiness, lightheadedness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

With concentrated high exposure to carbon monoxide symptoms include severe headaches, convulsions, failure of vital organs and the possibility of death within 2 to 3 hours.

If you suspect you or anyone else are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning you should immediately go outside into the fresh air and seek urgent medical attention.

If you feel a little uneasy about using a gas stove inside a confined space, there are CO alarms available which will sound an alarm when the carbon monoxide level rise.

WHAT IS SAFE

DIESEL DUCTED AIR HEATERS A safe type of heating to use inside a camper trailer tent area are the portable diesel ducted air heaters. With limited room to mount a diesel heater permanently, the device is placed outside and draws air into a sealed furnace, injecting diesel which ignites and heats an outer skin. The clean heated air is then ducted into the tent area. There are a number of portable diesel ducted heater brands on the market in a couple of different sizes depending on the area you need to heat, that come complete with ducting, exhaust and diesel tank all mounted into a carry box.

GAS DUCTED AIR HEATERS There are a couple of portable gas ducted heater brands that are also safe to use. As above, the unit is placed outside and the hot air ducting is run into the camper trailer. These heaters use a gas canister or an adapter to use a larger gas bottle. 

240 VOLT If you are staying in a caravan park you could consider a 240volt electric oil filled column heater to keep the internal space warm overnight when it is cold. These are a safer alternative to an electric bar heater which can be knocked over and quickly burn a hole in the vinyl floor.

DRESSING FOR THE COLD

Thermal underwear is a great addition to winter camping in keeping you warm. It is best to dress in layers so as the day warms from a cold and frosty start, you can remove each layer to avoid over heating.    

Good advice from Mark https://www.campertrailers.org/outdoor_dressing.htm

BEDDING

Our own camper trailers winter bed has a sheepskin underlay on top of the foam mattress, flannelette or microfibre sheets depending on how cold it is overnight and a couple of lightweight polar fleece blankets, as well as a woolen blanket if needed. Make sure you also dress for bed with flannelette or microfibre pajamas, socks and a beanie if it is very cold.

A hot water bottle or two will warm the bed up. Keep an eye on the rubber as it does perish with age.

There are also 12volt electric blankets. These consume between 3amps to 5amps depending on the setting. Used on the lower setting of 3amps over 8 hours would use 24 amp-hours from your battery.    

We use our canvas annex sidewall over our bed when very cold. This stops the cold coming through & also reflects our body heat. You could also try a silver trap over the roof of your camper to reflect a bit of warmth back into the tent.

If the kids are on stretchers make sure they have just as much bedding under them as they have on top. A self inflating mattress on the stretcher will also trap their bodyheat as well as a sheepskin underlay & good quality sleeping bags.
 

november 2011
update april 2024