Some propane heaters can be used indoors but still have dangers due to carbon monoxide that is produced. Carbon monoxide prevents blood from absorbing oxygen and exposure to CO can kill. You can also get carbon monoxide poisoning from other gas powered appliances like a furnace or water heater.
Common symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, weakness, headache and confusion. If you experience these symptoms and expect CO could be in the culprit get out of the house immediately along with anyone else in the home.
Beyond the potential health dangers, there is also the inconvenience factor: Does it make sense to have a flammable heating source inside the home that uses a refillable fuel container that may run out when you need it the most?
Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a propane heater?
Yes. Any appliance including a propane heater that produces carbon monoxide is capable of producing a dangerous level of CO. A permanent gas-powered appliance like a furnace or water heater has a professionally installed exhaust pipe to filter out the gas. A portable propane heater relies on good airflow in the area you’re using the heater in up to and including cracking a window to let air in to keep CO levels in check.
Plus the convenience factor comes into play with a portable propane (or other gas-powered) heater. If your canister runs out of fuel, you are out of heat. While a propane-powered heater may suffice in an emergency use situation, it may not suit you for routine use.
If you’re in need of a heating source to regularly use in your home you’re better off searching for a safer option.
Importance of carbon monoxide detectors
Many jurisdictions have required for years that homes are fitted with a certain number of both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Often you are required to have one detector per floor or perhaps one in each room of the house. It’s also important to have one within a short distance of major users of natural gas that produces CO such as a furnace and water heater.
Often, natural gas suppliers will add a sulfur smell (rotten eggs smell) to natural gas that is delivered to you to indicate that you have a leak within the home. This indicates a gas leak however not CO which is the byproduct from burning the fuel.
CO detector reading levels
Here are CO readings that indicate various levels that can be measured within a home. A reading of 0 is expected and ideal but depending on what appliances you have in the home that produce CO your reading might be higher.
The important part is to understand when a low level of CO becomes dangerous and when you should evacuate the house.
| CO reading | Reading in parts per million |
| Dangerous level | >101 ppm with someone experiencing symptoms of CO exposure |
| High level | >101 ppm with no one experiencing symptoms of CO exposure |
| Mid level | From 51 ppm – 100 ppm |
| Low level | 50 ppm and less |
Click here
to view a detailed CO reading chart to show you various low to high levels of CO and what each means.
What carbon monoxide reading level triggers a CO detector alarm?
Kidde is a major manufacturer of CO, smoke and other alarms that I’ve owned. Whether a CO alarm gets triggered and sounds is based on both the carbon monoxide level and the length of time it is noted by the detector.
CO reading in ppm: What level of reading does the alarm get triggered in parts per million (ppm)?
Time: How long does the CO detector have to detect this level before the alarm is triggered?
The CO detectors that I have state that their alarm will be triggered as per the following:
| CO reading in ppm | Time to trigger the alarm |
| <30 ppm | Alarm will not trigger when reading is less than 30 ppm. |
| 70 ppm | 60 – 240 minutes |
| 150 ppm | 10 – 50 minutes |
| 400 ppm | 4 – 15 minutes |
So this particular CO detector will not trigger if it reads less than 30 parts per million. This takes into account that some CO at a low level might be present due to one or more CO-producing appliances.
The EPA states that homes without a gas stove present may read 0.5 ppm – 5 ppm from other gas sources. A home with a gas stove that is properly maintained may cause a reading of 5 ppm – 15 ppm and an improperly maintained gas stove may read 30 ppm or higher. If a CO detector triggered due to a lower reading, it would undoubtedly go off regularly when cooking is taking place.
Appliances that produce dangerous carbon monoxide fumes
If you consider major appliances in the home that are powered by natural gas such as your water heater, furnace, stove, dryer, and possibly space heaters, you can see the potential dangers of CO poisoning if even one of these devices malfunctions.
A number of in house appliances use natural gas that produces carbon monoxide (CO) which is a deadly gas that can kill. A CO detector can warn you about carbon monoxide that is in your air similar to how a smoke detector warns you about a potential fire within your home.
Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because it has no color, no taste, no smell and doesn’t irritate you or do anything specific that enables you to notice its presence.
Safe indoor propane powered heaters
The benefit of an indoor propane heater is that it will still work even if you suffer a power failure or if your furnace breaks. So it can be used in an emergency or as a heater when needed but it’s still required to crack a window to allow for enough air flow in the room you’re in. Follow whatever instructions the manufacturer specifies if you’re going to use it.
If you are looking for an indoor use propane heater, look for a model that comes with:
- An automatic shutoff that will turn the heater off if it detects lack of oxygen in the room the heater is in.
- Auto shutoff features that triggers if the heater tips over or if the pilot light goes out.
- A carbon monoxide detector that you typically place near the heater to measure CO levels to further protect again high levels or heater malfunction.
An indoor propane heater might suffice if you’re in a cottage, are ice fishing or are in a tent or are even outside where there is good ventilation at a tailgate or patio. But if you are looking for a permanent heating option for a home, it makes more sense to choose a safer option for indoor use whether a permanently affixed heater like a fireplace or an electric-powered heater.
Alternatives to indoor propane heaters
While some propane and other portable gas heaters may be used indoors, they aren’t necessarily a good permanent heating option for a home. Other more reliable and potentially safer options include:
And while you’re looking at better heating options, ensure that your home is properly insulated too. Check out my article on reducing energy costs at home.