Buying a propane heater is relatively economical due to its cost per output hours, and most preferred retail outlets store them and sell this product readily. Most users and experts say that even though the carbon footprint left by the low emission of carbon monoxide ‘CO’ (a byproduct of burning of the propane gas which is a type of hydrocarbon, ‘C3H8’) is low, but the truth is that Carbon monoxide is more hazardous to human life then carbon dioxide ‘CO2’ and is also a huge contributor to the ozone layer depletion gases.
Like any hydrocarbon heater, one needs to be careful in using this product. Following are some but not all of the hazards posed by propane heaters:
The cylinder in which the propane is stored can be either for pressurized gas or solid fuel propane. If the cylinder is filled with propane gas that clearly means the gas is under high pressure which will naturally exert high pressure on the inside of the cylinder to regain atmospheric pressure.
The cylinders are designed and tested to withstand up to 600 barometric pressures, but a faulty weld or a leaking valve or even the washer leak can spell disaster for the user. If the container is filled with solid fuel then the container should be handled with care so that the container does not rupture. A rupture will cause fiction and lead to a spark igniting the fuel inside the container rapidly and an explosion can take place.
Where ever a gas heater is operated, the place needs to be well ventilated. The burning gas or fuel as a byproduct of the chemical reaction due to the oxidation and heat will generate any form of carbon mono or dioxide, which will slowly fill the room and cause illusions and suffocation leading to a slow death, which we are sure no user intends to have. A small word of advice is to keep the window or exhaust open and leave it open for two hours even after the flame is turned off.
Not many people understand the concept of burning fuel. As a result of the chemical reaction water is often produced in forms of vapors, which increase the humidity in the air and the room becomes stuffy and unbearable. The solution is ventilation to balance of the humidity in the room.
Though the propane heater has a couple of hazards, but the good part is that we can heat our body when we need it the most.
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