Can You Use Outdoor Gas Heater as an Indoor Gas Heater – Outdoor Gas Heaters – LPG Heater
Don’t Use Outside Gas Heaters (Outdoor LPG Heater) Indoors
Just DON’T do it.
That is the simple gas heater safety message for people considering using outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) indoors.
First, an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) is extremely safe.
They are designed to take in air and ventilation from within the room, which is significantly less than outdoors.
Outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) are also very safe, but only when operated outside where they are designed to be used.
Using outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) indoors poses a lot of gas heater safety problems.
Doing so is a bad idea that is dangerous to your property and potentially fatal to residents.
What is an Outdoor Has Heater (Outdoor LPG Heater)?
The most common kind of outdoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater) appliance is an LPG heater.
This style of LPG heater is typically either tall mushroom-style or shorter round-area heaters.
Some LPG heater versions are also designed for use in the garage or as industrial blow heaters.
An outdoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater) like these are intended for large spaces with continuous gas supply and should never be used at home or in smaller enclosures, for gas heater safety.
Using gas cooking appliances as an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) is also dangerous and could result in severe injuries or property damage.
Can You Use a Gas Heater Inside? Indoor Gas Heater (Indoor LPG Heater)
You can use a gas heater inside only if the gas heater was originally designed for indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) use.
That includes a linear gas fireplace or wall-mounted indoor gas heater.
This is because an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) is designed to have cleaner gas emissions, may be vented outside and have indoor gas heater safety.
Some indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) models are vent-free, but regardless, an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) has cleaner gas exhausts and must comply with specific industry gas heater safety standards, for gas heater safety.
Outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) designed for an outdoor space can produce poisonous Carbon Monoxide – CO – as part of their combustion gases.
If you use an outdoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater) indoors, the exhaust gases can get trapped inside your home, causing a potential CO poisoning hazard.
Different Indoors Gas Heater (Indoor LPG Heater) Specifications
Australia and New Zealand have some of the most stringent indoor gas heater safety standards on gas combustion emissions of any country in the world.
As a result, our indoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater) models are very safe to use.
The gases of primary concern are CO (carbon monoxide) and NOX (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide), produced during incomplete combustion.
To be certified in Australia and New Zealand, an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) must meet or surpass these rigid gas heater safety standards.
The same is not true for outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater).
Outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) are not required to meet the indoor gas heater emission standards because they are intended for outdoor use, with unrestricted ventilation.
Why Don’t They Build Outdoor Gas Heaters (Outdoor LPG Heater) the Same?
Meeting indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) standards adds to the cost of designing and manufacturing indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) models.
If you compare the prices of an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) and outdoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater), you will see that the indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) costs more.
The manufacturers of outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater), trying to keep their units affordable, don’t design and build their heaters the same way, nor for gas heater safety.
Nothing is wrong with this practice as long as the consumer only uses the outdoor gas heater (outdoor LPG heater) outside, as intended.
Radiant Outdoor Gas Heaters (Outdoor LPG Heater)
To be used safely, outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) need continuous ventilation, for gas heater safety.
As it’s impractical to heat the outside air with a convection indoor gas heater, most outdoor gas heaters (indoor LPG heater) are radiant heaters, which have a warming effect similar to basking under the sun.
A radiant LPG heater allows specific spaces within an area to be heated, primarily warming only the people and objects in front of the unit.
Amongst the advantages of radiant outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) is that they are generally a low-cost option and require no electrical connection, which would be problematic for outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater).
These are great outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) as long as they remain outdoors.
Blower Heaters Need to be Treated Differently
Commercial blower heater (LPG heater) is typically used in warehouses, workshops, garages, factories, transport terminals, breeding sheds, and greenhouses.
This type of LPG heater is not suitable for domestic use, and when in use, ample fresh air ventilation must be provided, for gas heater safety.
It is also important that the minimum room volume requirements be observed as specified by the manufacturer.
Once again, these are excellent heaters as long as they are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and gas heater safety advice.
Carbon Monoxide and Gas Heater Safety
Properly functioning gas appliances ensure complete combustion and have good gas heater safety when used as intended.
As discussed, outside gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) may generate carbon monoxide, typically due to possible incomplete combustion, hence the need for better and unrestricted ventilation, for gas heater safety.
If you accidentally inhale a quantity of carbon monoxide, you may feel persistent tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness.
If you experience any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning while operating any gas appliance, you should stop using it immediately, move to an area where you can breathe fresh air, and seek medical attention.
Combustion and Carbon Monoxide (CO)
All gas appliances, domestic and industrial, produce water vapour, carbon dioxide, heat, and usually very small amounts of carbon monoxide, for gas heater safety.
If installed and maintained correctly, a gas appliance provides quick and efficient heating, cooking, hot water, and more, and the products of combustion do not create hazardous situations.
If an appliance is not correctly installed and maintained or has been modified, the combustion products might change and become hazardous to the people around it.
Something as simple as a ventilation change (getting fresh air to the appliance to sustain complete combustion) may cause a gas appliance to malfunction and create a hazardous situation for the people around.
Sometimes, it is obvious when a gas appliance malfunctions, as it should produce sooty smoke, red or yellow flames, or poor performance are indicators, but sometimes you may not notice anything at all.
If carbon monoxide (CO) is produced and escapes the appliance into the surrounding air, it will not be obvious (no smell or taste) but very dangerous, for gas heater safety.
Gas appliances must be correctly installed and serviced every two years to maintain good combustion, gas heater safety and efficient operation.
Great Indoor Gas Heater (Indoor LPG Heater) Alternatives for Gas Heater Safety
There are lots of indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) models that are designed and certified for safe indoor use and gas heater safety.
For gas heater safety, look for the indoor gas heater NZ (indoor LPG heater) certification label on the unit.
An indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) is broadly grouped as portable (vent-free) or flued heaters.
These groups are sub-groups of radiant indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater), convectors, radiant-convectors, power flued indoor gas heater, flued radiant indoor gas heater, and wall indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater).
Virtually all are available in both LPG and natural gas model versions.
For gas heaters, gas input is expressed in MJ/hour, while heat output is measured in kW/hour.
Generally speaking, greater gas input equals increased heat output, considering the relative energy efficiency ratings of the compared models.
Every indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) in NZ is tested and labelled for energy efficiency Star Ratings.
To learn more, please see A Review of Your Indoor Gas Heater Choices
Keep Your Family Safe with Gas Heater Safety
So, in summary for gas heater safety:
- only use an indoor gas heater (indoor LPG heater) designed for the inside your home, for gas heater safety
- keep your outdoor gas heaters (outdoor LPG heater) outside where they can be used with gas heater safety
- always follow all the manufacturers’ instructions and gas heater safety advice