Portable propane heaters like Mr. Buddy Heater are one of the most convenient heating solutions for outdoor enthusiasts because they’re energy-efficient, easy to use, and relatively budget-friendly. However, these heaters often get a bad rap because they produce carbon monoxide. But can you actually get carbon monoxide poisoning from a Mr. Buddy Heater, or is this just another misconception about propane heaters?
You are unlikely to get carbon monoxide poisoning from a Mr. Buddy Heater because it comes with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). The ODS shuts off the heater when the amount of oxygen starts decreasing due to rising carbon monoxide (CO) levels, preventing Carbon monoxide poisoning.
This article will discuss how Mr. Buddy Heater works to keep you safe from carbon monoxide poisoning and the safety practices you should observe when using a propane heater inside your tent. Read on.
The Risks of Using Indoor Propane Heaters in a Tent
Each time you use a heater that runs on a carbon-based fuel like propane inside a confined space (such as a tent), you expose yourself to two potentially fatal risks: carbon monoxide poisoning and accidental fires.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide poisoning claims an average of 430 lives annually in the United States. An additional 50,000 people are admitted to hospitals each year due to the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
So, what is carbon monoxide, and why is it so hazardous?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that results from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels, such as propane. In fact, anything that burns produces this gas. Only electric heaters do not create CO since electricity doesn’t require oxygen to generate heat.
The essential components for producing heat or fire are carbon and oxygen. In optimal conditions,一 such as in the outdoors, where there is sufficient ventilation and, thus, lots of oxygen 一 complete burning occurs, resulting in heat and harmless gases.
However, it’s a different story in confined spaces with limited ventilation, such as your tent.
Oxygen levels are limited in enclosed areas. Since a propane heater uses oxygen to burn its fuel to produce heat, it might use up the small amount of oxygen in the tent after a few hours. When that happens, incomplete combustion ensues, resulting in the production of CO.
Since carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, you won’t even know it’s there. What’s more, your red blood cells will actively absorb it because it’s lighter than oxygen. So even if there’s little remaining oxygen in the air, your blood cells will “choose” CO over it.
When your red blood cells’ oxygen carrier 一 hemoglobin 一 combines with CO, a compound known as carboxyhemoglobin is formed. Carboxyhemoglobin prevents your blood from carrying oxygen, resulting in the onset of symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Overall weakness.
CO can also be fatal if you’re exposed to it long enough. Loss of consciousness and death occurs when CO levels reach 150 parts per million and beyond. That means CO will likely kill you if it builds up to dangerous levels when you are sleeping since there’s no way of telling its presence.
Accidental Fires
A propane heater uses a flame to generate heat. As you can imagine, this unit can easily start a fire if it tips over or comes into contact with your tent or other flammable materials. That’s why you want a heater with built-in safety features that prevent that from happening.
How Mr. Buddy Heater Avoids Causing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Accidental Fires
Mr. Buddy Heater is widely regarded to be the safest indoor propane heater on the market today. The manufacturer understands that most people interested in this space heater are outdoor enthusiasts looking for a convenient means of warming up tiny, confined spaces, such as tents.
That’s why they fitted the Mr. Buddy Heater with two ingenious features to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and accidental fires:
- An oxygen depletion sensor.
- Accidental tip-over shut-off.
Let’s examine these features more closely.
Oxygen Depletion Sensor
You can think of Mr. Buddy Heater’s Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) as a type of carbon monoxide sensor.
As we saw earlier, CO results from the incomplete combustion of fuel due to insufficient oxygen levels. As such, one of the most effective ways of preventing the buildup of this toxic gas is by noting when oxygen levels dip below the optimal 21%.
Mr. Buddy Heater’s ODS automatically shuts off the heater when it senses declining oxygen levels in the tent. Doing that prevents the unit from using up the limited oxygen in the tent and starting to produce carbon monoxide.
Automatic Tip-Over Shut-Off
Mr. Buddy Heater also has an automatic shut-off sensor to prevent accidental fires. As its name suggests, this feature automatically turns off the unit when it tips over. It will even shut down when jostled, thus going above and beyond to prevent potential fire-causing accidents.
Is It Safe To Sleep With Mr. Buddy Heater On in My Tent?
Even though Mr. Buddy Heater comes with clever safety features to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning or accidental fires when using it inside a tent, you can’t put all your trust in it and sleep soundly with the heater running. There’s always the risk that the heater can malfunction and the unthinkable happens.
To avoid playing Russian Roulette with your life, I recommend taking certain precautions when using a Mr. Buddy Heater inside a tent. For starters, always leave a slight opening to allow air to circulate freely. That’s the bare minimum as far as keeping oxygen levels optimal goes.
Another precaution you should take is to warm up the tent for at least 30 minutes before going to bed and shutting off the machine when you decide to call it a night.
Mr. Buddy Heaters are renowned for their ability to heat confined spaces in record time, meaning you don’t have to keep the unit running all night. Since starting up this heater is effortless, you can always wake up to warm up the tent if it gets too chilly.
Lastly, ensure you are getting the right Mr. Buddy Heater. As with many other innovative products, Mr. Buddy has many replicas on the market. Most knockoff versions don’t come with all the safety features, so purchasing one of these could put you at risk of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.
I recommend getting this legit Mr. Buddy F232000 MH9BX Indoor Propane Heater on Amazon.com. It has all the necessary safety features, can use a portable propane tank or auxiliary hose and doesn’t break the bank.
It’s worth noting that the list of safety precautions above isn’t exhaustive. There’s much more you can do to protect yourself and stay comfortable when using a Mr. Buddy heater in confined spaces. For thorough coverage of that, check out this article. It covers everything you need to know about sleeping with a Mr. Buddy Heater in a tent.
Conclusion
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a legitimate concern when using propane heaters in confined spaces. Thankfully, Mr. Buddy Heater is designed to prevent that from happening. It has an Oxygen Depletion Sensor that shuts off the machine when it detects declining oxygen levels, preventing the buildup of carbon monoxide.
Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry by not leaving your Mr. Buddy Heater on while sleeping.