There are many different types of small heaters that can be used to warm up a room.  Some of them are electric, and some of them are powered by propane gas.  While portable electric heaters are very common, they have some drawbacks.  First, many of them use a lot of electricity, and can cause a surprise jump in your winter power bill.  The second flaw they have is that they won’t work if the power goes out or in places with no electricity.  Portable propane heaters on the other hand are great because they run on their own power supply, are usually very quiet, and operate very efficiently.

Can you use a portable propane heater indoors?

Many people are concerned about using these propane heaters inside.  Some models are meant to be used outdoors or in places with good air circulation, but other models claim to be completely safe for indoor use.  Many people that live in cold places like to have portable propane heaters on hand for emergency situations.  If your electricity goes out in the middle of winter, your house can get really cold fast.  If there are people at high risk, such as the elderly or babies, this situation can quickly turn into a nightmare.  If you have a portable propane heater handy, you can turn it on in one room and be quite warm and cozy.

How many BTU’s do I need?

The strength of the heater you need will depend on the size of the area that you are planning on heating with it.  You will need to calculate the volume of the room, which is the floor area multiplied by the ceiling height.  This number is then multiplied by an insulation factor to reach the rough equivalent to the BTU’s you need to have to heat the room.  For example, a square room that is 10 feet on each side has an area of 100 square feet.  If it has an 8 foot ceiling, you multiply 8 X 100 to get 800.  If your house is poorly insulated, multiply the result by 4.  For average insulation, multiply by 3, and for good insulation, by 2.  So a room of this size with poor insulation would need a 3,200 BTU heater.  The same room with good insulation would only need a 1,600 BTU unit.

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