Propane is a fuel used to either cook food or heat the house. During winter, propane is one of the easiest ways to heat some part of the house that is not covered by the house’s central heating system such as the basement and garage. Propane heaters are safe to use in the garage as long as there is enough ventilation in the garage.
To make it easier, you have two types of propane heaters or propane stoves to choose from. They are indoor propane heaters/stoves and outdoor propane heaters/stoves. While the outdoor propane is made to be used outside the house, the indoor is manufactured to be used indoors safely, which means that propane heaters are safe to be used indoors. But, does propane give off carbon monoxide?
Yes, propane gives off carbon monoxide during combustion because it is a hydrocarbon or LP-gas produced from both natural gas processing and crude oil refining in equal amounts. Therefore, whenever propane is in use, either as a propane heater or as a propane stove, it produces and gives off carbon monoxide.
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Does Propane Give Off Carbon Monoxide?
Propane is known to send out carbon monoxide when it’s in use. It is normal. You cannot find propane that doesn’t give off carbon monoxide. It’s either the propane emits little carbon monoxide or too much carbon monoxide which needs too much ventilation to avoid health complications.
As reiterated earlier, there is propane that is made for outdoor use and indoor use. The propane heaters or stoves that are made for indoor use emit little carbon monoxide during combustion. It has been made in a way that will be safer to use indoors as there won’t be the exact ventilation inside the house.
However, the fact that propane made for indoor use emits little carbon monoxide doesn’t mean you should use it without ventilation. If you try such, you will definitely get carbon monoxide poisoning and if care is not taken, might lead to death.
However, while using your propane heater or stove inside your house or garage, ensure to allow enough ventilation inside the space it is being used to avoid complications. Opening the window can help stop carbon monoxide poisoning from propane if enough ventilation enters the house from the window.
Therefore, while opening your window with the hope of stopping carbon monoxide, ensure that enough ventilation is entering inside the heated space. For those asking how much ventilation is needed for propane? The answer is enough ventilation. Please allow enough fresh air inside your kitchen while cooking with a propane stove and while heating your garage with a propane heater.
Be that as it may, outdoor propane is the type that is known to send off too much carbon monoxide when they are in use. That is why you have been warned never to use an outdoor propane heater indoors. It is not safe especially when there is not enough ventilation inside the room to dilute the level of carbon monoxide it emits.
The reason why outdoor propane gives off carbon monoxide is because of the fact that it is made to be used outdoors where there is enough ventilation. Therefore, irrespective of the level of carbon monoxide it gives off while working, it can never be greater than the level of oxygen outside, so the ventilation outside will dilute it and prevent it from actually causing any harm to people around.
Do You Have to Worry About Carbon Monoxide With Propane?
Yes, you have to worry about carbon monoxide with propane because propane appliances give off carbon monoxide during combustion which if there is not enough ventilation, can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or death.
How to Stop Propane From Giving Off Carbon Monoxide
There is no better way to stop propane from giving off carbon monoxide, but you have to try and ensure that your propane is functioning well and burning ideally because properly functioning propane appliances will produce an “ideal burn” during combustion and present no danger of carbon monoxide.
How to Prevent the Harmful Effects of CO from Propane
Here are how to prevent the harmful effects of CO from propane:
1. Good Propane Appliance
You need to ensure that your propane appliance is working well. If for example, you have a propane heater that you use inside your garage, ensure that it is functioning well with no problems. This will help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide it gives off during combustion.
2. Ideal Burn
While using your propane stove indoors, ensure that it is giving out what is called an “ideal burn”. As long as it is giving out that blue color while burning, it will reduce the amount of carbon monoxide it gives off.
Also, once you notice any yellow or orange color when the propane is burning, off the propane immediately and call a propane professional to come to check what the problem could be and fix them for you.
3. Ventilation
Ventilation is the easiest and cheapest way of preventing propane carbon monoxide from harming anyone. As long as there is enough fresh air coming inside the kitchen while you use your propane stove, you will not get carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, open anything openable whether window or door.
4. Carbon Monoxide Detector
This is a device that is installed in the house to alert you when there is too much carbon monoxide in the house. In fact, every house is supposed to have a carbon monoxide detector installed. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, meaning that you won’t know if there are carbon monoxide leaks in your house.
However, while the carbon monoxide detector cannot stop the carbon monoxide from spreading to every part of the house or stop the carbon monoxide entirely, it can alert you about its presence in the house so you can take quick action before it gets worse.
How to Know If You’re Suffering from CO Poisoning?
If you are exposed to carbon monoxide, in no time, you will start feeling headache, chest pain, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, and confusion. You will not be yourself. The confusion will be real. If you don’t leave the house for fresh air, you may faint and if someone is not around to take you to the hospital, it may lead to death.
Final Thoughts
Propane gives off carbon monoxide during combustion which can be very dangerous to health. Carbon monoxide can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and if care is not taken with immediate effect, can lead to death. So the best thing to do when using any propane appliances in your home is to install a carbon monoxide detector, ensure that enough ventilation is entering the house, and ensure that the propane is burning ideally.
