Using propane stove as a heat source

[Dan Wong]

Is it ok to temporary use propane stove to heat the motorhome ?. as I understand it, propane does not produce carbon monoxide.

We prefer to replace the furance when we get home - a few days more.

[RV Wizard]

It is not safe to use the stove top or oven for purposes of comfort heat. Get an electric heater or two in an emergency. Cost of the heaters and even water system freeze is nothing in comparison to your life.

[wa8yxm]

Years ago (I was in my 20s, not my 60s as I am now) I had a boss who did that in his mobile home.. He very nearly failed to wake up.

On the list of things you should NEVER do, using a propane or natural gas stove oven or range as a heat source is very very high.. Ranks right up there with BASE jumping without a parachute.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Dan Wong

as I understand it, propane does not produce carbon monoxide.

There is nothing more untrue than this.

All combustion produces carbon monoxide (and water).

Bruce

[paz]

Propane can and DOES produce carbon monoxide. Do as others have suggested and buy a small electric heater. Walmart, hardware stores, and all the home improvement stores have shelves full or them at this time of year. You should be able to get one for under $30 or $40.

[Walt Bennett]

Any propane burned in a flame will do what others have said, but a catalytic heater will not. One of those (a Big Buddy or some such) actually produces water vapor and some carbon dioxide. Still needs a vent cracked as they'll use up oxygen.

[bamaboy473]

Originally Posted by RV Wizard

It is not safe to use the stove top or oven for purposes of comfort heat. Get an electric heater or two in an emergency. Cost of the heaters and even water system freeze is nothing in comparison to your life.

We use two electric heaters (need 3 in sub-freezing temps) but I want to ask the pros what use the CO detectors are if they don't alarm us when CO levels get too high.

If you're cold and don't have heaters, a stove beats blankets IF we can count on the detector to alert us. Not saying it's the safest, but in an emergency, couldn't we count on the CO unit to start chirping?

[SkiSmuggs]

I recently bought a Mr Heater Portable Buddy for $90 at Tractor Supply. It can use either the one pound cans or you can get a hose for 20# tanks. It is the catalytic type and a good backup for furnace failure or for supplemental heat off the grid. I decided to get it after a cold night at a Walmart when I saw how much the furnace fan depleted the battery bank.
It looks like they are $10 cheaper at Walmart, but they were out of that model at the time.
The portable is 9,000 BTU and the Big Buddy is 18K BTU.

[SkiSmuggs]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

We use two electric heaters (need 3 in sub-freezing temps) but I want to ask the pros what use the CO detectors are if they don't alarm us when CO levels get too high.

If you're cold and don't have heaters, a stove beats blankets IF we can count on the detector to alert us. Not saying it's the safest, but in an emergency, couldn't we count on the CO unit to start chirping?

Playing "You Bet Your Life" is pretty high stakes.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

couldn't we count on the CO unit to start chirping?

There are very few things I would bet my life on. The reliability of a CO detector is not one of them.

Bruce

[StevieG]

I suggest replacing the furnace now or spend the extra money and get yourself a few electric heaters. As others have said, don't use the stove or oven. Good luck and stay warm!

[Gary RVRoamer]

CO is produced when a flame gets insufficient oxygen for complete combustion. Whether it's propane or anything else. Complete combustion produces CO2, but as oxygen gets short the flame begins to produce some CO in with the CO2, with the amount of CO increasing if the oxygen is further depleted.

Propane is a lot less likely to keep burning if the oxygen content is low, but CO is still possible. Even catalytic heaters are equipped with a low oxygen sensor to shut it down if needed.

A stove in an RV uses the oxygen in the air inside the rig. Many RVs leak enough air that the oxygen wouldn't get too low, but do you want to gamble your life on that? It doesn't take much CO in the air to asphyxiate a person. CO essentially displaces the oxygen in your blood, so just a tiny bit can be fatal.

[TexasTom]

Okay, I know I'm hijacking the thread a little, but this is related. I have always been concerned and opened the small window over the sink and the vent above the kitchen when cooking. Am I being overly concerned?

[CampingCajun]

No. If this is all you have stay home. It's not worth the risk.