Propane is a petroleum product that is also called liquefied petroleum gas or LPG. But not like natural gas, propane can be easily stored in its liquid form at average room temperature as long as it is under constant pressure.
This makes it readily carried or moved and can be stored in various tank sizes. Tank sizes range from handheld ones to a building-size variety.
Lately, conventional appliance companies have been manufacturing indoor stovetops. These stoves work the same as natural gas indoor stoves. The difference is just that propane stoves receive their fuel from the propane gas. (Read Camping Can Opener Guide)
To answer the big question and as per a lot of reviews and feedbacks, using a propane stove indoors is safe. Of course, when doing something doubtful, proper procedure and safety measures should be the top priority.
Though using indoor propane stoves for cooking can seem hazardous, sticking religiously to the proper methods of doing so can be quite an assurance for safety. Propane is considered to be one of the cheapest and safest sources of fuel for household consumption.
Safety guidelines when using propane stoves indoor:
Inspect the stove
It is sensible to check and verify your propane stove before using it indoors or at your kids’ beginner camping activity to see that it is functioning well.
Inspect the vital components and make sure the controls and valves are intact and are adequately insulated. This is especially important if you are using a propane stove indoors.
Always keep in mind to never hesitate to talk to an expert technician to do the conservation of the stove at once yearly.
Doing the stove maintenance will help you avoid any major repairs in the future that will surely be expensive. This way they any defect can be detected and fixed right away.
Keen supervision
There is no need to check what you are cooking now and then, but try to be within as close as possible to your cooking area so that you can supervise your cooking whenever you have to.
When frying some food and doing other activities that use cooking oil and involves grease, you must supervise it closely. These inflammable materials can cause significant damage to your stove or other appliances if you don’t give it attention. (Read Portable Hot Water Shower for Camping)
Kids and pets
You have to make sure that children and pets in your house are far from the vicinity of the propane stove, most especially while cooking. Doing this will avert them from getting skin burns and will keep them safe. This way, you can have complete peace of mind.
Enough room for ventilation
You must keep the place where you will be using the propane stove to be correctly ventilated. This is mainly because carbon monoxide can cause a build-up in not so properly ventilated rooms.
In fact, propane is known to produce a tremendous amount of carbon monoxide and smoke, which is quite hazardous for everyone staying indoors. You can seek help from a propane expert who can be in charge of the stove installation in the safest way possible.
A smoke vent is likely to be installed in the hood above the stove, which will serve as an exit point to most of the gases inside. You can also try to open some of your windows while cooking to help with the ventilation.
Keeping the stove squeaky clean
The propane stove can give off a lot of smoke in cases when grease and oil from food drip down and spills on the stove burners.
Oils and greases are flammable, especially when stored in high volumes. Keeping the stove clean can keep you and your family safe. This is why it is essential not just for your family’s safety but also for the maintenance and productivity usage of the stove. (Read RV Propane Tank Sizes)
Turn off the tank valve when not in use
It does not matter whether you store the tank inside or outside. It is a good practice to turn off the tank valve connected to the stove when you are not using it. Keeping it outdoors can be a lot safer because there are proper ventilation and less gas build-up.
When keeping the propane stove indoor, make sure that the hose connections are correctly sealed and leak-free. You can counter-check any leakages by putting dish soap on the hoses.
If there happens to be a clear leakage, there will be bubble formation on the hose where you put the dish soap. By this time, you should have a presence of mind and remain calm. After that, you need to contact a propane stove expert to assist you.
Can I use a propane stove in a tent?
It is known that tents are made from non-permeable and flammable substances. Consequently, any form of extreme heat and flame inside the tent can be a venue for a fire accident.
Moreover, tents that do not have proper ventilation can cause toxic and flammable gases to build up inside easily. Carbon monoxide poisoning is something to look out for when using propane stoves in tents. In isolated cases, the gas build-up can result in an explosion.
As mentioned beforehand, propane stoves can produce too much carbon monoxide, which might exhaust an individual’s oxygen level, leading to hyperventilation and untimely death.
Conclusion
Propane stoves are initially designed for outdoor use, with occasional indoor use in unavoidable situations. It is vital and essential to ensure that there is an excellent room for air circulation when choosing to use the propane stove indoor.
This helps in preventing carbon monoxide contamination in your homes. As simple as opening a window or installing an exhaust fan can aid in the rooms’ ventilation for you and your family’s safety.
