What Does a Continuous Flame Mean on a Propane Heater?

Propane

• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, propane is created when natural gas is processed or when crude oil is refined. While this source of energy makes up only 2 percent of overall U.S. energy usage, it is a vital heat source for those without natural gas lines. Propane heating has several benefits, including swift heating time and a 50 percent reduction in energy costs. While propane heaters come in a wide variety of designs and styles, the fuel used for these heaters is the same.

Continuous Flame Heaters

• A continuous flame heater is any heater that maintains a pilot light even when the heat is turned off. Like a furnace, continuous flame propane heaters utilize a series of burners. Gas flow to these burners is only reduced when not in use, not completely turned off. Because of this, a small flame, known as a pilot flame, remains ignited. Continuous flame heaters may also be known as blue flame heaters.

Benefits

• Perhaps one of the most notable benefits of a continuous flame propane heater is its ability to work even during power outages. Because the pilot flame does not require electricity for ignition, the heater is able to work even without the flow of electricity. Continuous flame propane heaters work swiftly to raise the temperature of a room, thus using less energy than other heater variations as it does not work as hard to reach and maintain the desired temperature.

Considerations

• When purchasing a continuous flame propane heater, there are several other features you should consider. If you’ll be storing the propane tank inside your home, make sure the tank is no larger than 1 pound as current NFPA regulations forbid a propane tank larger than this inside a residence. Review the temperature control panel, some propane heaters offer dial control while others are digital. The primary benefit of a digital reader is heating to a specific degree while the main benefit of a dial control heater is a cheaper price tag. If you have children or pets, child safety features such as a safety lock may be necessary.