How to Use a Propane Tank Top Heater in an Emergency

Prepare for an emergency situation by making sure you have enough propane set aside and understand how to use the propane bottle heater you have selected. If you are located in a remote area, you may want to have more than one propane tank set aside for emergency heating.

Practice installing, setting up and starting the propane heater. An emergency situation is not the time to try to figure out how the heater works. You should be familiar with its operation soon after you purchase it. Check the function of the heater several times a year by starting it up.

Check the heater installation on the tank before starting it in an emergency situation. All attachments should be properly connected. Open the tank valve and check for leaks by rubbing a soap solution on the connections. The soap will bubble if there is a gas leak.

Light the heater by opening the gas supply valve and using a match in front of the heater grid or with the attached igniter, depending on how your heater is equipped.

Ventilate the area where the heater is being used. The owner's manuals of propane tank heaters warn against using the heaters inside living areas. However, in an emergency situation, the propane heater may be your only source of heat. The heater should be used with extreme caution and not left on unattended.