Outside heater under the awning

[Sailingmiker]

I am looking for first hand experiences of anyone who has tried using a propane heater outside, under the awning in cool weather.

Shoulder season camping in the Northwest ofter incurs chilly, damp weather. I have toyed with the idea of using a propane heater under the awning inorder to be able to sit outside during mildly inclement weather. While one side of the brain says this might work well, the other side raises concern about torching or melting the awning.

Do any of you have any practical experience having tried using a heater under the awning in poor weather?

Mike R

[Buddy]

Originally Posted by Sailingmiker

I am looking for first hand experiences of anyone who has tried using a propane heater outside, under the awning in cool weather.

Shoulder season camping in the Northwest ofter incurs chilly, damp weather. I have toyed with the idea of using a propane heater under the awning inorder to be able to sit outside during mildly inclement weather. While one side of the brain says this might work well, the other side raises concern about torching or melting the awning.

Do any of you have any practical experience having tried using a heater under the awning in poor weather?

Mike R

The tall propane patio heaters would not be a good choice, keeping the heat down low to the ground would be preferred. There are table top versions of the patio heaters but I would suggest a portable propane fire pit instead. You can sit beside it, lots of clearance to the awning and you can adjust the flame. Another option would be a portable radiant heater.
Having said that, if there is any wind, regardless of the type of heater, the heat gets blown away and you don't get a whole lot of useful heat off of the heater. Putting up sides to partially enclose the awning to keep the wind out and the heat in, is an option.

[tdf-texas]

I have used the Outland Firebowl 870 Premium Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Fire Pit under the awning for a while camping at Quartzite. The weather was cold and windy - didn't seem to bother the fire pit any.

After it got really cold with the wind starting to whistle, I moved the fire pit inside our clam shelter leaving the door flap open - the awning wasn't going to handle that strong a wind anyway.

The fire pit really puts out heat and we enjoyed roasting marshmallows on it too.

https://www.amazon.com/Outland-Fireb.../dp/B00TNS8HMI

[Vermilye]

As Tom (tdf-texas) notes, while a fire pit works well inside a Clam or other enclosure where convection heating is the norm, it doesn't provide as much radiant heat (which is pretty much necessary under an open awning) as a tank top type such as one of these.

[dfandrews]

For any gas heater, you should be able to find an "instructions" or "clearance" or "warning" label, that list clearances from other surfaces below, front, rear, sides, and (especially) above.
Our propane patio heater lists 24 inches all around, and 36 inches above for clearances. We are at about 40 inches to our fabric patio cover, so, are good.
Since it is a table model, I could use it under our Escape awning with all confidence, as long as it's a minimum 36 inches below it.

[cityofdestiny]

Originally Posted by Sailingmiker

I am looking for first hand experiences of anyone who has tried using a propane heater outside, under the awning in cool weather.

Shoulder season camping in the Northwest ofter incurs chilly, damp weather. I have toyed with the idea of using a propane heater under the awning inorder to be able to sit outside during mildly inclement weather. While one side of the brain says this might work well, the other side raises concern about torching or melting the awning.

Do any of you have any practical experience having tried using a heater under the awning in poor weather?

Mike R

We have been camping all fall with a camp chef fire pit under our awning. It doesn’t heat the awning surface much at all. I have also used one of those Mr. Heater propane radiant heaters, and they are not a problem either.

In either case, the heat source is close to the ground and the heat dissapates enought as it rises. I’d be concerned about anything close to the awning itself (like one of those tall patio heaters with the radiant heat dish)

[Perry Butler]

We've had our BioLite FirePit underneath our awning in the rain many times. We usually start with charcoal to cook dinner and then switch to wood. The BioLite has perforations to heat your feet, something the Solo stove can't do.

Enjoy,

Perry

[HABBERDABBER]

Folks would often sit around a wood burning campfire, and enjoy the radiant heat of its embers. If it would rain, they would seek shelter.



Works for me.

[Iowa Dave]

Had a campfire at home last Saturday night. My daughter and her family were here. Had a social distance dinner outside on the deck. Then down to the Pilot Rock fire pit in the back yard. Burning ten year old white oak in 15 lb. pieces with a wind out of the SE at about
18 mph the campfire was burning pretty hot. As the fire burned down, my son in law would normally have been helping my daughter pack up to head home (about 35 miles) but the intense bed of glowing coals seemed to mesmerize him. I’m not sure if he’d ever experienced the wonder of the heat coming off of a deep bed of coals. He’s a very good cook. I think he was ready to take me up on it when I said “ Let’s get 6 Dutch ovens out and start cooking. Maybe next time. As it was, he left with a warm face and hands. Later, I sat there thinking of the announcements of the day and hoped for more campfires with friends and family in 2021. Then decided I’d have another shot of Maker’s Mark in a shot glass my mom collected when she traveled to every state in the Union. Here’s to a better 2021 with great campfires.
Iowa Dave

[Ops]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Here’s to a better 2021 with great campfires.
Iowa Dave

Slangevar to you as I sip my glass of Grant's

And let us hope that all of us enjoy many more years beyond today.

[uthorns]

Great story! I always enjoy them. I'm not a good story teller myself although I sometimes try with the kids and grandkids. I can see eyes starting to roll but I carry on.

Jimmy

[Iowa Dave]

You gotta dance like nobody is watching. I never roll my eyes, my mom said they could get stuck that way. I do turn my ball cap sideways once in a while when I think a goofy idea is being expressed. When I worked, and my Commissioner noticed, he would stop the meeting and say “looks like Dave has an opinion on this, how am I not surprised?” Haven’t worked for him for 13 years but we’re still very good friends.

We don’t all have to agree but we all have to be heard.

Iowa Dave

[Dave Walter]

I also have an Outlands Firebowl that works well for generating some heat while sitting under the awning of my trailer. Another option that you could consider would be a propane fired construction heater. I use a small 35,000 BTU one like that shown in the pic so that I can work in sub-zero conditions, and it does put out a lot of heat!

[Jim Bennett]

I have an Outland firepit, which is really meant more for ambience than for heat as it really does not produce a lot.

Nothing is better than a well built real fire. We sit around those many, many times a year, and often at temps around freezing. A blanket behind us on the chair, and a light jacket open to the heat and it is quite nice. If it is raining we put up a tarp.



Personally, I would not want the hassle of hauling another heat source around myself, but if it is something that works for others, good on them.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Personally, I would not want the hassle of hauling another heat source around myself, but if it is something that works for others, good on them.

I agree. But here's the rub - the problem I have run into often is that a burn ban is in place and the propane fire pit is the only "fire pit" allowed. Or like Quartzite, firewood is hard to come by.

It's happened so often that now I carry the propane fire pit just in case.

[cityofdestiny]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

We've had our BioLite FirePit underneath our awning in the rain many times. We usually start with charcoal to cook dinner and then switch to wood. The BioLite has perforations to heat your feet, something the Solo stove can't do.

Enjoy,

Perry

I'd long regarded a propane fire pit as a sacrilege. However, with the summer burn bans we get with regularity in recent years, the propane camp chef has been the go to for us, especially once we converted it to the quick connect fitting.

We find ourselves using wood for backyard fires at home and propane while camping.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by tdf-texas

I agree. But here's the rub - the problem I have run into often is that a burn ban is in place and the propane fire pit is the only "fire pit" allowed. Or like Quartzite, firewood is hard to come by.

It's happened so often that now I carry the propane fire pit just in case.

I am carrying my gas firepit for when I need it, though it doesn't get very much use. Nice for a small group to socials around. Just don't think I would carry an additional heater is all.

Down on the Baja I had my first cactus campfire on the beach. Burned fairly fast, but was kinda cool. Though my sister in law did get a scorpion bite that night from one we unknowingly brought from Quartzsite. It was wrapped in a will chair blanket. [emoji4]