How to Use a Tent Wood Burning Heater

Exercise caution when using a wood burning heater in a tent

Wood burning heaters or tent stoves can bring cozy warmth to any tent, but there are a few things that must be done for safety and security. In order to use a tent wood burning heater correctly, you must take steps to ensure that you'll be safe while you sleep. There are many facets to using a wood burning heater, and you need to understand them all.

Things You'll Need

• Flue kit
• Metal plate

Instructions

1. Use a store-bought flue kit. A wood burning heater needs a flue for exhaust gases, no matter what. There are many flue kits out there, so don't try to do this yourself. Get a genuine flue kit and don't skimp on this part of the stove.

2. Have your wood burning heater mounted on a metal plate. Ashes will burn straight through canvas or plastic floors in tents, so make sure you have a metal plate beneath the stove. You can bring a metal plate with you that's large enough to support your wood burning heater, or you can have the wood burning heater soldered to the plate. Many come with this plate already installed.

3. Be careful with too much heat. You only need enough to keep you comfortable. Warmth is a good thing, but if the wood burning heater gets too hot, it may melt anything directly above it--particularly nylon windows or fabric.

4. Load up the wood burning heater at the start of the evening. The less you open the door to add wood, the less chance for sparks to escape and possibly cause a fire. It's better to load up the stove and keep it closed for as long as possible.

5. Place the wood burning heater away from openings and tent walls. Don't put the wood burning heater too close to a side or a doorway. If someone enters too fast or trips outside and knocks the heater over because it's too close to a tent wall, a catastrophe could result.

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Tips & Warnings

• Starting the fire is the most dangerous time to be using your tent wood burning heater. Always use extreme care and keep a method of extinguishing the fire nearby.