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You’ll likely never need a propane tank warmer if you chase 70 degrees year-round or only camp during summer vacation. But if you experience sub-freezing temperatures during winter, you might want to check out this camping accessory.
Compressed gases are affected by extreme cold. Therefore, keeping the propane tank warm prevents the pressure from dropping, which results in better efficiency.
Let’s look closer at propane tank warmers and see if they’re right for you!
What Are Propane Tank Warmers?
If you cold-weather camp, you might have chosen a camper with a higher insulation rating, waste tank heaters, and an enclosed underbelly. These features help protect the systems of your RV and keep the cold air out and warm air in.
But another product you can add to your cold-weather camping gear is a propane tank warmer. This blanket wraps around the propane tank bottle to keep the propane flowing in colder temperatures.
If you don’t cold-weather camp but store your propane tanks in a garage or other building with little to no insulation, you might also want to invest in a propane tank warmer.
The pressure inside a propane tank also drops when the outside temperature drops. This could lead to a cease in propane flow to the appliances and systems in your RV, which isn’t what you want when you rely on a refrigerator to keep food cold or a stove to cook warm meals.
Therefore, a propane tank warmer can keep the tank pressurized so the flow isn’t reduced in cold temperatures.
Do You Need a Propane Tank Warmer?
However, it’s important to note that not all RVers need a propane tank warmer. If you only camp a couple of times during the winter in Georgia, for example, you don’t really need a warmer because the outside temperature won’t drop enough to cause problems. The tank pressure may decrease slightly, but the flow won’t cease.
Temperatures must reach -30 degrees below zero for significant problems. So, where you winter camp and how cold the temperatures get will determine whether or not this accessory is necessary.
Pro Tip: Stay warm this winter in your RV with these helpful tips!
What’s the Difference Between a Propane Tank Warmer and a Propane Tank Cover?
Although not everyone needs a propane tank warmer, we highly recommend everyone has a propane tank cover. These covers remain on your propane tanks year-round, regardless of weather conditions. A cover will protect your tanks from corrosion and damage from debris on travel days.
If you have a travel trailer with propane tanks outside your camper, you must keep them covered. If you have an extra propane tank that you bring camping to hook up to an outdoor grill or portable fire pit, you’ll also want to buy a tank cover to protect it.
3 Best Propane Tank Warmers for Cold Conditions
Suppose you’re a hard-core winter camper taking on the challenges of harsh conditions in Minnesota or Vermont. In that case, we have three of the best propane tank warmers to keep your propane flowing even in the coldest temperatures.
These aren’t cheap accessories, but they’ll make your camping experience much more enjoyable by preventing potential problems with your propane flow.
Powerblanket Propane Tank Warmer
At over $200, the Powerblanket propane tank warmer is expensive but effective. It fits 20-, 30-, and 40-pound propane tanks and safely heats them to an optimal 90°F. It operates on a 120-volt outlet, using 120 watts and drawing about an amp.
- Safely heats cylinder to an optimal 90 ° F / 32 °C (± 10 °F/5 °C)
- 120 Volt, 120 Watts, 1.0 Amp Draw
One RVer wrote, “We use this in an RV to heat a 20-pound cylinder. Our tank pressure would register in the yellow area, indicating tank pressure was low. After adding this blanket, the pressure would bounce back into the green zone, just like a full tank on a hot day.
This blanket keeps the liquid warm enough to continue producing good pressure down to the end of the tank. I’ve used it now through several months of the coldest parts of the winter and have not had any issues with the blanket or with keeping the tank warm.”
WarmGuard Propane Tank Warmer
The main competitor to the Powerblanket propane tank warmer is the WarmGuard propane tank warmer. It’s about the same price and operates similarly, using the same amount of power. This tank warmer is tan, while the Powerblanket tank warmer is black.
- Safely heats cylinder to an optimal 90 ° F / 32 °C (± 10 °F/5 °C)
- 120 Volt, 120 Watts, 1.0 Amp Draw
One RVer shared, “I’m using a single one of these on the bottom half of a large 40lb LP tank in 3 feet of snow and steady 10-degree weather for a couple of months, and it works great. Before, I could still feel about a half tank of liquid in my tanks and yet had no pressure to run my RV appliances.
So, I was only able to use about half the tank before refilling. Now I can run my tanks all the way to empty, which gives me several more days of use between having to refill.”
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Budget-Friendly: Propagate Pro Propane Tank Warmer
The Propagate Pro propane tank warmer may serve you well if you want a more budget-friendly option. However, with a cheaper price comes less efficiency and quality. Consider the reviews before purchasing this one. This tank warmer fits 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-pound tanks. It uses less power, 50 watts, than the 120 watts of the previous two options.
- Warming blanket wrap, Safely heats gas cylinders to an optimal 95ºF | 35ºC (+/- 5º F / 2.5º C)
- Works on all 5#,10#, 20#, 30#, 40# and 100# Pound Gas Cylinder Tanks. Fits a variety of 4, 5, 6, 7 Gal Buckets & Pails
A user in Seattle reviewed, “I wanted something to keep a propane tank warm and producing pressure during the cold Seattle winters. Unfortunately, this product just can’t do it. I give the company credit: they were very nice on the phone and swapped the product out for a new one free of charge, but the second one performs the same.
Even if I keep the tank inside for a few hours before use and then put the warmer on it when I bring it outside, this tank heater just can’t keep it warm enough to produce pressure when it’s high 30s outside.”
Other customers had similar reviews that this propane tank warmer just didn’t cut it. So, this might be an option if you want to save money. But we suggest spending the money on one of the two better propane tank warmers to ensure you receive a product that works well.
Are There Alternative Ways to Keep Your Propane Tanks From Freezing?
You might have heard you can use a blanket around a propane tank to keep it warm. This is true, but it’s unlikely to help in very cold conditions. Again, this might be sufficient if you’re winter camping in Georgia in the 30s, but if it’s 20 degrees below zero in Buffalo, a blanket isn’t going to keep your propane flowing.
Never use a space heater or hair dryer to warm your propane tank. Propane is highly flammable. Under no conditions is this a safe way to heat your tanks.
Keep Your Propane Tanks Operable This Camping Season With Propane Tank Warmers
A propane tank warmer isn’t necessary for every RVer. But if you enjoy winter camping, it’s an accessory worth investing in to keep your tanks flowing. As one of the Amazon reviewers wrote, a warmer will also keep you from having to refill the tank as often because the pressure will remain, and you can use every ounce of propane in the tank.
So, consider where you like to enjoy the solitude and beauty of winter. If it’s in a state with harsh winters and sub-freezing temperatures, do yourself a favor and invest in a propane tank warmer. You’ll be glad you did!
Have you invested in a tank warmer? Do you think it’s worth it?
Last update on 2024-11-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re having low propane pressure problems during cold weather, it could be because your propane regulator is set too low. In moderate weather it may keep up with the demand but as temps drop so does the propane pressure. Temperature and pressure correspond. We camped in Zero degree weather and propane worked great without adding any heat to the 40 pound tanks. So, the problem might be that your pressure regulator is set to low but, they are adjustable. Fyi, our pressure regulator is a Marshall Excelsior.