As the winter has become much colder than expected, many are looking for cheap and quick heating options to not be so cold. Some wonder if using something like a patio heater indoors is safe to do. The answer does depend, but generally using outdoor heaters for indoor use is always a dangerous thing to do.

If you heater does not specifically say that it's for indoor use, never use it inside the house or even in the garage. Some of these devices have fumes that you can breath when out in the open air but can cause you serious problems when breathing them in a closed area.

Do indoor patio heating options exist?

Yes, there are indoor/outdoor patio heaters that are made specifically to be used in both locations. If it says it is made for indoor use, then it can be brought indoors.

One word of caution is that it's best and safest to only use electric indoor heaters. Other fuel types, even if said to be safe, over time with heat can produce leaks which means that the gas will gradually get into the room which has a potential health concern. Electric heaters indoors tend to be safer because it's just electricity which runs everything else in the house without an emissions issue to worry about.

If you are looking for an indoor option, consider small indoor heaters as they tend to do a better job than a patio heater. Most patio heaters heat too large of a space compared to more economical and efficient portable and space heaters made for indoor use.