Is it safe to buy a propane patio heater off ebay

October 1, 2020 6:18 AM

Hi! I want to buy a standing propane patio heater. These are, of course, in super-short supply right now. I do see some for sale on ebay. I wonder if this is a safe thing to do?

I am in Canadaa. I'm looking at this one right now. The seller has a a few dozen positive reviews, the product is a know brand, and new-in-box.

My fear is not about being over-charged (I know the product is normally much cheaper than this), or about being ripped off (if I get a box of sand, I'll live...).

My worry is that, given that a propane gas heater feels like a potentially dangerous thing, is it unwise to buy one from an ebay-seller? Like - will I get a counterfeit heater that won't have proper safety features or whatever?

(Alternately- I welcome other suggestions for staying warm on my patio through Toronto Autumn - other ways to get a heater, or other ideas...)

posted by ManInSuit to Shopping (2 answers total)

Here's what I've done. Ordered a pop up canopy with removable side walls from Costco, water weights to hold the canopy down in mild wind, a Lil Buddy propane heater from Amazon, hand and toe warmers from Amazon (you slip these in your socks or gloves), and cheap thin fleece blankets that can get dirty and machine washed over and over again during the cold months.

My thinking is, the canopy will be put up when we want people over and then taken down again if it gets windy or snows. It should be fine in the rain. The removable side walls will allow us to keep air flow while blocking the breezes or rainier sides. The canopy may only last one year but I'm hoping it's only needed for that long.

The Lil Buddy is safe to use in this environment according to the manufacturer. Propane was the hardest thing to find, but it uses 16 oz cans or you can buy an attachment for larger cans, the kind that are used for grills.

We have a patio dining set and my plan is to put the canopy over the dining set, use the water weights to add stability, set the Lil Buddy on a small separate table, adjust the canopy walls for air flow, and give my guests hand and toe warmers and fleece blankets that can get food stains on them. We can hang out, have dinner or play games, and hopefully be comfortable doing this a couple times a month throughout the cold seasons.

I don't have any advice about the Craigslist purchase. Best of luck to you.
posted by happy_cat at 7:52 AM on October 1, 2020 [1 favorite]

I don't think those have any safety features. They just have a tank, hose, and a regulator, like a gas grill.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:23 AM on October 1, 2020 [2 favorites]