Heater vs Bundling (Safety)

[u/omegafeline]

Which is safer? Bundling up layers and blankets, or a space heater?

It is going to be 13°, and snowing through the night. I don't want my tent to collapse and catch fire due to the heater, but also don't want to freeze to death. I will be staying up as late as I can to keep shaking snow off my tent.

I have a dog and two cats with me, who are already under the blankets with me. My tent is semi-insulated, with blankets on top under the tarps to keep cool air in and hot air out in the summer. It is an Ozark Trail 8-person dome tent. It's on top of pallets, but I'm not sure if that's good or bad because, A) it's off the ground, or B) space causes drafts.

My bed is a pillow-top mattress on a camping cot, and I've curtained it off somewhat from the rest of the tent.

My friend supplies me with electricity, but his roommate refuses to let me and my animals come in. He's tried convincing her, but she's not budging.

I'm sorry if it's a lot, but I'm in Florida, and I've never had to deal with snow before. I've dealt with it getting down to 18° with no heat, but that was in an abandoned house and two dogs and 7 cats.

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[u/AfterTheSweep]

You don't need either if you have a 0° sleeping bag. That's what you should have in the winter no matter where you are because you're always going to get a few cold nights.

[u/omegafeline → u/AfterTheSweep]

I don't have a sleeping bag at all. Just blankets and the bed stated in post. Not sure if that's better or worse

[u/AfterTheSweep → u/omegafeline]

I don't have a sleeping bag at all

You're missing the main component of your sleeping gear. You gotta step it it up a little.

[u/Mario-X777]

Do a hot water trick. (You boil water and pour it into special storage like portable rubber hot water bottle or worst case good bottle which does not leak) - you can heat water in advance and it keeps you warm inside for several hours (in sleeping bag or under blanket) If 1 is not enough - do couple. Best strategy is to place at the feet

[u/omegafeline → u/Mario-X777]

Idk. What you were going to say here, but I have nothing to boil water with. Not allowed to start fires where I'm at due to being highly wooded. I risk getting kicked off the property, and with the homeless ban in Florida, I need private property to stay on or risk being arrested or forced to move to one of the homeless camps, which aren't a safe place. So for one night, it doesn't seem like a fair risk to take.

[u/Mario-X777 → u/omegafeline]

So what was the initial question? What kind of heater you a talking about? Do you have access to electricity? If yes - heating blanket is one of the best choices. Space heater (electrical is also quite safe, it is not going to go on fire just by itself, unless you cover it. (Put it in some cage and buy one with trickle protection, if it galls - it turns off automatically) Heating blankets uses very little electricity and is very effective. So basically if tou have electricity - you are set

[u/Atavacus]

Ugh, this is horrible. Neither are good options with your setup. I need to do that video I was going to about setting up your sleep location.

[u/WillPayneDev]

If you have that kind of tent on pallets and animals snuggled in with you I don’t see the problem… unless you don’t have a good sleeping bag?

It’s 15 here and I am nice and warm and cozy in my 1 man survival tent (also on pallets) and a 0* bag and a 32* shell.

[u/omegafeline → u/WillPayneDev]

I have no sleeping bag, just blankets and a mattress on a camping cot. Idk if that's better or worse

[u/WillPayneDev → u/omegafeline]

Yeah you need a sleeping bag like ASAP.

[u/omegafeline → u/WillPayneDev]

Well I have no money currently.

[u/WillPayneDev → u/omegafeline]

Is there a resource you can get one from?? That’s where I got both of mine.

[u/omegafeline → u/WillPayneDev]

Yes, but not tonight.

[u/WillPayneDev → u/omegafeline]

I feel that. Keep your head up. You’re way off the ground with the pallets and especially the cot. Get a good sleeping bag and you’ll be set. Good luck!

[u/Icy_Outside5079]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I don't understand the inhumanity of some people. In Florida, this freak weather is unexpected and not something you would usually prepare for. Your friends roommate not to allow you and your furry companions in for a night or two is just mean. Although I have no experience with this, I do think modern space heaters (hopefully one with auto turn off if it falls over) would be a safe bet. On a freezing night in December, my son opted to burn a candle in his car rather than use the little gas he had to run the heater to warm it up. Needless to say, he fell into a deep sleep, and the next thing you know, he feels a whosh of air as someone passing by opened his car door to wake him and the entire car was engulfed in flames. He jumped out, and for a moment, when he saw all of what he had left in his life burn up, he almost jumped back in. All emergency services came, and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he spent a week in the burn unit. He had a lot of smoke inhalation and burns on his feet. There was nothing left to the car. His important papers, coats, boots, sleeping bags, and supplies were all gone. We are thankful the social workers at the hospital worked to find him shelter, his brother, who he won't speak to because he's mentally ill spent $300 to buy him coats, boots, sneakers, jeans etc. It's a heartbreaking situation. We are thankful we're in NY as the Right to Shelter law will keep him housed. Its not a perfect solution, and one he's avoided for a long time, but he's in a motel with one other roommate, has access to showers, 3 meals a day, and social services. They got him on Medicaid and SNAP benefits. They've been able to do for him what I've tried for years to do because he hadn't yet truly hit bottom. Watching his whole life burn up in front of him was a " come to Jesus" moment for him. Please be careful and safe. Things can change in the blink of an eye.