Propane stove clearance for cooking inside

[StacyK]

I just bought a two-burner Eureka propane stove and am reading the instructions, which say to maintain 3 feet of clearance from combustible materials on all sides. Is that typical of all propane stoves? Is it even possible inside a van? Is it necessary? How do you all protect your rigs from radiating heat? 

(Note: I, too, am combustible, but can’t see myself standing 3’ away from the stove while I cook.)

 

[bullfrog]

I have used “air” chambered aluminum cookie baking pans as heat shields by using 4 screws at the corners with 1” spacers to create an air space between the pan and the surface I want to protect. I got it at Walmart. I believe they called them “air bake cookie pans. Several hundred degrees on one side and 85 degrees on the back side. Anything that has a flame big enough to need 3’ clearance I would use outside, if nothing else to prevent the condensation.

 

[[email protected]]

StaycK, if it is the same unit found on Amazon it is 20,000 btu per burner which is very hot. I sold Wolf ranges that were only 15,000 btu. You should use protective heat shielding as mentioned above. You should be able to stir fry easy with that unit.

 

[StacyK]

StaycK, if it is the same unit found on Amazon it is 20,000 btu per burner which is very hot.

Jbent1, it’s this one: https://eurekacamping.johnsonoutdoors.com/cook/stoves/ignite-camp-stove . It’s 10,000 btu per burner, which I think is the same as the Coleman stoves. The reviews for the Eureka all say it has excellent temperature control, which is my only reason for choosing it. (For medical reasons, I often have to pause and elevate my feet in the middle of cooking, and I want to turn down the heat just a tad so food keeps cooking without scorching even if I have to lie down for a minute.)

 

[StacyK]

I have used “air” chambered aluminum cookie baking pans as heat shields by using 4 screws at the corners with 1” spacers  to create an air space between the pan and the surface I want to protect. I got it at Walmart. I believe they called them “air bake cookie pans. Several hundred degrees on one side and 85 degrees on the back side. 

Brilliant! Sounds effective, cheap, and easy. Thanks, Bullfrog! I haven’t tried the stove yet in case I want to return it—I can’t imagine it has such a huge flame, but imagination often leads me astray from reality...

 

[bagabum]

 standing 3’ away from the stove while I cook.)

Three feet is a ridiculous over conservative requirement. Notice how they dont put that on the box when you are purchasing it but include it in the little instructionable.  7 or 8" will be fine, if you are cooking a stew and leaving it un attended maybe  a foot.

 

[highdesertranger]

lawyers, plain and simple. highdesertranger

 

[StacyK]

Thanks, bagabum and HDR. I wondered if it was one of the cautions like “don’t use your stove indoors” which can be offset with reasonable precautions. Sounds like that’s the case.

 

[MrNoodly]

Since heat rises, I think the bigger concern is what's ABOVE the stove and how far.

 

[StacyK]

I have a high roof van, so clearance above the stove should be no problem. Thanks, Mr. Noodly.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I have an alluminium tray the stove sits in that goes up the back and side wall a extra foot above the stove, the front and other side is open nothing around for several feet. I think that what they are saying don’t put it up next to a unprotected wall or near curtains. You could use stainless steel, iron, cement board, glass, tiles, all these things make it easy to clean splashes of food or grease.

 

[StacyK]

I think that what they are saying don’t put it up next to a unprotected wall or near curtains. You could use stainless steel, iron, cement board, glass, tiles...

Thanks for all those ideas for heat shields, fk. Fire is probably my biggest fear in the van—it’s not a huge or paralyzing one, but I do want to take all reasonable precautions. Cheers.

 

[crofter]

I used fire retardant spray paint and a metal backsplash behind the range in the van. I also put my roof vent near the stove to exhaust the moisture as much as possible. 
-crofter