natural gas heaters?....

[thebeez85]

I picked up one the other day to help heat up my living room and it works great!

Only thing me and the mrs notice is a very very slight whiff of gas odor..Had these heaters before but should I have any gas smell when the heater is in use?

when turned off and cooled down, I can sniff all round the heater...and no gas smell. Everything was properly connected , no doubt at all.

Ideas? Comments? Experiences with gas heaters?


http://www.lowes.com/pd_51064-51507...e&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=cedar+ridge&facetInfo=

 

[spartanmanor]

we have a Jotol gas wood stove similar to this in our living room

it does a great job. Ours vents up the chimney

 

[Rockyhill]

Is this a vent-free heater? Please post the make and model.

I just saw the URL.

I think a bit of odor is common for vent free heaters. They also generate water vapor.

 

[mrkirker]

You should NOT smell a 'gas smell' when in use! There is a slight 'fire/heat odor' with mine when first ignited. Did you check your connections with a water/soap solution? I've had a gas heater for several winters as a 'chill knocker' and really love it. I save the whole house furnace for when I have guests.

 

[thebeez85]

Is this a vent-free heater? Please post the make and model.

I just saw the URL.

I think a bit of odor is common for vent free heaters. They also generate water vapor.

Cedar Ridge Hearth Natural Gas/Liquid Propane Convection Heater
Model #: MD100TBF


Heater Type: Blue flame
Maximum BTUs: 10000.0
Maximum Heating Area (Sq. Feet): 300.0
Ignition Type: Electric
Fuel Type: Natural gas or liquid propane
Venting Type: Vent-free
Heat Delivery: Convection
Blower Included: No
Electricity Required for Blower: No
Adjustable Thermostat: Yes
Heating Area Range (Sq. Ft.): Less than 500
Installation Options: Wall or floor
Feet Included: Yes
UL Safety Listing: No
CSA Safety Listing: No
OMNI Safety Listing: No
ETL Safety Listing: No
PFS Safety Listing:Yes
Color/Finish Family: Brown/Tan
Minimum LP Tank Size: 100 lbs.
Warranty: 1-year limited


Looks like it's vent-free...It's our living rooom (approx. 330 sq. ft.) and there are two door ways..one that leads to the kitchen/dining room and the other to the hallway...

got a tiny little space heater for the BR and its plenty. start it an hr or so before bed, and the whole rooms toasty!!

Got the gas one, to have heat if/when power gets knocked out and to take a little off the top of our electric bill..

 

[thebeez85]

You should NOT smell a 'gas smell' when in use! There is a slight 'fire/heat odor' with mine when first ignited. Did you check your connections with a water/soap solution? I've had a gas heater for several winters as a 'chill knocker' and really love it. I save the whole house furnace for when I have guests.

I DID NOT check with soap and water..will do that after work. It sounds self-explanatory..

I don't leave it running ALL day, just in the evening for now. I turn the heater off AND shut it off at the valve too.

There's NO gas odor when its been off a while..just a very very SLIGHT whiff...i think its mostly the heater "breaking-in" and what-not...only been used 2 or 3 times thus far...



This model does not include a blower...could one be purchased and should I just turn on a (ceiling) fan to help circulate air?...

 

[mrkirker]

Good to turn valve 'off' when not in direct use, sorta a 'fail-safe' approach, eh?
I turn the ceiling fan to its lowest setting after about 15 minutes. It really makes a differance in the living room (only room I heat)

The blower might be a good option, esp if it was thermo controlled, but then 'simple' might be the best route.

 

[petehall347]

if you haven't got one get a c02 detector alarm .

 

[thebeez85]

if you haven't got one get a c02 detector alarm .

heh-heh...are those next to the carbon monoxide in the hardware store?

but seriously, have one and smoke alarms and check them when I should :thmbsp:

GOOD REMINDER TO ALL!

 

[mrkirker]

heh-heh...are those next to the carbon monoxide in the hardware store?

but seriously, have one and smoke alarms and check them when I should :thmbsp:

GOOD REMINDER TO ALL!

The 'smoke detector' is how we know my cousin is in the kitchen!

 

[thebeez85]

Any other suggestions for natural gas heaters?.....

what do you guys have?

 

[KrisM]

The 'smoke detector' is how we know my cousin is in the kitchen!

I set ours off a few weeks ago, and my kid covered her ears and yelled, "WHY IS THAT TIMER SO LOUD?".

A monoxide detector is always a good idea, but is a real no-brainer with a vent-less product in use. Checking your fittings is also a must. I was a gas fitter for a few years, and the best case scenario for leaking fittings was losing my job. And to each his own, but we never mixed our "soap" solution. We bought the good stuff.

 

[thebeez85]

Im reading online more and more about ventless models of gas heaters not being a good idea (carbon monoxide, etc..)

Is this with propane AND natural gas or what?...

again, as seen above, mine is ventless but I have no way to vent besides fans and opening a door/window....

EDIT:
Also, my home (rented) is a 1930s era house...only insulation is in the ceiling, and not much of it.


Living room is 330 sq. ft. with two passage ways with out doors..
Windows and doors aren't sealed super well..

-weather strip acorss bottom of front door, but still light/air leaks through sides and through keyhole(s)

Sound like a decent candiate for ventless natural gas heater? I think I have plenty of ventilation...

 

[spartanmanor]

Im reading online more and more about ventless models of gas heaters not being a good idea (carbon monoxide, etc..)

Is this with propane AND natural gas or what?...

again, as seen above, mine is ventless but I have no way to vent besides fans and opening a door/window....

It is a problem if all the gas is burnt and any escapes into the room, unless you want a long nap.

 

[KrisM]

It's been too long since I've done it to have an educated opinion, but a gas appliance that is not not vented kinda creeps me out. Maybe there is a gas person here who knows about current safety ratings, and explain the safety rating(or lack of) on the page you linked. I looked at my old gas code books, and a CSA or CGA rating was needed to run a gas appliance in Canada.

Incomplete combustion of propane or NG will bring monoxide.

And not to be preachy, but what kind of fittings are we talking about? What kind of "teflon" tape or pipe dope was used? It's not rocket science, but not something to half ass either. I saw some scary stuff when I worked a year in a community with a lot of DIY propane setups for cabins.

 

[thebeez85]

It's been too long since I've done it to have an educated opinion, but a gas appliance that is not not vented kinda creeps me out. Maybe there is a gas person here who knows about current safety ratings, and explain the safety rating(or lack of) on the page you linked. I looked at my old gas code books, and a CSA or CGA rating was needed to run a gas appliance in Canada.

Incomplete combustion of propane or NG will bring monoxide.

And not to be preachy, but what kind of fittings are we talking about? What kind of "teflon" tape or pipe dope was used? It's not rocket science, but not something to half ass either. I saw some scary stuff when I worked a year in a community with a lot of DIY propane setups for cabins.

not preachy at all! I'll have to take some pics after work and post them here.

-brasscraft gasline, 3/4" fitting, regulator included
-no teflon tape, used sealant instead (grey-colored goop)
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...gId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

wife's step-dad installed it for us in livingroom. wasnt heating the room well in that spot so i moved it more to the other valve in the room, more centrally located. made the connections nice and tight (not too tight) and applied sealant b/w the regulator and the valve.

no sealant used on the compression connections made.

Will post more info later tonight.

 

[thebeez85]

It is a problem if all the gas is burnt and any escapes into the room, unless you want a long nap.

heh-heh well of course not! it is a drafty house, again, with two open doorways to the rest of the house...and we open the doors to out side several times during the day/evening

 

[for_p1]

I wouldn't use ventless gas appliance anywhere unless the place has large natural draft like garage with opened door. If you burn gas, it prouduces carbon dioxide. You need some means to take it out. This is why kitchen gas range should ALWAYS be equipped with exhaust hood. The same goes to heaters. Uless you want yourself untimely death, do not buy these things.

 

[KrisM]

Sounds good. I assume that sealer has label stating it is for NG?

Some regulators will emit a small bit of gas. Could be that, too.

And the more I think about it, those joints need to be tested. Any time a gas joint is touched it should be tested. I've had joints that were "tight", but leaked for whatever reason. Like I said earlier, I'm too far removed to be any kind of expert, but I am on this one point.
I should also mention that many believe that some soaps can be corrosive to gas/propane fittings. It's not an argument I'm interested in, but for what little it costs, a bottle of the proper stuff from a plumbing place is worth it, IMO. I honestly think that a small bottle with an applicator brush should be included with all appliances sold to the general public. But that's just the grump in me.

 

[robgmn]

I see a lot of "no-ventless gas appliances" posts here.

I'm assuming that no one has a gas range in their kitchen?