Vent-Free Propane stove (Manchester: sale, appliances, house)

[seamusnh]

Anyone have a vent free propane stove? I'd like to get one for the family room in my house and would like to get some user experience. We have propane already so that should be an easy install.

Any problems with the vent free aspect? Is is safe? Can I control the stove with a programmable thermostat? Any problems with water vapor from the stove?

Any info on brands/models would be appreciated as well..

Thanks in advance,

Seamus

[rmcewan]

Originally Posted by seamusnh

Anyone have a vent free propane stove? I'd like to get one for the family room in my house and would like to get some user experience. We have propane already so that should be an easy install.

Any problems with the vent free aspect? Is is safe? Can I control the stove with a programmable thermostat? Any problems with water vapor from the stove?

Any info on brands/models would be appreciated as well..

Thanks in advance,

Seamus

Any heating appliance utilizing combustion inside the home has the potential to leak carbon monoxide and other fumes if defective or improperly installed, so get a carbon monoxide alarm for each floor of the house.

If you must have a vent-free device, then ensure you buy a quality product, from a reliable dealer and installer. These things claim to not need vents because they are "99%+" efficient - i.e. they claim that 99% of the fuel is used for generating heat, rather than waste gases and fumes. This may be true, but to keep up that efficiency, the device must be well maintained. It should contain its own safety sensors that will detect when fuel is not being burned optimally.

Note however, that no matter how efficient - they DO GENERATE CARBON MONOXIDE which, without a vent, ends up in your room air. The amounts **should** be at safe levels but in my opinion, deliberately allowing CO into the air supply, no matter the level, is not a good plan.

[jthibodeau]

Good advice, rmcewan. I do believe that some areas, such as Manchester, have made the sale of non-vented gas fired illegal. Non-vented units don't have to be old to cause a problem. Simply out of adjustment can create an unhealthy living environment.

Check with your local building or fire department before purchasing your unit.

The ease of installation, as well as the cost, are tempting with non-vented units. However, I'd recommend investigating the pro and cons of vented units also.

[GregW]

Not in my house.

[dmyankee]

The biggest problem with vent free devices, no matter how efficient is water vapor. It is the primary product of combustion and will soak everything.

[Yankeehombre]

There really is no such thing as a vent free propane stove. If you are burning enough propane to actually stay warm, you are creating more carbon dioxide than is safe to live in a reasonable amount of space. a power vent is an easy solution for propane use. they cost ~$120.00 to buy~ $200 to have installed.

They install fairly easily. a 4-6" diameter hole through the wall. the wiring is fairly simple. CO2 is deadly. Many people are injured every year, simply that ingest CO2 from improperly vented gas appliances. Even a gas water heater generates enough CO2 to kill a family throughout an entire home. symptoms are slow to manifest themselves as CO 2 builds up in your body, and relatively mild so as not to be identified easily, like feeling sleepy or simply feeling "spacey". respiratory ailments become more pronounced. Can you really afford to loose those brain cells?? the electrical cost of running is negligible. About the same as you're average bathroom fan or stove-top vent hood.

[goat1of2]

I once rented a house that had these things for heat: they made me sick as a dog! Within just a few hours, I had to have the windows open while the heat was running...kinda negates the purpose!

[KarynO]

If you can, put in a Direct Vent gas fireplace instead....they throw nice heat and there is no propane smell. I just had one installed in my living room and it is great. If you can put a small hole through an outside wall, you can go direct vent.