Ventless wall heater for fish house

[Gettin_Jiggy]

I am purchasing a Mr. Heater mhVfb10lpi for my 8x8 fish house. My concern is if I sleep in it should I be worried if I leave a window cracked open. I also have a co2 detector. How many use that type of heater for their house. Any hints or ideas will be helpful. My current heater does not produce enough heat in our shack it's an older ventless that don't light in cold and takes like two hours to heat up.

[highlife4me]

I have a ventless in my fish house and have not had any problems at all. I usually have a window open to moderate the heat a bit or if it is real cold i just open my small vents to help with the humidity. I also have a carbon monoxide detector installed as well. Most of the houses I have stayed in up at LOW have the same type of heater as well.

[Gettin_Jiggy]

Does any one else use this type of heater. A ventless heater. Share ur likes dislikes. Is anyone concerned when using one of these when sleeping?

[seasock]

Guys I knew way up north used them, I never got word on how they liked them...seems they never woke up.

[Boss Hogg]

I would NEVER sleep in a house with ventless. Even if the window is cracked open, the wind can change and then you could ................

[kevfish1]

With the modern day ventless heaters a wind change is not going to cause you to not wake up. You could say stuff like this about any heater including your house furnace. If this... If that... You could fall through the ice if it cracks! Then what???

I was worried about this when I first put one in my fish house. i had the gas company come with some type of sniffer device and it was not producing any carbon monoxide. Been using one for around 10 years now and am still ok. Atleast I think I am ok.

I would be more worried about the moisture that it puts in the house. Which is why I leave a window open.

[Bob/Mn]

I have a 6x8 house and use a SM. non vented Buddy heater. I do have a small CPU fan(12 CFM) venting air to the outside plus Three 2 inch vents venting air into the house.

I have never had the detector alarm yet.

[Tom7227]

I know nothing about these things but I wonder how you can have combustion and not get carbon monoxide. Just wondering.

[MNice]

Right from the owners manual..Don't know what esle to say

NOTICE: This heater is intended for the use as supplemental

heat. Use this heater along with your primary

heating system. Do not install this heater as your

primary heat source.

WARNING: Never install the heater:

• In a bathroom.

• In a bedroom

• In a recreational vehicle.

• Where curtains, furniture, clothing, or other

flammable objects are less than 36 inches from

the front, top, or sides of the heater.

• As a fireplace insert

• In high-traffic areas

• In windy or drafty areas

[delcecchi]

Easy Peasy. Complete combustion gives CO2, carbon dioxide, and H2O Water Vapor. Only combustion with insufficient oxygen gives CO or carbon monoxide. Charcoal gives CO because enough air doesn't get to the burning area.

[Ufatz]

Just curious: have any of you fellas ever checked into the small oil burning stoves? They are common on the Pacific Coast and in AK on small boats and cabins. Had a little duck shack for years and had a small oil burner in it, two hole on top which we used for cooking. Had a 5-gallon tank we mounted outside with copper line into stove "carburator". Kept the little duck shack toasty on nasty nights and didn't cause a problem for many years.

Maybe Google 'em up and get some ideas. Oh.....it DID have a chimney of course of 3-4" inch tin pipe. Whole thing no big deal and would work fine I would think in an ice house.

Just a thought.

[yaggie]

We have used ventless for years. Just be sure you replace your CO2 detector

every other year. However I would not allow anyone to sleep directly on the floor as CO2 is heavier than oxygen and could collect at the lowest locations. You do need fresh air to come in somewhere or the oxygen levels fall too low.

[kevfish1]

I could find all kinds of warning labels on products that would make you scratch your head. Some warn you not to use the product for what you are buying it for and would make you laugh.. "Warning failure to do this could cause death" How many times have you read that??? They put these warning out there for liability reasons incase something would happen. If you want to live life obeying every warning out there that is your choice.

I would like to warn you that no ice is ever safe--- So just dont go out on the ice. Or wera your life jacket at all times while out on the ice.... Your choice

[Surface Tension]

Just remember the ventless heaters claim of super low CO levels are from a heater that is clean, proper air supply, and proper fuel supply.

Having said that I've done it and will do it again but if you do it then,,,,

Keep the heaters element clean.

Any dirt, dust, road crud on that element or spider webs in the air/fuel mixture. will make it burn dirty.

Dirty as incomplete and inefficient burn. When that happens more CO is put out.

So that Buddy heater that sits in the bottom of your sled or in the back of your truck going down

the highway is not a good thing. At least put it in a pillow case or something.

How about that Mr Heater Cooker(although not the ventless heater we're talking about) with the rusty screen and spills from cooking on it.

Those things are pumping out CO like crazy.

Give the heater an air source.

Its going to burn oxygen and you need that to breath too.

I wouldn't want to rely on the low oxygen shutoff either.

When the heater isn't getting the correct amount of oxygen it won't burn clean.

An air vent down low and one up high.

If the heater isn't getting the correct amount of fuel it won't burn clean either.

Cold temps, low propane levels, too small of tank for heater, dirty regulators, dirty orifice, and so on

The heater is intended to burn at minimum set temp. If you go below that the heating element can't burn the gases

efficiently and will give off higher levels of CO.

An air vent down low and one up high.

The perfect storm is when you start adding these up.

A heater with not enough air for combustion giving of CO.

A dirty burner.

Lack of fuel for clean burn.

Less oxygen for you.

CO poisoning is when your body isn't able to use oxygen.

It also accumulative so getting outside for fresh air does nothing because when you walk back in your start accumulating more where you left off.

A CO detector and a supply of good batteries.

I have a detector that when its cold and I put the batteries in it, it beeps the low battery alarm.

I had to switch to quality like the Energizer e2 Photo L91 Camera battery.

I would trust this type heater over an open propane heater with chimney.

I'm not talking the propane enclosed units with power vent here.

I'm talking the type that look like a woodstove with open bottom for air supply and a chimmey that sell for around $100.

Never with a Mr. Heater Cooker or sunflower types the likes either.

[newoodhntr]

Where is the best place to mount the co detector on the ceiling or near the floor?

[Pat K]

The instructions with the Kidde detectors I installed in my home recommended they be placed 12" below the ceiling. CO weighs the same as normal air, but is usually in warm air that will rise above the cooler air.

Place them away from the heater and close to the bunks.

[yaggie]

The instructions with the Kidde detectors I installed in my home recommended they be placed 12" below the ceiling. CO weighs the same as normal air, but is usually in warm air that will rise above the cooler air.

Place them away from the heater and close to the bunks.

First off CO2 is heavier than air and will accumilate at lowest point. CO2 detectors should be located near the floor or bed height. The units which say to install higher are smoke detector/CO2 combo unit. Smoke detection is the priority with these and smoke will rise to the ceiling.

[delcecchi]

CO2 and CO (carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide) are different. One will kill at low concentrations, the other is relatively innocuous and makes drinks fizz.

The detector is for CO, carbon monoxide, which is slightly lighter than air.

[Pat K]

Originally posted by yaggie

First off CO2 is heavier than air and will accumilate at lowest point. CO2 detectors should be located near the floor or bed height. The units which say to install higher are smoke detector/CO2 combo unit. Smoke detection is the priority with these and smoke will rise to the ceiling.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I heat my 8 x 12 perm house with an unvented heater. It's the "Sportsmans" brand made by Reddy. Been using it since 03 when I built the house. No one has woke up dead yet.

However, people are often coming and going and the door opens and closes a lot. I also leave a window cracked and have a co detecor that has only gone off when I'm drilling holes.

After leaving it on for an entire weekend the moisture starts to accumulate on the ceiling. It's not real bad but you get a drip on your head from time to time.

[Bigsmitty]

Direct Vent Direct Vent Direct Vent

I cant stand being in a house with a vent free unit in.

Maybe those who use them alot get used to the odor and atmosphere.

MNice Nailed it.

I would consider a sleeper house a Bedroom and an RV.

Just Sayin.

[R_B]

I have slept in a few different houses with non vented heaters. I always keep a window open. Not dead yet. That being said I would much rather sleep in a house that has a direct vent (or some type of exhaust venting) for peace of mind. I went with a direct vent in my wheel house.

[Luzbel]

If your homemade pos fish house has alot of cracks and the door seal is non existen and a windy day... I would have not problem with the ventless heaters.. but I will be very concern about sleeping in a better built house...after a heavy drinking ice fishing night,I might forget to crack open the window... just saying