Permanent Heater gone bad.....need ideas

[KrappieKilla]

I have a permy and my heater value went bad (same as value on a hot water heater) I believe. I bought this house used and this seemed like too complex of a system for a ice house heater.

I have a sunflower (and is what I am temporarily using) but like mentioned in many forums I am afraid of the fumes in my permy.

My (broken) heater is a 14" steel cube and just has one burner in it, then the gas value one side then ran out to propane.

I want to simplify this, and also fix it obviously. I was thinking putting my sunflower heater in the steel box and finding a way to connect it in, but this worries me.

Anyone have experience here, that would be awesome, thank you

[hamms-scooter]

For a permy I would go with a big buddy heater. You could use the sunflower to help boost up to temp then maintain it with the big buddy. At least this is what my dad did when his perm heater went.

[Ringtailhunter]

My propane heater is sitting in the garage this winter. I am heating the perm with a charcoal firebox vented out the roof. It will use wood or coal (not the match light) I can buy a bag of coal for 6$ at target. It does a pretty good job too. Used to go through appx 20$ a week in propane, now it's just 6$ this year so far.

[KrappieKilla]

My propane heater is sitting in the garage this winter. I am heating the perm with a charcoal firebox vented out the roof. It will use wood or coal (not the match light) I can buy a bag of coal for 6$ at target. It does a pretty good job too. Used to go through appx 20$ a week in propane, now it's just 6$ this year so far.

Ring, that is brilliant. I may just rip all the propane controls of my box...again it is a 14" (vented) cube, do you see any problem in me just putting like 4" of coal on the bottom and lighting that?

How much do you use? and how often do you add more?

I have a well insulated 6 X 8 what would you suggest? thanks

[Ringtailhunter]

I don't know what your cube is made of. Mine is made from a left over steel column 12x12.

I just toss in the coal on top of some wood or paper to get it going. I can control draft, so I can control heat. The only issue is that you need to take out the hot stuff when you leave. My box is pretty heavy duty, and shuts up air tight. When I leave I just leave my coals going until they starve themselves of o2. Use your best judgement, I have insurance.

[KrappieKilla]

Mine is pretty heavy duty, with either 3/16 or 1/4 steel walls.

It also has a door on it to control draft

Only issue I see is that it is bolted into floor meaning I would have to leave it in house and clean hot coal out when I leave.

Any other tips you have learned using coal in your house that would help me not burn mine down thanks

[randerson]

Make a removeable ash pan and have your coal above it so you can dump hot ash out when you leave

[Tom7227]

I hope you are not being serious. If you burn coal you need a device that is made out of something like 1/4 inch steel with a damper and a chimney made out of tin not aluminum.

[broken_line]

i think having your sun flower in the box is a safer idea also easier.. you can get a battery powerd co2 alram for 12 bucks

[Ringtailhunter]

When I set mine up I tested it and did not leave it alone. I have a foot distance from any combustible materials. I guess a person can try anything they want. I would not start a fire and leave it un-attended unless it was in a safe enclosed box I completely trusted. Just like any other fire place common sense is a general rule.

[hamms-scooter]

I think the co2 would be going off alot. Get a big buddy heater...

[rbs]

get a vented wall heater and use propane. propane is cheap enough and you will be burning outside air and you wont have to worry about anything