Heater experts - ventless

[Ishmel]

Hey all! I know the subject of vented vs. ventless heaters gets a lot of air time here, and I understand the dangers of a ventless heater. What I'm curious about is the difference between a "blue flame" ventless and a ceramic radiant ventless. Is there a difference? Is one safer than another in your opinion? Thanks!

Ishmel

[bgmny]

Ishmel, I think your answer depends on what you plan on using the fish house for. If you plan on using it strictly for fishing without ever using it for sleeping in then the ventless type is fine. If you want the ultimate safe way, then buy a vented heater and get yourself a carbon monoxide detector/explosive gas detector. Cheap investment for your life. The ventless heaters are more efficient because you are getting as much out of your heater as you are putting in. Also if cost is an issue, the ventless heaters are alot cheaper. Hope this helps!

[Juice]

How much are ventless heaters?

[blue_healer_guy]

have both, ventless around $225 and vented around $550. Rough estimates.

[Ishmel]

Thanks for the rapid responses. I have never slept in my fishhouse, but I do have bunks in there in case I can ever get away for an overnight. I will probably use a ventless because of the expense and the ease of hanging one, will definately have a top of the line CO2 detector as well as very good ventilation.

I know that both the "blue flame" and "infrared" ceramic heaters are ventless, I just want to know if one is perferable to another.

Ishmel

[norm]

ishmel- i am not sure on this since i am about as far from a heater expert as you can get, but, i think i read somewhere that with the radiant heaters, you can aim the heat in the direction you want it to go. maybe theres a fan in it or something. but like i said i am no expert so i could be WAY WAY off on this one

[Nutty Fisherman]

I have used both and in my and only my opion I would say the radiant heater worked better for me. It seemed to warm things up faster.

[korn_fish]

my opinion is htat the blue flame is a little better. Ceramic will warm you up faster if you sit in front of it, where as the blue flame will heat the surrounding area. So if you are going to be sitting anywhere close to the heater, you migght wnat to go with the blue flame.

As for the cost, The comfort glow, dyna glow are the same unit and many units are the same, with just different name plate put on. 20,000 BTU dyna glo with thermostat for 170 at fleet farm. That didnt have teh blower, which runs about another 70 if you go that route or you can just get a couple 12 volt fans for $10 to help circulate the air. Last night I went out and started it up and it only took 5 minutes to get the internal temp to 70deg at the floor and 90 at the ceiling in my 7X14

[iffwalleyes]

ishmel

I myself have a blue flame and love it. Now everyone correct me if I am wrong but the ceramic heaters that I have seen only have a low, medium, and high setting. They don't have a thermostat. The Blue Flame I know has a thermostat which was the reason I bought one. Now for those who say your dumb for putting one of those heaters in a house that you plan on sleeping in I don't think they really have a clue. If you install the heater properly and vent it properly you will be just fine. Plus I know that my blue flame has a low oxygen shut off just like the MR. Heater Buddies. One other thing you mentioned getting a CO2 detector that is a great idea and every propane heated house vented or non vented should have one installed.

[korn_fish]

iffwalleyes -

The comfort glow models have a ceramic infrared model with thermostat. However, I do beleive that the settings are still low - med - high and the thermostat only kicks between the setting and off/pilot i.e high-to-off or med to off etc. The blue flame, like yours, doesn't have specific settings and you can dial in better to a specific temp range with the thermostat than you can with the infrared.

[Eric Wettschreck]

The blue flame heaters are "Convection" type heaters. Meaning they heat air. The ceramic heaters are "Radiant" meaning they heat objects. Both types of heat both have pros and cons.

Radiant- Pros, Heat things up much faster. Usually less money to buy.

Cons, Since they heat objects a lot of condensation will form on the objects being heated. Be ready to wipe off everything a lot. Also, difficult to maintain a certain set temp. Constantly on and off. Anyone using a sunflower type heater knows this drill well.

Convection- Pros, Heat the air, less condensation, much easier to maintain a set temp, most have adjustable "on/off" thermostats. More comfortable heat.

Cons, They take longer to get a cold room warm. A small fan should be used to move air or the floor area will probably be cold, more $$$$ to purchase.

Having said all that. I just bought a Blue flame ventless heater for one of my houses. I installed it on Saturday. I had a bunch more work to do on the inside of my house so I fired up the heater and went to work. I'll never go back to another radiant type heater in my house again. Sure, I'll use the sunflower in my portable, but never again in the permanent. The heat from the convection heater was just WAY more comfortable and stable.

My $.02

[Ishmel]

Thanks Guys. I think I'm going with the ceramic. Cost is an issue for me and I'm not too worried about condinsation. My house is so drafty and small that if I crank it up I should have enough ventilation to keep the moisture to a minimum.

Thanks!