ventless heater

[NAG]

Does anyone have experience with using ventless heaters? the manual recommends a 100# tank. Is this true? I have a 30,000 BTU Glowarm heater that I picked up off of hsolist for dirt cheap. Can I get away with using a smaller tank?

[fishinalot]

You may want to run away from it! There not very safe and they are hard to control the right heat temp. My $.02

[hanson]

#1- I don't like ventless in an ice house.

#2- 100lb tank will run a heater much, much better than a smaller tank, especially in COLD, COLD weather.

When I first built my shack, I ran my vented Empire off of a 20lb tank that I brought up to the shack with me every time. The furnace had problems staying lit and it had problems maintaining heat when the tank was running low. Last winter I ran a 100lb on the house and it made a world of difference.

For some odd reason, it sure seamed like the 100lb lasted A LOT longer compared to a similar poundage of 20 pounders.

[iffwalleyes]

Don't be scared of these heaters. They are great. I have used one for years and had no trouble. Yes they do run better on a 100# tank. The most important thing about them is too have your house vented decently. Windows are good as well as other luver vents. Make sure that you install it as manufacture recommends. If you do those two things you will have no trouble. The other thing you need to have is a CO2 sensor. Even a house with a vented heater needs to have one of these.

[hanson]

#1- My "personal preference" is vented heaters.

#2- Iffwalleyes has some very, very good tips for using a ventless. Read thoroughly!!

[anyfishwilldo]

Quote:

---

The other thing you need to have is a CO2 sensor.

---

Do you have a kegmeister in the ice house? I was just wondering why else you would need to check the CO2(carbon dioxide). I think you mean CO(carbon monoxide). Just giving you a hard time.

[Hooked On a Feeling]

I run a ventless heater and it works great, save the money and buy the newer style ventless with a low oxygen shut-off sensor and back it up with a CO detector. MIne only calls for heat when it needs to, so the heater is not always running. I have an 8X16 with a 30,000 btu which is to big for that house, I've never had the thermostat past low setting, even when it was -20 outside. I would find a 10-15,000 btu for a well insulated house. I also have a #100 tank.

[Sonicrunch]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

The other thing you need to have is a CO2 sensor.

---

Do you have a kegmeister in the ice house? I was just wondering why else you would need to check the CO2(carbon dioxide). I think you mean CO(carbon monoxide). Just giving you a hard time.

---

CO2 can kill you too. It will cause asphyxiation in high concentrations. Luckily CO2 has taste and odor. CO does not. I do agree that the real danger is CO.

Googel LAKE NYOS for an interesting story. You will want to read about the 1986 disaster.

[MuskieJunkie]

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for getting better heat circulation with the ventless heaters. It seems like you always get the old - 90 degrees on the top bunk yet the holes freeze over.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Put in some fans. I use computer fans but I'd like to get something bigger. This will circulate the air and help keep the lower 2 feet warm.

[coldmark]

I have a 10,000 btu vermont casting ventless and it runs great on my 30# tank. I do have a moisture problem and might switch to a vented. I wish they weren't so expensive. When it's really cold, I turn on the oven or bake a couple of pizzas. That really warms it up. I might like my ventless heater better if I would have bought a bigger one. The price was too good to pass up and it is very well made, just not vented. I have oxygen shutoff and CO detector too. The only downside is the moisture, can't dry the kids gloves. I slept there twice last winter and kept 2 windows cracked. Alarm never went off and oxygen shortage was not a problem. Ventless is great if it's not real cold or windy.

[papabear]

the moisture is a problem with ventless. Water is a byproduct of propane combustion so that needs to go somehwere Deffinetly make sure the house is vented for fresh air with any kind of heater you use.

[fishinalot]

Ventless not only will give you head aches, but it will also cause moisture in your fish hosue. Most peaople are going to have $4000 plus into a fish house. Whats a couple hundred more to have a good direct vent in it?

[hanson]

Quote:

---

Ventless not only will give you head aches, but it will also cause moisture in your fish house.

---

Another good reason to go vented. My Empire dries the inside of my shack out really nice.

[CraigM]

My house had a ventless heater in it when I bought it to be used for supplemental heat on those really cold days. I changed it to a vented last year and it made a huge difference in comfort. The condensation inside the house is unbelievable with a ventless. Since the switch, everything dried right up. I also had trouble using 20# tanks on real cold weekends. Switched to two 40# tanks and haven't had a problem since.

[Surface Tension]

Like others said, you'll get moister build up with a ventless heater. Thats huge to me as I don't like that clammy feeling at all. That moister could also make its way inside the walls and start a mold and rot problem.

Carbon monoxide is another reason to get vented. Yes they do burn clean when everything is working right. Low pressure from the tank or a dirty element and that heater will start to burn inefficient and give off higher levels of Carbon monoxide.

I'd run a 100lb tank or two 20 lb tanks T'd together.

Downside of a vented heater is they cost more and need a battery to vent. Or should I say a couple batteries.

[cold one sd]

I use an Empire Direct Vent heater. It works great and doesn't have a fan so no batteries. I do have a couple of computer fans that I run when I want to.

[Boar]

I have a ventless Remington 30.000 btu Overkill for my house gonna down size, I go throught to much fuel even on low low. I havent had the moister problems as mentioned, a little maybe. But to circulate the top air I have two ocilating 12 volt fans mounted on the ceiling. 8 bucks a pieace at wall mart they'll be hard to find soon cause their seasonal. Boar

[hawkeye43]

I too have an empire heaters, would not use any thing else in a small or large house. I did put a small computer fan mounted on the bottom side that blows air up across the fire box. I wanted to try it to see if I could make a great heater better. I liked the air moving for drying the floor faster, but don't have to run it if i don't want. I hooked it so the fan turns on when the heater fires up and off when its done. Yes it cost more, but what good thing don't. I like tricking a house out with small things, so poeple say " Why didn't I think of that. The thing I am working on now is an alarm system that can call a cell phone and trip a load speaker alarm.