Re: Propane space heater - vented vs unvented???

In article
<07f823ef-6524-43bf-9be4-6a95c48e2ddd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
sandy <fossilnut@xxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm spending my first winter in our newly renovated (and well
insulated) 650 square foot cabin in NE Washington where it can get
pretty chilly. I have a gas fireplace but after it was installed,
found that it was for show only and doesn't put out much heat.

Does it have a blower on it? I have friends who have a gas fireplace
with tubes that run around it and a small blower motor. It puts
out heat like crazy. If you don't have a blower, perhaps your
fireplace can be retro-fit for one.

So
basically, my only source of heat is electric and I'm starting to feel
a little vulnerable. So far I don't remember ever loosing power here
but my neighbor tells me that last winter the power did go out for
quite a few hours on two occasions.

You should worry. An ice storm could cut off your power for a
month. Just look at those people in Oklahoma earlier this year.
I also recall a wind storm hitting the Twin Cities a few years
ago, and people being without power for 10 days right in the
heart of the major city.

I'm thinking of getting a wall
mounted propane space heater to use probably for emergencies only.
I'm leaning toward the unvented ones (which are cheaper and not as
large....my wall space is limited in our small cabin). But I'm
concerned as to how safe they are. The direct vent heaters are much
more expensive and larger and the only wall space I have that would
accommodate it is next to a hall closet where the door would open in
front of it (of course, I could keep the door closed which the heater
was in use)

I have seen gas catalytic heaters that do a good job. They have
no open flame. They do use oxygen, so that is where you have to
be careful. The good ones have a low oxygen cut-off. All you
need to do is crack open a window and let a little air in, and
you should be fine. You may want back-up carbon monoxide and
low oxygen alarms just to be double safe.

I also have a small 2 KW honda generator (which I've got to remember
to get fresh gas for and start up) that might help in an emergency and
might be able to handle a small electric space heater.

I don't like that idea. You want the generator to run your
refrigerator and freezer so you don't lose your food. Also,
going from gasoline to generator to space heater is not all
that economical. Going for a gas to heat is usually much more
efficient.

Another idea would be to get a small wood store. They can put
out tremendous amounts of heat, plus you can cook and make
coffee on them when the power is out.

-john-

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John A. Weeks III           612-720-2854            john@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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