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Vented gas heater ideas.

outside | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on July 15, 2002 11:03am

Hello all,

We need to replace our ancient gas wall heater when we add on to our small ranch style house. Due to the mild climate (4 miles from ocean in San Diego, CA) and small size of house with some passive solar features, we do not need a large heater.

We would like something that would fit in a corner and save space. Probably a small gas fireplace or gas stove, but we are open to alternatives if they exist. We will definitely get something that is direct vented to eliminate the possibility of combustion gases in the house.

Does anybody have any ideas for a gas heater? Do you have any favorites or warnings?

Thanks in advance for your time.

Scott

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  1. DavidThomas | Jul 18, 2002 03:51am | #1

    Favorite:  anything natural gas and direct vent.

    Warnings:  Sleazeball manufacturers and salespeople are promoting "vent-less" fireplaces as home heating units.  Of course, if it burns gas, it vents.  But these vent into your living space.   I strongly prefer carbon dioxide, water vapor and *especially* carbon monoxide to be vented OUTSIDE the house. 

    There are low-profile (e.g. "Monitor) and wall-mount units that are direct vent out the back of the unit.  Not expensive, they are the safest option.  Available in many sizes.  Sizing can start with your current unit.  What was it rated for?  Did you every need more heat in that room?  Go up or down from there.

    David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
    1. outside | Jul 18, 2002 05:57pm | #2

      David,

      Thanks for the info. I am already sold on direct vent. I am somewhat amazed that anyone would attempt to sell anything else, considering all of the product liability issues. As a design engineer, I certainly would not design a "ventless" gas heater.

      Thanks again.

      Scott Owen

      1. User avater
        rjw | Jul 19, 2002 05:01am | #3

        Perhaps you can use your existing hot water heater for a heat source and add a radiator.  The Journal of Light Construction site used to have an article on this, I don;t know if it's still there after it's re-org.

        1. outside | Jul 19, 2002 07:39pm | #4

          Bob,

          Hmmm. Thanks for the idea. I hadn't thought of that. Might not work with existing water heater, but the addition will probably have it's own water heater. I will check into it. It sounds like a system like that might not have the effeciency of a gas stove. Just intuitive, but heating an intermediate substance is bound to have an efficiency hit.

          The wife is kind of excited about gas stoves though after I showed her this picture

          http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/fireplaces/NMrm9.htm

          she mentioned something about romantic evenings! I have this theory that humans are genetically programmed to get romantic in front of a fire. If you were a male cave dwelling hunter gatherer, being able to build a fire was probably one of the prerequisites for attracting the opposite sex.

          Thanks again. Happy Friday.

          Scott

          1. Wet_Head | Jul 20, 2002 07:19pm | #5

            Have you seen the electric fire heaters?  Looks like a flame. 

  2. RodBishop | Jul 21, 2002 06:04pm | #6

     I'm on the East coast and I've heated the house with a Rinnai propane direct vent heater for the last 5 years. I absolutely love it. Of course, after heating with a wood stove for 5 years, anything is an improvement. Truly, though, the Rinnai is great. I can set it with a slide switch from low to high, however warm you want it to be, and just let it go. Every now and then we clean the filter, but that's about it.

                                                                                                                    Rod

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