Basement Heat

   / Basement Heat #1  

dieselscout80

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
2,288
Location
South Carolina
Tractor
New Holland TC45DA
I am finishing up the finishing of our basement and I want to add some sort of heat down there since my heatpumps thermostat is only in the upstairs. I have a propane gas log upstairs with a 150 gal propane tank.

The basement is 24'x34' = 816 sqft with two 12'x16' bed rooms and a 7'x10' bathroom the rest is a rec room/common area. THe basement in a daylight basement on one side (bedrooms) and below/in ground on other sides.

What is the best sort of propane heater?

Will this work or something like it?
ProCom Radiant Vent-Free Liquid Propane Heater — 25,000 BTU, Model# ML250TPA | Propane Heaters | Northern Tool + Equipment
 
   / Basement Heat #2  
Man, I jus' went thru this. In WA state, NO PROPANE in the basement. The inspection-code people said that if it was natural gas that is another story, but the propane was definite no-no. It was something about being heavier than air and could cause bad things in a enclosed basement. I've been asking about getting Natural Gas ran up our street, but, the local gas main people just laughed at me when I asked about that, I guess that meant NO. bjr
 
   / Basement Heat #3  
I am finishing up the finishing of our basement and I want to add some sort of heat down there since my heatpumps thermostat is only in the upstairs. I have a propane gas log upstairs with a 150 gal propane tank.

The basement is 24'x34' = 816 sqft with two 12'x16' bed rooms and a 7'x10' bathroom the rest is a rec room/common area. THe basement in a daylight basement on one side (bedrooms) and below/in ground on other sides.

What is the best sort of propane heater?

Will this work or something like it?
ProCom Radiant Vent-Free Liquid Propane Heater 25,000 BTU, Model# ML250TPA | Propane Heaters | Northern Tool + Equipment

I just finished our basement 4 years ago and I put in propane fireplace logs. Works great. Ken Sweet
 
   / Basement Heat #4  
We put in a new propane space heater, 50,000 btu, last winter. It heats the entire house easily and inexpensively, relatively speaking. It is a vented, console style from Empire. (ventless create a lot of water vapor)

Still, not too happy with heavier-than-air propane in my basement. May move it upstairs in the future, but there really is no good place for it, other than the basement. That would also force me to put electric baseboards in the basement, which would be fine by me.
 
   / Basement Heat #6  
Man, I jus' went thru this. In WA state, NO PROPANE in the basement. The inspection-code people said that if it was natural gas that is another story, but the propane was definite no-no. It was something about being heavier than air and could cause bad things in a enclosed basement. I've been asking about getting Natural Gas ran up our street, but, the local gas main people just laughed at me when I asked about that, I guess that meant NO. bjr

Our county does not allow fireplace "helpers/starters" for the same reason. NG is OK, but not propane.

Don't know enough to know if it is bogus or not. Many people just install one after the final inspection is over.

I have NG, so I am not affected.

Back on subject though... I have two garage heaters that run on NG that are very similar to the one linked to by the OP. There are lots out on the market, both in LP and NG versions.

I love them for my garage, but I would not want to use one in a living space... even though they are considered OK. There may not be any gas being pumped into the air, but there is some emmissions from the burn. However small, it is noticable after a while. Having said that, I know people that use them in living spaces.

As far as operation, they are pretty cool. They have O2 sensors that cutoff if depletion of O2 is sensed. They also have the classic thermocouple fail-safe pilot. These units are pretty safe. The are also thermostatically controlled so they can maintain a constant temp. I keep mine burning (I have two, one each in two separate garage stalls) 24x7 in the winter.
 
   / Basement Heat #7  
Have you considered electric baseboard heat?

Easy to install and pretty cheap. I installed these in our house when I finished our basement, just in case I needed a little extra heat here and there. Honestly rarely used them.

Now, if heat will be required all the time, they may not be the most economical over time.
 
   / Basement Heat #8  
Still, not too happy with heavier-than-air propane in my basement..



If every thing is gas tight (no leaks) No problems. You can try to supply the room off of your main duct & see how it works. I supplied off my main duct for den down stairs for heat / cooling & have no problems
 
   / Basement Heat #9  
If every thing is gas tight (no leaks) No problems. You can try to supply the room off of your main duct & see how it works. I supplied off my main duct for den down stairs for heat / cooling & have no problems

Agreed.

The additives in LP and NG (different I think) cannot be mistaken. If you have a leak, you will know it.

I had a NG leak at my meter once. It took the guy 10 minutes to find with soapy water... but I found it in 10 seconds with my nose! I first noticed it half way around the house because of the smell.

Keep in mind what is inside is "low pressure" also. Individual devices may further lower the pressure via their own regulator, but the line pressure in the house is already lowered from the tank (LP). On NG I think it is 7" of water column which is about 1/2 psi. LP is higher -- double that I think. It is still really low pressure. It isn't rocket science to seal everything up good and tight.
 
   / Basement Heat #10  
We heat our whole 2400 sq ft home with a Englander pellet stove in the basement. Love it!!! 3 1/2 tons/season.
 

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