BTU question (how many?) Ventless Fireplace

[Richard]

We're looking at some Ventless fireplace logs. Room is not totally rectangular. Rough dimensions are 16x19x8 1/2' however, there is a 6' wide opening (no doors at all) to a side room. This room, octogonal shaped is for arguments sake, 12x12. Back to the MAIN room, there are some french doors to a full bathroom (9x15x8 1/2) and then there are more french doors to the foyer (8x15x8 1/2)

(bathroom is off to one side of this 16x19 room and the octogonal room is on the other side of this 16x19 room)

I don't know if things like the foyer matter.... if they do not, fine. If it does matter, then the foyer has right next to these doors, the stairway heading up.

Reason I mention that is currently, we get a lot of airflow from the basement upwards.

Looking at some BTU calculators, putting in the dimensions of the room only, I'm getting roughly 38K BTU. The logs the wife has looked at are rated at 28K BTU. Interestingly, it says BTU "input".

This fireplace is in a walkout basement, next to the buried wall. It will have two dedicated 100lb LP tanks with it on a A/B switchable manifold/regulator.

Since we're going to have all this built in with some shelves next to it, the one mistake I do not want to make is buy something undersized and have to live with a mistake or, have to rip out the bookshelves that will be on the sides.

Is my gut feeling correct in that we're looking at something that's too small??

 

[CurlyDave]

A lot depends on your insulation.

I would strongly recommend against ventless, which is illegal in many states. The combustion products go directly into the room. Most of the time this is safe, but some people are allergic to some of the combustion products. It is not just water vapor and Carbon Dioxide that is vented into the room. Whatever is used to odorize the gas is also burned and released in the room.

 

[Richard]

Regarding insulation...

one (long) wall is exterior with dirt up most of the back side.

Another wall (2 walls) are exterior with 8x16 block and of course windows everywhere....

Most of the ceiling has insulation as (will) one side wall which is connected to the garage which itself is heated.

(I'm rambling, I know)

I'm with you on the concerns of ventless. I personally would like the idea of a wood burning fireplace. Especially since I'm in the middle of a ton of woods with more wood than I could ever burn.

Regardless of my thoughts, the wife wants......

So my quest for ventless continues...

 

[bp fick]

The water vapor produced by ventless appliances can be incredible. For heavier use of 30 hours or more per week, It'll saturate pretty good and be a source of mold concerns. The fumes are somewhat minimal, but they are there and will annoy many people, especially those with allergy sensitivity.

Ventless is for the very occasional user. Few hours a week kind of thing, whether it is a fireplace or wall heater.

 

[Richard]

I'd say that describes us then.

These (we have another in the living room) will be secondary/backup type heat. Not primary.

Actually, with the unit upstairs, it only gets turned on when we're home and (of course) if it's cold outside.

I do not know the BTU rating of the one we currently have. It's got two 'rows' of flames and can get the place pretty warm on its own.

We usually turn it on the absolute smallest flame it will put out and turn the ceiling fan on. Our floorplan has ZERO enclosed rooms on this floor so the heat is shared between the living room, foyer, kitchen and TWO dining rooms (one with 19' cath. ceiling). Roughly 1,000 sq/ft

Then of course, much of the heat works its way upstairs to the 2nd floor. At times, it can get warm in the living room yet still be chilly say, in the kitchen. I''ll then turn the blower to the HVAC on to help distribute the heat through all the vents as well as mix it in with the air downstairs. (basement/1st floor are on same system)

Regarding a unit going downstairs, it will be more 50/50 on warmth/looks. Since heat rises, the basement is the coolest place in the house.

I intend to connect some kind of switch next to the fireplace so I can flip the switch and turn the HVAC blower on from there without having to go upstairs. This will in my mind, serve to add some good heat to the basement as well as help distribute it upwards while the fan is on.

 

[Kays Supply]

Read your directions carefully. If your home is sealed up tight like most, the installation book has a chart that says to open a window to allow fresh air into the area. That makes it all looks and no heat. If it is at all possible a vented fireplace is much safer and can have a heat exchanger to allow it to heat an area without any ill effects.

 

[kenmac]

Ventless heaters and lovs ape legal per IFGC. IFGC states ventless are not to be used as a primary source of heat. Some local cities won't allow their use. Many houses are built with ventless fire places . Many people have a problem using ventless. I have used ventless in my home for 23 years. Maybe that's why my brain is fried

 

[coobie]

I can tell you one LP ventless heater not to buy is a PRO-COM,junk IMHO.I bought a pro-com 30,000 BTU last year from northern tools.I used the heater in my insulated barn about 6 times last year and it took a dump.After speaking with pro-com customer service(what a JOKE)they sent me a new regulator today to see if thats the problem.Needless to say I getting rid of the heater ASAP.I bought a 30,000 btu empire LP heater that is supposed to made in the USA,I HOPE SO.Anyway don,t make a $200 mistake and buy a pro-com like I did.Pay a little extra and buy the empire for around $350.coobie

 

[rtimgray]

I have had the complete opposite experience of cobbie (not doubting your comments at all, sir.).

We bought a Pro Com from nothern tool on clearance because we wanted a back-up LP heat source for our heat pump system in our new house (we moved in about 3 years ago). We have used and used and used it throughout the cooler months, and the only problem that we have ever had with it was the a bushing/bearing in the blower fan keeps falling apart. The fan still works fine, but it rattles a bit.

On cold days when we are home, we probably run the heater maybe 3 or 4 hours. It is situated centrally in the house, which a two story, largely open space, about 2,000 sq. ft. I have never noticed any increased moisture/humidity and have never had any other reactions to its normal use. I would say that our house is sealed pretty tightly (new construction between 2004-2007). One contributing factor may be that the staircase to the upstairs acts as something of a "chimney" and a lot of heat goes upstairs (which we like) and the upstairs has a 10' ceiling.

I know that the heater saved our bacon during the ice storm about 2 years ago when we were without power for 18 days. We had originally bought it because it was cheap and we had decided if we liked it we would buy a "nicer" unit. We never have gotten around to that yet.

We also have a CO detector and have never had an issue (we bought it just because of the ventless heater).

Good luck and take care.