Propane Gas Fireplace

[IslandTractor]

I'd rather pay a little more on usage rates and live longer. What are your thoughts?

I'm with you though I wouldn't be too concerned about an unvented "recreational" fireplace log set for occasional use. The primary heating system should definitely be vented especially in the northern half of the country.

 

[johnk]

IslandTractor,
Not should be. It has to be vented if it is the primary heat source. A law in this area of the country. Life is worth more than 99.9% efficency. At least on my end...

 

[slowrev]

I am going with an unvented log set. Mine will be only for occasional decorative and emergency use and I dont trust the existing chimney for safety. Solid but from the soot in the surrouding area in the attic it leaks a bit....
I of course have CO detectors....
Ben

 

[CurlyDave]

I am going with an unvented log set. Mine will be only for occasional decorative and emergency use and I dont trust the existing chimney for safety. Solid but from the soot in the surrouding area in the attic it leaks a bit....

When I retired my old wood burning stove, I replaced it with a gas one and inserted a B-vent inside the old chimney. The top of it ended up just where the old cap is, and it works quite well.

This may be more work, but I bet you could do the same thing with a gas insert and run the vent up your existing chimney...

 

[slowrev]

When I retired my old wood burning stove, I replaced it with a gas one and inserted a B-vent inside the old chimney. The top of it ended up just where the old cap is, and it works quite well.

This may be more work, but I bet you could do the same thing with a gas insert and run the vent up your existing chimney...

Getting that damper out of the way looks to be a royal pain + the chimney is not a straight shot....Just not worth it. I have already bolted a steel plate over the top. One less heat loss area.

 

[Highbeam]

It's Ok if the chimney has a bend. I just had a stainless steel liner installed in the masonry chimney of my wood burning stove. Just look at it like a big stiff metal dryer vent made to withstand the heat of 3 chimney fires. The bends make it harder but nothing a competent installer couldn't handle. No leaks with a continuous liner.

 

[kenmac]

Unvented propane or natural gas heaters up to and under 40,000 BTU's can be sold but are code violations in western NY if they are used as the primary source of heat. They all have have oxygen Depletion sensors but how does the common contracor test them? Definitely a liability to light them and along with the condensation no thanks. I'd rather pay a little more on usage rates and live longer. What are your thoughts?

A person that uses a space heater for primary heat source in any city / state/ county , that goes by international gas code is in violation of that code. I have no problem nor seen any problems with the new ods heaters / gas logs as a back up source of heat.

 

[greenedeere]

I removed a dutchwest wood burning stove after 20 years of use.It was rated at 90%,installed a set of ventless gas logs and monitored all bad things that are supposed to exists.The primary source of heat for a 3100 sq. ft. home with good insulation throughout windows and doors are insulated glass and do not vapor up.I watched the humidity level closely on cool days with little % of vapor to several days use with hardly any more.

 

[IslandTractor]

installed a set of ventless gas logs ....The primary source of heat for a 3100 sq. ft. home...

I don't think you'd find the manufacturer would approve of that set up nor would most building codes or local regulations. I doubt a licensed professional would install something like that which raises concerns about whether it was installed correctly too. There was a teenage girl killed a couple of years ago by an improperly installed ventless heating device. Testing it for excess water vapor after installation is nice but did you really monitor CO levels or test for minor but toxic products of combustion? The nice "yellow" flames are indications of incomplete combustion and raise concerns. I imagine with a new install and everything working correctly even those tests would have been fine right now but what about five years from now? Are you going to have it professionally maintained every year? What you are doing is unfortuanately exactly the sort of thing that is inherently unsafe even though it seems reasonable. Using ventless logs as a primary heat source just ain't a good idea.

 

[kenmac]

I don't think you'd find the manufacturer would approve of that set up nor would most building codes or local regulations. I doubt a licensed professional would install something like that which raises concerns about whether it was installed correctly too. There was a teenage girl killed a couple of years ago by an improperly installed ventless heating device. Testing it for excess water vapor after installation is nice but did you really monitor CO levels or test for minor but toxic products of combustion? The nice "yellow" flames are indications of incomplete combustion and raise concerns. I imagine with a new install and everything working correctly even those tests would have been fine right now but what about five years from now? Are you going to have it professionally maintained every year? What you are doing is unfortuanately exactly the sort of thing that is inherently unsafe even though it seems reasonable. Using ventless logs as a primary heat source just ain't a good idea.

A nat. gas range will produce more ppm of co than ventless logs on ventless space heater.I have a co meter that cost around $3000.00 . I use this meter all the time to check for co. These ventless heaters & logs very little if any any co. levels to worry about. People would probably get more co from smoking 1 cigarette than they would get all year from these appliances.These appliances aren't really all that dangerous or they would be outlawed all together