|
Why are these heaters called "vent
free"?
They are called "vent free" because they are unvented. Vent free heaters have no
flue to vent the hot gases outside. All of the heat energy, including
by-products of combustion, are vented inside the dwelling.
Why are vent free heaters so popular?
Vent free heaters are 99.9% efficient! That's enough to get anyone's attention.
With such a dramatic rise in fuel costs over the past decade, people are looking
for solutions to lower their monthly fuel bill. What better way to reduce your
heating bill than to install a nearly 100% fuel efficient heating appliance.
Unlike a central furnace system, which puts heat into every room in the house
(whether those rooms are occupied or not), a separate room heater, often called
a zone heater, heats only the room being occupied at the time. This room is
typically the family room or great room of the house where home occupants spend
a vast majority of their time. With a room heater, heat energy is not being
wasted in empty or unoccupied spaces. Therefore, homeowners can turn down their
central furnace and only heat the room they are occupying. And by using a vent
free heater, virtually all (99.9%) of the heat energy is being utilized. BTU
input equals BTU output because there is no flue.
What are the effects of the combustion by-products emitted by a vent free
heater?
Combustion of gas, either natural or propane, produces carbon dioxide, water
vapor and trace amounts of other elements. A very small amount of carbon
monoxide (measured in parts per million) may be emitted, but well, well below
standards of safety set forth by regulatory agencies. A burning cigarette
sitting in an ash tray emits up to 10 times more carbon monoxide into the air
than a 25,000 BTU vent free heater.
Vent free heaters are by design very clean burning when properly installed and
cared for. For optimum combustion efficiency and operational safety, 1 square
inch of free outside air per 1000 BTU input is sufficient. This amount of air is
normally pre-existing in most homes through natural infiltration from doorways,
windows, connected spaces, etc. In unusual circumstances, it may be necessary to
crack open a window to allow for adequate combustion air.
A little higher room humidity is the most notable difference between a vent free
heater and one that is vented to the outside. Water vapor occurs through the
combustion process of the gas. Most people find a little added humidity to be a
valuable benefit during the heating season where the relative humidity indoors
compared to outdoors is quite low. No need to add a humidifier to the space when
operating a vent free heater. Installing the heater in a laundry room or any
other already humid environment may produce more humidty to those rooms than is
desired.
But are they safe?
Yes. All vent free heaters for home use must have an oxygen depletion sensor
(ODS), a safety mechanism built into the pilot assembly. This feature shuts off
the appliance should the oxygen level in the room become insufficient for
complete combustion of the gas. In any case, vent free heaters over 10,000 BTU's
are not recommend for bedrooms, and in some states not allowed in bedrooms at
all. And we should point out here that there are still a few states across the
U.S. who do no approve vent free at all. This does not necessarily mean they are
illegal to own and operate, it just means that they are not yet approved and a
building inspector and/or gas utility may "red tag" the appliance. Always check
local codes.
Keep in mind that a vent free heater is a "secondary" heat source to supplement
your primary heating system. It's not a good idea to use vent free heaters in
every room of the house and operate them simultaneously. Doing so may produce
excess levels of condensation forming on windows and other cold surfaces. Excess
moisture can also be a source of mold growth, which is unhealthy.
A ton of information is available on the internet concerning the use of vent
free heaters. Most of this information is very favorable, but you may also find
some negative opinions. This is usually the result of misapplication or improper
use of vent free. Here at Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc. we actively promote
and sell vent free heaters because they are safe, economical to operate easy to
install and affordable to purchase. We have sold and promoted vent free heaters
for over 20 years and have hundreds of very happy customers. For those who
simply don't want vent free, we also offer various models of direct vent wall
heaters. The public can view these heaters at www.heatersunlimited.com or
www.infraredinfo.com.
About the Author:
Scott Workman is owner president of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in
Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit
http://heatersunlimited.com or
http://infraredinfo.com
Find Local Heating & Cooling Pros. Get Up to 4 Quotes Now. It's Quick, Free, and Easy!
Related Tips and Advice:
Heating and Cooling
Electric
Radiant Heating Systems
Home
Central Heating Radiator
Effective
Radiant Heat Systems
Alternative Heating for your home
Hydronic
vs. Forced Air Heating and Cooling
Tankless
Water Heaters
Gas Water
Heaters
Radiant
Heating and Radiant Barriers
Underfloor Radiant Heating
Radiant
Floor Heat: Tile over Tile
Quartz
Infrared Heaters
Vent Free
Gas Heaters
Benefits
of Outdoor Wood Furnaces
Radiant
Heat Tubing
|
