The Truth About Vent Free Gas Heating Appliances

Millions of people worldwide are enjoying theneed to know that the combustion process
benefits of heating their living spaces withproduces water. A 20,000 BTU vent free heater
vent-free gas heaters, logs, fireplaces, and stoves.will produce about ¼ gallon of water into a living
Why choose vent free?area each hour.
Vent free (unvented) heaters are 99% energyIs water vapor a pollutant?
efficient! That’s because all of the usable heatNot in moderate amounts. Too much, however,
energy goes into the space. No heat is wastedcould increase a person’s susceptibility to
through a flue to the outside air. Therefore, theyupper respiratory disorders. On the other hand, so
cost just pennies an hour to operate and cancan air that is too dry, especially during the winter
save consumers a bundle in heating costs duringmonths where relative humidity indoors can be
the cold months.quite low. Note that many people feel that the
Furthermore, vent free heaters supplyextra humidity actually makes them feel healthier
supplemental heat where you need it, when youand alleviates the need to add some type of
need it, allowing for lower central heating demandshumidifier. A vent free heater can provide that
in areas such as family rooms, dens, kitchens,extra needed humidity.
dining rooms and bathrooms. They are ideal forIf you notice excessive condensation on windows
hard-to-heat areas such as basements, roomand other cold surfaces, or in wall cavities, that is
additions, sun porches or utility rooms.a good indicator that you don’t have enough
Are vent free heaters safe? What about indoorfresh air to offset the water vapor being emitted
air quality (IAQ)?into your space. This can occur in a home
Here’s a little chemistry 101. We know thatenvironment even without a vent free appliance
perfect combustion of fuel (natural or propaneoperating. There are other producers of humidity
gas) produces carbon dioxide and water. Properlyinside the average house such as washing
installed and maintained vent free heaters fall intomachines, dryers, bathrooms kitchens and people.
that category of nearly perfect, completeVentilation into every home is important. As the
combustion. As long as there is adequateold adage states "the solution to pollution is
ventilation to the space, these products ofdilution". Infiltration of outside air is good. Some
combustion are considered natural and non-toxic.newer homes are so tight that mechanical
We deal with these elements to some degreeventilation must be added to sufficiently keep
every day.concentrations of combustion products and other
What if oxygen levels are too low or carboncontaminants at low levels.
dioxide levels are too high?The truth is, vent free heaters are, in and of
That can produce toxic levels of carbon monoxidethemselves, extremely safe, economical to
(CO), which could affect a person’s health.operate and, when properly sized and maintained,
The good news is that an oxygen depletionare proven to meet today’s rigorous
sensor (ODS) built into all vent free appliancesstandards for air quality. And as long as
designed for dwelling spaces of the homeconsumers demand energy-saving products, the
guarantees that the oxygen levels never dropfuture of vent-free appliances looks very bright
below 18 percent. Therefore, even if someoneindeed.
fails to follow proper ventilation guidelines, it isA qualified vent free appliance dealer will ask all
unlikely that lethal levels of CO could ever occur.the right questions to help you determine the
From a combustion safety viewpoint, properlyappropriate amount of BTU’s needed to heat
sized and maintained vent free heaters areyour space and give helpful guidelines for ensuring
excellent for most spaces. However, consumerssafe, trouble-free operation.