Heating, Cooking & Lighting
(Page 2 of 4)
February/March 2004
By the Mother Earth News editors
All vent-free heaters manufactured within the last 20 years come equipped with an oxygen sensor that detects reduced levels of oxygen where the heater is operating and shuts it off before a dangerous concentration of carbon monoxide accumulates. Always operate any heater according to the manufacturer's instructions, and to be doubly safe, you also should install a battery-powered CO alarm for your home (about $40).
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The Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance reports vent-free heaters are safe when used as directed. Nevertheless, the sale of vent-free heaters has been banned or restricted for many years in a number of states, cities and municipalities due to lingering safety concerns. The number of states that limit these heaters has decreased over time as safety features have improved; check your local codes before you buy a vent-free heater.
PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS
A portable gas or kerosene heater is another emergency heating option. Some units are designed for indoor or outdoor use, while others, including many camping stoves, are for outdoor use only. Be careful. The information on the product's packaging may be confusing or incomplete. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instruction manual. Because they are unvented and not permanently installed, these portable heaters are potentially more hazardous than options listed earlier.
Portable propane gas heaters are inexpensive, easy to operate and can keep you warm in an emergency. A small, 3,000 Btu catalytic (flameless) heater such as the Coleman BlackCat, designed for indoor use with proper ventilation, costs about $54 and will run for approximately eight hours on a 1-pound gas cylinder.
Another option is Mr. Heater's Portable Buddy (about $70). This indoor/outdoor unit, with an oxygen depletion sensor safety feature, can be connected to a 20-pound cylinder, such as those used with gas grills, and will run for about 100 hours and generate up to 9,000 Btu. (The 20-pound cylinder must be left outside the home.)
Unvented portable kerosene heaters (about $140 to $225) also are popular for emergencies because they emit a lot of heat for their size and can be moved from room to room. On the down side, they have been banned in some areas because of safety concerns, so check local codes before you buy one. Also, these heaters have to be refueled regularly, and you'll need a safe place to store several gallons of fresh fuel. Before refueling, a portable kerosene heater must be cooled completely, and you should take it outside before you add fresh kerosene. Be sure any heater you buy is designed to shut off automatically if it is jarred or tipped over.
Like their larger, vent-free cousins, portable propane and kerosene heaters emit the products of combustion into your living space while also consuming oxygen, so provide some fresh air while these heaters are in use. Be aware of the symptoms of CO poisoning: flu-like nausea, dizziness, weakness and headache. If anyone experiences these symptoms when a heater is in use, immediately turn off the heater and open windows.
