Anyone have a NATURAL GAS vent free heater?

wifehatescar

wifehatescar

My L5-S1 is killing me!
I'm looking at natural gas vent free "blue flame" heaters and wondering how well they heat and if they put out a funky smell. Also it seems like they burn cleaner than propane or kerosene? I guess it's the same thing as using a gas burner on the stove??? Seems like the blue flame heating the air first would feel better on my skin than the orange radiant heaters.

Anyone have one? I'm looking at a 30k BTU model for a garage that is approx 22x35. It is the biggest model I have seen sold, says it's good up to 1000sqft. Looks like this (model BF30):

http://www.masterpartsdirect.com/Home_Heating_Systems/Ventfree/ventfree.html

I can find the same thing at my local hardware store for $250 (30k BTU/T-stat/blower)
 
I too would like to know if any ones has input on these type of units. I'm need to get something for the garage it to cold. I was thinking about getting the orange flame one that way the garage would retain the heat if the door was opened? Does this sound right.
 
I haven't seen them. I do know a guy that has one in his garage. So before I tell you what I think, let me ask you a couple of questions.
Is your garage insulated?
Do you have an insulated garage door?
How long do you plan to run the unit, or are you planning on keeping the garage at a constant temp all the time?

I'm not sure how big the one my friend has is, but in the winter it take the chill out. It doesn't really heat the garage up unless he has had it on for a while. Do you have a gas line there or can you pipe one there with out hiring some one to do it? Food for thought, when I use to do houses I think I figured somewhere around 12/foot for gas piping. I personally run an LP salamander in my garage. It is 50K BTU, and my garage is not insulated. It take about a 1/2 hour to warm it up to where the products won't freeze on the vehicle. Most LP companies will lend you a 100lb cylinder if you get the fuel from them. Simple hook up and good heat. Also I would get a 75K BTU or bigger salamander if I did it again. Hope this helps.


Sorry detailbarn--I was typing as you were typing. If the door is open its just going to get cold. I have my salamander at the back of the garage point towards the door. It helps, but doesn't stop it. Oh and my garage is only a 1.5 car unit. Less square footage and I wish I had a bigger heater. Take it for what its worth.
 
The garage in question will be a well insulated, insulated doors too, 20x35ft, there would be a NG line in place for it. I will only run the heater 1 hour before I go into the garage and then while I'm out there. The biggest NG vent free's I can find are 30k BTU. Says it's good up to 1000sqft.

I have used a LP "canon" in the past and they just stink too much for me! Even with a door cracked.

OI812-
In your freinds garage, do you remember the NG heater putting out any kind of smell?

The main questions I have are does the burning NG smell and what type is best, radiant or convection/blue flame.
 
I can't remember if it smelled or not. I would say an way that it can blow air would be the best. My best guest is there would be some smell since the combustables are vented back into the garage. LP is just about as clean as natural gas IMO. I don't have the best sniffer.
 
A friend has a ventless NG fireplace (similar theory) I don't remember it having any smell, but I do know that you want to get the blower with it.
IIRC the difference between LP and NG is that NG burns hotter.

If you are looking for a wider selection of heaters here is the Grainger section
HVAC .
Then go to Portable gas heaters (for some reason it won't let me link it directly to the page :dunno)

Hope this helps and good luck

Happy New Year
"J"
 
Actually, propane and natural gas burn at about the same temperature but propane generates much more heat from the same amount of gas. NG is a naturally occuring mixture of gases including propane with the predominant gas being methane. The mixture is never quite the same depending on the well - hence the reason you pay for natural gas by the therm instead of by volume. And that about exhausts my memory of the chemistry degree I got many years ago.

Ventless doesn't have much in way of smell if it's working properly. And I think you want the blower since the area you'll be heating is a large open area. Radiant vs. blue flame - hmmm I think the blue flame will be more like standing in front of a fire - intense heat whereas the radiant would be a kinder, gentler heat. (gag -sorry) I would think the radiant grid would tend to collect dust and thus smell when lit. :dunno
 
I have a three brick one in my one car gar. It is actually to much. I would suggest that you get one w/ multiple postions so that it doesn't get two hot. I only have the choice of one to three bricks. It works great for winter detailing.
 
NG Infrared would be the best way to go. No noise and no blower to blow the dust around. You can stand in front of an open door and be warm because the infrared heats objects - not air. The heated objects will tend to heat the air around them if not exposed to cool breezes.
 
I have a ventless in the garage. In the part of Illinois where I am located it maybe 67 one day and wind chills of -20 the next.

I do not have a blower on it but I have used a fan to move the air around a little.

If you enjoy tinkering in the garage they are great. No odors noticed. I do run a dehumdifier once in a while.

I need to be careful though, sometimes I forget to turn the heat down and it will be warmer in the garage than in the house.
 
Well it is a 30,000 btu Glo Warm.
The pilot is blue. When the unit is on, the ceramics have an orange tint.

As I say it heats things right up. Come to think of it, I don't know that I have ever turned it to the highest setting (pilot...1-10)... 30,000 btu may be a little bit of overkill for a 28'X32' garage?

I would be happy to try emailing a photo if you need more information.
Jerry
 
Having a little trouble with my isp trying to send out the photo. If I don't get it today I will email it from work Monday. Sorry for the delay.
Jerry
 
i just bought a blue flame propane gas heater like you are talking about. I got mine from Home Depot for like 265 and it has a 5 year warranty, preinstalled blower and its 26000 btu. The gas guy is comming tomorrow to install it. He said I will be able to run it barley on and it will heat the sun room I have. The room is like 24 ft long and 18 ft wide and it has 10 1/2ft ceiling. I will post later on when it gets back cold here in N.C. it suspose to be in the 70's for the next 7 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Fatboy2-
NP, send the pic whenever you get to it.

00GREENMACHINE-
Please let me know how your heater works once it gets cold again. Thanks.
 
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