Upgrading to a Vent-Free Propane Heater

[Waiter21]

I added a valve and a quick disconnect hose to my Mirada the same as I did in my Ole Toyhouse.

I modified the Mr Buddy and put a connector on the back so I could plug the coaches low pressure hose into the Mr buddy. I don't use those 1 lb bottles.

This is an old article showing how I modified my Mr Buddy. The next time I do this, instead of "T" the internal low pressure tube, I'm just going to disconnect the low pressure tube from the internal regulator, and run it directly to my hose fitting.

How to - Ventless Heater - Improvement and Do-It-Yourself Projects you have done to Share! - Toyota Motorhome Discussion Board

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[27TinTow]

Originally Posted by 56Nomad

Heating our 30' MH quickly uses up our 17 gallon propane tank. We're going to install a 20,000 BTU Vent-Free Propane Heater because of the inefficiency of RV furnaces in terms of propane use and battery power consumption,

Some common brands are Kozy World, Empire Comfort Systems, ProCom, and Mr. Heater.

Does anyone have an idea which of these brands are most reliable and are of the best quality. Also, it would be great if you can share your experience with any of these Vent-Free Propane Heaters.


IF...You do use one of those...I have used many different Types in My Day...Until the Greenhouse Burned Down...I Still Do Have a Mr. Heater IF I Need it In an emergency situation... ONLY USE THEM WHEN YOU ARE IN AND CAN SEE IT...NEVER USE WHEN-OUT OR SLEEPING...

Thanks

I had a Mr. Heater OR equivalent In a Greenhouse...To Keep My Palm Trees from Freezing...The Greenhouse Burned Down...The Fire Chief Questioned Me about the Heater I had used...He Then said that that Causes A Lot House Fires...People Trying to Keep Warm on the cheap...I would Stick with Maybe a Newer RV Forced air Or even a Newer Non-Forced RV Heater (Vented)...As Newer Models are More efficient...

I Had Just Upgraded All My Appliances & AC...Plus Added a Stove/Oven Combo...I do not Nuke My Food plus now I can Bake a Pizza...Newer Appliances ARE More efficient...Unless You Just go by the Price...

[BeachDude]

Originally Posted by JFXG

So I guess it's not really ventless.



So I guess it's not really safe.

Let me make sure I understand this. You describe the indoor use of a "ventless" flame heater that requires venting, runs hot enough to melt things within two feet, and produces carbon monoxide, and you think the "one BIG problem" is that is doesn't work very well above 4000 ft in mountains.

Did I miss something?



John & Diane, Fulltime since '12
2002 DSDP 40, FL, Cat 3126

No you didn't miss anything!

When I was a Webelo Scout at the age of ten, I used to sleep in a tent with a white gas Coleman catalytic heater when we winter camped with the Boy Scouts. That's where I learned about how to respect the device, (and fuel it up), and that it can kill you, or keep you nice and toasty in a tent with snow falling outside.

That being said, the newer propane powered devices are even safer.

Yes, they are dangerous. Yes, people can die if they do not properly vent and all of the oxygen is depleted. Yes, they can ignite flammable items.

But, man, they are REALLY comfortable compared to freezing weather!

[56Nomad]

Thanks everyone who commented. We only boondock, so the electric heaters are not in the running. With proper ventilation, the Big Buddy seems to be the best option for us.

For years we have been camping in Lance Campers and we always left one propane burner on at night when the temps got into the 20's or 30's. In the morning, the camper was comfortable and we just waited for the sun to come up and do the green house effect.

No problems with that...... we're still alive and kicking

[J Birder]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Propane produces 91,330 btu's per gallon no matter what heater produces it. Some heaters don't need power to run them. But they still will produce the same amount of heat.

That is true, but the implication is not. You neglect the fact that the furnace dumps a considerable mount of the heat out the vent. The next time you run your furnace, go outside and (gingerly) touch the vent.

Ventless heaters still loose some heat because you need to keep a window cracked. However, the loss is nothing like what the furnace looses.

Joel

[56Nomad]

Originally Posted by J Birder

That is true, but the implication is not. You neglect the fact that the furnace dumps a considerable mount of the heat out the vent. The next time you run your furnace, go outside and (gingerly) touch the vent.

Ventless heaters still loose some heat because you need to keep a window cracked. However, the loss is nothing like what the furnace looses.

Joel

Thanks Joel....... I was going to say the same thing. Very inefficient plus all the heat loss, with heating up the outside of the rig

[Arch Hoagland]

Carbon monoxide poisoning Symptoms - Mayo Clinic

We had a very close friend die of carbon monoxide poisoning several years ago.

There was a leak in the exhaust flue of the wall heater in their house.

Learn those symptoms.

[Bucky1320]

Originally Posted by J Birder

That is true, but the implication is not. You neglect the fact that the furnace dumps a considerable mount of the heat out the vent. The next time you run your furnace, go outside and (gingerly) touch the vent.

Ventless heaters still loose some heat because you need to keep a window cracked. However, the loss is nothing like what the furnace looses.

Joel

I can certainly agree with the first part of your statement. Ventless keeps more of the heat where you want it while vented sends some heats (and carbon monoxide, and water) up the stack.
But saying that cracking a window "is nothing like what the furnace loses" is pretty sketchy.
I'm not sure folks realize how much they are gambling with their lives here. In my part of the country, you often get reports of CO poisoning....and death. Not to mention the horror of waking up to a fire in the motorhome and difficult ways to escape.

[56Nomad]

From everything I can find about the Big Buddy says they produce insignificant amounts of CO. The principle is a double burner (catalytic) so it burns CO a second time to forum CO2.