Are Unvented Natural Gas Heaters Safe

Unvented combustion appliances should never be used as the primary sole source of heating.

Are unvented natural gas heaters safe.

An oxygen depletion sensor ods on unvented gas heaters and fireplaces shuts off the gas flow if the oxygen level drops below 18 an indicator that not enough fresh air is getting into the house but the ods does not detect carbon monoxide or other hazardous emissions. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is the byproduct of combustion reactions. There is a risk of lack of oxygen or of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning co when un vented heaters are used in homes particularly when the total space is small. Ashrae position paper cited below.

Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion of natural gas. The major risk when dealing with ventless gas heater safety is the production of carbon monoxide. During complete combustion natural gas which is mostly methane ch4 combines with oxygen o2 from the air and produces carbon dioxide co2 and water vapor h2o. Yes carbon monoxide inside the home is certainly a danger and that s the best reason to get rid of unvented gas space heaters.

Both are very good options to use for your ventless heater. It s just never a good idea to burn a fuel inside your home without having a vent for the combustion gases. Natural gas is very clean and inexpensive as well. If you are still asking are ventless heaters safe the answer lies in the way you have it installed as well as how you operate it after you have it properly installed.