Propane Heater Information

[danrclem]

I have a woodstove that I'll never take down but since I'm getting older, I'm wanting to get something with less work involved. I also have a propane furnace that hasn't been used in a long time but it's very low efficiency and it was installed in 1987. I thought about having a new furnace installed but I would imagine the price of that would be very costly. I thought about a pellet stove, but it seems like they can have a lot of maintenance issues, and I want something very simple for my wife to operate just in case something ever happens to me. I am seriously considering buying a gas heater. I'd like to have one of the fancy cast iron heaters, but it looks like they can be pricey.

Maybe someone can point me to a link where I can do some reading about the different kinds of gas heaters and their positives and negatives. Can they be vented through a basement wall with only concrete, brick and have the venting end just outside the concrete wall or do they have to go vertical?

I found this used Empire RH-65B-6 for $650 and it says it's like new condition, but I've heard that before. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

It depends on the unit what kind of chimney it needs. Propane heaters run the whole range of ventless, to direct vent just stabbed through the wall, to needing a chimney.

I look at propane like any other source of energy. It sure is convenient. That convenience comes with a cost. I can 100% see where it’d be a good option for my wife to heat with. Just her not having to worry about cleaning the chimney would make it worth it to me.

 

[danrclem]

I have a ventless wall heater now but don't like the idea of the fumes staying in the house. Besides it wouldn't be big enough to heat the whole house anyway. I take it that the direct vent is the only one that can be stabbed through the wall. The heater itself has to be set up for the direct vent doesn't it? I'm watching some videos this morning to see if I can learn something.

 

[danrclem]

I watched a video comparing direct vent to type B-vent. One time it said the direct vent was more efficient and then later on it said the B-vent put out more heat. I wonder if the B-vent has to use more fuel to put out more heat.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Natural draft needs to use heat to operate the chimney. Direct vent can theoretically pull more heat out of the exhaust. It doesn’t need to operate the chimney. A powered vent water heater typically can be more efficient than a natural vent unit. Whether a stove takes advantage of that.. dunno.

DV might have trouble operating if the power goes out. There isn’t anything to run the fan.