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Are these still safe?

brandonf
brandonf Member Posts: 197
in Gas Heating
My father loves old gas heaters because they have standing Pilots so his pipes won't freeze if the power goes out. Are these still safe to operate? One is vented, one is non vented.
Homeowner, Entrepreneur, Mechanic, Electrician,

"The toes you step on today are connected to the butt you'll have to kiss tomorrow". ---Vincent "Buddy" Cianci

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 11,989
    Vented is ok. I myself wouldn't use an unvented heater
    kcoppZmandelta T
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 15,330
    EBEBRATT-Ed said:

    Vented is ok. I myself wouldn't use an unvented heater

    This. In many areas, unvented heaters are illegal, and for good reason. Carbon monoxide is an ever-present hazard with them.

    Do your father a favor- get rid of the unvented one. And have someone with a digital combustion analyzer check the vented one to make sure it's running safely.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    delta T
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 2,880
    Get your father a "Low Level" CO detector.
    light the vent-less heater and see what happens.
  • Bob Harper
    Bob Harper Member Posts: 914
    NOTHING is "safe", which is an absolute term. Are they suitable for continued use as they were tested and listed? Possibly. Someone qualified would have to thoroughly inspect and test them. For one, you need to replace that 3" galv. vent connector pipe and secure it with 3 equidistantly spaced screws per joint. As for the lung vented heater note the appliance was tested in a clean lab environment-not an active home. Any dust, dirt, stray air currents, etc. can result in incomplete combustion= carbon monoxide and soot. VF can legally emit 200ppm CO.
    Must have low level unlisted CO monitors regardless.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 16,286
    looks like a lot of corrosion on that vent pipe, If it is a vent?
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • ron
    ron Member Posts: 217
    it's funny my breckwell ventless propane fireplace installed maybe late '90's by previous home owner permit & everything...around 2010 i was trying to look it up via model & serial # and it's like it never existed, breckwell won't acknowledge it at all, i **assume** because the type of people who drive explorers with underinflated firestones had some kind of problem with a ventless fireplace now no more ventless fireplaces for anyone.

    like the other guy said, "nothing is safe"
    that heater set up properly and used with common sense would be safer than uber and autonomous cruise control on cars, and most likely more reliable than arc fault breakers.
    Solid_Fuel_Man

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