Are Unvented Natural Gas Heaters Safe

The major risk when dealing with ventless gas heater safety is the production of carbon monoxide.

Are unvented natural gas heaters safe.

This colorless odorless gas is toxic to both humans and animals in high quantities. 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. Carbon monoxide results from incomplete combustion of natural gas. 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.

Unvented combustion appliances should never be used as the primary sole source of heating. 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. Yes carbon monoxide inside the home is certainly a danger and that s the best reason to get rid of unvented gas space heaters. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is the byproduct of combustion reactions.

Natural gas is very clean and inexpensive as well. It s just never a good idea to burn a fuel inside your home without having a vent for the combustion gases. 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. Ashrae position paper cited below.