Heater question

[eo19]

Should we unzip a window or two for ventilation when using the heater at night? Is this a concern or not?

[flyfisherman]

May I ask ... just what kind of heater ...?

[4campinfoxes]

We have a Voltexx heater & the furnace in the PU.  We don't generally zip everything tightly unless it is truly freezing.  We usually leave several windows partially unzipped. It seems to help with condensation.

Sharon

[eo19]

May I ask ... just what kind of heater ...?

Sorry, It is the furnace built into the camper.

[Recumbentman]

Sorry, It is the furnace built into the camper.

built in furnace has a built in exhaust. (look on the outside of PU) So no you don't need to leave an open area for air.
elec. heaters don't need an exhaust, so here again you don't need an open window.

[TheViking]

Here's a story of mine that you can make your own determination on:

I went hunting one year where it got down to 12 degrees at night.  I had the heater on and in the middle of the night a LOUD beep started going off.  It was the Carbon Monoxide alarm.  I opened the door and after a few seconds it went off.  I then unzipped the tenting about 6 inches so some of the heat could escape and I had no Beeps after that.  My determination was that yes, the exhaust escapes but there is still a fair amount of Carbon Monoxide that builds up in the trailer unless you give it a place to escape.

[AustinBoston]

Here's a story of mine that you can make your own determination on:

I went hunting one year where it got down to 12 degrees at night.  I had the heater on and in the middle of the night a LOUD beep started going off.  It was the Carbon Monoxide alarm.  I opened the door and after a few seconds it went off.  I then unzipped the tenting about 6 inches so some of the heat could escape and I had no Beeps after that.  My determination was that yes, the exhaust escapes but there is still a fair amount of Carbon Monoxide that builds up in the trailer unless you give it a place to escape.

That should only be true if the furnace were defective.  Carbon monoxide leaking into living space from any device is bad.

Small amounts could come from the stove if it is out of adjustment or if the camper is shut tight, but manufacturers specifically state to leave a window open when using the stove.  

Catalytic heaters like the Buddy by Mr. Heater have an oxygen sensor that turns the unit off before it starts producing significant amounts of Carbon Monoxide.  If a CO alarm goes off while using a Buddy heater, it's time for a new Buddy.

Conceivably, it's possible that CO could find it's way back in to the camper after being vented outside (from the furnace, water heater, or fridge while running on propane).  Things like having a window open right over the furnace outlet or having the furnace vent on the upwind side of the camper might cause this.  But the furnace should not normally vent any CO (or CO2 or water vapor) inside the camper.

Austin

[TheViking]

Small amounts could come from the stove if it is out of adjustment or if the camper is shut tight, but manufacturers specifically state to leave a window open when using the stove.
 
 
Austin

 
 
Uh,.....That's kinda what I said.  
 
My opinion, It's not going to kill you to leave a 6 inch spot unzipped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flyfisherman]

Sorry, It is the furnace built into the camper.

eo - what you have with your camper furnance is really a "vented" space heater. It has a combustion chamber which draws outside air in for the "fire" and then exhausts the heated fumes back outside.  What happens during this process is a metal tube (or pipe) is heated and then a fan draws air from inside the camper through the tube and and it comes back out (hopefully) into the camper,  warm.  There is a remote possibility that the exhaust vent could become blocked and those fumes might find their way inside the camper - also, maybe a defective air pipe that developes a pin hole leak allowing fumes to come in along with the heated air. So a little air venting sure would'nt be a bad thing.

I've always vented my camper a tad for no other reason for a supply of freah air along with what's already going on. If you've ever slept in the same tight quarters with some of the characters I fish with you'll understand the NEED for a little additional ventalation!


Fly

[flyfisherman]

Catalytic heaters like the Buddy by Mr. Heater have an oxygen sensor that turns the unit off before it starts producing significant amounts of Carbon Monoxide.  If a CO alarm goes off while using a Buddy heater, it's time for a new Buddy.

Austin - that Mr. Buddy Heater is a radiant heater, not to be confused with the catalytic types, such as those Coleman sells;  and each having  their pros and cons.


Fly

[zamboni]

Austin - that Mr. Buddy Heater is a radiant heater,

Though the heat from a Mr Buddy "radiates" out, because there is no blower pushing it, it is definitely not a "Radiant Heater", which heats by radiating energy (no open flame, which Buddy has).

[flyfisherman]

Though the heat from a Mr Buddy "radiates" out, because there is no blower pushing it, it is definitely not a "Radiant Heater", which heats by radiating energy (no open flame, which Buddy has).

Well, no doubt you probably know more about it then me ... howsomever -
the manufacturer refers to it as a "radiant vent free liquid propane heater"

What would you call it...?


Fly

[tlhdoc]

Should we unzip a window or two for ventilation when using the heater at night? Is this a concern or not?

Since you are talking about the furnace you shouldn't have too if the furnace is working correctly, but I would get a CO detector just in case.  We don't use the furnace at night, but IF I ever do, I will open a window to provide fresh air.
 

heaters like the Buddy by Mr. Heater have an oxygen sensor that turns the unit off before it starts producing significant amounts of Carbon Monoxide. If a CO alarm goes off while using a Buddy heater, it's time for a new Buddy.

My understanding is that the heaters produce the same amount of CO all the time (as long as they are burning at the same rate), and that the oxygen sensor shuts the unit down when the oxygen level drops.  So if the CO alarm goes off when using the Buddy heater you need to add more ventilation to the area, not replace the unit.  The Buddy Heater should shut itself down when the critical oxygen level is met.  That could be before or after the CO alarm goes off depending on which is more sensitive.

[AustinBoston]

You said:

I went hunting one year where it got down to 12 degrees at night. I had the heater on and in the middle of the night a LOUD beep started going off. It was the Carbon Monoxide alarm. I opened the door and after a few seconds it went off. I then unzipped the tenting about 6 inches so some of the heat could escape and I had no Beeps after that. My determination was that yes, the exhaust escapes but there is still a fair amount of Carbon Monoxide that builds up in the trailer unless you give it a place to escape.

Then I said:

Small amounts could come from the stove if it is out of adjustment or if the camper is shut tight, but manufacturers specifically state to leave a window open when using the stove.

Then you said:

Uh,.....That's kinda what I said.

Um, unless you sleep with the stove on, I'm not sure it's even kinda what you said. :confused:

My opinion, It's not going to kill you to leave a 6 inch spot unzipped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No it certanly won't.  On the other hand, a little CO can kill you.  Open the window, but get rid of the CO source as well.

Austin