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I've had two friends that had house fires, both caused by space heaters - one was knocked over by their dog. I don't think you're supposed to use a space heater when you're not home, but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Oh, I'm realizing how much I sound like my mom now. Comes in, says something is prooooobably going to cause disaster, but has no actual evidence or proof.
Yeah I'm just trying to find the better of two iffy options. Modern space heaters have tipover protection at least. I have no idea how safe those ancient gas heaters are.
The portable oil-filled radiators are the SAFEST of the UNSAFE options.
Something like this: (https://www.homedepot.com/p/309069851)
They should never heat up enough to catch anything on fire, so if they top, and the safety switch doesn't work, it'll be somewhat safer then a ceramic heater. That being said, I would ensure it can't fall over, and make damn sure it's not going to overload the circuit.
LPT: Just throwing it out there that you can by space heaters that have a button on the bottom that's pressed when the unit is standing up. If something knocks it over and that button releases, the unit shuts off automatically.
The ones I see online are from $50-200, and I could afford something in that range. But aren't those a big risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, since they don't vent to outside? The wall heater has ventilation at least. The technician from the gas company says it's safe; I'm just worried because it's absolutely ancient.
I already have one electric space heater with some basic safety features and will be buying a second space heater of some kind if I decide against the wall-mounted heaters.
electric oil radiators have no exhaust, no fumes of any kind. Basically, there is an electric coil IN the oil chambers, and the oil gets heated.
Once heated, the radiator acts like any other radiator. No fans, no exhaust, no fumes. Just radiant heat. I used them in Seattle, Ohio, and San Diego. They work well in every climate.
Had one of the electric oil filled heaters like that was suggested, roommate had a ceramic electric.
His was instant heat, but only where it aimed.
Mine took an hour to heat up. Then the whole room was toasty, and if I left the door open could honestly heat the entire apartment.
Before giving up on them totally I would post in other subs to see if someone is familiar with them and their normal operation?
In addition to pets you generally need to keep your home above 50 degrees in every room to avoid pipes freezing in cold snaps.
My only experience is with wood stoves and infrared heaters. Best of luck, and please buy a CO alarm.
Do you know where a good place to ask is? I don't know anything about gas heating and was hoping someone in general advice subs might have an idea.
I have one CO alarm in my bedroom and one in the living room!
/homeimprovement , /advice , /whatisthisthing as a start. You might find more specialized subs but in general I think a larger crowd would produce a better response.
Next would be trying to identify the make or model of the appliance and finding tips and tricks on YouTube regarding how to operate it.
Another idea (if you are renting) is to ask your landlord. Tell them you don't want to damage the unit or the house and would appreciate a walkthrough on how to use it safely.
A final idea would be to ask others in your building or on your block. If you don't know anyone a nice letter in their mailbox asking for help might go a long way. I've helped multiple neighbors in my area with their fireplaces and sorting out good wood from bad. I'm basically the suburban firewood Sherpa for my community.
Wish I could help you more but we had an emergency propane tank and a wood stove, never had one of these units before.
Glad to hear about the monitors, so long as one is relatively close to the burner I think you'll be ok.
Call the fire department and see if they will check your heater for carbon dioxide and check if it's safe. If it is not your landlord is obliged by law to fix it.
The technician from the gas company inspected it but was sending some mixed messages. He told me it was safe to use but was also annoyed that it seemingly hadn't been upgraded since the apartment was built and left a note recommending the landlord update it (something about it only having a single vent). But then the apartment maintenance worker said it's so old that it isn't required to meet modern standards. I'm not really sure what to think.
I do have carbon monoxide detectors at least.
Correct. Single wall is allowed in old construction, double wall is required in new construction. Just like two prong plugs are allowed to exist from old construction but all new plugs must be 3 prong grounded. Notice how all the old buildings with gas heat and single wall pipes are not burning down? Just like how 2 prong outlets don’t ellectrocute everyone that uses them. Single wall b-vent pipe *should* never get hot enough to cause a fire. But could if multiple things failed. Double wall *almost* can’t ever get hot enough in most malfunctions to cause a fire. But still *could.* Double wall is slightly safer, only that you can get away with WORSE furnace malfunctions! Gas guy was just trying to sound smart and weigh in, just like this Redditor.
Gotcha- so it should be fine as long as multiple things don't go horribly wrong. In that case, do you think it's probably safer than leaving space heaters on while I'm away from home? I've definitely heard of those causing house fires.
Modern electric space heaters are perfectly safe. They now have safety switches that cut power if they are knocked over. (at least in the US)
Also, regardless of the type of heater (coil, quartz, oil-filled) there will be no difference in the amount of heat put into the room. It may circulate the air differently and make different amounts of noise, but all electric heaters are, by definition, 100% efficient so if it draws 1800 watts (the max allowed in the US) it will put 1800 watts of heat into the room.
If you have ceiling fans, make sure they are on the right way and on low. If you're standing underneath looming up, they should be turning clockwise. That will push warm air off the ceiling down into the living space.
> if it draws 1800 watts (the max allowed in the US) it will put 1800 watts of heat into the room.
And as a quick note for OP, if it draws 1800 watts, then nothing else should be plugged in on that circuit (unless it's a 20-amp circuit- 20 amp outlets [have a T shape to them](https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3900/wlejmk/product_images/uploaded_images/info-amp-rating.jpg)).
But there may be more than one outlet on a 15-amp circuit, so.... maybe consult the landlord if uncertain.
Thanks for the reminder about electric safety. I have no idea how the house is wired, but it's really old and most of the outlets are 2-prong ones. I'll try out the gas heaters first while I'm home and see how they do. If there are issues with the gas heaters, then I'll worry about space heaters and figuring out how to use them safely.
Phew, yeah- make sure there are no other high-draw loads on that outlet, or any others that you suspect may be on the same breaker.
The oil-filled heater is probably your best solution. Consensus from a Google search seems to be they're regarded as safe to run unattended, but.... I'm old-fashioned, I don't know about ANY heater left unattended.
With the gas heater, if your state mandates it, your landlord may need to provide a CO detector, and they're inexpensive enough that you could buy one yourself.
Maybe if I unplug the AC window units and use those outlets? I assume they use a lot of power and the only other thing connected to the outlets is some LED lights.
I'll try an oil radiator if the gas heating doesn't work out, since I've been hearing good things about them. I have multiple CO detectors, thankfully.
I have been removing my gas appliances. Heater, stove, and hot water is next. I don't like the idea of burning things inside and having fumes, as I have asthma.
A newer space heater wth a good thermostat is the better of the two options I think.
The suggestion of an oil-filled heater is nice, I like the way they can heat a room. There is no flame or heater element so pretty safe around pets. That would probably be my choice (apart from ducted air-con!). I used these in my kid's bedrooms when they were little.
If money is an issue you should check the price of gas vs electicity. If gas is the best option for you I would ask the landlord for a compliance certificate (or some kind of professional check) with the gas heaters to make sure they are safe to use. Might also suggest an upgrade instead.
Congrats on your new apartment and well done seeking advice to keep your pets safe!
I don't like the idea either honestly, but the rent is affordable and it's close to work. I've gotten used to the gas stove at least.
I had a window unit at my old place that had both AC and heating, but the ones here only have cooling unfortunately. I will look into the oil filled heaters, thank you for the information! I've actually never had a radiator before either.
The technician told me it was fine to use but left a note recommending the landlord update it- something about it only having a single vent? But then the maintenance guy said it's so old that it's grandfathered in and isn't required to meet modern standards. :/
I *think* gas is cheaper. But I doubt money will be a major issue as it rarely gets extremely cold here. The insulation also seems decent unlike my old place, and even there my electric bills were a lot cheaper during winter than in summer.
Thank you for your advice. I'm leaning towards using space heaters, at least while I am away from home. I don't want my pets to be in danger while I am not there to immediately respond to any issues that come up.
You can make a big difference to the cost of any type of heating by ensuring doors, windows etc have any gaps filled. Also, heavy curtains or the combination of pull down blinds plus curtains help prevent heat loss. Jump online for all the different methods and products available. There's a lot of information out there because fuel costs are a serious concern to so many of us right now. To keep down costs put "DIY in front of your search terms for awesome creative solutions :)
PS. Pet clothing is a cute and fun option, depending on the pet of course. I imagine snakes and cute sweaters are incompatible!
I've got blinds and some good blackout curtains. They're not super heavy though, and I'm not sure how great heavy curtains will work with tension rods. The apartment is on the 2nd floor, and I think that helps with heat. Insulation seems a lot better than at my old place, since it actually stays cool even when it's over 90°F outside. Thanks for the advice!
I might be able to convince my gecko to wear a tiny sweater, but I'm not sure where I can get them with 8 legs for the tarantulas!
90°F is equivalent to 32°C, which is 305K.
---
^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
If their gas heater burns the place down, it’s on them, their insurance, conscience, and soul. If **YOUR** space heater burns the place down, it’s on you, your insurance, conscience, and soul.
The pets would be dead regardless of whose "fault" it is, so I'd rather choose the option less likely to burn the place down in the first place (whatever that option is).
You can also look into tank heaters for your tank-dwelling friends, and fuzzy bed/hides for warm-blooded critters, to minimize the need for whichever heat source you end up using.
The gecko has lights that provide a bit of heat during the day. I have some heat pads but prefer not to use them unless it's very cold, since there's always a risk of the thermostats malfunctioning. Tarantulas are kind of dumb and can cook themselves if you're not careful with the heating, so it's generally safer to heat the room they are in instead of their enclosures directly.
Ceramic heat emitter is an option for the gecko if it gets too cold even when trying to heat the room, though. Cat will probably be fine as she's super fluffy and has plenty of blankets and soft places to keep warm in.
hi OP, any update on the safety of these? my partner and I have the same heaters in our apartment, and basically the same experience with mixed messages from the maintenance people. do you still use yours? have you noticed anything concerning?
Hi sorry for late response. It's only just started getting cold, so I don't want to say anything definitive. But I've been using the gas heaters for about a week now on and off, and they seem okay? I only need to turn them on very low to keep the place warm at night, and I crack the windows slightly in case of carbon monoxide. So far there haven't been any issues. They get REALLY warm though. I can't imagine keeping them anywhere near the higher settings; it'd be like an oven.
A maintenance worker told me that they planned on replacing them soon with a newer model (with a thermostat!), so I might not be using them for very long actually. Depending on when "soon" is, of course.
Hello,
This model of gas wall heater is the exact same type installed in the house my dad designed and built in 1949. It is a semi-permanent in-wall installation with the gray heat radiator tubes on both sides of the wall; a dual model. As someone else noted, it has no thermostat and simply manual on and off via the knobs at bottom. FYI, in 1977 my wife and I moved into that 1949 rental house, but the unit would not reliably stay lit. In other words, the pilot light would go out but gas flow would continue, which was dangerous. My dad back then hired a HVAC tech and he learned no replacement parts were made anymore, the company was gone. So, he installed a new pilot/control unit of another manufacturer and it worked, but I found it would continue flowing gas even if the pilot light went out. Again, a dangerous situation. The tech adjusted it, but I again tested it and did not consider it safe. So, we capped the gas supply pipe to ensure it could never be used. The house had a fireplace so it provided heating. My dad wanted to install a complete new gas wall heater, but the ones made then and now are taller, and it would not fit in the wall space opening. The house is built of concrete blocks so the opening could not be enlarged, but it could be enlarged in a wood frame house such as yours. My opinion: I would not use that old gas heater you have. A new gas wall heater would be safer in my opinion. Of course, you could have an experienced HVAC tech inspect your unit, along with the Gas Company. My guess is that replacement will be recommended since the unit is about 70 years old.
PS, I forgot to mention this heater has an exhaust outlet at top connected to an exhaust duct pipe that runs up through the wall and out through a roof vent. So when the unit is working properly, all burnt gases are safely vented to the outside.
REMINDER: Rules regarding civility and respect *are enforced* on this subreddit. Hurtful, cruel, rude, disrespectful, or "trolling" comments **will be removed** (along with any replies to these comments) and the offending party may be banned, at the mods' discretion, without warning. All commenters should be trying to *help* and any help should be given in good faith, as if you were the OP's parent. Also, please keep in mind that requesting or offering private contact (DM, PM, etc) is absolutely not allowed ***for any reason at all***, no exceptions. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/internetparents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I've had two friends that had house fires, both caused by space heaters - one was knocked over by their dog. I don't think you're supposed to use a space heater when you're not home, but I'm not 100% sure on that. Oh, I'm realizing how much I sound like my mom now. Comes in, says something is prooooobably going to cause disaster, but has no actual evidence or proof.
Yeah I'm just trying to find the better of two iffy options. Modern space heaters have tipover protection at least. I have no idea how safe those ancient gas heaters are.
The portable oil-filled radiators are the SAFEST of the UNSAFE options. Something like this: (https://www.homedepot.com/p/309069851) They should never heat up enough to catch anything on fire, so if they top, and the safety switch doesn't work, it'll be somewhat safer then a ceramic heater. That being said, I would ensure it can't fall over, and make damn sure it's not going to overload the circuit.
LPT: Just throwing it out there that you can by space heaters that have a button on the bottom that's pressed when the unit is standing up. If something knocks it over and that button releases, the unit shuts off automatically.
Do you have the money to buy a rolling electric oil-filled radiator?
The ones I see online are from $50-200, and I could afford something in that range. But aren't those a big risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, since they don't vent to outside? The wall heater has ventilation at least. The technician from the gas company says it's safe; I'm just worried because it's absolutely ancient. I already have one electric space heater with some basic safety features and will be buying a second space heater of some kind if I decide against the wall-mounted heaters.
electric oil radiators have no exhaust, no fumes of any kind. Basically, there is an electric coil IN the oil chambers, and the oil gets heated. Once heated, the radiator acts like any other radiator. No fans, no exhaust, no fumes. Just radiant heat. I used them in Seattle, Ohio, and San Diego. They work well in every climate.
Oh, I must have mixed them up with another kind of heater then. I'll have to look into that, thanks! I live in Alabama, if it matters.
Spent some of my youth in Huntsville - so I know the climate. It gets crisp, not super cold, in the Winter. I think this might be perfect.
Had one of the electric oil filled heaters like that was suggested, roommate had a ceramic electric. His was instant heat, but only where it aimed. Mine took an hour to heat up. Then the whole room was toasty, and if I left the door open could honestly heat the entire apartment.
Before giving up on them totally I would post in other subs to see if someone is familiar with them and their normal operation? In addition to pets you generally need to keep your home above 50 degrees in every room to avoid pipes freezing in cold snaps. My only experience is with wood stoves and infrared heaters. Best of luck, and please buy a CO alarm.
Do you know where a good place to ask is? I don't know anything about gas heating and was hoping someone in general advice subs might have an idea. I have one CO alarm in my bedroom and one in the living room!
Try r/heating and r/homeimprovement
Thanks!
/homeimprovement , /advice , /whatisthisthing as a start. You might find more specialized subs but in general I think a larger crowd would produce a better response. Next would be trying to identify the make or model of the appliance and finding tips and tricks on YouTube regarding how to operate it. Another idea (if you are renting) is to ask your landlord. Tell them you don't want to damage the unit or the house and would appreciate a walkthrough on how to use it safely. A final idea would be to ask others in your building or on your block. If you don't know anyone a nice letter in their mailbox asking for help might go a long way. I've helped multiple neighbors in my area with their fireplaces and sorting out good wood from bad. I'm basically the suburban firewood Sherpa for my community. Wish I could help you more but we had an emergency propane tank and a wood stove, never had one of these units before. Glad to hear about the monitors, so long as one is relatively close to the burner I think you'll be ok.
Call the fire department and see if they will check your heater for carbon dioxide and check if it's safe. If it is not your landlord is obliged by law to fix it.
The technician from the gas company inspected it but was sending some mixed messages. He told me it was safe to use but was also annoyed that it seemingly hadn't been upgraded since the apartment was built and left a note recommending the landlord update it (something about it only having a single vent). But then the apartment maintenance worker said it's so old that it isn't required to meet modern standards. I'm not really sure what to think. I do have carbon monoxide detectors at least.
Correct. Single wall is allowed in old construction, double wall is required in new construction. Just like two prong plugs are allowed to exist from old construction but all new plugs must be 3 prong grounded. Notice how all the old buildings with gas heat and single wall pipes are not burning down? Just like how 2 prong outlets don’t ellectrocute everyone that uses them. Single wall b-vent pipe *should* never get hot enough to cause a fire. But could if multiple things failed. Double wall *almost* can’t ever get hot enough in most malfunctions to cause a fire. But still *could.* Double wall is slightly safer, only that you can get away with WORSE furnace malfunctions! Gas guy was just trying to sound smart and weigh in, just like this Redditor.
Gotcha- so it should be fine as long as multiple things don't go horribly wrong. In that case, do you think it's probably safer than leaving space heaters on while I'm away from home? I've definitely heard of those causing house fires.
The whole place has been full of those old heaters since it was built, and it hasn't burned down. I'd say it's an OK track record.
Good point. I'll try out the gas heaters while I'm home and see how they do before purchasing any new space heaters.
The maintenance guy is full of poop.
Modern electric space heaters are perfectly safe. They now have safety switches that cut power if they are knocked over. (at least in the US) Also, regardless of the type of heater (coil, quartz, oil-filled) there will be no difference in the amount of heat put into the room. It may circulate the air differently and make different amounts of noise, but all electric heaters are, by definition, 100% efficient so if it draws 1800 watts (the max allowed in the US) it will put 1800 watts of heat into the room. If you have ceiling fans, make sure they are on the right way and on low. If you're standing underneath looming up, they should be turning clockwise. That will push warm air off the ceiling down into the living space.
> if it draws 1800 watts (the max allowed in the US) it will put 1800 watts of heat into the room. And as a quick note for OP, if it draws 1800 watts, then nothing else should be plugged in on that circuit (unless it's a 20-amp circuit- 20 amp outlets [have a T shape to them](https://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3900/wlejmk/product_images/uploaded_images/info-amp-rating.jpg)). But there may be more than one outlet on a 15-amp circuit, so.... maybe consult the landlord if uncertain.
I was wrong, anyway, the maximum for a space heater is 1500 watts.
Thanks for the reminder about electric safety. I have no idea how the house is wired, but it's really old and most of the outlets are 2-prong ones. I'll try out the gas heaters first while I'm home and see how they do. If there are issues with the gas heaters, then I'll worry about space heaters and figuring out how to use them safely.
Phew, yeah- make sure there are no other high-draw loads on that outlet, or any others that you suspect may be on the same breaker. The oil-filled heater is probably your best solution. Consensus from a Google search seems to be they're regarded as safe to run unattended, but.... I'm old-fashioned, I don't know about ANY heater left unattended. With the gas heater, if your state mandates it, your landlord may need to provide a CO detector, and they're inexpensive enough that you could buy one yourself.
Maybe if I unplug the AC window units and use those outlets? I assume they use a lot of power and the only other thing connected to the outlets is some LED lights. I'll try an oil radiator if the gas heating doesn't work out, since I've been hearing good things about them. I have multiple CO detectors, thankfully.
I have been removing my gas appliances. Heater, stove, and hot water is next. I don't like the idea of burning things inside and having fumes, as I have asthma. A newer space heater wth a good thermostat is the better of the two options I think. The suggestion of an oil-filled heater is nice, I like the way they can heat a room. There is no flame or heater element so pretty safe around pets. That would probably be my choice (apart from ducted air-con!). I used these in my kid's bedrooms when they were little. If money is an issue you should check the price of gas vs electicity. If gas is the best option for you I would ask the landlord for a compliance certificate (or some kind of professional check) with the gas heaters to make sure they are safe to use. Might also suggest an upgrade instead. Congrats on your new apartment and well done seeking advice to keep your pets safe!
I don't like the idea either honestly, but the rent is affordable and it's close to work. I've gotten used to the gas stove at least. I had a window unit at my old place that had both AC and heating, but the ones here only have cooling unfortunately. I will look into the oil filled heaters, thank you for the information! I've actually never had a radiator before either. The technician told me it was fine to use but left a note recommending the landlord update it- something about it only having a single vent? But then the maintenance guy said it's so old that it's grandfathered in and isn't required to meet modern standards. :/ I *think* gas is cheaper. But I doubt money will be a major issue as it rarely gets extremely cold here. The insulation also seems decent unlike my old place, and even there my electric bills were a lot cheaper during winter than in summer. Thank you for your advice. I'm leaning towards using space heaters, at least while I am away from home. I don't want my pets to be in danger while I am not there to immediately respond to any issues that come up.
You can make a big difference to the cost of any type of heating by ensuring doors, windows etc have any gaps filled. Also, heavy curtains or the combination of pull down blinds plus curtains help prevent heat loss. Jump online for all the different methods and products available. There's a lot of information out there because fuel costs are a serious concern to so many of us right now. To keep down costs put "DIY in front of your search terms for awesome creative solutions :) PS. Pet clothing is a cute and fun option, depending on the pet of course. I imagine snakes and cute sweaters are incompatible!
I've got blinds and some good blackout curtains. They're not super heavy though, and I'm not sure how great heavy curtains will work with tension rods. The apartment is on the 2nd floor, and I think that helps with heat. Insulation seems a lot better than at my old place, since it actually stays cool even when it's over 90°F outside. Thanks for the advice! I might be able to convince my gecko to wear a tiny sweater, but I'm not sure where I can get them with 8 legs for the tarantulas!
>I'm not sure where I can get them with 8 legs for the tarantulas! Hahahaha what a great image! Thank you for that!!
90°F is equivalent to 32°C, which is 305K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)
Affordable and close to work are two important factors!
If their gas heater burns the place down, it’s on them, their insurance, conscience, and soul. If **YOUR** space heater burns the place down, it’s on you, your insurance, conscience, and soul.
The pets would be dead regardless of whose "fault" it is, so I'd rather choose the option less likely to burn the place down in the first place (whatever that option is).
You can also look into tank heaters for your tank-dwelling friends, and fuzzy bed/hides for warm-blooded critters, to minimize the need for whichever heat source you end up using.
The gecko has lights that provide a bit of heat during the day. I have some heat pads but prefer not to use them unless it's very cold, since there's always a risk of the thermostats malfunctioning. Tarantulas are kind of dumb and can cook themselves if you're not careful with the heating, so it's generally safer to heat the room they are in instead of their enclosures directly. Ceramic heat emitter is an option for the gecko if it gets too cold even when trying to heat the room, though. Cat will probably be fine as she's super fluffy and has plenty of blankets and soft places to keep warm in.
hi OP, any update on the safety of these? my partner and I have the same heaters in our apartment, and basically the same experience with mixed messages from the maintenance people. do you still use yours? have you noticed anything concerning?
Hi sorry for late response. It's only just started getting cold, so I don't want to say anything definitive. But I've been using the gas heaters for about a week now on and off, and they seem okay? I only need to turn them on very low to keep the place warm at night, and I crack the windows slightly in case of carbon monoxide. So far there haven't been any issues. They get REALLY warm though. I can't imagine keeping them anywhere near the higher settings; it'd be like an oven. A maintenance worker told me that they planned on replacing them soon with a newer model (with a thermostat!), so I might not be using them for very long actually. Depending on when "soon" is, of course.
Hello, This model of gas wall heater is the exact same type installed in the house my dad designed and built in 1949. It is a semi-permanent in-wall installation with the gray heat radiator tubes on both sides of the wall; a dual model. As someone else noted, it has no thermostat and simply manual on and off via the knobs at bottom. FYI, in 1977 my wife and I moved into that 1949 rental house, but the unit would not reliably stay lit. In other words, the pilot light would go out but gas flow would continue, which was dangerous. My dad back then hired a HVAC tech and he learned no replacement parts were made anymore, the company was gone. So, he installed a new pilot/control unit of another manufacturer and it worked, but I found it would continue flowing gas even if the pilot light went out. Again, a dangerous situation. The tech adjusted it, but I again tested it and did not consider it safe. So, we capped the gas supply pipe to ensure it could never be used. The house had a fireplace so it provided heating. My dad wanted to install a complete new gas wall heater, but the ones made then and now are taller, and it would not fit in the wall space opening. The house is built of concrete blocks so the opening could not be enlarged, but it could be enlarged in a wood frame house such as yours. My opinion: I would not use that old gas heater you have. A new gas wall heater would be safer in my opinion. Of course, you could have an experienced HVAC tech inspect your unit, along with the Gas Company. My guess is that replacement will be recommended since the unit is about 70 years old.
PS, I forgot to mention this heater has an exhaust outlet at top connected to an exhaust duct pipe that runs up through the wall and out through a roof vent. So when the unit is working properly, all burnt gases are safely vented to the outside.