It would be great if a professional with specific knowlege of this subject
could answer this question.

I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas logs on
when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. I would presume that
the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion, and/or fire.

Our unvented gas logs were installed in a modular home by the modular
company and strictly according to the manufacturers instructions.

The combustion products from these logs are disbursed throught an immediate
open area of about 15,300 cubic ft, plus up a stairway where the hot air
really flows to an additional 18,000 cubic feet. The total volume of air
in the living area of the home is about 40,500 cubic feet.

The logs are equiped with an O2 depletion sensor. A CO detector placed
near the logs has never measured any CO. The area around the fire place
does not become close to being too hot. The logs run on propane and
produce 21,000-34,000 BTU/hour. We ALWAYS run it on the 21,000 setting.
We have never detected any order

QUESTION: Is there REALLY any significant danger in running the logs
unattended? If so, is the reason one or more of CO, O2, fire, or something
else?

Many thanks.

wrote:
....
I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas logs on
when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. I would presume that
the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion, and/or fire.
....

Basically, it's a CYA disclaimer for a general statement.

Specifically, it could be any of the above.

Realistically, it's common sense.

--

"dpb" wrote in message
...
wrote:
...
I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas logs
on
when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. I would presume
that
the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion, and/or fire.
...

Basically, it's a CYA disclaimer for a general statement.

Specifically, it could be any of the above.

Realistically, it's common sense.

Well, mebbe not so common sense, if one has faith in all the protection,
sensors, etc.
BUT, a little practical paranoia goes a long way.... I don't leave even
electric heaters unattended!
I'm not crazy about my gas furnace cycling on and off with no one in the
house....

But without a doubt CYA....

But a note on "unvented":

I was thrilled to find some traditional gas "radiant" ventless heaters.
So I bought two, for my shop, ran gas lines, the whole 9....

What a disappointment -- indeed, altho apparently one doesn't outright DIE,
one does choke a bit.... goodgawd....
And the water vapor can *soak* the wall above the heater. You need a
dehumidifer mounted right on top of the unvented gas heater.

You don't really choke-choke, but goddamm, you can -- at least *I* can --
literally *taste* the resulting air.

I don't think CO or oxygen depletion were involved, as I'm pretty sensitive
to CO, and the place is drafty, but the unpleasantness of these ventless gas
heaters was distinct, even on low.

Funny, tho, the stove doesn't have this unpleasantness that these heaters
had, so it might have been some contribution from the radiant ceramic
element, as well.
Water vapor will *always* be a problem, however -- less so if the place is
so dry you actually *need* some moisture.

Buyer beware.
--
EA




--

In my situation, with the large volume of air and heat pumps also providing
substantiql heating, our air remains fairly dry as it does in the 6000 sq
ft house next door with 10 foot ceilings and they run theirs all day long.

On Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:44:32 -0500, "Existential Angst"
wrote:

"dpb" wrote in message
...
wrote:
...
I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas logs
on
when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. I would presume
that
the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion, and/or fire.
...

Basically, it's a CYA disclaimer for a general statement.

Specifically, it could be any of the above.

Realistically, it's common sense.

Well, mebbe not so common sense, if one has faith in all the protection,
sensors, etc.
BUT, a little practical paranoia goes a long way.... I don't leave even
electric heaters unattended!
I'm not crazy about my gas furnace cycling on and off with no one in the
house....

But without a doubt CYA....

But a note on "unvented":

I was thrilled to find some traditional gas "radiant" ventless heaters.
So I bought two, for my shop, ran gas lines, the whole 9....

What a disappointment -- indeed, altho apparently one doesn't outright DIE,
one does choke a bit.... goodgawd....
And the water vapor can *soak* the wall above the heater. You need a
dehumidifer mounted right on top of the unvented gas heater.

You don't really choke-choke, but goddamm, you can -- at least *I* can --
literally *taste* the resulting air.

I don't think CO or oxygen depletion were involved, as I'm pretty sensitive
to CO, and the place is drafty, but the unpleasantness of these ventless gas
heaters was distinct, even on low.

Funny, tho, the stove doesn't have this unpleasantness that these heaters
had, so it might have been some contribution from the radiant ceramic
element, as well.
Water vapor will *always* be a problem, however -- less so if the place is
so dry you actually *need* some moisture.

Buyer beware.

wrote:
It would be great if a professional with specific knowlege of this
subject could answer this question.

I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas
logs on when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. I would
presume that the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion,
and/or fire.

Our unvented gas logs were installed in a modular home by the modular
company and strictly according to the manufacturers instructions.

The combustion products from these logs are disbursed throught an
immediate open area of about 15,300 cubic ft, plus up a stairway
where the hot air really flows to an additional 18,000 cubic feet.
The total volume of air in the living area of the home is about
40,500 cubic feet.

The logs are equiped with an O2 depletion sensor. A CO detector
placed near the logs has never measured any CO. The area around the
fire place does not become close to being too hot. The logs run on
propane and produce 21,000-34,000 BTU/hour. We ALWAYS run it on the
21,000 setting. We have never detected any order

QUESTION: Is there REALLY any significant danger in running the logs
unattended? If so, is the reason one or more of CO, O2, fire, or
something else?


I grew up in a home that used unvented natural gas space heaters. If you
have a gas range, as many do, it is unvented. Never a physical or mental
problem. [Look! A squirrel!]

On Jan 2, 1:21*pm, wrote:
It would be great if a professional with specific knowlege of this subject
could answer this question.

I have read in many places that one should never leave unvented gas logs on
when they are unattended, but I cannot find out why. *I would presume that
the reason(s) must be related to CO, O2 depletion, and/or fire.

Our unvented gas logs were installed in a modular home by the modular
company and strictly according to the manufacturers instructions. *

The combustion products from these logs are disbursed throught an immediate
open area of about 15,300 cubic ft, plus up a stairway where the hot air
really flows to an additional 18,000 cubic feet. *The total volume of air
in the living area of the home is about 40,500 cubic feet.

The logs are equiped with an O2 depletion sensor. *A CO detector placed
near the logs has never measured any CO. *The area around the fire place
does not become close to being too hot. *The logs run on propane and
produce 21,000-34,000 BTU/hour. *We ALWAYS run it on the 21,000 setting..
We have never detected any order

QUESTION: *Is there REALLY any significant danger in running the logs
unattended? *If so, is the reason one or more of CO, O2, fire, or something
else?

Many thanks.

How leaky is your house? Maybe there is an air inlet somewhere that
helps feed the fireplae.