Products - Vanguard Vent-Free Heaters

Vent Free Heaters are inexpensive, and very efficient. That makes them extremely popular. It's important to understand some of the drawbacks to these heaters as well, though. They produce a smell which is the byproduct of burning a crude oil product and venting it back into your room. It is harmless, and you get used to it after a while. They also create moisture which, depending on your primary heat source, might be a good thing. They tend to counter-act the drying-properties of wood or forced air heat. Finally, you'll have to dust more frequently. While the heaters run, a thin film will settle everywhere in your house. You won't notice the film, but you will find you have to dust more frequently.

When you are sizing a vent-free heater, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First you are limited to a maximum of 6,000 BTU in a bathroom, and 10,000 BTU in a bedroom. It makes no difference how big the space is, or whether additional sources of make-up air are available or not. Second, because a vent-free heater uses up oxygen levels, you are further restricted on the size you can install based on the volume of potential oxygen available. We can help you determine this rate if you give us a call.

Blue Flame Heaters

Infrared Heaters

Optional Accessories

How they work

Vent-free fireplaces operate using natural or propane gas. Most models do not require electricity. Natural or propane gas fuels the flame through a permanent line that is connected to a blue-flame/yellow-flame burner or ceramic plaque burner within the heating appliance.

Inside air quality

The primary gas combustion byproducts that can affect indoor air quality are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor (humidity). Today's vent-free fireplaces operate well within national standards and recommendations concerning these five byproducts. The American Gas Association research division (www.aga.org) confirms these low emission levels.

Oxygen Detection Safety-Pilot

Since 1980 vent-free-gas-heating appliances have been equipped with a unique safety pilot system called an “oxygen detection safety pilot,” or ODS. The ODS is the technological innovation that revolutionized the safety of vent-free gas heating appliances by automatically shutting off the gas supply in the rare event that the oxygen level in the room falls to 18 percent, where carbon monoxide production can drastically increase (~20.9 percent is considered a normal oxygen level).

Previously, questions remained about the long-term effect of vent-free gas fireplace emissions on indoor air quality. In 1995 the Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (Vent-free gas product alliance) commissioned a study on indoor air quality as it relates to vent-free gas heating products in the home. The results proved that vent-free gas heating products meet or exceed the most current and applicable nationally recognized standards and guidelines for inside air quality. (Source: ventfree.org)

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