LP heater question

[stonedragonfarms]

Hello Nancy, Ross, Doc et al...
Nancy--I have used the type of heater that you are talking about on a couple of occasions in my GH when we had power outages (though we have a generator now, so I'll cross my fingers that I won't need it any more)... Using this type of heat usually causes buds to blast in my experience, the exception being buds on spikes which have not yet broken sheath: fully formed buds on cymbidium, masdevallia, cattleya hybrids & dendrobiums all blasted (though all of the plants were just fine, and I'd sacrifice blossoms any day to spare the whole plant); however almost anything (aside from paphs) which was in spike and not yet beginning to show anything resembling buds bloomed just fine. I agree with the others, stick to electric heat unless you want to invest in vented LP/Nat Gas heat.
Just my 2 cents,
Adam

[Bob2741]

The byproduct of Natural and Propane gas is ethylene gas, which can cause the plants to drop their buds and blooms.

[Bob2741]

I have run the DV 215 for eight years and its never missed a lick It has a milvolt thermostat that keeps thefurnace cooking in a power failure I heated a 8X12 Greenhouse with it in some sub 0 temps I still have it in the old section for backup

Empire DV210 & DV215 Direct Vent Wall Furnaces Features
Ideal where existing chimneys or flues can't be used
Approved for use in bedrooms & bathrooms
Mount on an outside wall
10,000 Btu (DV210) & 15,000 Btu (DV215)
Heats 60 cu. feet per minute
Beige or Tan
Perfect for small to medium rooms
Quiet operation
Wall thermostat requires no electricity
Removable front panels for easy cleaning and servicing
Oxygen Depletion System
Scratch and Chip resistant paint
Matchless piezo ignition system
Standard outside vent kit
10 year warranty on combustion chamber
1 year warranty on all other parts
Propane or Natural Gas























Options
Internal automatic blower

[nancy]

Hi all -
I appreciate the input, and Adam pretty much told me what I wanted to know re: losing my buds.
So, this heater will keep my tropicals in the shed warm-ish if we get a freeze, and I guess I'll stick with the little electric for the orchids. Not an issue most of the time, but we do get some horrifically cold (40F!!!) nights in the winter occasionally.
Thanks - Nancy

[Ross]

Think about it Nancy: you don't get these really cold temps all that often, right? It's sort of like me investing in a central air condontioning unit. What's the point? I get maybe 3-4 days (well, maybe more ) of very high temps. So the investment wouldn't ever pay off. You get maybe the same in cold days in winter? So will it pay off? I doubt it. You'd still be better off with an effecient electric space heater for those few really cold nights and just pay the electric bill. Just my 2 cents. The newer ceramic space heaters for bathrooms might just do the trick for your setup. There's also those new "Amish-made" room heaters being advertized which may strike your "hot-button" who knows. Heat Surge - Amish Built Electric Fireplaces w/ Authentic Wood Mantle

[Bob2741]

I heated my new section of the greenhouse 9'X14 with a tower ceramic heater until my little lp furnace was installed.It did real good down to 20 a couple nights.. Got it at Home Depot or Lowes I forget keep it as a standby Held GH at about 57

[ohanahana]

Originally Posted by nancy

Hmmmm, well you both are telling me a horrific story here! My little electric heater isn't 'vented' in any way - that's okay? The directions for this heater (of course) warn against using it indoors, as it consumes O; we don't get much cold weather here, and there are a few stories every winter of people running a generator or outdoor heaters indoors (even a charcoal grill!) for heat and asphyxiating the entire family. However, my little glasshouse is sitting out in the yard - it doesn't have any kind of venting system, but has one of those automatic vents (wax-filled piston opener) that opens at a certain temperature.
I'm not worried about carbon monoxide harming me, as I have to open a big sliding door to enter, and that pretty much vents a space that small...and I think plants like the carbons, both mono- and di-. I did the test indicated in the instructions, spraying down the connection to the tank with soapy water to watch for bubbles, and there were none...but I am still concerned about my buds and propane, myself and CO not so much.
When I lit this heater the first time, I did think I smelled hair burning, and checked to see that I still had eyebrows.
I will have to think on this some more before using it - tried it in a shed full of tropicals - they don't need to be warm, they just don't want to freeze; but I'm a bit more anal about the orchids.
Thanks - Nancy

nancy-- what did you end up doing?? it's getting to be that time for me...

[johnblagg]

I had a small unvented lp heater in a small GH once thought it would be fine since the Gh was not very tight and just thrown togather ....turned it on one night and the next day everything had turned black and died.I would say it depends on how big the space is as the oxygen can get depleated very quick in a small space and then its bad news.

[harrywitmore]

I have used a vent-free propane heater in my greenhouse for years with no problem. These are not the same as the heaters attached to the top of a bottle but ones designed to be used in unvented spaces. If the area is too tight the heaters will shut down due to lack of oxygen and this occurs before a major buildup of CO. One way to be safe is to install a CO monitor to detect high levels before they become a problem. But, they are illegal to use in some states.

[Bird Song Farm]

After a lot of research, I have recently installed one of these vent free heaters in my sun room. It is known as a "blue flame" heater and has all the safety options, including automatic shut off if there is a low oxygen, a gas leak alert, auto shut off in case of tip over, etc. It is also 99.9% efficient.
Two weeks now with no problems. Plants continue to bud/bloom. I also immediately installed a CO monitor. This runs on electricity with a battery back-up.
Al

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

I have used a vent-free propane heater in my greenhouse for years with no problem. These are not the same as the heaters attached to the top of a bottle but ones designed to be used in unvented spaces. If the area is too tight the heaters will shut down due to lack of oxygen and this occurs before a major buildup of CO. One way to be safe is to install a CO monitor to detect high levels before they become a problem. But, they are illegal to use in some states.