Portable gas heaters and combustion emissions

0v3rloader

Hello,

I have recently bought a portable gas heater from Calor (DeLonghi Quattro Plus model that runs on butane gas) to heat up my room. I've decided to buy a gas-based heater instead of an electrical one because I'm a student who spends a lot of time at home (studying) and electricity-based heaters can have a huge impact on electricity consumption. So cost saving was a real concern for me.

It so happens that when I finally got the heater and switched it on I couldn't believe the mistake I had made. Running on its medium heating setting it took me about 5 minutes to begin feeling (slightly) dizzy and at about 10 minutes running time I was having an headache. My (only) window and door were shut, so there was no ventilation in the room.

I did a bit of research on the Net and quickly learnt that unvented gas heaters need the rooms they're operating in to be ventilated. I followed suit and tried once more to heat up my room, this time by keeping the door and window slightly open to allow fresh air in. But again, in about 5-10 minutes time I felt dizzy though this time to a much lesser degree.

My room is about ~4x3x2.5 meters (~30 m3) and, according to the manual that accompanies the heater, I should be having no problems with CO, Nitrogen or any other kind of emissions produced by the gas combustion - it's a large enough room. Moreover, the emissions produced by the heater have an odour very similar to the one produced by, say, gas cookers. It is these emissions and, more so, the sickning smell of burnt gas, that have an affect on me.I really don't think the heater is malfunctioning because it is brand new, though I must admit that that's a possibility. What really bugs me is if I'm required to keep the window and door open (as stated in the manual) that means cold air from the outside will get in the room thereby rendering the heater ineffective... So why buy one of these anyhow?

As you might have guessed by now, this is the first time I've had contact with a portable gas heater and thus I have no referential basis from which to draw my own conclusions. Having said all this, my questions to you are very simple (I hope) and straightforward.

1) Is what I'm experiencing normal? Have you had or do you know of someone who's had a similar experience?

2) Could it be that this is a direct consequence from the heater being brand new and that it will go away after awhile?

3) Is there anything I can do to minimise being exposed to the toxic emissions?

4) What are these emissions composed of and how toxic are they?

5) Finally, what advise would you give me you think is relevant?

I have contacted Calor via email over a week ago but they're yet to reply... and I'm getting desperate. After all, I spent £120 on the heater and gas cylinder and am now afraid to use it...

Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Volcano

Could it be that this is a direct consequence from the heater being brand new and that it will go away after awhile?

It is possible that coatings covering components (trace amounts of oil etc) from manufacture are being 'burnt off', producing temporary fumes. Though really they should go within the first couple of uses.

What are these emissions composed of and how toxic are they?

Standard by-products of butane combustion are water (as water vapour) and carbon dioxide, assuming you have a suitable supply of oxygen. It is possible that CO2 being produced is not escaping from the room quick enough, lowering oxygen levels and making you feel ill.

In oxygen poor environments, (as it was before you ventilated the room) carbon monoxide (as well as other nasty carbon-based compounds) will be produced, a potentially lethal situation! If you only opened the door and window "slightly" then I'm guessing this wasn't enough. Remember that installed gas fires in people's homes still have a flue, though mainly to vent water vapour and reduce moisture in the home, I'm guessing that any toxic compounds are also vented out of the home.

It could just be that you are particularly sensitive to even the very low levels of by-products present when a gas fire burns properly.

Another possibility is that the butane is leaking from the cylinder (though if you only get nauseous when the fire is on, then this is ruled out, also you'd probably smell it).

I've just read the instructions for your model and notice that on the medium setting you are borderline for safety with a 30 m3 room. Can you get enough warmth from the lowest setting? This might be worth trying, or you can increase ventilation.
I also notice that your model has a safety cut-out if levels of oxygen drop. If you initially operated this without ventilation then the fact it didn't cut out may indicate a fault. (Though levels may just not have dropped enough for the sensor).

I agree that these fires don't make sense if you need to open windows and doors to use them, I believe they work best in large areas by raising the temperature just a few degrees. Personally I detest gas products indoors, the potential for CO emissions is too worrying.

Is it too late to get your money back? You could get a radiant electric fire and spend the other £100 on electricity, certainly I reckon a lot safer.

0v3rloader

Thank you so much for all your help. You have clearly answered all my questions and certainly cleared all my doubts off my mind.

Again, thank you for having the (good) will to take the time.

BobProperty

0v3rloader wrote:

..... I'm a student who spends a lot of time at home (studying)....

Home as in parent's home or home as in where you are renting? Cos a lot of tenancy agreements ban these sorts of heaters because of the condensation they produce.

0v3rloader

BobProperty wrote:

Home as in parent's home or home as in where you are renting? Cos a lot of tenancy agreements ban these sorts of heaters because of the condensation they produce.

I'm renting a house at the moment. Thanks for letting me know about the possible ban, I will look into it.

TimBuckTeeth

I don't think it is worth the risk using this type of heater in a house.
If you are going to keep it, then make sure there is adequate ventilation (window wide open and door wedged open) and get a carbon monoxide detector.