Bought a kerosene heater today

[Orrex]

In large measure because 60% of our house is always freezing in the winter, regardless of what the thermostat says. So far it's been amazing--there's an actual warm breeze blowing through the formerly chilly house, and our furnace isn't coming on as often, either.

Two questions:

Should I buy a carbon monoxide detector? This seems like a no-brainer, but I wanted to be sure. Also, what do I do to keep my regular smoke detector from going off due (I think) to the warm air? We won't be using the kero heater while we're asleep, so the smoke detector will be back online at that time.

Is the kerosene sold at gas stations the right stuff to use? The heater requires 1-K, but how can I tell if this is what the gas station sells? I asked at three separate stations, and no one--including the tanker truck driver--could tell me. The store where I bought the heater had 120oz and 2.3 gallon jugs for sale, but they seemed preposterously expensive.

[Parche]

1. Carbon Monoxide Is Your Friend

:rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[Orrex]

3. I'll post a better reply later--right now I'm too sleepy

And my lips are the loveliest azure.

[lizziegrace]

2. Absolutely get a carbon monoxide detector

A guy who worked for the gas company who came out after my First Alert detector kept going off said to get a Blackhawk. I have one that plugs into an electrical outlet.

I've always used kerosene from a gas station (only when we had no heat and there was an ice storm. I kept a window cracked...

I know my grandmother used one for years in her drafty old house.

[Orrex]

4. Thanks for the tips

Kero at the gas station is about $3.39 right now--much better than ten bucks!

We'll be turning the heater off for the night in a few minutes, but I'll get a detector tomorrow. Or maybe a canary.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. I used them for years with no problems...

and using only gas station kero. Stunk up the place, though, and sleeping in the loft was warm and cozy, but the fumes went up there with the heat.

You might want to keep an extra wick handy just in case you get the rare bad batch from the station, although the wick could last for years the way you're using it.

And keep your pets away from it! The reflector types have had more than one dog go up in flames from sleeping in front of it-- a heavy winter coat can catch fire before the dog feels the heat.

[Orrex]

10. We bought a convection model

Because you have to admire someone who has the courage of his convections.

Thanks for the info--item two on tomorrow's must-buy list is a nice blue kero jug.

[Bossy Monkey]

6. You might consider taking it back and getting a DeLonghi instead

eg this one: http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EW7707CM-Oil-filled-ComforTemp-Technology/dp/B000TGDGLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1225244784&sr=1-3 Eons back, I ran a self-service storage place with a little office heated with an old kerosene heater. Got tired of black stuff coming out of my nostrils, so bought a DeLonghi instead. Worked great.

If you stick with the kerosene, yes get a carbon monoxide monitor, no don't turn off the smoke detectors. Apparently, there are smoke detectors and heat detectors; smoke detectors supposedly don't detect heat. It could be burnt dust setting them off, though. Sort of another argument for the DeLonghi.

[lizziegrace]

7. I used 3 of those last winter in a farm house heated with oil

I kept them all on low (500w) and they kept the room bearable. I kept the thermostat at 50 most of the winter. I gave one to ZombieNixon and the other developed a bad switch. I still have one here in Milwaukee.

[Orrex]

8. We have an oil-filled heater

Not sure of the specs, but it heats about a three-foot radius when it's on full blast, and after several hours at that setting it can heat a small room to barely-comfortable.

That's a slight exaggeration, but my electric bill is already at least as big a problem as my gas bill, so I'm looking to avoid anything that I have to plug in.


Thanks for the vote "yes" on the CO detector--that's at the top of tomorrow's must-buy list.

[lizziegrace]

9. Try to find a Blackhawk

The guy from the gas company said they get more false alarms from First Alert and he has Blackhawks in his own home. Mine's worked find for years now.

[Orrex]

11. Good tip--thanks! (nt)