R.J. Hill Consulting's Blog

Caution: Heat Producing Appliances

Winter is upon us and the country has just experienced it’s first major snowstorm of the year. Daily temperatures are below freezing and night time temps are even lower. What a time for your furnace or heat pump to breaK down! You need a supplemental source of heat until your heating unit can be repaired. Your first thought is to light that gas logs unit in your fireplace. You can use that unit for a little while but, DON’T make the mistake of thinking you can use the unit continuously. Gas logs units, whether vented or not, are not designed to heat an entire home and cannot be left “on” for long periods of time. The problem that is not considered is the products of combustion. If the gas logs unit is in a vented chimney, the tendency of owners is to close the damper to keep as much heat as possible from escaping up the chimney. In doing so, the combustion gasses will enter the living space. If the gas logs unit is in an unvented chimney, the products of combustion will also accumulate in the living space. In either case the gasses are poisonous and cause respiratory problems and even death. Aside from the gases, water vapor is also a by product of combustion. If the water vapor condenses on cooled walls or windows, then water stained walls and windows will occur. If left unattended, mold growth is also a possibility.

Stoves and ovens are another appliance that should not be used to heat a home. The same results that occur with gas logs can occur with trying to use a stove/oven to heat a large living space. If you use an electric stove/oven, you run the risk of premature failure of the electric elements. The same goes for using an electric clothes dryer. And of course, fire is always a possibility.