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Is A Wall Gas Heater Safe?
You will often find that certain rooms in your house are cooler than others, or the home is chilly. In this scenario, you should invest in a nice gas heater that can be fixed on the wall. It’s at this stage that you begin to wonder if wall heaters may catch fire. When heating a home, one of the most important considerations is safety.
Some heating systems have built-in and obvious safety alerts capabilities. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant danger with propane and natural gas-based heating systems. That is why wall-mounted electric heaters are a favourite choice for folks who want to avoid the risks of gas or propane warmers. A wall-mounted heater is among the safest solutions available when purchased from a reputable company.
Note that electric heaters that are installed on the walls are safer than other types of heaters. You cannot be wary of an electrical heater tripping and starting a fire because it’s hardwired into the wall. You’re probably wondering if your wall gas heater is safe to use. If you have any concerns, this article will help answer all of those questions and more.
The pros and cons of a wall gas heater are also explored in this article. It also goes over how to fix a couple of problems with your home’s wall gas heating system, so you can get it back up and running quickly. However, having a professional check it out is a more prudent idea than doing it yourself if a malfunction occurs.
Is It Safe To Use Gas Wall Heaters?
Gas wall heaters are cost-effective and efficient at heating small rooms. The heat generated is sufficient to keep a small room nice and warm even if it is not linked to a centralised heating unit or a furnace. Natural gas, which is cleaner than some other fossil fuels, is used to power gas wall heaters.
It creates dangerous by-products of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide because it generates heat by burning fuel. As a result, it is critical to think about your home’s safety while using, installing, as well as servicing gas wall heaters.
Important Things To Consider About Gas Heaters
To guarantee the reliability of your gas appliance, follow the guidelines below.
Flued Wall Gas Heaters are the Best Option
Specific flammable fuels, like kerosene, are prohibited for interior use in most regions of the country, particularly with unvented gas heaters. Unflued natural gas heaters, on the other hand, are not advised for residential usage and are only permitted in certain areas. A duct connects a vented natural gas wall heater with an exhaust vent, which vents the fumes outdoors. Even though an unvented wall gas heater does not have an exhaust, it does feature a sensor that detects low oxygen concentrations and immediately switches the heater off.
It is better to utilise unvented wall heaters in sections of the home with a natural exit point for emissions, like garages, where they are permitted. Always pick a vented wall heater above an unvented type for maximum safety.
Select the Right Model
After deciding that vented wall heaters are the preferable option, the next step is to choose the suitable model. Focus on excellent features and the most recent appliance while buying a wall heater. The device U.L. listing, which shows that the unit has been subjected to regulatory testing, should be conspicuously displayed. Moreover, the wall heater must feature a completely sealed combustion chamber and a “100% outside air” indicator.
Invest in Quality Installation
When installing a wall heater, you must always pick a reliable contractor. This is to guarantee that the gas network is secure. This is not a procedure you should undertake on your own or entrust to somebody with little experience. Faulty gas connections might result in toxic leaks.
Annual Maintenance Should be Scheduled
Like any other HVAC equipment, you should service the wall heater regularly. A specialist will examine the heater for leaking, loose connections, any damages and perform a general operational test. Frequent monitoring and maintenance should not be expensive, and it is essential for the safety of your property. If these measures are followed, gas wall heaters can prove to be a safe space heating solution for small areas and flats.
Are Wall Gas Heaters A Fire Hazard?
Most of the time, fires occur based on how individuals use their heater, not by the heater failing. The pilot light, which regulates the quantity of gas generated by your heater, is standard on most heaters. Most fires occur when the heating appliance is not set around three feet away from something flammable in your house, such as beds, furniture, or drapes.
To ensure your family is safe:
- Be sure the heater you select meets all safety requirements.
- Keep your heating appliance at least three feet away from your furnishings.
- Ascertain that the home has adequate ventilation so that enough oxygen can enter for combustion and carbon monoxide may escape.
- Have an electric heating system if at all feasible, as it is a safer alternative than other options.
Advantages Of Wall Gas Heaters
Besides providing a safe heating choice, utilising a wall gas heater to heat your living spaces has other advantages. These include:
Warms Up Your Place Fast
It’s unpleasant to wait for a space to warm up. A wall heater can heat a room in about 60 to 120 seconds if it is correctly fitted and controlled. Whenever you need your space heated as quickly as possible, such speed is very effective and efficient.
Used as an Additional Source of Heat
You can use a wall gas heater as a zoning-type heating alternative for your residence to save money on energy bills. Maintaining a centralised HVAC system might be costly. You may enjoy pleasant interior temperatures for less than the expense of an HVAC system by employing wall-mounted gas heaters.
Enables You to Control the Temperature
The majority of wall gas heaters have a temperature adjustment feature. If you can modify the temperature range according to your demands, you can experience comfortable warmth.
Heat Lasts for Several Hours
A wall gas heater heats a room effectively and provides a warm environment that lasts a long time. Even when the wall heater is switched off, this is evident. If the heat from the heater does not last as long as intended, you should investigate your house insulation. Insufficient insulation may result in a lot of the heat generated by the heater escaping.
Saves on Space
Wall gas heaters are typical in flats and small homes because they conserve space. It’s a wall-mounted device, and most variants are slim and tiny.
Maintenance and Repair are Simple
Wall heaters are always simple to install as well as maintain. You do not have to be worried about major repairs because there are so few parts. When your unit has to be repaired, all you have to do is unplug the heater, have an expert perform the necessary repairs, and then reinstall it as quickly as possible.
Troubleshooting Wall Gas Heaters
While wall heaters are very simple to maintain, they can develop several typical problems that can be inconvenient if left unchecked. Here are among the most typical issues with wall gas heaters, as well as how to solve them.
Pilot Light Stops Working
If the pilot light still does not function after following the prescribed measures in the user’s manual, you should check the fuel supply. Check for obstructions in the pilot aperture. After confirming that there is adequate gas flow, insert a pin into the opening of the combustion chambers. You may unscrew the pilot light and then clean it with a compressor if you understand how.
Pilot Light Goes Entirely Out
The wall heater will not work if your pilot light is dim, flickering, or out. A blockage or a defective thermocouple is the source of this. A thermocouple is a detector located near the pilot light that allows the gas valve to stay open when the pilot light is turned on.
The pilot light turns off if the thermocouple is malfunctioning or if it is very far away from the pilot light. You can try moving the thermocouple nearer to the pilot light by adjusting it.
Heater Does Not Operate
A thermostat problem might cause a functional pilot light but no heat generation by the heater. If the heater is not working because the thermostat is not delivering a signal, the temperature around is very low. Increase the temperature all the way. If it still does not work, the issue might be more serious and necessitate the assistance of a specialist.
What To Do If Your Wall Gas Heater Is Not Flued
As a by-product of combustion, unflued gas heaters emit various pollutants. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) plus Carbon Monoxide (CO) are two of the pollutants that might be harmful to your health. Unflued gas heaters also generate water vapour, which can indirectly affect your health by encouraging mould and dust mite growth.
The amount of pollutants produced by an unflued gas heater varies depending on:
- The type of heater used
- How the heater is mounted
- How the heater is used
- The frequency with which the heater is serviced
Furthermore, the number of contaminants in the air in the room will change based on:
- How you employ the heater
- The size of the space that has to be heated
- How well the ventilation system removes contaminants from the environment
You may avoid or limit your exposure to contaminants from unflued gas heaters by doing the following:
- You must adequately ventilate your space. Allow fresh air to enter the space by keeping interior doors and at least one window unlocked. In addition, ensure the room vents are not obstructed.
- Prevent the use of an unflued gas heater in a sleeping room, washroom, caravan, or even a tent.
- Use an unflued gas heater for as little time as possible.
- Ensure that a qualified gas installer fits your wall gas heater.
- Check and follow the owner’s manual to use your wall gas heater.
- At least once a year, get your unflued gas heater serviced by a professional. Heaters that aren’t operating properly might discharge more pollutants into the atmosphere. Do not attempt to maintain an unflued gas heater on your own.
Use Professionals For Your Wall Gas Heater Needs
Radiators gave rise to the concept of a wall heater. Traditional radiators heat water with boilers and then distribute it through pipes that circulate throughout residential complexes. Cast iron radiators use heated water to create heat to warm a space. Old houses still have radiators, but modern ones use gas heaters instead of boiler radiators.
A gas wall heater installed directly on the wall delivers even, free-flowing heat. The heat is provided by a gas furnace in the basement of the building. Gas wall heaters are often inexpensive and efficient. However, it necessitates the installation of a venting system, which may be prohibitive in certain flats. If you need to install one in any space of your house, please do not go DIY.
Only a professional can properly install the system and keep your family safe and warm by making the gas heater safe to use. Therefore, ensure that you contact an expert to do the installation, the maintenance of your wall gas heater, and fix any issues that may arise.
