Paraffin heaters

[snowytheboy]

Just wondered if anybody has any experience of using these posh paraffin heaters that IZI and Leroy Merlin sell. Do thye give off a good level of heat and are they economical to run.

[pickwick]

I cannot imagine a posh parafin heater but never mind. Advice from heating engineer when I asked about getting one to heat the garage where I store logs:-

Safety Concerns

Because parafin heaters are usually unvented, all combustion products are released into the indoor air. Among these are low levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. An improperly adjusted, fueled, or poorly maintained parafin heater will release more pollutants. Use of a parafin heater in a poorly ventilated home, especially in modern well insulated ones, could pose a health risk. Most manufacturers suggest that a window be left cracked open. Parafin heaters should not be left unattended, especially while sleeping. A parafin heater, as any heater that uses organic fuel, when running out of oxygen can produce massive amounts of soot and carbon monoxide. Failure to abide by these precautions could result in asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Hot surfaces on the heater pose a fire and burn risk. The open flame poses an explosion risk in environments where flammable vapors may be present, such as in a garage. Use of improper or contaminated fuel could cause poor performance, a fire or an explosion. There are the usual risks involved with the storage of parafin and while refilling the heater. Use of impure fuel can cause extra soot. A risk of explosion is present with even trace amounts of petrol mixed in the fuel; be sure to store in a container that has not been used with petrol.

[snowytheboy]

Very interesting but did that heating engineer tell you whether they give off a good level of heat and are economical to run.

[pickwick]

No indeed he did not. I guess he thought the risk was more than the benefit could ever be. Not trying to diss parafin heaters but they have significant risk factors. We ended up using wafer heaters instead. Good no cheap, cheap no good springs to mind.

Pickwick

[EMM]

Any fuel heater will also give off a considerable amout of water as this is a by product of burning hydrocarbons
Your walls could literally run with water unless you have very good ventilation.
You need a scource of " dry heat ". to combat the problems of high humidity in a Portuguese winter.

[Michael Crane]

When I was a Senior Surveyor with Rentokil Insulation we referred to paraffin heaters as 'condensation machines'. One gallon of paraffin when burned produces water vapour which turns into water as soon as it touches cold walls and windows. The amount of water is often rather more than the original amount of paraffin, because of existing moisture in the air. Every gallon of paraffin burnt produces 10 pints of water.

[snowytheboy]

Sorry I asked.

[cereza]

Snowy - I think the others just wanted to point out the dangers of using parafin heaters which far outweigh any cost savings
I haven't seen parafin heaters in the UK for years
Personally if I had to use heaters in Portugal there is no way I would use parafin types no matter how economical they may or may not be.
Electric heaters are expensive to run and can trip out the electric supply in certain cases. Wafer heaters are fine but do not throw out a lot of heat IMO.
Whenever necessary I have used calor gas heaters but even with these you have to be careful that the room is ventilated.

[Michael Crane]

Sorry I asked.

You'd be a lot sorrier if you didn't. If you don't have a condensation problem now, you will, and if you do have one now, it'll get worse. Paraffin might keep you warm - but it'll make you damp, as well.

[sam]

Sorry I asked.

You'd be a lot sorrier if you didn't. If you don't have a condensation problem now, you will, and if you do have one now, it'll get worse. Paraffin might keep you warm - but it'll make you damp, as well.

When I worked in housing and someone complained they had damp problems the first things we asked were if they had paraffin heaters and/or tumble drier that was not externally vented. Usually it was paraffin heaters. We had one old couple would not not accept that internally venting their tumble drier was causing the damp problems. They called in the Environmental Health and demanded I was there so he could tell us what was wrong with their flat. Well, the guy turned up, took one look and asked her to spin & remove her washing from the washing machine, then we would all spin it around above our heads until it was dry. She looked horrified and said "But that will make the walls all wet." He pointed out that wasin effect what they were doing with their tumble drier! Brilliant - argument over.

[EMM]

Calor gas is also a hydrocarbon and generates significant moisture when it burns.

We stick to our wood fire, can get large open space, lounge and kitchen up to 21 degrees ( lighting late afternoons ).

[Matryx]

On a related matter, whilst I was receiving a quote for air conditioning last week, I was told that the older Wafer wall heaters contain asbestos! I don't know whether this is true, but I'll be removing ours as soon as possible just in case.

[garethjones]

I have never heard of that...

I will have a look in the description and the specifications of mine.

[Michael Crane]

On a related matter, whilst I was receiving a quote for air conditioning last week, I was told that the older Wafer wall heaters contain asbestos! I don't know whether this is true, but I'll be removing ours as soon as possible just in case.

It is perfectly safe as it will be contained within the casing to keep the heat in. It is only dangerous if it is disturbed and gets into the air and then into your lungs.

As an apprentice plumber I spent five years of my life knocking blue asbestos off boilers in school boiler rooms, and my only protection was at Martindale mask or a handkerchief - and then only now and again. I fully expect to die due to asbestosis one day. In fact, when I learned of the dangers of asbestos in my early 20s I never expected to reach my mid-fifties, let alone 62!

[floyd]

Michael, Do you remember the name of the firm you were working for - and more importantly, is there any way you can trace their employers liability insurer. Hopefully not, but it might be important. Funerals can be expensive