What are the concerns about using a kerosene heater in a modern home?

Question

Will this back-up heater be safe and will it make the house smell? What precautions should be taken?

Are the kerosene heaters sold at Home Depot and Lowe's safe to use in a modern home? Homes built in the mid-70's.

Answer 1

Well, the heaters sold Lowe's and Home Depot, or other stores can be a danger. Not necessarily in themselves, but how and where they are used.

Do not use them in enclosed spaces.
Do not use them near fabrics, or other sources of combustibles. (Not too close to curtains, or stacks of newspapers, or gasoline containers, for example)
Be careful when pouring the kerosene into the unit. USE a funnel, or spout on the can, to avoid spilling the kerosene.

Im sure if you look at the packaging, all of these warnings will there, and probably some more.


The kerosene you would purchase at a gas station will stink. Some people are bothered more by the smell than others. If people are getting headaches from being in an area where a kerosene heater is being used... it is MOST LIKELY from CARBONMONOXIDE POISONING. A headache is one of the first symptoms of overexposure. You can purchase kerosene with "no odor", or with added scents. This type is most often found for oil lamps. Carbonmonoxide is STILL a hazard, even though the kerosene may be better smelling.

Kerosene heat is probably one of the worst alternatives as a heat source, from a safety standpoint.

MOST manufactured home builders will VOID your warranty, if they discover you have been using kerosene heat, in the home. That should be a clue.

Personally, I will not use a kerosene heater in my home. I won't even use one in the garage. I would consider using one outside, if I needed to create a heat source to work around. I would prefer to use a propane heater tho, as it is a safer combustible. There is no danger of spilling the product, for example.

If you need more heat in certain areas of your home on a regular basis... then update your home heating system. Any central heat furnace made today, is going to be much more efficient than one built in the 1970's -- you could actually see a decrease in your heat bill, while getting more heat, and comfort, out of your system.

If you need extra heat on an occasion, then seriously consider using something like a portable ceramic heater, with a safety tilt-shutoff.

If you are looking for a source of heat when your electric is out...seriously consider a generator big enough to run your furnace, or at least some electric space heaters -- and place the generator OUTSIDE the home. (NOT in the attached garage, either).

Be Safe.

Answer 2

Unvented kerosene space heaters have the obvious problem of flammability (don't use near flammable vapors) and the insidious problem of carbon monoxide generation. Vented ones also can have this problem, but the CO gets vented outside unless the vent is blocked with ice or a foreign object. When the KSHs are properly tuned, they are very efficient and don't create appreciable CO. But there's really no easy way for the consumer to know when they're not burning at top efficiency.

Oxygen depletion sensors can cut operation when there isn't enough oxygen, but you can have plenty of CO exposure in the meantime.

Beyond CO, there's the usual aldehydes and other respiratory irritants that result from kerosene combustion. If you smell something, you can be assured that the combustion isn't 100% efficient at turning the kerosene into CO2 and water.

My advice: don't use them in an enclosed living space, or any area connected to or adjacent an enclosed living space.

US CPSC has several tips and caution on KSHs. Here's a few links below-

Answer 3

During the last storms of late 2005 in the Northwest 44 people died of monoxide poisoning and or, houses burning down. So, I guess as per population they could be called "safe" as long as there used as prescribed. I wouldn't leave for the day with one going.
My daughter cat knocked hers over, the safety switch did not kick out, it spilled fuel all over the carpet, they were home and caught it.
You can smell hers when you walk in her door. Asking her why she has it, her hubby has a "think" for it. They have a modern furnace. I don't know why a modern furnace wouldn't be enough and, a quilt if necessary.

Answer 4

Just be sensible and they are fine for short periods. Fuel is costlier than natural gas. Some people get headaches from the fumes and they will smell.

Answer 5

If you use a kerosene heater in your home, you have to have some kind of ventalation, if you don't, you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning. They are not safe & can burn your home down, I really wouldn't recomend it, but if you do use one, PLEASE vent your home.

Answer 6

Yes they smell and yes given the right circumstances, the emitted gases can kill you.