Despite manufacturers' claims to be safe, vent-free space-heaters pose numerous risks to homeowners, including dangers to safety and health, and cause costly damage to homes.

One of the most overlooked aspects of vent-free heating appliances is how they generate gallons of excess water-vapor inside the home, which leads to moisture-damage to walls and ceilings, and unsafe mold and mildew conditions.

Not realized by most people, whenever a fuel is burned, large amounts of water-vapor gets released into the air. A normal vented appliance expels this moisture through the chimney or exhaust-pipe. However, an unvented appliance, such as a vent-free space-heater, has nowhere to send this moisture but into the rooms in which you and your family live. Like the outside of a glass of ice-water, moisture condenses on wall and ceiling surfaces.

To put the amount of moisture a vent-free appliance generates in perspective, a typical family of four produces approximately 2.9 gallons of moisture through cooking, showers, etc. A 40,000 btu vent-free heater generates six gallons of moisture in a 24-hour period. This is a sure recipe for an insurance claim.

Although most vent-free units are equipped with an oxygen-depletion sensor, the purpose of which is to prevent high

levels of carbon monoxide, they don't prevent LOW levels of the toxic, odorless gas. Problems associated with low-level carbon monoxide poisoning include frequent headaches, chronic cold or flu-like symptoms and nausea.

In addition to producing carbon monoxide, vent-free heaters exhaust other unhealthy by-products, including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and several other forms of indoor air pollution. Such compounds can cause lung-irritation, and trigger asthma or allergy attacks.

Before you think about purchasing a vent-free space-heater, think again and remember the real cost of this low-price health and safety-hazard.

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