I need gas heat in my basement I need it to be on a thermostat but will keep the heat slightly below room temperature until I go down to be there a while. I also need the heat to work when we have no power. That puts me with a set of gas logs or some type of heater with a fan that will also heat without the fan running. Most "experts" say that I don't want to use unvented heat on a thermostat to heat with. I am also told that gas logs will not hold up on a thermostat, which comes on, on its own. I'm told that vented heat is safer but not as efficient as unvented. I mainly want a safe situation that is reliable, especially when the power is off.

Thanks for your comments

There is no such thing as "unvented" or "ventless" heaters.

They all vent. Either externally or they vent into the room.

And they vent lots of moisture and CO2. And other byproducts including some CO.

Read the requirements that come with them including things like keeping a window open.

Well, Bill I see that you are a "moderator" for this forum. With that in mind I would have thought a
"Moderator" could have supplied me with a much better answer than "go read the manual". Believe it or not its not just DoofWads that can't turn a screw driver that seek advice on the interntet. Thank you for pointing out to me that if the heater doesn't vent to the outside then you get all your poison on the inside. I have had three so called experts give me three differents answers on this subject. Yours is number 4 and the most unimpressive. Thank you so much for your great reply.

"I have had three so called experts give me three differents answers on this subject." If the 'experts' said anything other than what Bill said, then they aren't experts.

I can understand that he didn't specify what to use, as he is an electrician pro. Your choice to not use a 'breathe-the-combustion-products' ventless heater is wise. However, it is difficult to retrofit a vented heater to a basement for no-electricity situations. I'd consider a battery-backup power vented heater for least complications. If you can get a direct-vent heater to work with a backup power, then you'd have a good situation.

http://www.alsheating.com/RinnaiHeater.htm

http://www.cozyheaters.com/products.php

www.heatpro.us energy businessmen's knowledge

Yes, you really have to find out the MAKE and MODEL to get good answers. There IS more than one machine made.

Many heaters that are vented, that is to the outside of the house, (hope that is clear enough for most)will work when the power is out. They just don't work as quick or as efficient.

What I am told is that heaters that vent to the outside of the house are not very good sources of heat to begin with as most send alot of heat right out the vent pipe, unlike "ventless" heat which sends all the heat and everything else right into the room. I don't know the answer, that is why I asked the question to begin with. This seems to have gotten into a debate, which is what everyone wants to do, rather than come up with an answer. Mabye I should just have phrased the question, " Whick is more efficient "ventless" or "vented", I'm sure I would have gotten the same reply from some.

Aha! you wanted a SIMPLE answer that would be sheer EFFICIENCY, without all that concern whether you'd live for long after getting the one fact.

A furnace that doesn't vent to the outside is ALWAYS more efficient than one that sends the products of combustion outdoors. It takes about 15% of the heat energy to make combustion products heat up a chimney to send the products outdoors. It takes electrical energy to send the products by using a fan in a direct or sealed combustion furnace. That's why chimney furnaces have about 85% AFUE and condensing furnaces are about 96% AFUE.

A VENTLESS heater just leaves the products of combustion in the room with you for you and your kids to breathe. They are COMPLETELY putting ALL the heat into the same space with you.

That's why they are so popular in New Hampshire, where the motto is 'Live Free or Die.' For decades, they've been putting gas heaters in the basements without using the factory recommended vents. They get 100% efficiency, very moldy walls and floor ceilings from the excess moisture, and they kill all the bugs down there from the exhaust. Now it's YOUR turn by avoiding that fact.

www.heatpro.us energy businessmen's knowledge

Yes, you really have to find out the MAKE and MODEL to get good answers. There IS more than one machine made.

thanks for the reply