Propane Heater w/24V controls

[majordad]

I know I can install a forced air propane furnace to augment my air source heat pump. Do they make a propane heater that has the 24V controls? I want to bring it on when the heat pump's thermostat calls for "auxillary" heat.

I have looked at several wall mounted propane heaters but none of them have the 24V controls. It would operate on/off just like a furnace but would simply be a propane heater installed in my basement near a return air.

Thanks

[HVAC dawg]

That would be a great question to a supplier of propane heaters I would maybe call a local HVAC company and ask around? :couch:I haven't had a propane application yet so I can't tell you bur possibly another online tech could:yes:

[keeplearnin]

sounds very scary indeed.

[gasser65]

We've sold propane heaters for many years - they do not make a propane space heater w/24V controls as far as I know. Why not just use the space heater as the heat source when you need it and turn on your ceiling fans to circulate the air? Gas space heaters are not meant to be used as your primary heat source - they are made to be used in addition to your primary heat source or as backup heat when your electricity goes off.

[deniset]

I agree with the professional member... Those wall mount propane heaters are not meant for that type of application... I would call your local heating contractor to install a furnace that runs off of a gas that could be supplied by a gas supplier in your area... The contractor can then tie in the furnace to run when the HP can not keep up...

[big sky hvac]

I know I can install a forced air propane furnace to augment my air source heat pump. Do they make a propane heater that has the 24V controls? I want to bring it on when the heat pump's thermostat calls for "auxillary" heat.

I have looked at several wall mounted propane heaters but none of them have the 24V controls. It would operate on/off just like a furnace but would simply be a propane heater installed in my basement near a return air.

Thanks

What do you currently have for auxillary heat?

[majordad]

There are resistive heat strips in the air handler. The meter is a merry-go-round on steroids when the auxiliary heat kicks in.

[majordad]

I have two HVAC contractors giving me prices on the propane furnace. That is what I will probably do. The space heaters are cheap enough but, when I sell the house (if we move) it would look much better and be more economical to operate if we have the heat pump and LPG forced air installed in tandem.

[big sky hvac]

There is resistive heat strips in the air handler. The meter is a merry-go-round on steroids when the auxiliary heat kicks in.

I have a few suggestions. If you have natural gas available, have a gas line ran and a meter set and install a gas furnace. If you don't have natural gas, have a propane tank set and install a furnace. If neither of those things are feasible at this time, I would consider purchasing an infrared heater like an Eden Pure or Sun Twin, or something similar. I would strongly recommend NOT using a portable propane heater as what you're describing. You might end up making the evening or morning news when they report about a house that burned down or the people inside died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Those portable heaters were not designed for the application that you want to do.

[majordad]

I appreciate all the comments/help I received. We had two contractors come over and look at our situation. We aren't sure we are going to do anything but, we are considering an LPG forced air furnace or an ETS furnace. Either furnace would be in tandem with the heat pump.

If we do the propane space heater, we will use it on an "as needed" basis. We would bring it on/off manually. Of course, if a propane furnace or heater are installed, there will be a carbon monoxide detector installed. We already have smoke detectors in the home.

[uniservice]

Empire makes a wall mount sealed combustion, electronic ignition forced air heater. It's a DV All combustion air comes from outside and all exhaust gases are sent outside. Mine in the shop is running a Honeyell t8200 clock stat. Also they make a vertical wall heater. Any LP gas dealer should have access to them. Obviously the proper way to do it is install a coil in the discharge airstream of a typical gas furnace, and then add a fossil fuel kit to the heating system to lock out the pump when the furnace is running and lock out the furnace when the heat pump is running. Usually they have controls that allow the fossil fuel furnace to come on to temper the inside air during defrosts.

[cboe]

I had a situation onetime. went to get a mech. permit to install a propane furnace in the basement. building department denied my application for the permit. in the mech. code it is stated that no PL apliance can be installed below the sub floor of a building.
anyone ever heard ou such a thing?