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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Direct Vent Propane Heater or good alternative in Canada?
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Gotta Gettaway
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2015 03:11pm - Edited by: Gotta Gettaway
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Hi All,

I have posted before about my cabin in Bancroft area. I've been dragging my feet in heating and now want to get this purchase made and get heat sorted for the winter. I've been researching on heating options and I know i would like to go with propane. I have 96 Sq ft with a loft and don't need anything excessive (also didn't want to lose the floor space from a wood stove). The best and only real small option with minor or no electrical required has been the Empire Dv-210. And it will cost over $900 for the unit without gas hookups. Wondering if anyone has any good options or alternatives that would be a little more budget conscious and have worked for them?
Ideally, I would like to find a source from in Canada. And, as discussed many times before on this forum, I am not interested in a ventless on portable heater.

Looking forward to hearing what y'all think. Also, I may be available and interstednin the Eastern Ontario meet up next spring.... work schedule permitting.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 26 Oct 2015 04:04pm
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You might want to look at the Ashley Direct Vent Gas Heaters. There's a 8k btu model. Which, depending on insulation, should be a good size for your place.

Does the Empire have a thermostat? One advantage to a thermostat is you can hook up internet through a phone and have it signal a relay to turn on the heater before you arrive. Ah, arduino.

Ashley is from US Stoves, and appears to be the current HomComfort line.

The 8k model appears online as low as 420 US. Northern Tools has it on sale for 449 US. Sometimes you can save a bit of money if you have access to the US.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 27 Oct 2015 11:58am
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Thanks Creek! I will take a peek at them. I am also still debating the Nu-Way propane stoves as they are cheap and only require a 3 inch hold to be cut into the side of the building. I know 1300_stainless has one of these hooked up in the 10x10 and reviews up to this point seem to be good from him.

The Empire has a milli volt thermostat, but I don't intend to hook anything up to my small battery bank in regards to heating. Keeping the batteries for lighting and charging my phone/laptop (the trickle charge solar panel does work slowly to top the batteries up ).

Unfortunately, I don't have access to the US, so ordering from Northern Tool isn't possible unless I can get across the border to get one from a Ship It Shop.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 27 Oct 2015 12:32pm
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the thing I like about the thin wall heaters is super easy install with tiny set backs. my homcomfort need 2" of clearance on the sides. Only 5" below and of course above where the hot air comes out you need, i forget, 24" or something.

so in a small cabin they take up almost no space.

what I like about that nu-way is you have a top. Is stainless putting a pot of hot water on top of his? I keep a pot of water on top of my wood stove. many uses. especially in this cooler season. nice to come in and dunk frozen fingers into hot water. I wonder if he cooks anything on top of his?

oh. and the nu-way price. I mean sheesh. 200 bucks. tho. you still have to buy/install the venting.

Al Burton
Member
# Posted: 27 Oct 2015 12:37pm
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I purchased the Williams 14k btuh unit for a mechanical building/bath house. I am quite happy with it and it has the millivolt thermostat which is nice. It does not require any external power. The thermostat is powered from the standing pilot. I purchased it in Calgary for about $600.00 Cdn.
http://wfc-fc.com/product/direct-vent-furnaces/

1300_stainless
Member
# Posted: 29 Oct 2015 10:57am - Edited by: 1300_stainless
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I do frequently put my kettle on the Nu-Way, I've also warmed soup. When I'm cooking a larger meal I will often use one frying pan and put cooked food on the Nu-Way to keep warm while I finish the remaining dishes. In the fall/winter mornings I even sometimes use it to quickly dry pipe tobacco before my morning indulgence of coffee and smoke LOL. You could defiantly cook on the stove top, but given the small size of my camp and the low heat setting I use it would probably take a while. Having the flat top does really add to the versatility of the heater.

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 29 Oct 2015 11:48am
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Quoting: creeky
Ashley Direct Vent Gas Heaters


How much propane would this use? Could I get away with a 40lb tank for the weekend?

I know that no one could answer this not knowing how cold the outside temp is, my level of insulation or the interior desired temp but I was just wondering if this was feasible.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 29 Oct 2015 12:02pm
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A 40lb should last for weeks. Of course. Dependent on temp set at. Insulation. Building size. etc.

A 100lber lasted on average 2 months for me. 10x14. Somewhat well insulated. Set at 16.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 11:34am - Edited by: Gotta Gettaway
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So I ordered the Nu Way 3000 propane stove. 16000 btu. Am planning an install much like 1300_stainless has ( http://www.small-cabin.com/forum/3_4935_0.html ), with the 3 inch pipes out to an aluminum dryer vent in the wall about 6 feet up above the stove, and with a damper installed in the first foot or two of the pipe. I also plan on putting a small 3 inch intake vent in the wall beneath the stove for air flow. Does anyone see an issue with this installation? I know it is recommended to go above your highest peak by at least 2 feet, but that would require only a little modification to the current plan and could always be done in subsequent years.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 12:02pm
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why a damper? it's not a wood stove so you don't need the air flow control. I noticed 1300 doesn't use one.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 12:11pm
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It's an available option. The guy from Nu Way noted to me that it would help to keep some heat down in the building as opposed to venting directly and losing heat more quickly.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 12:14pm
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I am new to this whole thing so school me if I am wrong.

1300_stainless
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 12:20pm - Edited by: 1300_stainless
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I'd like to add a damper to mine. If I can find an affordable 3" one. When I was researching these stoves I found a wall tent forum with a thread about them. A few people had tried the added damper and felt it made a difference.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 31 Oct 2015 01:16pm
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news to me.

i always thought the reason for the damper in a wood stove was to slow down the burn so wood lasted longer.

and the purpose of a flue was to get rid of noxious gases.

well. learn sometink new every day.

Bancroft bound
Member
# Posted: 1 Nov 2015 07:58pm
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Gotta Gettaway,
What direction from Bancroft are you?
We are up that way too, SE of town.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2015 09:20am
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We are south east too! A little ways out from Detlor area.

Bancroft bound
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2015 07:00pm
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NW of Detlor, right by the trail!
We is.....

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2015 07:38pm
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That's cool. We are south east of detlor. If you see a church head south and we are down in there. Beatififul area. We might have to swap some local knowledge on gems in the area to go and visit.

CabinBuilder
Admin
# Posted: 4 Nov 2015 08:15pm - Edited by: CabinBuilder
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Quoting: Gotta Gettaway
east of detlor. If you see a church head south and we are down in there.

Hmm, I am somewhere there too.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 17 Nov 2015 01:12pm
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Well howdy neighbour! Funny that one of my main sources of information in starting this journey happens to be in the same region. Thank you humbly for creating what has turned into such a cool and open community/wealth of knowledge... and humour!

... and into the heater stuff. I got it installed this weekend and it works great. Was a little chilly in the evenings but sure didn't feel it in the cabin. We were nice and toasty while heading out for our grouse hunts in the morning. Now that the heat is sorted it definitely makes the place feel much more established and a better viable option for a winter getaway. Next stop in the developments is indoor siding.
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1300_stainless
Member
# Posted: 17 Nov 2015 01:16pm
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Glad to see you're up and running!

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 8 Dec 2015 02:34pm
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Quoting: creeky
You might want to look at the Ashley Direct Vent Gas Heaters. There's a 8k btu model. Which, depending on insulation, should be a good size for your place.The 8k model appears online as low as 420 US. Northern Tools has it on sale for 449 US. Sometimes you can save a bit of money if you have access to the US.


TSC Canada has this model for $559 + Tax. With the Can/US exchange around $0.74 it may very well be a better choice

creeky
Member
# Posted: 8 Dec 2015 03:38pm
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Good spot Wilbour.

The nice thing about these heaters is that they take up very little space. I have the 8k unit in my 10x14 winter bedroom. The fact that it takes wall/floor space of only 24" wide by 6" deep means I have lots of extra free space compared to some of the other options.

Something to consider in small spaces.

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 8 Dec 2015 04:58pm
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It's on my list for next year. I have been a good boy, mostly

creeky
Member
# Posted: 9 Dec 2015 05:52pm
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Ha. Fibbing. That's another black mark.

Wilbour
Member
# Posted: 9 Dec 2015 09:30pm
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Don't all marks matter?

creeky
Member
# Posted: 10 Dec 2015 09:57am
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Yup. especially when yer playin' cards for money

Jebediah
Member
# Posted: 16 Dec 2015 06:13am - Edited by: Jebediah
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Home Depot in NS carries Ashley 8 and 11k btu's I have two Empire dv-15's that were already in place. The price would have scared me away. I'm also happy that the previous owner had purchased two more units for another building on the property that are still in their boxes sitting in the attic. It would be hard to control the heat in a small space with a wood stove the propane would provide a much more even heat, especially at night if you are using the loft for sleeping.

1300_stainless
Member
# Posted: 2 Jan 2016 09:48am
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Gotta Gettaway have you installed your damper yet? I'm curious if it makes much of a difference.

I'm looking in to getting one locally, but it's becoming a pain. It's an odd, non stock, part so most places ask "what's it for" and then say "you can't do that". The fact the the company who manufactures the stove recommends it is lost on them.

I can partially understand the concern. Creeky expressed a similar one.

Quoting: creeky
i always thought the reason for the damper in a wood stove was to slow down the burn so wood lasted longer.

and the purpose of a flue was to get rid of noxious gases.


Which is correct. The damper does indeed slow the burn in a wood stove. It does it by slowing the noxious gases exiting the flu, thus slowing the air entering the stove to the fire. Dampers are actually NOT recommended on air tight stove installations because controlling air by way of a draft is safer. In my eyes a damper is just as much a potential hazard in a wood stove as a propane one, if misused. (I've seen improperly dampened stoves fill large rooms with smoke very quickly) You're altering the flow of "bad" gasses, you don't want coming back, in either application. Like most things in a small cabin diligence is the key.

I think a partially closed draft, during morning warm up, for example could be beneficial. The CO2 and smoke detector are a must. I also never leave the stove unattended.

Gotta Gettaway
Member
# Posted: 2 Jan 2016 10:01am
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1300 - I haven't installed one as NuWay didn't send one when I ordered. I also have had a pain in the rear trying to find one locally and, for now, have decided to forgo that option. I've been up at the cabin at least one or two nights a week since the heater was installed and don't really feel the need for it at this point anyways. Am very pleasantly surprised with the amount of heat it pumps into my cabin even when it has been -10 or colder overnight. I also have had the heater running for at least 11 or 12 afternoon and evenings and still have not gone through even one 20 lb propane tank. We typically heat the space up to bed time and then may turn it in for an hour or two overnight and, if not, then we reheat the cabin in the morning. Surprisingly it only takes 5 minutes or so running around medium to cut the chill in the space. I must day that insulating the cabin has also done wonders with retaining heat.

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