Can space heaters emit CO2? ?
February 21st, 2010 | by admin |I’ve got an old space heater, probably cost no more than thirty bucks at a local superstore… recently, it went from being a ten setting heater to a one setting heater, I think someone dropped it and now it only has one setting, likely medium heat output.
Anyways, someone I talked to recently was concerned that it might possibly be emitting carbon dioxide… is this even possible? I thought CO2 was only a concern with engines, motors and the like… things that concern gasoline or oil… though, I’m certainly not an expert in this area.
If it’s such a problem, I have no issue going to the store and getting a new one… but I figure if it works well enough to keep ya warm, why get a new one? Plus, there are no flu-like symptoms, headaches or other medical conditions I’m feeling nor is anyone else feeling… except maybe a scratchy throat from a likely dirty air filter… but other than that, heat is comfortable so it naturally makes us tired – but so does CO2.
What do you say?
Ah, that’s something – and very critical, that I forgot to add; it’s indeed an electrical space heater.
Thank you – as you can see I’m not an expert 
CO is what I meant. Cheers, and I appreciate the insight!
CH is slightly misinformed about fuel-burning space heaters. Initially, they do produce CO2, not CO. However, they do require a fresh supply of O2. In a sealed space, they will eventually use up so much O2 and fill the room with so much CO2 that the CO2 is all they have left to consume for oxidizing the fuel. In that case, they start producing CO.
Built-in gas heaters will also produce CO if you cut off the flow of fesh air to their combustion chambers. So replace dirty filters and don’t pile boxes in front of them.
CO is deadly and odorless, but if you can smell the CO2, you can be pretty sure that CO is also present at a dangerous level.
4 Responses to “Can space heaters emit CO2? ?”
By jrcg on Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
An electrically-powered space heater will only give off CO2 if you burn it, from the paint, insulation, and so on.
Mind, if the rheostat (or thyristor) has failed, you should have it checked over to ensure that there isn’t an electrocution (or fire!) risk.
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By C H on Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
if it does burn hydrocarbon type fuel .It does not produce Carbon Monoxide.
References :
By sixtusthevi on Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
If it’s electric, it shouldn’t produce any gases whatsoever. However, if it burns something like methane, then yes, it produces CO2 gas.
EDIT: CO2 is something you breathe out, though. It won’t kill you. CO would kill you, but hydrocarbons produce CO2, not CO.
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By Philip J on Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
CH is slightly misinformed about fuel-burning space heaters. Initially, they do produce CO2, not CO. However, they do require a fresh supply of O2. In a sealed space, they will eventually use up so much O2 and fill the room with so much CO2 that the CO2 is all they have left to consume for oxidizing the fuel. In that case, they start producing CO.
Built-in gas heaters will also produce CO if you cut off the flow of fesh air to their combustion chambers. So replace dirty filters and don’t pile boxes in front of them.
CO is deadly and odorless, but if you can smell the CO2, you can be pretty sure that CO is also present at a dangerous level.
References :