alt.energy.renewable

Hi - I just joined this group. Although we do not live off the grid,
we try to live as simply as possible. Our house is a bermed passive
solar, very simple, with lots of mass. We have no cooling system and
our heat is a propane stove in the great room. Heat swing is about 12
- 14 degrees over 24 hours at the worst, We use about 200 KWH of
electricity per month, mostly our refrigerator and small freezer.

We need to replace our inefficient propane stove. It cost nearly $1000
to fill up our 500 gal propane tank last year. (we fill it once a
year) Since we don't really have an outside wall to put the heater on,
because it it all windows in the space we use, we have been looking at
vent-free gas heaters, specifically Rinnai. We would run in a small
fresh air line, just plastic tubing 7' from the outside wall.

Has anyone had any experience with these? The humidity doesn't bother
me because we live in the high desert of Colorado, and we run
humidifiers to bring in moisture. We feel that bringing in the fresh
air would help with the Carbon Monoxide, etc. levels.

We would just as soon use a vented heater, but it is seven feet to the
outside wall and then there is only 12" of wall space on either side
of the block of windows. We are putting the heater against an exposed
adobe wall.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used a vent-free
heater. I have read about them, and will probably go with one. I have
read all the back postings from user groups about them, but I can't
find anyone who has actually used one. Thanks