A renter in an older apartment shared a photo of a heater fed by a lengthy gas line, along with a worrying question: "Is this heater safe?"
According to the renter, that unit was the apartment's sole heat source, and there was no carbon monoxide alarm installed. Users on r/hvacadvice weighed in with a flood of suggestions focused on making the setup less risky.
Here's what to know
The discussion centered on whether the Mr. Heater could be left on overnight or kept running while a pet was home alone.
Pointing to built-in safeguards, one commenter wrote, "Before everyone panics too much, this thing does have an ODS sensor that will automatically shut off if oxygen is depleted and it is rated for indoor use."
The same commenter added, "Some jurisdictions prohibit such items but not all."
Even among people who said the heater might be manageable with precautions, one recommendation was repeated again and again: install a carbon monoxide alarm.
"Do not use it without a CO alarm," one commenter said, adding that the tenant should "crack a window" and not keep turning the unit back on if it shuts itself off.
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More background
The heater itself was not the only thing bothering readers; the exposed gas line also drew concern.
For some commenters, the piping looked like the bigger hazard. One person said they were "more concerned about the huge lack of support for that crazy long and far away from the wall gas line," and another replied that "one wrong bump will snap that valve off."
Another commenter warned, "Never leave it running unattended," later explaining that unattended meant "sleeping or out of the house."
Views also split on whether this kind of arrangement belonged in a rental at all.
One commenter said, "Landlord needs to provide a vented gas heater."
In contrast, another said they had used "this exact heater" in a studio apartment for three years without trouble.
What can be done?
The advice in the thread outlined a basic safety list for indoor fuel-burning heaters: a working CO alarm, a tip-over shutoff, some ventilation from a cracked window, and attention to moisture buildup and mold growth.
Because those detectors do not last forever, one commenter suggested the landlord should buy one, citing a Reddit comment that said the sensors stop working properly after about 7 to 10 years.
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Before using the appliance overnight or while away, tenants could document the setup, see whether any CO alarm is present, and ask the landlord to provide one if needed.
Where can I learn more?
Questions about gas leaks, carbon monoxide, and landlord responsibility run through the home heating debate.
• A tenant said a gas fireplace was leaking carbon monoxide before the landlord offered a baffling replacement.
• In smaller homes, gas stoves can create indoor air pollution that raises major health concerns.
• A tenant in New York City kept reporting a landlord who refused to turn on the heat during cold weather.
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