[VAC] Re: Restoring forced air heater

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You will find that the '50's and '60's wall mounted Day & Night and
Duo-Therm convection heaters are the best heaters going.  Quiet, no
electricity, well built, all metal & simple operation.

The only thing to watch for is the combustion chamber, basically a steel
cylinder with a burner orifice in the bottom.  Air is drawn into the
chamber, mixes with the ignited LPG, and then rises up or sideways through
the vent to the outside, all by the convection process (heat rises, gases
expand).

Where any problem would arise is if a hole or crack was to develop in the
combustion chamber, theoretically allowing burnt gases (CO included) to
escape into the living area.  Another thing to watch for is if the vent is
partially blocked, gases can be forced back out through the pilot light
hole.

The good news is that any welding place can fabricate replacement chambers,
or in the case of the Panel-Ray and Byam-Burners, they can be welded.  Think
about it, trying to cobble some retrofit heater to the existing venting can
be very dangerous.  I've seen all sorts of jury-rig installations, from
duct-tape to PVC pipe to vertical-draft fittings used horizontally.

The prior owners of our '65 Caravel never used the Duo-Therm because it
never worked.  All it took was a good cleaning out, fabrication of a new
bottom pan and a sandblasting of the burner, and that heater has been the
source of great warmth these last three years.  At the rally last April in
the snow at Bass Lake, that sucker kept the Caravel nice & toasty.

Now if you want to talk about the queen of heaters, then you know we are
talking about Tom Reed and his 1949 Byam Burner.  Now that's looking good
while feeling good..

http://www.VintageAirstream.com/archives1/50Clipper/50Clipper.html

One last thing.  CO detectors weren't available back in the '50's, but if
that had been, Wally would probably have installed one.

Best of luck,
RJ
VintageAirstream.com