Help Fix / Replace Old Wards Gas Heater

[Hip2u77]

Hey guys,

I've got an old Montgomery Wards 20,000 btu gas heater (NG- vent free) that's been in my garage since we moved here in '78. The house is a '58 so there's the timeline of it's age. Come fall / winter I normally just light it, turn it down low and it will keep the garage in the 50's without any fuss, but if I'm going to be working out there I'll max it for a bit and it'll really get the garage warmed up.

I just tested it this season and the gas valve stuck on it. It moved somewhat freely from off to half where I lite it, then went wide open fine, but didn't want to shut off. I had to grab some pliers and really work it to get it to shut down. (Well. . . gently as I didn't want a gas leak around open flames.)

Now the other day I saw one of the vent-free blue flame wall heaters on Northern's site and they seemed to get good reviews for being efficient. That got me wondering if it would be a good idea (financially) to swap mine for one?

Now, since the gas valve is acting up I'm really wondering? Do they work pretty good? Mine goes from 1/4" flame to about a 6" flame instantly if I want to crank it up. (Works good for melting snow off the boots before going inside.) Do the blue flame ones work the same or?

If I'm not going to save much replacing the whole unit, then what's the word on the gas valve? Anyone know if this is a standard one that I could still buy?

Thanks,

Shawn

Here's some pictures of what I've got now. (This is in a 19' x 23' attached garage. . . and yes, the mint green paint is also pre '78. I know your jealous and all, but no you can't have it. . . I'm the only one that gets to have lead poisoning. (???)

 

[Hip2u77]

I just saw the other thread where Lawfarm was asking about the vent free heaters also.

I always thought my heater being all rusty was just due to it's age and the fact that when I was young my old man would wash the whole garage out, and to him everything was either waterproof or was fine after a quick shot of WD40.

Anyway, I'm the first to admit my garage is anything but sealed up tight, but I never noticed it being humid or anything rusting excessively. Is that just due to my leaky garage, type of heater or?

 

[Steve in Mi]

I have a heater that looks very similar but vented (4" exhaust stack & blower fan) and IIRC it's 30,000 btu. output. It's convertible LP / Nat. Gas. I replaced it with a bigger Wards 700 downdraft furnace. I kept the little furnace for future use but the plan changed and I think 15 years in storage is long enough. I need to dig it out of the shed as I'm sure it could be converted to cash for some tools or supplies that would be of more use.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I would elevate any heater you have or will have. Having one sit on the floor is dangerous in a garage should you have any kind of gas spill or leak. Get it a couple of feet off the floor and that will keep it out of the fumes of a leak. Gas fumes are heavy, they go straight to the floor. You might be able to smell them all over, but the heavy fumes are the dangerous part.

I have a neighbor who heats with a fireplace and propane gas space heaters in her house. Yes they work well and if maintained and operated correctly are not particularly dangerous.

Charles

 

[Hip2u77]

I would elevate any heater you have or will have. Having one sit on the floor is dangerous in a garage should you have any kind of gas spill or leak. Get it a couple of feet off the floor and that will keep it out of the fumes of a leak. Gas fumes are heavy, they go straight to the floor. You might be able to smell them all over, but the heavy fumes are the dangerous part.

I have a neighbor who heats with a fireplace and propane gas space heaters in her house. Yes they work well and if maintained and operated correctly are not particularly dangerous.

Charles

The ironic part???

My old man was a fireman for 32 years.

 

[Vicegrip]

Don't swap it out just to get an more efficient one it is already 100% efficient as it is ventless. The cut off valve is a simple to replace and common part. I would disassemble it, clean and inspect it It is a simple unit with little that can go wrong. On the other hand I bet it is well past a service life planned by the maker and a failure could fill the conditioned space with CO and kill you.

 

[Torque1st]

Replace it! My old vintage 1962 Janitrol furnace had a sticking, leaking, or intermittent main valve. It would shut down but the slow occasional leak would fill the area with gas until it hit the water heater pilot or it's own pilot. After a couple of mysterious WH & furnace pilot failures I was home when the whole house kind of "jumped" with a nice boom from the basement. I replaced the old unit with a nice new HE condensing furnace from Grainger and have been happy ever since.