Is it safe to use a vent-less propane heater indoors as a primary heat source?
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Ventless heaters that run off propane produce a lot of moisture, which natural gas heaters do not produce. These heaters also produce carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and a few other trace gases that you shouldn't be breathing in, so it's important that you find other forms of heat, such as a nice worm blanket, or a natural fireplace if you have access to one.
For your health's sake, you should take the proper precautions and try not to stay too close to these heaters for an extended period of time. In fact, some of these heaters are illegal in Canada and some states in the U.S. yet in times of emergency, they may be the only answer.
I'm not a doctor, but I would recommend trying not to breathe in this heat whenever possible, as it may be hazardous. I would also recommend placing this heater near a window so that you can get fresh air, and get fresh air periodically.
You should also make sure you have battery operated CO detector to make certain that you aren't breathing in too much of the carbon monoxide. Check out the source
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You indicated that natural gas ventless heaters do not release much moisture into the air, as opposed to propane. Not so: we had to buy a large dehumidifier, and it runs all the time when the ventless logs run. We empty bucket of water out the the thing on a regular basis. On top of that, we have found that it has aggravated my wife's asthma to such a degree, that she is now having an attack a day, whereas before we got the thing, only maybe once every two weeks. We are seeking alternatives. We do have a CO detector, but it hasn't alerted: but it does not detect NO, which is also bad for your lungs.
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Depending on how long you will be without power, it may be a good idea to order an electric heater with overnight delivery. If you order tonight, it should arrive on Monday or Tuesday. If you're an Amazon Prime member, this can be delivered Monday for $3.99:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TGDGLU
The propane heater will keep you warm, but prolonged use will leave a yucky residue on nearby surfaces.
I hope your power is restored soon!
I was going to suggest the carbon monoxide alarm too. Can't hurt and you could use it after the power returns on.
If you live in an area that is prone to ice storms and power outages, it might be a good idea to buy (in the summer when they're cheaper) a small generator to run an electric heater and an emergency phone through the night without worry.
I know some folks in the outback of Canada that have installed solar & wind generators that tap right into their fuse panel. When the power goes out, the batteries kick in. The rest of the time, they sell they're unused power back to Ontario Hydro. They're never without power and their overly expensive energy bills are reduced the rest of the year. It takes them about 3 years for the investment in this equipment to pay for itself.
All the best to you and your family Demanda. Best wishes and good luck weathering the storm.
Thank you for the well wishes and advice. We do have a carbon monoxide detector on our smoke alarm, so that aspect is covered. We have a large generator, but we couldn't find an electric heater to buy so we had no choice but to go with the propane. I'm just paranoid, I guess.