Pleasant Hearth VFS2-PH30DT 30,000 BTU 32" Intermediate Gas vent free stove, Black

Why I chose this stove

I needed a reliable, room-friendly heat source that didn’t require a chimney or permanent venting, and I wanted something that could carry a good chunk of the heating load during shoulder season without running the central system. The Pleasant Hearth vent-free stove checked the right boxes on paper: 30,000 BTU output, dual-fuel compatibility (natural gas or propane), built-in thermostat, and a compact 32-inch steel cabinet that doesn’t dominate a room. After a few weeks of daily use, here’s how it performed and what stood out—good and bad.

Setup and installation

The cabinet is compact—about 31.93" W x 14.37" D x 28.27" H—but it’s dense, so plan for a two-person move if you’re going up stairs. The footprint makes placement flexible, but it still requires clearances: at least 5" from the rear wall and 36" above. Those clearances matter because the top gets genuinely hot in use, and you don’t want anything heat-sensitive above it.

Dual-fuel compatibility is a real advantage if you relocate or change fuel sources, but it also means one more setup step: verify the unit is configured for your fuel before lighting it. If you’re on natural gas, confirm the natural gas setting; same story for propane. A licensed installer is money well spent—proper pipe sizing, leak testing, and regulator adjustment make a noticeable difference in flame stability and overall performance.

Expect some “new appliance” burn-off on first fire. I cracked a window and let it run at a mid-to-high setting for a while; after that initial session, any odor dissipated. If your smoke detectors are particularly sensitive, they may chirp on the very first run—don’t panic, but do ventilate and keep that first burn supervised.

The stove ships without a blower. I installed the optional blower to test it, but I ran the unit for several days first without one. The short version: you don’t need the blower to heat effectively, but it can help distribute warmth more quickly—more on that below.

Heating performance

With 30,000 BTU on tap and a real steel cabinet to radiate, this stove moves heat. In my fairly open, well-insulated main floor (just under 1,000 sq. ft.), it brought temperatures up fast and maintained them without running near max. The dual-burner design creates two rows of flame that throw even heat and make the fire look fuller than many single-burner vent-free units.

The built-in thermostat is the quiet MVP here. Set your target, and the stove self-regulates by modulating and cycling. It’s not a precision digital thermostat, but it’s consistent enough that I stopped fussing with it after day two. What you’ll notice as it runs is that flame color shifts with setting: more blue at lower levels, more yellow and “lively” at medium and up. That’s normal for this type of burner; what you don’t want is lazy, sooty flame (a sign of misadjustment or a contaminated air supply).

Heat distribution without the blower is better than I expected. The cabinet radiates, and convection off the hot surfaces moves air naturally. That said, in larger or chopped-up spaces, the blower can speed up comfort. Mine added airflow but also added audible fan noise you’ll notice in a quiet room. I ended up leaving the blower off most of the time and letting the stove do what it does best: steady, quiet heat.

A quick safety note on surfaces: the top gets hot enough that you won’t keep your hand there, and anything plastic on the top is a bad idea. Treat the entire unit as a heater, not a furniture surface.

Controls and usability

Controls are tucked behind a swing-down cover near the base, along with access for lighting the pilot. Lighting is straightforward once you find a comfortable position—“comfortable” being relative, since you’ll be crouched near the floor to do it. The thermostat dial and flame selector are intuitive.

One annoyance: the cover’s magnetic latch is on the weak side. On my unit, it would occasionally drop down if bumped or if footsteps made the floor shake. That’s a small thing, but it’s also the sort of small thing you notice every day. If you’re handy, a stronger magnet or a small mechanical catch is a quick fix; I added a discreet neodymium magnet and solved it. I also found the control knob a bit stiff on first use; it loosened up after a few cycles.

A note for propane users: line pressure and regulator setup matter a lot for stable flames at higher settings. If you notice the flame slowly tapering over time on the higher settings, that can point to supply or regulation quirks. A competent installer will catch and correct it.

Safety and indoor air considerations

This is a vent-free appliance. The upside is high efficiency and zero flue losses; the downside is that all combustion happens in the room. The stove includes an overheat sensor and a built-in thermostat, and you should absolutely pair it with working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Vent-free heat also adds moisture to the air; in very tight homes you may notice condensation on cold windows.

Follow the clearances (5" from the wall, 36" above), don’t block air inlets, and keep the burner and logs free of dust. Also check local codes before you buy—vent-free heaters are not permitted in some regions (including Canada), and many jurisdictions have restrictions for bedrooms, bathrooms, or small rooms.

There’s a California Proposition 65 warning about potential exposure to combustion byproducts, including benzene. That’s typical for fuel-burning appliances, but it’s worth noting if you’re especially sensitive.

One nice practical aspect: the stove heats without electricity. If the power goes out, you still have a dependable heat source; only the optional blower requires an outlet.

Aesthetics and build

The black, cold-rolled steel cabinet is clean and understated. It looks like a small cast-iron stove from across the room, without heavy ornamentation. The dual flame rows make the fire box appear fuller and more natural than budget vent-free burners. Fit and finish are generally solid for the price, with one exception—the control cover latch I mentioned earlier. Rubber feet help protect floors and aid stability.

Maintenance and tips

• Break-in: Run a ventilated first burn on medium-high for 30–60 minutes to clear manufacturing residues.
• Air quality: Avoid burning scented candles or aerosols near the stove; they can discolor flames and leave residue.
• Cleaning: Gently vacuum dust around the burner and logs with a brush attachment during the off-season. Keep pet hair away from air inlets.
• Inspection: Annual check of gas connections, flame quality, and safety sensors is smart, especially before winter.
• Placement: Respect clearances and avoid placing items on the hot top surface.

What could be better

• The control cover needs a stronger latch. It’s a small, solvable annoyance, but it undermines an otherwise tidy design.
• The optional blower moves air but is noticeable in a quiet space. If you’re sensitive to fan noise, you may prefer relying on natural convection.
• Lighting and adjustments happen near floor level. That’s par for the course on vent-free stoves, but it can be awkward if you have mobility limitations.

Who it’s for

This stove suits anyone looking for efficient, easy-to-live-with supplemental heat in spaces up to about 1,000 square feet. It’s particularly good for zone heating a living area or workshop, or as a power-outage backup in a home with natural gas or propane. It’s not for locations where vent-free appliances are prohibited or heavily restricted, or for users who want a whisper-quiet blower-assisted system.

Recommendation

I recommend the Pleasant Hearth vent-free stove for homeowners who want straightforward, high-output supplemental heat without adding a vent or flue. It warms a medium-size space quickly, the built-in thermostat keeps room temperature steady, and dual-fuel flexibility future-proofs the installation. The control cover latch is a real nit—and you may decide to skip the optional blower if you value a quiet room—but the core functions that matter most (heat output, reliability, ease of use) are strong. If vent-free is allowed in your area and your space fits the clearance and size guidelines, this stove is a practical, efficient pick that does the job well.