I used a similar model in Japan as my only source of heating for 12 years. Other than the smell of kerosene which is mainly when you first light it up and then again when you shut it off its pretty workable. To address the CO2 issue we cracked a window when in use and shut if off when we were asleep. We went through about 5 gallons of kerosene a week IIRC. What I like about it the most was we kept a metal coffee pot on the top of it to keep heated water since I was a big tea drinker, but it also came in handy for ramen noodle, instant soups and what not as well. Good things to have around when its cold outside!