| Vented Catalytic Heater [message #224953] |
Wed, 09 October 2013 10:21  |
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John Heslinga
Messages: 632
Registered: February 2011
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Here is a catalytic heater that vents moisture and combustion products outside and uses a frugal amount of electricity. I have NOT tried it myself and im not sure where best to install it, but it sure seems like the answer for those not wanting a traditional furnace.
http://ventedcatheater.com/
Many times the subject of using a catalytic heater comes up to replace the furnace in our coaches. While I would never considered removing the furnace in my coach, some of the reasons I've heard make sense. Especially if you are not plugging in or are sitting for long periods of time. It just gets too cold here in Canada and you can't beat the convenience and even heat of the ducted furnace.
However the traditional RV furnace is an electricity hog, noisy and really inefficient. (Go and feel how hot the vent gets).
In a tent trailer I had I used to have a convection type of furnace that used no electricity at all and was vented to the outside however you cannot get those any more. This vented catalytic heater would be an excellent replacement.
Portable Catalytic heaters create a fantastic amount of moisture in an enclosed space and that moisture ends up on the walls windows in the blankets and creates a lot of moisture condensing behind walls on the cool coach skin. If the weather is cold enough it causes ice. Once you feel warm enough and turn them off the cooling air feels more uncomfortable because it feels clammy.
Having vents open to get rid of the moisture and letting in combustion air defeats a lot of the space heating capacity of these heaters. You will also find that these heaters do not even expressly indicate that they are for space heating but they do expressly indicate outdoor use.
John and Cathie Heslinga
1974 Canyonlands 260
455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS,
Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd.
Edmonton, Alberta
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| Re: Vented Catalytic Heater [message #224960 is a reply to message #224953] |
Wed, 09 October 2013 10:44  |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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I have been looking at this one as well. I think vented is the only way to go. I don't like the forced air heat. We rented an RV in Yellowstone last year and was very disappointed in the furnace in a brand new motorhome. As noted, it is noisy and uses too much electricity. The furnace in my truck mounted camper is radiant heat only and uses no electricity. I realize the GMC is much larger and the heat would not be even. We also heat our home with radiant heat (coal fired)and it is hard to beat silent radiant heat that uses no electricity.
I would probably try to mount the Catalytic heater under the sink and operate it with the doors open.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: Vented Catalytic Heater [message #225050 is a reply to message #224953] |
Thu, 10 October 2013 02:34 |
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Jerry Sitzlar
Messages: 206
Registered: February 2013
Location: Lenoir City, TN
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Last winter while working on the interior of my coach I used one of the electric oil-filled radiators. I would turn it on but had to wait about 2 hours before it was warm inside the coach. The Sol-Aire furnace worked but the blower motor screamed. The oil fill radiator kept the coach warm and was dry and not hot enough to be a danger IMO, but it was in Tennessee and might not work very well in colder climes.
Jerry
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath...... Lenoir City, TN (near Knoxville)
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