

| Subject: | Re: Catalytic Heaters. |
| From: | harald_nancy |
| Date: | Tue, 3 Nov 1998 14:57:44 -0800 |
It is not safe to use a unvented catalytic heater in a enclosed space. A unvented catalytic heater will work ok for those who camp in a relatively warm place and use it more like a campfire, with lots of ventilation. I found that a unvented catalytic heater can give me a terrible headache if it stays on all night, even with a window partly open. In addition one loses almost as much heat as you gain from the necessary cross-ventilation. Basically if one is serious about winter camping in a northern climate, any unvented heater is a pretty useless health hazard. Discovered this by trial and error. The only vented catalytic heater on the market, the platinum cat, is totally safe and comfortable to use in a small closed and insulated space, since it does not release any combustion by-products into the surrounding air. The forced-air ventilation from the platinum cat does not create any cold drafts. I found that enough air enters the camper through the front dashboard vents, for the platinum cat to operate safely. To compare a unvented catalytic heater with a vented catalytic heater is kind of like comparing a smoky campfire with an airtight modern wood stove. Which one would you prefer in your living room? I am probably somewhat biased, since my platinum cat vented heater has given me more than 10 years of faithful service in several vanagons. Harald 90 westy.
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