Tried the Blue Flame, will be looking at another way to heat

EsoxLucius wrote:
...A vented catalytic heater removes CO and H2O produced by combustion and therefore only adequate oxygen supply is required....

True, but also true with your non-catalytic furnace. So what is the benefit of the extra cost associated with a platinum catalyst? The thing that is even better about the furnace is that it burns outside air rather than inside air.

EsoxLucius wrote:
..."THE PLATINUM CAT, converts virtually 100% of the fuel used to heat."

The same could be said about any vented or unvented heater. But when you vent the exhaust outside you are also blowing heat outside, there goes the efficiency.


Anyone want to know the efficiency of your furnace? Divide the output BTU by the input BTU. All the info you need is on the furnace label.

ie;
24,000 output BTU
30,000 input BTU
The furnace is 80% efficient which means 20% of your fuel is blown out the exhaust as wasted heat. If you burnt inside air instead of outside air the efficiency would drop even more.

What percentage of wasted fuel is exhausted by the PlatCat? They don't give that info. Keep in mind that you are also burning inside air which means that replenishing air will be sucked in through cracks and crevices reducing efficiency even further.

Anyone that understands the function of a furnace will realize the PlatCat advantages are non-existent other than reduced battery drain. You would be better off spending the money on a solar panel and running your furnace instead of wasting money on the PlatCat.

beemerphile1 wrote:
I would never buy a heating product that doesn't give efficiency ratings.

I think it is a given that catalytic heater technology is 99+ percent efficient. Wave or VentPlatCat.

"THE PLATINUM CAT, converts virtually 100% of the fuel used to heat."

Catalytic heaters consume oxygen, produce very little CO, and result in an increase of CO2. Hence, in a closed environment they pose a threat of hypoxia exacerbated by a moderate CO concentration and by an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration that accompanies the depletion of oxygen. In addition, unvented catalytic heater combustion produces excess H2O. Unvented systems cause condensation on windows vents and walls. A vented catalytic heater removes CO and H2O produced by combustion and therefore only adequate oxygen supply is required, which the vented system helps replenish. With a unvented catalytic heater, it is necessary to also allow CO and CO2 to escape as well as replenish oxygen. That is why manufacturers of unvented catalytic heaters suggest opening two vents or windows, one low and one high. Vented catalytic heaters have no such requirement and are therefore more effective because they do not also have to compensate for cold ventilation air as does an unvented heater.

wny_pat wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

*the benefit to platinum combustion heaters is that they burn cleaner
if it burns clean, why does it need vented?

If it burns, it doesn't burn clean. And what your using doesn't burn clean either. And if it isn't vented, it can kill you.

You missed the point. My point is that if you are going to vent the exhaust it is a waste to add the expense of the platinum catalyst. What is the purpose, is it to provide cleaner exhaust for the squirrels sitting on the picnic table?

I am very leery of the PlatCat. They give almost no information about specifications. I would never buy a heating product that doesn't give efficiency ratings.

wny_pat wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

*the benefit to platinum combustion heaters is that they burn cleaner
if it burns clean, why does it need vented?

If it burns, it doesn't burn clean. And what your using doesn't burn clean either. And if it isn't vented, it can kill you.

I think that it's as simple as this, Beemerphile:

"Vented" is an upsell...there's a big market of folks who don't understand the simplicity of arrangements required for safe, efficient use of an ordinary catalytic heater. This product is meant for that market- and more power to them.

Good to see a U.S.- based company doing so well squeezing five or six hundred dollars extra for a unit that delivers almost as much heat as an ordinary catalytic! ( Given its exact same open-window requirements added to the heat being lost via the "venting")

beemerphile1 wrote:

*the benefit to platinum combustion heaters is that they burn cleaner
if it burns clean, why does it need vented?

If it burns, it doesn't burn clean. And what your using doesn't burn clean either. And if it isn't vented, it can kill you.

I don't know what a "brick" heater is.

I would never pay the bucks for a PlatCat for several reasons.
*they give almost no tech specs
what is the efficiency percentage?
*the benefit to platinum combustion heaters is that they burn cleaner
if it burns clean, why does it need vented?

Rather than spending all those bucks for the PlatCat, you could buy a battery or two, a solar panel for charging, and run your furnace which is proven safe and effective.

Without researching - does the PlatCat provide incoming air? if not the efficiency will be low because it will be drawing air in through every crack and crevice. Your furnace supplies its own combustion air and it is only about 80% efficient.

We use a Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater which is 'blue flame'.

Hi,

Furnace a true thermostat that cycles and is vented.

Platinum Cat a true thermostat that cycles and is vented.

Wave heater high or low setting that doesn't cycle and is NOT vented.

I use a small dynaglo brick lp heater. I also have a digital co/lp detector. Some friends of mine use the same lp heater plus a ventfree pp fireplace. They also use a digital co/lp detector. None of our lp stuff even registers on the detector (and yes, the detector does work). I'm beginning to wonder if the "excess co" problem is the problem others make it out to be. I mean, I have spoken to many who use the appliances that are often pointed out as the ones to not use due to co yet are listed as being safe to use inside. These folks are all using various brands of co detectors. No one has had more than a 5 ppm popup and then only for a few seconds. I'm not too worried about my RV being "airtight". It's not. I have the excessive dust infiltration during dust storms to prove it.

furnace large amount of power

Platinum Cat very little power

Olympian wave heater NO battery power