Keeping warm is an essential part of being an RVer. Without your heater, it would be impossible to keep that comfortable temperature. Lucky for you. There are several types of heaters you can use to keep your RV warm. You can choose from a forced-air, ceramic, or catalytic heater. Knowing you have a lot of options, you might wonder why you should use a catalytic heater. In this article, we will give you the best catalytic heater for RV but before that, let’s discuss the types of heaters first.
The forced-air heater is effective. It heats up fast, built-in, and is well hidden. However, it is also noisy and uses a lot of energy! It is effective, but not that efficient. For the ceramic heater, also called a blue flame, it works well, relatively cheap, can be wall-mounted or portable, and may have a thermostat. It works just like a catalytic heater, but their differences lie on two things: the thermostat and the ceramic’s incapability of functioning over high altitudes!
Camping on a high altitude can give you a different feeling. Not only will you be treated with a beautiful and peaceful setting, but you would also be able to see the most outstanding views. Do not let your heater get in your way, catalytic heaters may be more expensive, but getting in a higher altitude makes it worth it. It is important to note that only one brand sells catalytic heaters. This is the Camco with its Olympian Wave series. With no further ado, here is the best catalytic heater for RV you should check.
Comparison Chart
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Heater F274830 MH18BRV Big Buddy Portable Heater | If Mr. Heater MH18BRV portable heater has motto, it would probably be, “efficiency, efficiency, efficiency.” This amazing machine is portable and efficient in every way! Although this product is more expensive than other heaters, its function and durability makes it more than worth it. | ||
| Mr. Heater Corporation F299720 Vent-Free 20,000 BTU Blue Flame Propane Heater | The vent-free propane heater from Mr. Heater is a beautiful and reliable machine that is sure to satisfy you. This machine saves you time of searching for another heater because it has everything you need! This heater can go up to 20000 BTU per hour, which is the amount of heat it releases. However, you can adjust it to 3000 BTU, allowing you to use it as a secondary heat source. | ||
| Portable Gas Catalytic Heater | The portable gas catalytic heater may be small, but its heating abilities wouldn’t lose to other heaters. The best way to describe this amazing machine compared to its size is it does not hinder from generating the right heater. Like other portable heaters, the product’s output can be adjusted to 3000 BTU per hour. This allows you to use it as a secondary heater. |
Detailed Review of the Best Catalytic Heater for RV Reviews
Mr. Heater F274830 MH18BRV Big Buddy Portable Heater
Product Highlights
If Mr. Heater MH18BRV portable heater has a motto, it would probably be, “efficiency, efficiency, efficiency.” This amazing machine is portable and efficient in every way! Although this product is more expensive than other heaters, its function and durability make it more than worth it.
Not only you can use this machine in your RV, but you can also use it in different areas, such as in houses, workplaces, and even cabins. This gas-efficient device generates 99% heat that balances the temperature inside the RV. This is possible only through its use of low-pressure propane. The use of propane may be a worry for some because it is known to produce carbon monoxide. But Big Buddy portable heater’s carbon monoxide release is so little that it is considered harmless.
Also, this machine comes with an alert system. It has a safety shut-off valve that makes sure you wouldn’t have any unwanted discharges. It heats up fast, but you can also use it as a secondary heater since you can opt to adjust it to 4000-9000 BTU per hour. This machine is highly recommended for your personal use, outdoor activities, or camping.
The Good
This RV-friendly portable heater is a consumer favorite! Mr. Heater MH18BRV portable heater provides heat and summer warmth even during the middle of winter. It doesn’t use a fan, so you can expect it not to make any noises. It also allows you to have a quiet and peaceful time. This is definitely the right choice, even hardcore campers agree. Big Buddy is one of the few machines that can be used at high altitudes! It is also durable. You can be sure that it would last long. Some reviews even say that it can last as long as 10 years. Being efficient in many ways, you really can’t ask more with this heater.
The Bad
For an expensive machine, you would expect it to be hassle-free. The Big Buddy propane-ready heater needs extra care since its heating system is delicate. Reviewers commented that the machine tends to malfunction when animal hairs or dust gets in. You might need to buy a dust guard or just take extra precautions! Some would also note that depending on the size of your place, you might need to buy two to have the optimal temperature.
PROs
- Adjustable heat output
- Does not make a noise
- Has a safety shut-off valve
- Efficient use of gas
CONs
- Optional legs may sometimes not fit
- Needs extra care
- Can only work on a relatively small area
- High price
Mr. Heater Corporation F299720 Vent-Free 20,000 BTU Blue Flame Propane Heater
Product Highlights
The vent-free propane heater from Mr. Heater is a beautiful and reliable machine that is sure to satisfy you. This machine saves you time searching for another heater because it has everything you need! This heater can go up to 20000 BTU per hour, which is the amount of heat it releases. However, you can adjust it to 3000 BTU, allowing you to use it as a secondary heat source.
This blue flame vent-free portable heater is considered a good machine making this product a harmless machine. You can be sure this heater does not release harmful amounts of carbon monoxide. It also has a safety auto-shut-off system that ensures no dangerous fuel discharges would occur.
Mr. Heater’s blue flame portable heater comes with wall mounting hardware, so you can choose to mount it or whichever is more comfortable for you. This handy heater covers up to 500 sq. ft. and maybe all you needed on cold nights. With a reasonable price, you can easily consider this product an investment.
The Good
The blue flame portable heater is considered as the best secondary heaters you can have. It also comes with a thermostat to adjust the heat and accommodate RV temperature, but it may not be as good. It is a reliable machine and is pretty comfortable to use. Its durability also means that you can use it daily with no problem. You don’t have to spend much on your propane gas either. This heater efficiently uses few amounts at a time while producing the optimal heat.
The Bad
With the Mr. Heater’s price, you might think that it is the only heater you’ll need. But others find it lacking when the space it needs to heat up gets more significant. As such, it is more recommended as a secondary heater.
PROs
- Heats up in a comfortable space
- Efficient usage of gas
- Adjustable heat output
- Ideal for camping
CONs
- Can only be used in smaller places
- Quite expensive
- May use too much oxygen
Martin Portable Gas Catalytic Heater
Product Highlights
The portable gas catalytic heater may be small, but its heating abilities wouldn’t lose to other heaters. The best way to describe this amazing machine compared to its size is it does not hinder from generating the right heater. Like other portable heaters, the product’s output can be adjusted to 3000 BTU per hour. This allows you to use it as a secondary heater.
One of the main points of this user-friendly heater is its portability. You can have it as a wall-mounted heater, but its small size makes it a better portable heater. It is also silent and does not operate using a fan or a blower. So you are guaranteed to have a good night’s sleep.
The Martin catalytic heater is also safe to use. It features a safety fuel shut-off feature like other heaters have. The product’s mechanism makes sure no unwanted fuel discharge would be released. Now that you know the highlights of the product let’s move on to its good and bad sides.
The Good
The Martin’s portable heater is one of the most efficient heaters in the market. This might come off as a huge assumption for most. But this product is considered portable and heavy-duty. This heater is also strong enough to heat your space properly, even during the coldest nights.
The Bad
Although the Martin’s portable heater can heat your place in no time, it is still pretty small and has a limited BTU output that can only go up to 3000. If your area is big, you would need a bigger heater. As such, the use of this machine can be seen as limited. However, it is still impeccable as a secondary heater!
PROs
- Comfortable heating speed
- Easily carried
- Does not have an electrical drain or battery connection
CONs
- Can only heat up a small space
- Delicate heat pad
- Requires a well-insulated place
Why not Ceramic or Forced-air Heater?
We have talked about the catalytic heater and the different products that you could choose from. Still, a closer look at the other types of heaters may give you a better look at what to choose and note when looking at the heater of your choice. As such, here are the other types of heaters and why a catalytic heater should be what you get.
Ceramic Heater
The ceramic heater is easy to use and is a less expensive heater than most. It can also be bought along with a thermostat and is also known not to use any battery currents. Its use of gas is also truly efficient, making sure that each puff is used. You can also choose from several ceramic heaters that range from varying BTU outputs, or even as a wall-mounted heater or portable heater. The problem with a ceramic heater, however, is that it also produces carbon monoxide. It is on a low amount, but if left unchecked, it may be harmful! Another thing, which is important for many campers is that it does not work properly on high altitudes. You wouldn’t want to be stuck camping in low places just because your heater can’t keep up with you.
Forced-air Heater
The forced-air heater is one of the fastest machines you can get. It can heat up your place really fast. However, it has many faults that make it the second choice for many consumers. First, it is quite heavy. This is not much of a problem since it is usually built-in and well-hidden, but it is also quite expensive. The forced-air heater is also known to use fans, so it may make quite a noise. Not good for you and other camper’s sleep! It also spends quite a lot of energy to use, from propane to your battery, so you might have to use it conservatively.
As you can see, the catalytic heater is the only machine that you can both use at high altitudes and with the presence of other campers. It is quite expensive, but it is silent, safe, and more reliable. Although a forced-air heater can heat up faster, and the ceramic heater is cheaper, the catalytic heater still stands to be the best heater for many RVers!
Conclusion
Catalytic heaters are reliable machines that are sure to keep you warm on cold nights. It is comfortable, safe, and efficient. Although its price is quite high, its functions more than make up for it, especially when compared to other heaters. Although your choices are minimal, you can think of it as a good thing since you’d be able to decide sooner. Don’t worry, each one of your options is a good one. Choosing the best catalytic heater for RV should be a thing you can easily do by now, so go ahead and put the heater of your choice on your wishlist. Get more tips on RV heaters.