Reddit reviews Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 6000 BTU LP Gas Catalytic Heater
We found 3 Reddit comments about Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 6000 BTU LP Gas Catalytic Heater. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Adjustable from 3200 to 6000 BTU/hr allow it to be used as a secondary heating sourceWave heaters operate on low pressure gas, and can be wall mounted or used as a portable unitNo electrial drain or battery connection make it the ideal solution for boondocking and dry campingDimensions (H x W x D) 21.25 x 15 x 4, 3/8 inch male flare SAE connection on heaterEquipped with a safety shut-off valve to help prevent accidental non-ignition fuel discharge
So I believe the Wave heater aswell as the Mr.Buddy are Propane with no external intake/exhaust. I believe this means it is a wet heat and will not necessarily 'dry' things.
I have heard of people running their Fan-Tastic fans with their heaters to help push out the moisture. The Propex propane heaters have external intake/exhaust vents so there is no moisture build up.
I am perplexed as I was hoping the Mr.Buddy was going to answer all of my problems. I may have to invest in the propex to get the heat/dryness I need for the Winters in the Pacific North West.
4000 really isn't much heat, it would warm hands held over the flames, but not really contribute to the heating of the room.
I would go for a proper heater, then have one of the little, for effect only, fake fireplace ones for the visuals if wanted.
Not sure what your budget is, but the ultimate combination of these would be a Dickinson propane model. They are pricy, but built to last forever, are quite efficient, very esthetically pleasing, and direct vented (so none of that pesky dying in your sleep due to low O2 or CO poisoning!).
A strong thing to think about when choosing a heat source is fire danger. In a tiny home, a small fire can quickly become lethal, so ones like an infrared heater have very directed heat which require a lot of safe space in front. Also, even with the small ethanol fireplaces like you've linked, make sure you crack a window or something, especially if burning for a longer period, as they really do eat up a lot of your O2 and replace it with CO.
Lastly, regardless of what you go with, make sure you get a GOOD CO detector, just a smoke alarm is not enough! As an EMT I have seen way too many dead pets, kids, adults due to poor ventilation of a combustible heat source in a small space.
Check out the picture of an Olympian heater - just the lower portion glowing.
I don't have an authoritative answer but I could imagine the fuel flowing in from the bottom and being catalyzed as it goes upward. At some point it would all be used up and stop generating as much heat. You wouldn't want unburned fuel making it all the way out the top.
Was it on the highest setting in the picture?
Also - make sure both your CO and LP detectors are in working order!