How do catalytic heaters work?

Catalytic heaters bring fuel and oxygen together in the presence of a hot catalyst. The result is a chemical reaction that produces infrared heat but no flame. In Catco heaters, the process looks like this:

1. The chemical reaction won’t take place unless the catalyst is at a high enough temperature. In Catco heaters, we preheat the catalyst with an electric heating element. A voltage is applied with either a hardwired power source or starting cables, and this raises the temperature so the reaction can begin.
2. Once the catalyst is hot, you turn on the fuel (either natural gas or propane). When the fuel comes into contact with the catalyst and the oxygen in the air, a chemical reaction takes place that releases energy in the form of infrared heat.
3. The catalyst isn’t consumed in the reaction, so once a heater is operating it can keep going as long as it has fuel and oxygen. This means after startup, the electricity from the preheating element is no longer needed.
4. All it takes to stop the reaction is cutting off the fuel supply.

Other infrared heaters, including some catalytic heaters used for camping or hunting, use a flame to preheat the catalyst and start the reaction. Catco heaters never use a flame during any part of their operation, from start-up to shutdown.