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Topic: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters... (Read 628 times) previous topic - next topic
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Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with Empire Heaters?  They make both a "brick" and "blue flame" heater,  and I'm leaning toward the blue flame as it's reported to heat the air first and objects secondary. 

In Las Cruces, I use a mobile RV repair service that will go to the facility where my RV is stored.  I'm getting a "once over" before I venture off to Mexico next month, but I'm still not very happy with the output from my Camco Wave 3 heater.  My RV guy is very enthusiastic about the Empire brand (and is a distributor).  I already have a hose and quick connect tapped into my propane line. 

Basically, it's either the Empire or the Camco Wave 6. 
Cheryl (a.k.a. Desert Diva)
1998 Lazy Daze (26.5 mid-bath)
2002 Honda CR-V
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #1 –
Quote from: desertdivanm  - 
Basically, it's either the Empire or the Camco Wave 6.
Empire heaters are new to me, do you have a link to the heater you are interested in?.
The Wave 3 and 6 heaters have a very long track record vs.an unknown brand.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #2 –
Maybe this is it? 
http://www.homeclick.com/empire-heating-systems-hb20t-20-000-btu-vent-free-hearthrite-blue-flame-heater/p-96195.aspx
Smallest I can find is 10,000 BTU.  That should be able to keep a LD toasty warm. And then some. The over size spec  would make up for the large amount of ventilation I would use with this sort of heater. Still no fan to move the heat, so seems comparable to Olympic 6. Nice open flame. I wonder how much gas this burns. 

Just me,  but I would go catalytic.

We sometimes see people with a woodstove in their RVs up in the Northwest woods.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #3 –
Has an oxygen depletion sensor (ods) which I see as a big plus in vent free heaters but which 'may' prevent operation at very high altitudes. The Wave series does not have an ODS.
The Mr Buddy brand also has an ODS and they tell you it won't work above about 7,000' because of that. Now if you don't camp above 7,000' in cold weather that's not an issue.

Ed
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Ed D.  - 
Has an oxygen depletion sensor (ods) which I see as a big plus in vent free heaters but which 'may' prevent operation at very high altitudes. The Wave series does not have an ODS.
The Mr Buddy brand also has an ODS and they tell you it won't work above about 7,000' because of that. Now if you don't camp above 7,000' in cold weather that's not an issue.

Ed

Or maybe as low as 4,500'?

http://www.gasheaterstore.com/assets/images/Vent-free%20Heater%20Guideline.pdf
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #5 –

Do be aware that a 10,000 BTU heater is going to produce a lot of heat in a localized area.
A Wave 6 (6000 BTU) is a powerful heater that need to stay a few feet way from things, due to the concentrated heat.

I'm not too thrilled about an open flame, compared to the lower temp combustion of a catalytic heater. 
Remember you are living in a tight space that may make it difficult to stay far enough away from the heater.
The Empire also has a pilot light which stays on all the time, another potential safety problem.
The altitude limitation may be a problem with the Empire
We have run our Wave heaters at 10,000' many times, without problems.

While Empire may be an old company, this is the first example I have seen, in over twenty years of RVing, of their heaters being used in RVs.   
Reading their literature, Empire's heaters appear to be primarily designed for home use.

I believe the Wave 6 is a good choice for your use and the cost is a few bucks less than the Empire.
Amazon.com: Camco 57341 Olympian Wave-6 6000 BTU LP Gas Catalytic Heater:...

Larry

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #6 –
There was a recent thread where we talked about this. We have been using a Kozy World 10,000 BTU ceramic brick heater for almost 3 years now and love it. We gave up a Wave 3.

Empire is made in the U.S. and Kozy World and Pro Com are made in China. If I were buying again I would likely go with the Empire because of a minor flaw in the KW that I had to fix.

Ours is on a hose with quick disconnect.

Empire did make a 6,000 BTU model, don't know if they still do.

As to altitude you do have to open more windows the higher you go but we have run it with varying degrees of success as high as 9,000+ feet at Crested Butte. So, yes, the oxygen sensor does work.

As far as we are concerned it was one of the best choices we have made. Turned on full it will quickly make the interior of our 30' comfortable and we often run it on the lower setting for hours at a time. It saves the battery and, of course, propane vs the furnace.

Ours has a pilot but when we aren't using it we turn it off. As far as use in an RV we bought ours from an RV dealer in Quartzsite and they were selling many of them to RV'ers.

Jim

Re: Empire "Brick" and "Blue Flame" Heaters...
Reply #7 –
Quote from: desertdivanm  - 
Thanks Jim - this is what I was waiting to hear.   I have a 26.5 foot mid-bath.  The 6,000 BTU is manual without a thermostat and the 10,000 BTU one comes with a thermostat.

Empire 6,000 BTU LP Hearthrite Radiant Manual - 4.87

Empire 10,000 BTU LP Hearthrite Radiant W/Thermostat - 4.29

We chose one without the thermostat and haven't regretted that. We just haven't found it that much trouble to adjust it or turn it off and on. Then again, never tried the one with a thermostat.

Jim