Quicksand Fans

Gotta throw up a recommendation here. If you're like me and find yourself in the eye of the current Polar Vortex, and need some supplemental heat, look no further than the Mr. Heater "Big Buddy". This sucker pumps out 18,000 btu's of heat on high and can help keep your house livable when cold temps overwhelm your central heating system. Designed to run off 1lb disposable propane cylinders but when paired with a 20lb cylinder becomes a long lasting powerhouse!

Mynock wrote:Gotta throw up a recommendation here. If you're like me and find yourself in the eye of the current Polar Vortex, and need some supplemental heat, look no further than the Mr. Heater "Big Buddy". This sucker pumps out 18,000 btu's of heat on high and can help keep your house livable when cold temps overwhelm your central heating system. Designed to run off 1lb disposable propane cylinders but when paired with a 20lb cylinder becomes a long lasting powerhouse!

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Great timing. I was just looking at one of these things for my doomsday stash. Or an ice storm, whichever is first. Thinking the same things you just mentioned. Runs indoors with no problems? Thanks.

It's got multiple safety features that make it safe for indoor use. Burns really clean, no smell like the cheaper garage heaters. Also picked up a combination CO2/Gas leak detector to go with it, detector hasn't so much as chirped.

Instructions are about 90% warnings about how you'll die horribly if you don't follow instructions. Instructions are about as complicated as a gas grill.

You'll get around 24-26 hours out of a 20lb cylinder on high, although I doubt you'll need the high setting unless you want that room/part of your house to be 80 degrees.

Only hiccup was there are different hoses for different applications. Mine came with a standard hose that required an inline filter that was sold seperately.

Although my main house is all electric, I have a Mr Heater for the greenhouse. Along with my kitchen stove it runs off a 250 gallon propane tank. One fill is good for about half a year (including the cold half). It keeps the greenhouse to bout 75 degrees, and that gives me an emergency warm room in the event the elecricity goes off duing a winter storm. Keeping the greenhouse that warm keeps the plants happy, but also allows me to have a table set up surrounded by plants for guests to eat or have drinks. Some think that is really cool with the LED "stars" overhead and all the other lights off, not to mention the HO railroad that drives by on the windowsill next to the table. All I need now is a French maid to serve the drinks.

Fred588 wrote:. Some think that is really cool with the LED "stars" overhead and all the other lights off, not to mention the HO railroad that drives by on the windowsill next to the table. All I need now is a French maid to serve the drinks.

Definitely interested lol. Model RR and a French Maid?!?

I'm thinking of picking up a 30 or even a 40lb cylinder now. I was just going to use this during the cold spell but looking at the long term cost, now that I have the heater, this could be a great supplemental heating system to offset the cost of heating oil.

jadokast98 wrote:

Fred588 wrote:. Some think that is really cool with the LED "stars" overhead and all the other lights off, not to mention the HO railroad that drives by on the windowsill next to the table. All I need now is a French maid to serve the drinks.

Definitely interested lol. Model RR and a French Maid?!?

Maybe it should be a rilroad car full of French maid models.

Mynock wrote:I'm thinking of picking up a 30 or even a 40lb cylinder now. I was just going to use this during the cold spell but looking at the long term cost, now that I have the heater, this could be a great supplemental heating system to offset the cost of heating oil.

Well, I got mine. Bought half a dozen cylinders and a ordered the filter to use it with 20lb tanks since I have several. You're right about it being a really neat little rig. It's going to be a heating option in my bunker next to a growing mountain of firewood. Thanks for putting me on to the thing.

Duncan Edwards wrote:Well, I got mine. Bought half a dozen cylinders and a ordered the filter to use it with 20lb tanks since I have several. You're right about it being a really neat little rig. It's going to be a heating option in my bunker next to a growing mountain of firewood. Thanks for putting me on to the thing.

No prob, any questions feel free to ask, I did a bunch of research before I purchased.

FYI, getting 55ish hours out of a 20lb tank on medium. It'll vary a little depending on how much your local propane guy will fill it. Costing me about $15-$17 to fill one of those up.

Also, one thing I picked up online: When you go to turn the unit off close the gas valve on the cylinder first, let the gas in the line burn off, and then turn the knob on the heater to the off position. Leaving the line unpressurized minimizes the chance that you'll have problems with hose gunk building up in the regulators/pilot light.

I probably don't have to tell you but remember to grab a CO/Gas Leak detector. You can get a single plug in unit that does both for about $50.

Mynock wrote:Also, one thing I picked up online: When you go to turn the unit off close the gas valve on the cylinder first, let the gas in the line burn off, and then turn the knob on the heater to the off position. Leaving the line unpressurized minimizes the chance that you'll have problems with hose gunk building up in the regulators/pilot light.

I probably don't have to tell you but remember to grab a CO/Gas Leak detector. You can get a single plug in unit that does both for about $50.

Yeah, I do the fuel cutoff with my generator. The CO detector is a personal paranoia of mine, I've got three of the things. Thanks again.