I hooked my big buddy up to a hundred pound tank and on high it will run 1 week straight, 2 weeks straight on medium...use it as main source of heat(i live in northern MN) and been heating indoors for 5 years now with no problems
Hope you've got CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE ALARMS PROPANE and Mr Buddy are less than 50% efficient That a lot of unburned propane and CO and CO2
That's so cool...I just purchased the Little Buddy and I connected it to a 20 pound pounder....completely dis-cording Me in hopes to save My roomates and I a few dollars this winter. Quick question if I may...my intent is to warm my room up...but I want the heater to stay connected to the 20 pounder...and I've read..that it's particularly not a good idea ever to have a propane tank next to your bed...any suggestions on placement of the tank? Thank You
@@HectorSanchez-zf1dn Get a long propane line place tank outside. Never in the room. Get a Monitor Use it. Be safe Use common sense Get a better heater A real catalytic heater doesn't use combustion and uses 99percent efficiency You chose a cheap inefficient Mr buddy a waste of money and safety
just another tip I found when i installed my hose...the internal threads on the tank are LEFT HAND thread but the external threads are right hand...i usually used my tank for the grill and the fitting screws regularly on the outside big threads of the tank fitting...i know it's a small thing but if i knew that right from the beginning, i wouldn't think i was going insane trying to get the hose started....thanks for the video
Used the buddy for last years winter camping. This guy is correct. I changed my 1lb bottles during the early morning bc it was empty. I purchased an 11lb tank for camping. Smaller lighter, but plenty for a multi-day camping trip. Cooking also.
All of the people that still have cell phone battery, and are now wishing they'd paid attention to these videos earlier and had been prepared but instead now are dying because they were to worried if they had the latest iPhone instead of prepping.
Propane is heavier than air. When first attaching the hose, set the heater above the 20lb tank so the propane will push the air out first instead of gradually mixing air and propane endlessly while you wait for a high enough percentage of propane to light the pilot light.
EXCELLENT suggestion. In another video, the guy who represents Mr. Heater for Amazon had to hold down the button for 15 minutes to bleed out the air so he could start the Big Buddy heater.
I guess I’m stupid or something how is a hose filled with air and a propane heater that has no propane in it when raised higher than the propane tank going to push the air out of the hose line?
@@condor5635 When putting the tank above the heater, the propane will flow down passed the air causing the air to float above the propane inside the hose. This makes it take longer for the air to be passed out of the hose because it is constantly trying to stay above the propane. This mixture will take longer to light while the mixture is gradually becoming more and more saturated with propane. You want the air to pass out of the hose first and faster by putting the heater above the propane tank.
@@bluenetmarketing why wouldn't you just turn the tank valve on before you attach the heater to purge the air from the line like when connecting HVAC gauge set?
Here’s a tip for keeping those things from getting goobered up. Off season be sure to wrap some plastic or plug up the open end of the hose openings. . Bugs, spiders and worst of all mud dubber wasps are drawn to that residual stink. The debris they bring will plug your heater in short order when you fire it up next winter. I’ll wager that’s where 90% of the debris that filter catches comes from. Clean the tank outlet as well if it hasn’t been capped .
I looked for videos like this on the Mr heater website and none existed. Thank you for making this series. I will try a Mr Buddy one more time. I previously owned two little buddies that do not come with the filter. Why Mr heater does not include a filter and explain why it's needed is a big mystery if you don't understand how economics work. It's all about the money the money that's all about the money the money.
We recently experienced a 34 hour power outage in Virginia and I used my camping equipment to keep us safe and warm, including the regular Mr. Buddy Heater. The one pound cylinder lasted 3.5 hours on low setting. It kept our master bedroom a comfortable 60 t0 65F whereas the average temperature throughout the rest of the house was 40F. Anyway, I ordered a hose assembly, an adapter and the 20gl propane bottle. I overland camp and only need a couple of one pound bottles. With the adapter I can refill my one pound cylinders from the 20gl tank. I did forget to order the filter so thank you for reminding me.
When using a 20 lb tank and you're ready to shut it down, always shut the tank off first then turn off the Buddy heater. Propane trapped in the hose will cause the materials in the hose to break down inside, and cause blockages in the orifices of the fittings, and heater, unless you use a filter. It will also plug the filter much faster if you don' t shut the tank off first.
Hi I'm about to buy a travel trailer once college is out can you please explain this more I've never used propane? How are you supposed to turn the propane tank itself off itself first then the Mr buddy?
@@briizcustoms9543 If for any reason you want to turn the heater off, you should shut the valve on the tank itself first, stopping the flow of propane coming out of the tank. Allow the Buddy heater to stay on until it burns the propane that's still in the hose connected to the tank. When the Buddy heater tiles stop glowing, you can turn the knob on the Buddy heater to the off position. If you just shut the Buddy heater off while the tank valve is still open there will be propane trapped in the hose between the tank and the heater. This is what causes the inside of the hose to break down and cause blockages in the orifices, and filter.
As long as you aren’t already near a source of ignition and preferably outside like you are you could just leave the threads a bit loose and crack the 20lb tank to purge the line. Let it hiss for a second and then tighten it. Two hands, one on the tank valve, one on the threads under the filter.
This is great information. We are in Montana for the winter, the hose and the filter cost us 45 bucks. The 20 lb tank cost 40 bucks, and 8 bucks to fill. We run ours daily, and we get almost a week of heat for 1200 SQ feet at 3 bucks per day. Compared to about 15 bucks per day in electric heat. Buy the buddy heater, buy the propane tank and then forget about it.
@@MMAFreakofNature The other guy might think that 55 degrees is warm. You might be expecting 75 degrees. And it all depends on the outside temperature, of course!
Dude! Excellent, EXCELLENT tutorial. Direct to the point and informative within the context of your title. You didn't give us the history of propane first. I'm gonna subscribe to see what else you have. Thank you.
Just found your channel. Glad to see more people in east texas getting into homesteading. We are near canton if you guys happen to be close by, networking and helping neighbors is always welcome!
@@EastTexasHomestead awesome! Not too far off! Should you ever need pastured pork, free range meat chickens or eggs, goat milk, let us know! Im still trying to figure out the gardening thing🤔
@@EastTexasHomestead im not quite sure how to do a direct message here on youtube but if you could tell me how i could privately get yall my contact info id be more than happy to!
If you're getting a 20lbs tank filled to only 15lbs, you need to complain, or find a different place to fill it. From my understanding, a 20lbs propane tank at 80% capacity (which is the max recommended fill %), should still have 20lbs of propane in it when properly filled. All propane tanks have a "tare weight" or "TW" stamped on the top collar/handle. Most 20lbs tanks made over the past 10-15 years will have a total tare weight of around 17 pounds when completely empty. That means a tank with that TW should weigh around 37lbs when filled (ie, the tank's TW + 20lbs of propane). Honest refill places will reset the scale for each tank they fill, because they actually check the tank's "TW", and then zero out/reset the scale before filling. Some really honest places will reset the scale after the filling hose has been connected, because that refill hose adds extra weight to the scale. Anyway, after everything has been connected and the scale reset, they will stop filling once it reaches an additional 20lbs of weight, which means you're not getting short changed. I've caught many places not filling my tanks to it's correct max fill weight, example... setting their weight scales to only 30-32lbs, and then telling you "sorry, but that's 80% of the tanks maximum safety capacity", which is wrong. I've caught two different Costco's in my area doing this. So do yourself a favour... check your tank's TW before you go to fill it up, that way you know what the real total weight should be when properly filled.
My TLDR: Move the decimal over one place on the "WC" number to get usable capacity in gallons, multiply by weight of propane. Add TW for the weight of the cylinder, then you have the correct total full weight. This works for any size cylinder. The details: The capacity of the cylinder is the "WC" number on the DOT stamp. 20 pounders are WC 47.6. WC stands for Water Capacity. That means if the cylinder were 100% full of *water*, that water would weigh 47.6 pounds. Ok well, how much is that? Water weighs 8 pounds. So if you divide the WC47.6 by 8 you learn that 47.6 pounds of water would 5.95 gallons. So a cylinder full of water is 5.95 gallons. As you probably know, cylinders are only filled 80% full of propane. 80% of 5.95 is 4.76 gallons. So a "full" tank of propane will have 4.76 gallons of propane in it. You'll notice that by dividing by 8 then multiplying by .8 what you've really done (by coincidence) is divide the original number by 10. So all you really have to do for any cylinder is just move the decimal point on the WC number over. Want to verify that's true? Easy. Propane weighs roughly 4.21 pounds per temperature compensated gallon. So multiply your 4.76 gallons by 4.21 and you get 20.0396 pounds. 20 pound bottle🙂 *NOW* You still have to add the Tare Weight. So yes. 💯% TW plus 20 is full. For all cylinders: ((WC/8)*4.21)+TW=Full Weight
All none fill your tank places charge you the same price or more but there not filled up to full so you get less for more or less run time go to fill station. Or get 1 day less run time on low. Big deal when you need it for heat.They do it to give more room than recommended so in maned cages don't get into danger zone in the places they keep them and lack of skilled workers. Buy 5 tanks get 4 tanks of gas 😤 people would not do this for there car but suckers when it comes to grill or heat on the go. Nice review love this heater own a few. They last a long time I use mine every day in winter.
Have been using a big buddy for the last 4 years hooked up like you have it . The way you have it hooked up is you have High Pressure going straight to the heater . Ours started leaking and had a fire ball eruption . The regulator started leaking . I took both of those regulators off and tossed them away then replumbed it to run off of low pressure . Put a low pressure regulator on the tank and ran the hose straight to the low pressure connection . In my opinion I think it is better and safer to run low pressure into a house or building than High Pressure .
I ended up buying a 3 burner 18,000 btu infrared heater and mounting it in a one inch square tubing frame with wide cross legs under it that i can screw down to a steel table and ran a propane hose to it from a regulator on a 500 gallon tank outside. It is a much safer set up.
@Keni Haswell don't think that matters if the regulator won't allow more than a certain pressure on the output side. With the right regulator, input shouldn't matter.
@East Texas Homestead, I have a few things that you might consider for your next remake. 1. Explain that Mr. Buddy makes multiple small heaters that are in the same packaging but one is “indoor safe” and the other is “outdoor use only”. (It recently happened to us, both boxes looked exactly the same except for that terminology). 2. Discuss the safety aspects of using a ventless heater inside living spaces (safety should always be a topic covered in each video and for each topic!). 3. What was that filter for? What is the purpose? Does that device filter out the bad particles that make it unsafe for indoor use? As a fellow homesteader we find that safety is rarely addressed and in fact IS the most important because most homesteaders are far away or even without quick access to emergency services (fire/ems/police). Not criticizing your well produced videos, just trying to add more value! BTW I just Subscribed
The one that says Outdoor Only is for Canadian sale. They are required to say that, but both heaters have low oxygen shut-off to protect from low oxygen as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.
@@mgraber1 The carbon monoxide kills you way before the oxygen sensor shutoff You die in your sleep and wake up in the morning dead. It's called silent death
I used a tank top heater in my stand during deer hunting season. That seems to work well. But the big buddy heater will be better for the stand during deer hunting season. Remember to open the window a little bit to get some fresh air when you are in there.
If I am correct Mr Heater makes a propane hose that will attach to your heater without the use of a filter. The material inside this hose is different composition and doesnt break down and negates the use of the filter.
Our 20lb propane tank to Mr. Buddy temporarily failed due to a reaction between the new 20' hose and propane. This reaction produced a clear oil inside of the hose which stopped the supply of propane on its 8' upward flow. While troubleshooting I disconnected the 20' hose from the 20lb tank and notice a small quantity of oil dripping from the disconnected hose fitting. After draining the hose Mr. Buddy was happy once more.
Yep, that oil is the reason that filters are strongly recommended with standard hoses. Apparently without a filter there are other points inside the heater that get gummed up. There is also a more expensive hose (plastic rather than rubber IIRC) which does not leach out the oil, as well as a regulated hose which avoids oil leaching due to the lower pressure. I found one of the regulator hoses in stock nearby so will try to pick one up.
Hi, just wanted you and others know as a heater Buddy user and using a 20 pound tank. I'm getting 5 days @8-10 hrs a day on low setting living in Canada and going through winter one needs to stay warm rest of time spent either sleeping inside sleeping bag or heater buddy turned really low to provide some heat
@@mailderrick You can use 1000 pounder tank if you want to. It doesn’t matter what the size of the tank is as long as the pressure delivered at the heater is correct. 1000 pound tank doesn’t have any more pressure than a 20 pound tank
I’m temporarily heating my 1,000 sqft shop with a BigBuddy heater. It will run on High with a standard 19.5# BBQ size bottle for 30-35 hours. I’m at 456ft elevation. Works awesome! Only $8.25 to fill tanks... $1.99 per gallon.
Something to consider: 10 of the 1 lb tanks will not yield the same run time as 10 lbs from the big tank. Why? The last half of the 1 lb tanks turns frosty cold especially on high draw which cuts into the run time (big time).
EXACTLY! Using the 1lb tanks, on LOW, you are LUCKY to get 3 hours. Get the adapter, and bite the bullet with the 20lb tank, and you'll be WAY happier. I've been doing this in my deer blind for 6 years, and I hunt 2 full weeks. I've NEVER drained a 20lb tank, even though I drained the 1lb tanks twice per day. One pound propane tanks are maybe the WORST value I can think of. I'm old enough to remember when Coleman came out with them at $.89 each, and now they are upwards of $4.50 each, and I SWEAR - they hold less gas... I'm convinced. The first time I used a one pound propane cylinder from Coleman was on a camping stove that I used as a heater for my ground blind - which was basically a tarp wrapped around a couple trees with me in the middle. The thing barely kept me warm, but it ran all day long. Whenever you see the frost at the bottom of the tank in cold temperatures, that shows you how efficient/inefficient the heating system is. A 20lb tank won't usually show you that frost until the bottom 2", but a one-pounder will start showing the frost at about 50%.
As soon as the weather gets cold, I put my Big Buddy Heater on a stand & have a 12' hose with regulator running to a 20lb. tank in living room. I use the hose with the low pressure regulator on it & hook it up to the quick connect fitting. I have 2 tanks in mint condition, and rotate them as needed. This will be my 6th winter using it. Old windows & doors let air in and I have a carbon monoxide alarm near by. Also use a leak detector to check all connections after hooking up a full tank. If it's really cold, I'll start it on high for a short time, then run it on medium & it keeps living & dining room warm. Cuts my oil bill down greatly.
If ya do it make sure you get the approved Mr. heater long hose. I used a different type, later discovering that they oil the material so that it stays flexible... But within a season the lines of the heater are clogged with oil. Or the inline filter accesory
Right on man... Hey,I just pocked the lil valve to prime the line. It took forever trying to bleed the line with the button. I was starting to think the buddy heater was broken. I got mine at a pawn shop for $30.
@@EastTexasHomestead From Lil Giant What in the heck is pocking the lil valve to prime the line? Sorry. I am ignorant about this stuff. P.S. Another comment on this video said used metal-line tubing. Where could I get that? Would it have the connections for the heater on it? Could I get a repair shop to do it for me, if not?
Mr. heater/big buddy makes a dedicated low pressure quick disconnect hose specifically for 20 pound tanks… this is the proper way to use the big buddy with large tanks of propane.
On another video, a fellow actually burned his heater for the duration rather than just using math approximation. He got 9 hours on low setting using up two 1 lb cylinders. He got 3.5 hours on high using two 1 lb cylinders. So, he approximated about 6 hours on medium with two 1 lb cylinders.
Always check gas connections for leaks, using a spray bottle containing water with a healthy squeeze of dish soap added. If bubbles appear, shut down the tank, and correct the problem. Pressurize the line, and retest. Use a high quality dish soap like Dawn, because it does not affect the materials used in gas lines, hoses, or O rings. No leak is safe, no matter how small.
East Texas homestead. I'm a bit confused because you reference 15 gallons in the 20 lb tank. Somewhere I read that they only hold 4.6 gallons when filled. Good video and thank you for the info.
You may want to get a hose with a regular and quick connection. They sell for about $42 on Amazon. (Only works on big buddy). The hose and filter you have is running higher pressure and the filter is to trap oil forced from the rubber hose due to the high/ inconsistent pressure. Bottom line, my family sleeps with one of these going and I sleep better knowing any rubber is regulated and if punctured or cracked would at least be a lower slower loss in the house. And the rubber is not been exposed to higher extremes. Not to mention the internal regulators aren't supposed to be that great and this will protect them from needing replacement. Not so worried about now, mainly 5, 10, or 15 years down the rd will it be safe? And I dont want to buy twice if I can keep from it.
What's the purpose of using the filter connected to the heater end ? I simply connected one end of the high pressure hose to the 20lb tank and the other end to the big buddy connector and start her up as usual after some light cleaning and maintenance that's all and works perfect on low and medium but have to use another 1lb. canister on the other side to run heater on high which I rarely do !!!
@@jeffreyelliott622 you dont need it with the 1 lb bottles. When the hose isn't regulated the high pressure squeezes small amounts of oil out of the rubber and it clogs up the buddy's internal regulators. It takes a while but eventually it will ruin start running lower and quit working.
I remember when buying my 10 or 12 foot hose it said on the package no filter required and mine seems to work just great as is !!! When I leave home for work I do cut it off at the tank and let the heater burn all the excess gas out of the hose til the heater shuts off automatically !!!! This is the safest way to do it I believe !!!!
Let me add that another fellow did an actual burn test with his Big Buddy. Using two 1 lb cylinders he got 9 hours on low until they ran dry and 3.5 hours on high. That works out to about 6 hours on medium using up two 1 lb cylinders.
I'm hopeful for next power outage happens soon at my home. I love camping and prepping. And never get any time to go. So come on power outage im ready for ya bring dat on 😀
I just attached my hose and filter to my Mr Buddy heater 👍 That 1 lb tank doesn't last long at all! I have my 1 lb tanks for cooking except for my small tent heater. It lasts much longer on the 1 lb tank. It doesn't have the pilot light that wastes fuel. I wished I could find more of these lol The heat output is decent 👍
Big Buddy offers the adapter hose for 20 lb tank but it comes with a regulator , havn`t seen a propane filter before. Buddy also offers a 110 adapter to get around the battery powered fan. Beats out the Coleman and benzomatic models. They recently started offering 15 lb tanks around here for those who think the 20`s are to bulky.
This is my first time finding your channel. Your video was perfect, it was exactly what I needed, including knowing what hose I need and that I need the filter. I’ll be using your link, thanks for making everything so easy.
I’m off grid. I use Ryobis for the interchangeable batteries and have a multi battery charger. So constantly changing batteries lol. I use the shop fan over the heater about a foot or two above pointing down. It spreads the heat and it’s totally ramps up the temps and extends run time. I heat the entire space. Probably one per week. Almost a week. Maybe two per week if it’s below zero. But I’m in shorts and a tiny blanket with an umbrella in my iced tea.
I have 36' toyhauler, looking to warm undercarriage to help stop water lines & tanks from freezing (circuit board on furnace keeps crapping out). Connectrf to 100 lbs tank, this looks like an affordable, simple solution. BTW, I live in Canads where it gets below -20C/0F.
It may be a good solution. The only problem is there's no thermostat, so it stays on whatever setting you select. It could also melt the underbelly of the toy hauler if it's too close. Most of the heat goes up with these. BTW, we got below -20C here in east Texas last week! It was nuts 🤪
@@EastTexasHomestead I do the 20 lb tanks. Heating this add-on, uninsulated room I laughingly call my den (and shop), that heater burns through a tank in less than a week...but I do lilke it warm in there!
use a heavy soaped rag to check for leaks on hose fitting. you will see bubbles if even the smallest leak exist. keep heavy soaped wet rag in zip=lock bag. use antifreeze instead of water ,if freezing will be an issue and you can keep that bag right on top off the tank used.
the man at the place they sell propane , he said if you use 20 pounds pressure on a device that is designed for one pound it will burn very dirty and places like running it inside a van even with it vented could be very dangerous. if its true I dont know but that is what he said. he also said using a 20 pound tank to refill one pound bottles is dangerous because the one pound bottles are designed to be thrown away after one use.
Thanks for the video! Just wondering why you landed on the fuel filter and hose route versus getting a hose that doesn’t need a filter (hose composition or one with a regulator - if I understand this correctly). It seems to me that replacing the fuel filter every year would cost more in the long run. I appreciate your videos. Thanks!
Agree I purchased the hose that doesn’t require the filter.pricey but yeah why would one not get this hose to save the money and extra steps of removing and installing a filter plus another connection that could possibly leak.
I have search youtube for just the information you have provided. Your number of hours for propane usage in right-on. I did the actual time test and came very close to the same.
Mr. Heater a really great source of heat. But... If any of of you are thinking indside a room or inside van with a 20lb tank, which can be done,think carbon monoxide detector with it
@Jay Dee It says right on box Safe for indoor use. It burns very clean. My house is 120 years old, with windows & doors the same age, so air gets in. I think this will be my 6th winter using it. I use new tanks & check for leaks. with a sniffer.
@Jay Dee I really don't know as I have never operated in that scenario. I would open a door or window every hour or so to let some fresh air in I guess.
The big drawback of the portsble propane heaters is the insane amount of moisture that they produce. Not a good choice to use in a space that is not normally heated, as moisture will freeze on everything and take forever to heat. That said, is a good option to ge immediate heat until you can get the wood stove going. All said and done, my backup would be wood stove, Big Buddy heater is my 2nd choice.
I've used my Big Buddy in my living room with a 20lb tank plugged into the quick connect for around 5 years now & have never had a 5lb tank in the other side. No reason to. Quick connect has no connection to the 1lb connectors.
gonna run it on low,half hour on,half hour off to extend 20lb tank life.asking.amazon's "Alexa set alarm in 30 minutes "makes that easy.81 hours is alot but gonna try to stretch propane tank a little more than that.thanks
HI, I JUST CALLED MR HEATER ON THIS BIG BUDDY. YOU DIDN'T DISCUSS THAT IT HAS TWO TANK DEPARTMENTS FOR THOSE GREEN BOTTLES OF PROPANE. WHY? ALSO, ON LOW IT'LL RUN ON THOSE TWO TANKS FOR 11 HRS. I'M STILL LEARNING TO SEE IF I EVEN WANT TO BUY ONE. PROPANE SCARES ME LOL ESPECIALLY A 20LB TANK SITTING IN MY HOUSE. SINCE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE GREEN CANS, SAY TO USE IN VENTILATED AREA, SUCH AS USING THEM FOR CAMPING STOVES, HOW IS IT SAFE TO RUN OTHER THAN THE OXYGEN SENSOR ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE WARNINGS ABOUT THE STOVE VERSES HEATER. ALSO, CAN THOSE 20LB TANKS BE USED ON A CAMP STOVE? INDOORS? WITH THAT ADAPTER HOSE THING? THANKS SO MUCH.
That is true sometimes. They actually have a few different options. Here’s a video where I go through some of those options. ua-cam.com/video/QN4uB7_ED5E/v-deo.html
I run no filter and a 20 lb. Tank I have been running the same setup on my big buddy the same one he has . In my van on cold nights around 16 and 17 degrees my tank will last around 4 to 5 days .
Okay, because I am a bit anxious when it comes to tanks of gas in my home. Is this conversion safe for in home use? I know outside, camping etc with proper ventilation. Of course......but for power failure situation....would this be safe. (Aside from standard fire safety :) )
Oh yeah all these people with tips on not blowing up your house . It's pretty low chance that would ever happen I have used 6 different mr buddy's for heating in Van's over the last 4 years and it's been great if any error its user just hold the button down for a min then light and it lights every times
@geoffrey calligan so I buy mine from goodwill for about 10 to 15 bucks then sell them the high number is from me buying them using them selling them and then the one I'm using now is my big buddy it works great and keeps me warm all night in my drafty van in colorado . It was 42 dollars at arc thrift store and has been working great
Never use a bottle with rust on it . Bottles are only good for two years and are dated. Before the rust starts on the inside . It will do damage to your unit..Keep it safe .
Their are far safer and over 50% more efficiently. No flame no combustion 99.9% efficiency Mr Buddy is a Flame fired combustion Propane heater Not the best heater by far It's the cheapest heater
I have purchased several 16 ounce Coleman propane cylinders for a Big Buddy heater in case of power loss this winter. Hoping someone can educate me on the best way to store them. I have heard many insurance companies do not permit storage within the house in their homeowner's policies. I don't have a shed, but was thinking about storing them in Rubbermaid storage bins I use for container gardening. Appreciate any advice offered. Also, do they need to come up to "room temperature" prior to use?
@@Pbs-xs4xk i knew somebody would ask that..depends on outside temp,size of room, which setting, .....i'm in east tenn. , man cave 10 x10...it usually runs out once during winter.....how ever long a 20 lb. lasts you x that by 5...needless to say it lasts a long time.
I might be missing something but a kerosene heater is a lot cheaper to run. A kerosene heater , which puts out MORE HEAT than this Mr Heater, last up to 14 hours on 1 gallon of kerosene which is LOT CHEAPER. Please let me know if I am wrong thank you for your information
I can't speak to your effectiveness, but the mr. Buddy burns incredibly clean due to the ceramic heater having a very high and consistent temperature. The leads to higher oxidation of the hydrocarbon and therefore no measurable carbon monoxide build up in the PPM range. I wouldn't want to use a kerosene heater for that reason.
It depends on how well insulated the room is , on how long it will last. Where do you live also? Mr Heater is only good for 200 square feet or less. If your room is poorly insulated it will burn actually faster than the times you are giving. If you have a good insulated room. Those times you got may be good. Point. Make sure the room you heat, is very well insulated. Other wise you are pissing in the wind. See the Mr.Heater has an actual thermostat. Low heat or high heat dial also. So if your less than 200 square feet of a room, is nicely insulated it will not run the whole time. Check your windows, see if cold air is getting in, is so caulk the areas needing it. On a 20 pounder propane tank on a good insulated room, you got almost a week.
1:49 - In this other video, ( ua-cam.com/video/JAxlW_DMQmw/v-deo.html ) the guy actually let full bottles burn out and he said that running it on high, it burned out at almost 3 1/2 hours and on low it lasted 9 hours. 2:46 - In an actual burn test (from the other video) 15 pounds of propane should last 26 hours on high and 67 hours on low.
I have a question for any of you using one of these heaters. Can I put the 20lb propane tank in my fireplace, and close the fireplace door, run the hose out and set up the big buddy on the floor? The alternative is leaving the 20lb tank outside on the deck and running the hose thru my sliding outside door, but then the cold air come thru the door to the house. Putting the tank in the empty fireplace allows whatever propane off gasing to go up the chimney I figure. Everyone says it is unsafe to bring the 20lb tank indoors. Can I put it in the empty fireplace and close the fireplace door?
Sarah White propane is heavier than air and builds up on the floor as water would, if you have an outdoor ash removal access leave it open to “ pour out “ as it goes down not up the chimney, stay safe
The likelihood of a 20 pounder leaking is extremely unlikely. This is a risk thing. If I’m using the system as a back up for a few days I’m not gonna worry about the small small risk of the propane tank leaking. I’ve had these in my yard hooked to my grill for years and years and never had issues with a tank leaking. Can it happen? yes it can. What is the likelihood? Very unlikely. Risk your life on it? That’s your decision. I’m OK with it given those constraints
Before you connect the hose from tank to heater open tank valve to blow air out of hose then you don't have to wait so long for it to light. Don't be stupid do that outside. Blowing up your house is not the recommended.
The way to express what you said is to bleed the air out of the hose. I hook up to the tank and press and release the hose pin on the opposite end. 3 seconds.
I have the 12 ft and bleed it by letting flame go out every night. I dont want pressure in hose. So i start every night w an empty 12 ft hose. It really isnt worth bleeding. Jeez, it only takes 2 to 3 seconds of holding pilot down, then it strikes. Youd be far far worse taking hose on,off,on,off every single time wearing out the orings in no time which leave you in a much larger mess. I havent disconnected my heater end since new 2 yrs ago for this very reason. Even when ive moved it from one building to another, i leave it all connected and carry heater in one place hand and tank in other. The more you mess with any connection, gas, water, air, ect, the more you are asking for a leak.
It looks to me like the 12' hose that you're using in the demo does not have a regulator on it but the only 12' hose on your Amazon page does have a regulator. What am I missing? TIA
I have never been able to get more than 30 minutes on low on a 1lb bottle. Called manufacturer who had no suggestions. Have even bought new bottles and had store fill and it still did not get more than 30 minutes. And I love this heater otherwise.
I'm new to propane use. Is that cylinder the same type for gas grill and is all lp gas ventless? I'm concerned about using indoors since I not familiar how it works. Thanks..
It is the same as the "gas grill" cylinders. No, not all lp gas is ventless. it depends on how it is burned. These are considered by most to be safe inside, but you still need to be sure to use proper safety precautions and leave a window cracked. Be sure to use a CO2 monitor as a backup, and you should be fine. It's also a good idea not to use it inside while you are sleeping.
They make a natural gas heater Just as inefficient as the propane flame combustion heater. Several of the same precautions need to be taken as they are less than 50% efficient Other safer gas heaters are 99.9% efficient Lots less unburned fuel. You don't want to wake up dead
@@robcrissinger776 Ever hear of a catalytic gas heater? Many ventless fireplaces use them. Propane and natural gas (the differences are irrelevent) have less energy density than other fuels. They generally are in vapor form past the orifice. That means they are more efficient in combustion than other forms of fuel (easier mixing with oxygen).
Mr. Heater uses an orifice designed for the pressure of propane. The pressure of natural gas is much less, if I’m not mistaken. So the Mr. Heater orifice would pass too little natural gas.
Hey guys my big buddy went boom its 5 yrs old almost had house fire. I beleve its the pressure regulator that failed . If you have a older unit replace those or get gas line with one.
The heaters have built in regulators for the standard connection(s). If your mr heater has a quick connect, that connection bypasses the built in regulator. Therefore, the quick connect hoses will have a regulator on the hose side. I hope this helps.
Hey my man, my wife and I are in Nac and are getting ready to homeschool our boy. Was wondering if you happened to live in the area, and also if I could pick your brain regarding gardening and homeschooling. Subscribed and upvoted!
Unfortunately we’re not super close. We are in the Tyler area. I’d be happy to jump on a zoom call though. Shoot me an email and we will work something out. Thanks for the sub. easttexashomestead@gmail.com
I hooked my big buddy up to a hundred pound tank and on high it will run 1 week straight, 2 weeks straight on medium...use it as main source of heat(i live in northern MN) and been heating indoors for 5 years now with no problems
That’s pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome thank you
Hope you've got CARBON MONOXIDE AND CARBON DIOXIDE
ALARMS
PROPANE
and Mr Buddy are less than 50% efficient
That a lot of unburned propane and CO and CO2
That's so cool...I just purchased the Little Buddy and I connected it to a 20 pound pounder....completely dis-cording Me in hopes to save My roomates and I a few dollars this winter. Quick question if I may...my intent is to warm my room up...but I want the heater to stay connected to the 20 pounder...and I've read..that it's particularly not a good idea ever to have a propane tank next to your bed...any suggestions on placement of the tank? Thank You
@@HectorSanchez-zf1dn Get a long propane line place tank outside.
Never in the room.
Get a Monitor
Use it.
Be safe
Use common sense
Get a better heater
A real catalytic heater doesn't use combustion and uses 99percent efficiency
You chose a cheap inefficient Mr buddy a waste of money and safety
just another tip I found when i installed my hose...the internal threads on the tank are LEFT HAND thread but the external threads are right hand...i usually used my tank for the grill and the fitting screws regularly on the outside big threads of the tank fitting...i know it's a small thing but if i knew that right from the beginning, i wouldn't think i was going insane trying to get the hose started....thanks for the video
Used the buddy for last years winter camping. This guy is correct. I changed my 1lb bottles during the early morning bc it was empty. I purchased an 11lb tank for camping. Smaller lighter, but plenty for a multi-day camping trip. Cooking also.
I wonder who else is watching this during the snow/icepocalypse!
All of the people that still have cell phone battery, and are now wishing they'd paid attention to these videos earlier and had been prepared but instead now are dying because they were to worried if they had the latest iPhone instead of prepping.
Me buying three
A lot of people!
@John Beige should be 4.76. Bottles are supposed to be filled to 80%. Probably better to only count on 3.5 tho.
It's still summer but I'm just thinking ahead. I purchase the adapter hose to use 20 lb tanks. It didn't come with a filter so I've got to buy one.
Propane is heavier than air. When first attaching the hose, set the heater above the 20lb tank so the propane will push the air out first instead of gradually mixing air and propane endlessly while you wait for a high enough percentage of propane to light the pilot light.
EXCELLENT suggestion. In another video, the guy who represents Mr. Heater for Amazon had to hold down the button for 15 minutes to bleed out the air so he could start the Big Buddy heater.
I guess I’m stupid or something how is a hose filled with air and a propane heater that has no propane in it when raised higher than the propane tank going to push the air out of the hose line?
@@condor5635 When putting the tank above the heater, the propane will flow down passed the air causing the air to float above the propane inside the hose. This makes it take longer for the air to be passed out of the hose because it is constantly trying to stay above the propane. This mixture will take longer to light while the mixture is gradually becoming more and more saturated with propane. You want the air to pass out of the hose first and faster by putting the heater above the propane tank.
Thank you great suggestion
@@bluenetmarketing why wouldn't you just turn the tank valve on before you attach the heater to purge the air from the line like when connecting HVAC gauge set?
Here’s a tip for keeping those things from getting goobered up. Off season be sure to wrap some plastic or plug up the open end of the hose openings. . Bugs, spiders and worst of all mud dubber wasps are drawn to that residual stink. The debris they bring will plug your heater in short order when you fire it up next winter. I’ll wager that’s where 90% of the debris that filter catches comes from. Clean the tank outlet as well if it hasn’t been capped .
I looked for videos like this on the Mr heater website and none existed. Thank you for making this series. I will try a Mr Buddy one more time. I previously owned two little buddies that do not come with the filter. Why Mr heater does not include a filter and explain why it's needed is a big mystery if you don't understand how economics work. It's all about the money the money that's all about the money the money.
We recently experienced a 34 hour power outage in Virginia and I used my camping equipment to keep us safe and warm, including the regular Mr. Buddy Heater. The one pound cylinder lasted 3.5 hours on low setting. It kept our master bedroom a comfortable 60 t0 65F whereas the average temperature throughout the rest of the house was 40F. Anyway, I ordered a hose assembly, an adapter and the 20gl propane bottle. I overland camp and only need a couple of one pound bottles. With the adapter I can refill my one pound cylinders from the 20gl tank. I did forget to order the filter so thank you for reminding me.
We have a Mr. Heater little buddy. It saved our ass during the Texas winter freeze at or primary residence last year.
When using a 20 lb tank and you're ready to shut it down, always shut the tank off first then turn off the Buddy heater. Propane trapped in the hose will cause the materials in the hose to break down inside, and cause blockages in the orifices of the fittings, and heater, unless you use a filter. It will also plug the filter much faster if you don' t shut the tank off first.
Good call. Thanks!
Hi I'm about to buy a travel trailer once college is out can you please explain this more I've never used propane? How are you supposed to turn the propane tank itself off itself first then the Mr buddy?
@@briizcustoms9543 If for any reason you want to turn the heater off, you should shut the valve on the tank itself first, stopping the flow of propane coming out of the tank. Allow the Buddy heater to stay on until it burns the propane that's still in the hose connected to the tank. When the Buddy heater tiles stop glowing, you can turn the knob on the Buddy heater to the off position. If you just shut the Buddy heater off while the tank valve is still open there will be propane trapped in the hose between the tank and the heater. This is what causes the inside of the hose to break down and cause blockages in the orifices, and filter.
Thanks 🙏 for the information.
As long as you aren’t already near a source of ignition and preferably outside like you are you could just leave the threads a bit loose and crack the 20lb tank to purge the line. Let it hiss for a second and then tighten it. Two hands, one on the tank valve, one on the threads under the filter.
This is great information. We are in Montana for the winter, the hose and the filter cost us 45 bucks. The 20 lb tank cost 40 bucks, and 8 bucks to fill.
We run ours daily, and we get almost a week of heat for 1200 SQ feet at 3 bucks per day. Compared to about 15 bucks per day in electric heat. Buy the buddy heater, buy the propane tank and then forget about it.
It's costs 15.00 to fill a 20 pound tank here in Florida , 8.00 dollar's sounds great .
@@sonicboom2723
Dang man. That sucks!
Only $8!!! That's awesome. It cost us between $15 and $19 depending on where you go. and they only give you 15 lb in the 20 lb tank.
Wow. How? I have this same set up and it doesnt even heat my 450square foot garage
@@MMAFreakofNature The other guy might think that 55 degrees is warm. You might be expecting 75 degrees. And it all depends on the outside temperature, of course!
Dude! Excellent, EXCELLENT tutorial. Direct to the point and informative within the context of your title. You didn't give us the history of propane first. I'm gonna subscribe to see what else you have. Thank you.
Just found your channel. Glad to see more people in east texas getting into homesteading. We are near canton if you guys happen to be close by, networking and helping neighbors is always welcome!
Howdy neighbor! We’re just off I-20 north of tyler. Not too far.
@@EastTexasHomestead awesome! Not too far off! Should you ever need pastured pork, free range meat chickens or eggs, goat milk, let us know! Im still trying to figure out the gardening thing🤔
Good to know. We've got a freezer full but I'd love doing business with someone down the road.
@@EastTexasHomestead im not quite sure how to do a direct message here on youtube but if you could tell me how i could privately get yall my contact info id be more than happy to!
Shoot me an email at easttexashomestead@gmail.com.
If you're getting a 20lbs tank filled to only 15lbs, you need to complain, or find a different place to fill it. From my understanding, a 20lbs propane tank at 80% capacity (which is the max recommended fill %), should still have 20lbs of propane in it when properly filled. All propane tanks have a "tare weight" or "TW" stamped on the top collar/handle. Most 20lbs tanks made over the past 10-15 years will have a total tare weight of around 17 pounds when completely empty. That means a tank with that TW should weigh around 37lbs when filled (ie, the tank's TW + 20lbs of propane). Honest refill places will reset the scale for each tank they fill, because they actually check the tank's "TW", and then zero out/reset the scale before filling. Some really honest places will reset the scale after the filling hose has been connected, because that refill hose adds extra weight to the scale. Anyway, after everything has been connected and the scale reset, they will stop filling once it reaches an additional 20lbs of weight, which means you're not getting short changed. I've caught many places not filling my tanks to it's correct max fill weight, example... setting their weight scales to only 30-32lbs, and then telling you "sorry, but that's 80% of the tanks maximum safety capacity", which is wrong. I've caught two different Costco's in my area doing this. So do yourself a favour... check your tank's TW before you go to fill it up, that way you know what the real total weight should be when properly filled.
My TLDR:
Move the decimal over one place on the "WC" number to get usable capacity in gallons, multiply by weight of propane. Add TW for the weight of the cylinder, then you have the correct total full weight. This works for any size cylinder.
The details:
The capacity of the cylinder is the "WC" number on the DOT stamp. 20 pounders are WC 47.6. WC stands for Water Capacity. That means if the cylinder were 100% full of *water*, that water would weigh 47.6 pounds. Ok well, how much is that? Water weighs 8 pounds. So if you divide the WC47.6 by 8 you learn that 47.6 pounds of water would 5.95 gallons. So a cylinder full of water is 5.95 gallons. As you probably know, cylinders are only filled 80% full of propane. 80% of 5.95 is 4.76 gallons. So a "full" tank of propane will have 4.76 gallons of propane in it.
You'll notice that by dividing by 8 then multiplying by .8 what you've really done (by coincidence) is divide the original number by 10. So all you really have to do for any cylinder is just move the decimal point on the WC number over.
Want to verify that's true? Easy. Propane weighs roughly 4.21 pounds per temperature compensated gallon. So multiply your 4.76 gallons by 4.21 and you get 20.0396 pounds. 20 pound bottle🙂
*NOW* You still have to add the Tare Weight. So yes. 💯% TW plus 20 is full.
For all cylinders: ((WC/8)*4.21)+TW=Full Weight
All none fill your tank places charge you the same price or more but there not filled up to full so you get less for more or less run time go to fill station. Or get 1 day less run time on low. Big deal when you need it for heat.They do it to give more room than recommended so in maned cages don't get into danger zone in the places they keep them and lack of skilled workers. Buy 5 tanks get 4 tanks of gas 😤 people would not do this for there car but suckers when it comes to grill or heat on the go. Nice review love this heater own a few. They last a long time I use mine every day in winter.
@@someperson7 Thank you very much for that explanation. I routinely fill 100 lb tanks, about 24 gallons!
@@HH-zg8zm If there are Costcos where you are they tend to be the best prices in the market.
@@vicktdock 🙂👍🏻
Have been using a big buddy for the last 4 years hooked up like you have it .
The way you have it hooked up is you have High Pressure going straight to the heater .
Ours started leaking and had a fire ball eruption .
The regulator started leaking .
I took both of those regulators off and tossed them away then replumbed it to run off of low pressure .
Put a low pressure regulator on the tank and ran the hose straight to the low pressure connection .
In my opinion I think it is better and safer to run low pressure into a house or building than High Pressure .
i think cheap rv living made a video about that. they are supposed to run off low pressure or they just last longer that way.
That's exactly what I want to do. I don't want that hi pressure anywhere inside a building.
I ended up buying a 3 burner 18,000 btu infrared heater and mounting it in a one inch square tubing frame with wide cross legs under it that i can screw down to a steel table and ran a propane hose to it from a regulator on a 500 gallon tank outside. It is a much safer set up.
@@pl747 sounds like it'll get the job done and last a lifetime of winters. lol
@Keni Haswell don't think that matters if the regulator won't allow more than a certain pressure on the output side. With the right regulator, input shouldn't matter.
@East Texas Homestead,
I have a few things that you might consider for your next remake.
1. Explain that Mr. Buddy makes multiple small heaters that are in the same packaging but one is “indoor safe” and the other is “outdoor use only”. (It recently happened to us, both boxes looked exactly the same except for that terminology).
2. Discuss the safety aspects of using a ventless heater inside living spaces (safety should always be a topic covered in each video and for each topic!).
3. What was that filter for? What is the purpose?
Does that device filter out the bad particles that make it unsafe for indoor use?
As a fellow homesteader we find that safety is rarely addressed and in fact IS the most important because most homesteaders are far away or even without quick access to emergency services (fire/ems/police).
Not criticizing your well produced videos, just trying to add more value!
BTW I just Subscribed
The one that says Outdoor Only is for Canadian sale. They are required to say that, but both heaters have low oxygen shut-off to protect from low oxygen as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Understood, but both are sold here in the states and can be confusing to purchase.
Thanks for the video topics and the reminder to talk more about safety!
@@mgraber1 The carbon monoxide kills you way before the oxygen sensor shutoff
You die in your sleep and wake up in the morning dead.
It's called silent death
I love mine! It was perfect for my 32' camper! I still have it!
I used a tank top heater in my stand during deer hunting season. That seems to work well. But the big buddy heater will be better for the stand during deer hunting season. Remember to open the window a little bit to get some fresh air when you are in there.
Well done and very valuable information. I just bought the Big Buddy Heater today and a 12' hose. I didnt know I needed a filter. Cheers.
do you NEED the filter??
@@madhatter1532 Thanks very much! I have one now. It works great.
If I am correct Mr Heater makes a propane hose that will attach to your heater without the use of a filter. The material inside this hose is different composition and doesnt break down and negates the use of the filter.
@@Mike-up6go Great tip thanks very much!
Our 20lb propane tank to Mr. Buddy temporarily failed due to a reaction between the new 20' hose and propane. This reaction produced a clear oil inside of the hose which stopped the supply of propane on its 8' upward flow. While troubleshooting I disconnected the 20' hose from the 20lb tank and notice a small quantity of oil dripping from the disconnected hose fitting. After draining the hose Mr. Buddy was happy once more.
Yep, that oil is the reason that filters are strongly recommended with standard hoses. Apparently without a filter there are other points inside the heater that get gummed up.
There is also a more expensive hose (plastic rather than rubber IIRC) which does not leach out the oil, as well as a regulated hose which avoids oil leaching due to the lower pressure. I found one of the regulator hoses in stock nearby so will try to pick one up.
Sometimes embarrassing is a good thing.
Thank you kindly for your review 🌵
Happy New years 💮
that heater saved my life when i had to live in my SUV in Minnesota two years ago.
sometimes, i wish it hadn't worked so well.
I bet! They will heat you out of a small space like that
Hi, just wanted you and others know as a heater Buddy user and using a 20 pound tank. I'm getting 5 days @8-10 hrs a day on low setting living in Canada and going through winter one needs to stay warm rest of time spent either sleeping inside sleeping bag or heater buddy turned really low to provide some heat
This is great information! This is the type of real world stuff we need to know Thanks for sharing
A sleeping bag, mr buddy heater and a computer, what a life.
You hiding out too, eh ?
TY for this. We just had a 2 day outage during freezing temperatures. Ordered everything !
I use my buddy heater with a regulator, filter, 12 ft hose and 20lb/40lb tank. Excellent for emergency or general heating where needed.
Can you use a 100lb tank or larger?
with that said , natural gas from your municipal is a lot cheaper and its never a run to get propane
@@mailderrick You can use 1000 pounder tank if you want to. It doesn’t matter what the size of the tank is as long as the pressure delivered at the heater is correct. 1000 pound tank doesn’t have any more pressure than a 20 pound tank
I’m temporarily heating my 1,000 sqft shop with a BigBuddy heater. It will run on High with a standard 19.5# BBQ size bottle for 30-35 hours. I’m at 456ft elevation. Works awesome! Only $8.25 to fill tanks... $1.99 per gallon.
Dam that's cheap!Its $18 for a fill here in n.d
Something to consider: 10 of the 1 lb tanks will not yield the same run time as 10 lbs from the big tank. Why?
The last half of the 1 lb tanks turns frosty cold especially on high draw which cuts into the run time (big time).
EXACTLY! Using the 1lb tanks, on LOW, you are LUCKY to get 3 hours. Get the adapter, and bite the bullet with the 20lb tank, and you'll be WAY happier. I've been doing this in my deer blind for 6 years, and I hunt 2 full weeks. I've NEVER drained a 20lb tank, even though I drained the 1lb tanks twice per day. One pound propane tanks are maybe the WORST value I can think of. I'm old enough to remember when Coleman came out with them at $.89 each, and now they are upwards of $4.50 each, and I SWEAR - they hold less gas... I'm convinced. The first time I used a one pound propane cylinder from Coleman was on a camping stove that I used as a heater for my ground blind - which was basically a tarp wrapped around a couple trees with me in the middle. The thing barely kept me warm, but it ran all day long. Whenever you see the frost at the bottom of the tank in cold temperatures, that shows you how efficient/inefficient the heating system is. A 20lb tank won't usually show you that frost until the bottom 2", but a one-pounder will start showing the frost at about 50%.
@@MrBudcole Total rip off I am convinced the heater uses more propane than necessary
I read that 20 pd tanks only hold 4.6 ? Gallons of propane and the 1 pd tanks only hold 1/4 of a gallon.
@@bobquidne1861 apples and oranges.
I used mine in a 24-ft camper two Winters in a row at work at ran for 3 days on a 20 tank
As soon as the weather gets cold, I put my Big Buddy Heater on a stand & have a 12' hose with regulator running to a 20lb. tank in living room. I use the hose with the low pressure regulator on it & hook it up to the quick connect fitting. I have 2 tanks in mint condition, and rotate them as needed. This will be my 6th winter using it. Old windows & doors let air in and I have a carbon monoxide alarm near by. Also use a leak detector to check all connections after hooking up a full tank. If it's really cold, I'll start it on high for a short time, then run it on medium & it keeps living & dining room warm. Cuts my oil bill down greatly.
How many hours on med?
@@brandonjones8223 Maybe 5 to 12 hours a day. Lasts about 5 days.
If ya do it make sure you get the approved Mr. heater long hose. I used a different type, later discovering that they oil the material so that it stays flexible... But within a season the lines of the heater are clogged with oil.
Or the inline filter accesory
Christopher Matthews yes of using an aftermarket house, always replace the filter at least yearly.
Right on man... Hey,I just pocked the lil valve to prime the line. It took forever trying to bleed the line with the button. I was starting to think the buddy heater was broken. I got mine at a pawn shop for $30.
I had the same problem the first time I used the 10ft hose. Good idea and great deal on a used Mr. Heater!
@@EastTexasHomestead From Lil Giant What in the heck is pocking the lil valve to prime the line? Sorry. I am ignorant about this stuff. P.S. Another comment on this video said used metal-line tubing. Where could I get that? Would it have the connections for the heater on it? Could I get a repair shop to do it for me, if not?
Mr. heater/big buddy makes a dedicated low pressure quick disconnect hose specifically for 20 pound tanks… this is the proper way to use the big buddy with large tanks of propane.
Yep, the regulator on it is absolutely silent too, no hissing at all like from the small regulators built into the heater.
Nice illustration of run time expectation 👌 ❤
Thanks a lot 😊
Great video on run time with the larger tank connections for the big buddy heater.
Thanks!
thank you for detailed info, I was looking for this and after watching many video finally I got all info I needed from your video
Glad to help :)
On another video, a fellow actually burned his heater for the duration rather than just using math approximation. He got 9 hours on low setting using up two 1 lb cylinders. He got 3.5 hours on high using two 1 lb cylinders. So, he approximated about 6 hours on medium with two 1 lb cylinders.
Hank Hill could've told u time. Good vid
A very good video on the run time of propane heaters.
Vice versa you can get small tank filler adapters if you need your unit portable you can fill them off a large propane tank.
Always check gas connections for leaks, using a spray bottle containing water with a healthy squeeze of dish soap added. If bubbles appear, shut down the tank, and correct the problem. Pressurize the line, and retest. Use a high quality dish soap like Dawn, because it does not affect the materials used in gas lines, hoses, or O rings. No leak is safe, no matter how small.
Not going to happen. I connect the hose tank and heater when out on the ice. By the way it was -20 here today.
East Texas homestead. I'm a bit confused because you reference 15 gallons in the 20 lb tank. Somewhere I read that they only hold 4.6 gallons when filled. Good video and thank you for the info.
If you have it filled by a propane dealer, it holds 20 lbs. When you get one from one of the exchange things, they only have 15 lbs in them.
You may want to get a hose with a regular and quick connection. They sell for about $42 on Amazon. (Only works on big buddy). The hose and filter you have is running higher pressure and the filter is to trap oil forced from the rubber hose due to the high/ inconsistent pressure.
Bottom line, my family sleeps with one of these going and I sleep better knowing any rubber is regulated and if punctured or cracked would at least be a lower slower loss in the house. And the rubber is not been exposed to higher extremes. Not to mention the internal regulators aren't supposed to be that great and this will protect them from needing replacement.
Not so worried about now, mainly 5, 10, or 15 years down the rd will it be safe? And I dont want to buy twice if I can keep from it.
That's a great point about having regulated gas in the event the hose goes out. Thanks!
What's the purpose of using the filter connected to the heater end ? I simply connected one end of the high pressure hose to the 20lb tank and the other end to the big buddy connector and start her up as usual after some light cleaning and maintenance that's all and works perfect on low and medium but have to use another 1lb. canister on the other side to run heater on high which I rarely do !!!
@@jeffreyelliott622 you dont need it with the 1 lb bottles. When the hose isn't regulated the high pressure squeezes small amounts of oil out of the rubber and it clogs up the buddy's internal regulators. It takes a while but eventually it will ruin start running lower and quit working.
Can you use that filter on the high pressure hose as well and if so what filter do I buy from amazon.com ?
I remember when buying my 10 or 12 foot hose it said on the package no filter required and mine seems to work just great as is !!! When I leave home for work I do cut it off at the tank and let the heater burn all the excess gas out of the hose til the heater shuts off automatically !!!! This is the safest way to do it I believe !!!!
We hooked ours up to a 20 lb tank...worked great!
Good deal! It's pretty simple and effective. :)
I use a 30lb tank.
Am considering this for heat in a northern Wisconsin deer blind. So the chart on how long the tank will last is very handy!
I'm glad it helped. It's a great little heater.
Let me add that another fellow did an actual burn test with his Big Buddy. Using two 1 lb cylinders he got 9 hours on low until they ran dry and 3.5 hours on high. That works out to about 6 hours on medium using up two 1 lb cylinders.
Tractor supply also carries the hoses and filters
I'm hopeful for next power outage happens soon at my home. I love camping and prepping. And never get any time to go. So come on power outage im ready for ya bring dat on 😀
I just attached my hose and filter to my Mr Buddy heater 👍 That 1 lb tank doesn't last long at all! I have my 1 lb tanks for cooking except for my small tent heater. It lasts much longer on the 1 lb tank. It doesn't have the pilot light that wastes fuel. I wished I could find more of these lol The heat output is decent 👍
i always spray the tank connection with leak detector before using it.
Just spit on it.
I use a battery operated leak detector/ sniffer I got online.
Just use soapy water
Meh just light a match
He said that
THANK YOU I WILL USE YOUR DATA AS A GUIDE.
Big Buddy offers the adapter hose for 20 lb tank but it comes with a regulator , havn`t seen a propane filter before. Buddy also offers a 110 adapter to get around the battery powered fan. Beats out the Coleman and benzomatic models. They recently started offering 15 lb tanks around here for those who think the 20`s are to bulky.
Satisfied. Double thumbs up.....Pinoy watching from San Diego California.
This is my first time finding your channel. Your video was perfect, it was exactly what I needed, including knowing what hose I need and that I need the filter. I’ll be using your link, thanks for making everything so easy.
You're welcome. Thanks for the great feedback!
I’m off grid. I use Ryobis for the interchangeable batteries and have a multi battery charger. So constantly changing batteries lol. I use the shop fan over the heater about a foot or two above pointing down. It spreads the heat and it’s totally ramps up the temps and extends run time. I heat the entire space. Probably one per week. Almost a week. Maybe two per week if it’s below zero. But I’m in shorts and a tiny blanket with an umbrella in my iced tea.
I have 36' toyhauler, looking to warm undercarriage to help stop water lines & tanks from freezing (circuit board on furnace keeps crapping out). Connectrf to 100 lbs tank, this looks like an affordable, simple solution. BTW, I live in Canads where it gets below -20C/0F.
It may be a good solution. The only problem is there's no thermostat, so it stays on whatever setting you select. It could also melt the underbelly of the toy hauler if it's too close. Most of the heat goes up with these. BTW, we got below -20C here in east Texas last week! It was nuts 🤪
Great product and good explanation as to how to hook up and use.
Thanks
Thx you helped me understand I have to have that filter.
I'm going to get in line filter so hose don't brake down ,as fire man recommend to stop condensation that produces risks
I had my Big Buddy for 2 weeks before I noticed the fan switch...I was wondering what the batteries and adapter were for...
That's funny. The fan doesn't make a big difference to me, so I never use it. Save the money on the D batteries and get a few extra 1lb tanks instead.
@@EastTexasHomestead I do the 20 lb tanks. Heating this add-on, uninsulated room I laughingly call my den (and shop), that heater burns through a tank in less than a week...but I do lilke it warm in there!
@@smuckwap got mine hooked up to hundred pounder
Good video. Have used this combination thru past two winters. Works great.
Thanks. They're great little heaters.
use a heavy soaped rag to check for leaks on hose fitting. you will see bubbles if even the smallest leak exist. keep heavy soaped wet rag in zip=lock bag. use antifreeze instead of water ,if freezing will be an issue and you can keep that bag right on top off the tank used.
+immrnoidall that's a great tip. Thanks!
Or, buy a leak detector/sniffer online....around $20.
I found your channel 2 years ago while I was researching Mr. Heater to purchase for my shed.
Cool! Did you end up getting one for your shed?
@@EastTexasHomestead I did. I got the Big Buddy and plumbed it to a 20lb tank out behind the shed. It worked out perfectly.
Awesome!
go to walmart and buy a blackstone griddle propane hose they will hook up the 20 lb tanks to the buddy heater for 10 bucks
the man at the place they sell propane , he said if you use 20 pounds pressure on a device that is designed for one pound it will burn very dirty and places like running it inside a van even with it vented could be very dangerous. if its true I dont know but that is what he said. he also said using a 20 pound tank to refill one pound bottles is dangerous because the one pound bottles are designed to be thrown away after one use.
@@z4u68 Mr. Heater seems to sanction the 20lb as an ok alternative . The filters that you buy separate take out the impurities in the hoses
Thanks for the video! Just wondering why you landed on the fuel filter and hose route versus getting a hose that doesn’t need a filter (hose composition or one with a regulator - if I understand this correctly). It seems to me that replacing the fuel filter every year would cost more in the long run. I appreciate your videos. Thanks!
Agree I purchased the hose that doesn’t require the filter.pricey but yeah why would one not get this hose to save the money and extra steps of removing and installing a filter plus another connection that could possibly leak.
Thanks for the reply. Good to know from someone who’s looking at this harder than I am. I appreciate it.
I have search youtube for just the information you have provided.
Your number of hours for propane usage in right-on.
I did the actual time test and came very close to the same.
That's good to hear. I was just using math to calculate it but knowing that it checks out in real life is great. Thanks for letting us know.
Mr. Heater a really great source of heat. But... If any of of you are thinking indside a room or inside van with a 20lb tank, which can be done,think carbon monoxide detector with it
I run mine in living room every winter. No problems at all.
@Jay Dee It says right on box Safe for indoor use. It burns very clean. My house is 120 years old, with windows & doors the same age, so air gets in. I think this will be my 6th winter using it. I use new tanks & check for leaks. with a sniffer.
@Jay Dee I really don't know as I have never operated in that scenario. I would open a door or window every hour or so to let some fresh air in I guess.
The big drawback of the portsble propane heaters is the insane amount of moisture that they produce. Not a good choice to use in a space that is not normally heated, as moisture will freeze on everything and take forever to heat. That said, is a good option to ge immediate heat until you can get the wood stove going. All said and done, my backup would be wood stove, Big Buddy heater is my 2nd choice.
When using the 20# tank ,you should have a 1# tank screwed onto the regulator on the other side also for safety.
I've used my Big Buddy in my living room with a 20lb tank plugged into the quick connect for around 5 years now & have never had a 5lb tank in the other side. No reason to. Quick connect has no connection to the 1lb connectors.
Sorry Fraser not necessary
Use the quick connect to Mr heater for 20# tanks.
This gives the higher setting of 18K btu.
gonna run it on low,half hour on,half hour off to extend 20lb tank life.asking.amazon's "Alexa set alarm in 30 minutes "makes that easy.81 hours is alot but gonna try to stretch propane tank a little more than that.thanks
The Amazon link for a filter says they’re $41. What’s going on with that? Are they supposed to be like eight bucks?
HI, I JUST CALLED MR HEATER ON THIS BIG BUDDY. YOU DIDN'T DISCUSS THAT IT HAS TWO TANK DEPARTMENTS FOR THOSE GREEN BOTTLES OF PROPANE. WHY? ALSO, ON LOW IT'LL RUN ON THOSE TWO TANKS FOR 11 HRS.
I'M STILL LEARNING TO SEE IF I EVEN WANT TO BUY ONE. PROPANE SCARES ME LOL ESPECIALLY A 20LB TANK SITTING IN MY HOUSE. SINCE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE GREEN CANS, SAY TO USE IN VENTILATED AREA, SUCH AS USING THEM FOR CAMPING STOVES, HOW IS IT SAFE TO RUN OTHER THAN THE OXYGEN SENSOR ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE WARNINGS ABOUT THE STOVE VERSES HEATER.
ALSO, CAN THOSE 20LB TANKS BE USED ON A CAMP STOVE? INDOORS? WITH THAT ADAPTER HOSE THING? THANKS SO MUCH.
Correction: @2:33, he does mention 2 bottles.
Thank you for breaking the numbers down.
You bet!
My heater manual says to use a tank regulator and a filter if using a 20 lb, tank or larger or it could damage the heaters internal regulator .
That is true sometimes. They actually have a few different options. Here’s a video where I go through some of those options. ua-cam.com/video/QN4uB7_ED5E/v-deo.html
I run no filter and a 20 lb. Tank I have been running the same setup on my big buddy the same one he has . In my van on cold nights around 16 and 17 degrees my tank will last around 4 to 5 days .
Which hose are you using?
@@EastTexasHomestead the cheap walmart hose that I found in the grill section
@@harryfp1494 Cool. Thanks.
Okay, because I am a bit anxious when it comes to tanks of gas in my home. Is this conversion safe for in home use? I know outside, camping etc with proper ventilation. Of course......but for power failure situation....would this be safe. (Aside from standard fire safety :) )
Oh yeah all these people with tips on not blowing up your house . It's pretty low chance that would ever happen I have used 6 different mr buddy's for heating in Van's over the last 4 years and it's been great if any error its user just hold the button down for a min then light and it lights every times
@geoffrey calligan so I buy mine from goodwill for about 10 to 15 bucks then sell them the high number is from me buying them using them selling them and then the one I'm using now is my big buddy it works great and keeps me warm all night in my drafty van in colorado . It was 42 dollars at arc thrift store and has been working great
@geoffrey calligan no probs man
@geoffrey calligan do not buy one
Down by the river?
Mr. Heater Big Buddy is the best heater I've ever used!
Never use a bottle with rust on it . Bottles are only good for two years and are dated. Before the rust starts on the inside . It will do damage to your unit..Keep it safe .
@@pockit57d.a.d.68 What about 20lb tanks, they are supposed to be good for 10 years I think
Their are far safer and over 50% more efficiently.
No flame no combustion
99.9% efficiency
Mr Buddy is a Flame fired combustion Propane heater
Not the best heater by far
It's the cheapest heater
I have purchased several 16 ounce Coleman propane cylinders for a Big Buddy heater in case of power loss this winter. Hoping someone can educate me on the best way to store them. I have heard many insurance companies do not permit storage within the house in their homeowner's policies. I don't have a shed, but was thinking about storing them in Rubbermaid storage bins I use for container gardening. Appreciate any advice offered. Also, do they need to come up to "room temperature" prior to use?
mines hooked to a 100 lb. tank....i highly recommend it !
Same. How many hours will it run on a 100lb tank?
@@Pbs-xs4xk i knew somebody would ask that..depends on outside temp,size of room, which setting, .....i'm in east tenn. , man cave 10 x10...it usually runs out once during winter.....how ever long a 20 lb. lasts you x that by 5...needless to say it lasts a long time.
I might be missing something but a kerosene heater is a lot cheaper to run. A kerosene heater , which puts out MORE HEAT than this Mr Heater, last up to 14 hours on 1 gallon of kerosene which is LOT CHEAPER. Please let me know if I am wrong thank you for your information
I can't speak to your effectiveness, but the mr. Buddy burns incredibly clean due to the ceramic heater having a very high and consistent temperature. The leads to higher oxidation of the hydrocarbon and therefore no measurable carbon monoxide build up in the PPM range. I wouldn't want to use a kerosene heater for that reason.
3 days 4 on low
Maybe 2...
It depends on how well insulated the room is , on how long it will last. Where do you live also? Mr Heater is only good for 200 square feet or less. If your room is poorly insulated it will burn actually faster than the times you are giving. If you have a good insulated room. Those times you got may be good. Point. Make sure the room you heat, is very well insulated. Other wise you are pissing in the wind. See the Mr.Heater has an actual thermostat. Low heat or high heat dial also. So if your less than 200 square feet of a room, is nicely insulated it will not run the whole time. Check your windows, see if cold air is getting in, is so caulk the areas needing it. On a 20 pounder propane tank on a good insulated room, you got almost a week.
1:49 - In this other video, ( ua-cam.com/video/JAxlW_DMQmw/v-deo.html ) the guy actually let full bottles burn out and he said that running it on high, it burned out at almost 3 1/2 hours and on low it lasted 9 hours. 2:46 - In an actual burn test (from the other video) 15 pounds of propane should last 26 hours on high and 67 hours on low.
I have a question for any of you using one of these heaters. Can I put the 20lb propane tank in my fireplace, and close the fireplace door, run the hose out and set up the big buddy on the floor? The alternative is leaving the 20lb tank outside on the deck and running the hose thru my sliding outside door, but then the cold air come thru the door to the house. Putting the tank in the empty fireplace allows whatever propane off gasing to go up the chimney I figure. Everyone says it is unsafe to bring the 20lb tank indoors. Can I put it in the empty fireplace and close the fireplace door?
Sarah White propane is heavier than air and builds up on the floor as water would, if you have an outdoor ash removal access leave it open to “ pour out “ as it goes down not up the chimney, stay safe
I USE MY TANK INSIDE ALL WINTER !! I HIDE MY 20 LB BEHIND MY COUCH ON A 10 FOOT HOSE TO MY BIGBUDDY...7 YEARS AND NO PROB
I use my Big Buddy in living room in winter. Run a 12ft. hose to it. Tank sits in corner around 6ft from heater. No problems.
The likelihood of a 20 pounder leaking is extremely unlikely. This is a risk thing. If I’m using the system as a back up for a few days I’m not gonna worry about the small small risk of the propane tank leaking. I’ve had these in my yard hooked to my grill for years and years and never had issues with a tank leaking. Can it happen? yes it can. What is the likelihood? Very unlikely. Risk your life on it? That’s your decision. I’m OK with it given those constraints
Before you connect the hose from tank to heater open tank valve to blow air out of hose then you don't have to wait so long for it to light. Don't be stupid do that outside. Blowing up your house is not the recommended.
That’s a good tip. Thanks!
The way to express what you said is to bleed the air out of the hose.
I hook up to the tank and press and release the hose pin on the
opposite end. 3 seconds.
Theres a safety valve there. So you cant bleed it
itzamia classic!!!
I have the 12 ft and bleed it by letting flame go out every night. I dont want pressure in hose. So i start every night w an empty 12 ft hose. It really isnt worth bleeding. Jeez, it only takes 2 to 3 seconds of holding pilot down, then it strikes. Youd be far far worse taking hose on,off,on,off every single time wearing out the orings in no time which leave you in a much larger mess. I havent disconnected my heater end since new 2 yrs ago for this very reason. Even when ive moved it from one building to another, i leave it all connected and carry heater in one place hand and tank in other. The more you mess with any connection, gas, water, air, ect, the more you are asking for a leak.
It looks to me like the 12' hose that you're using in the demo does not have a regulator on it but the only 12' hose on your Amazon page does have a regulator. What am I missing? TIA
Great video and the comments below were also helpful🤗❤️
Thanks! 😊
Hi! East Texas here also. Great video!
Thanks
Thankyou well done great video very well explained.
Thank you. Getting ready to go ice fishing and couldn’t figure out why it would not light. Helpful vid.
You’re welcome! I’ve always thought that sounded interesting.
Can you cook with the heater as you're heating your living space?
I have never been able to get more than 30 minutes on low on a 1lb bottle. Called manufacturer who had no suggestions. Have even bought new bottles and had store fill and it still did not get more than 30 minutes. And I love this heater otherwise.
Something's not quite right there.
Maybe you have some sort of blockage. Are you sure the bottle is empty when you think it is? Did you weigh it? Does it weigh 13 1/2 ounces empty?
Where my Texan's at?
Rgv
Austin TX
Good luck ya'll. Stay safe
Dallas
What a week! 😜
I'm new to propane use. Is that cylinder the same type for gas grill and is all lp gas ventless? I'm concerned about using indoors since I not familiar how it works. Thanks..
It is the same as the "gas grill" cylinders. No, not all lp gas is ventless. it depends on how it is burned. These are considered by most to be safe inside, but you still need to be sure to use proper safety precautions and leave a window cracked. Be sure to use a CO2 monitor as a backup, and you should be fine. It's also a good idea not to use it inside while you are sleeping.
@@EastTexasHomestead .. Thank you for the reply! Now I have some knowledge I appreciate it
Mine is hooked up to a 22 gallon tank! Runs day and night!
@roninpainbringer Outside.. but i have since added a diesel heater. Much more efficient. I only use propane in emergency.
How about a way to run the heater off your natural gas line?
Great backup plan in case electric goes out.
They make a natural gas heater
Just as inefficient as the propane flame combustion heater.
Several of the same precautions need to be taken as they are less than 50% efficient
Other safer gas heaters are 99.9% efficient
Lots less unburned fuel.
You don't want to wake up dead
@@robcrissinger776 Ever hear of a catalytic gas heater?
Many ventless fireplaces use them.
Propane and natural gas (the differences are irrelevent) have less energy density than other fuels.
They generally are in vapor form past the orifice.
That means they are more efficient in combustion than other forms of fuel (easier mixing with oxygen).
Mr. Heater uses an orifice designed for the pressure of propane. The pressure of natural gas is much less, if I’m not mistaken. So the Mr. Heater orifice would pass too little natural gas.
Hey guys my big buddy went boom its 5 yrs old almost had house fire. I beleve its the pressure regulator that failed . If you have a older unit replace those or get gas line with one.
Wow! Glad you’re ok! Thanks for the heads up
What about a regulator? Should we use a regulator?
The heaters have built in regulators for the standard connection(s). If your mr heater has a quick connect, that connection bypasses the built in regulator. Therefore, the quick connect hoses will have a regulator on the hose side. I hope this helps.
Hey my man, my wife and I are in Nac and are getting ready to homeschool our boy. Was wondering if you happened to live in the area, and also if I could pick your brain regarding gardening and homeschooling. Subscribed and upvoted!
Unfortunately we’re not super close. We are in the Tyler area. I’d be happy to jump on a zoom call though. Shoot me an email and we will work something out. Thanks for the sub. easttexashomestead@gmail.com