Here are some quick links to the Mr. Heater Hoses: ◾ 10-foot-long hose eliminates the need for a fuel filter 🔗 amzn.to/2NVpXAZ ◾12' Hose With Regulator & Quick Disconnect 🔗 amzn.to/2r15bqG ◾12-Feet RV Hose, Quick Connect x 3/8-Inch Female Flare Thread 🔗 amzn.to/2NXfZ1U ◾Mr. Heater F273699 Fuel Filter 🔗 amzn.to/2Om0vDW ◾Mr. Heater Big Buddy 🔗 amzn.to/32USnPJ ◾See all products on Amazon 🔗 www.amazon.com/shop/easttexashomestead?listId=2WLDOXLHYXONO These are affiliate links so if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.
One of the best videos around about these filters and the use of the connection hose for the 20lb tank and the damage that they can cause to the heater unit ( I found this out the hard way)
This is great info! I contacted the manufacturer directly before I went and bought my fuel line. Exactly as you said, the 10 foot hose is the only one that doesn't need the filter. Here are the part numbers, and the letter I got directly from Mr. Heater: F273701 (Requires fuel filter F273699) F273702 (Requires fuel filter F273699) F273703-60 (Requires fuel filter F273699) F273703-144 (Requires fuel filter F273699) F273704 (No fuel filter required) F273705 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
Most informative video on Mr. Heater, hoses and filter. Clear and concise....I wish the info sources on other subjects of interest to me were as nicely done as this.
wet gas,,, i grew up in fairbanks alaska in a family owned store 60 yrs ago,.we sold pro;pane,ive never heard of oil in the propane till i started using a buddy heater a few yrs ago,my friends heater got sluded with oil ,,so i took it apart. the gas lines were totaly full of propane smellig oil,you cant tell me this thing got so full of oil just from the hose... its in the damn propane. the producers make more profit that way
The oils come from the propane tank itself as it comes from the pumps when being moved from the trucks to the storage tanks and again when it is pumped from the tanks to your smaller tanks since they don't use purely the pressure from the tank itself. For your average gas grill it won't matter as they don't have anything to clog up before the burners fail anyways but for heaters they will clog up the ceramic plates over time.
you can also take it apart and clean it. what I had to do when my buddy stopped working, every line was plugged with that oil, blew it all out with brake clean and let airdry
@@koreyhannan9071 nah not at all. just lots of screws, take pictures as you take it apart. I used chlorinated brake clean to blow out all the lines, then followed by 99% rubbing alcohol, and air dry
Be sure to use a filter if you are using 1lb propane bottles that have been refilled. When you refill a bottle and your 20lb tank is tipped upside down the debris that is in your tank goes to the outlet valve and to your bottles. Commercial propane can have water, dirt, rust, and oil.
But the 1lb bottles are screwed into the regulator upright just as if the 20lb tanks would be so I'm not sure that makes a difference. The contaminates would be at the bottom of the 1 lb tank
@@staind288 How long has it been sitting there, completely undisturbed? I'm not willing to bet my heater on that, on the coldest night of the year. Because we ALL know it's most likely to fail is when we need it most.
IDK. Mr. Heater never recommended that in all their literature, in my experience. It sounds plausible in theory, but I see no actual empirical evidence. And I've never seen it recommended by Mr. Heater. It might just be a theory, an imagined problem.
You really helped me out a while back with refilling 1lb propane tanks and I would have bet a Diet Coke I subscribed to your channel then. I see now that I didn’t. I have the filter you mention and have burned many 20lb tanks thru my Mr Buddy over the last three years without failure even once. Aside, I just bought two of the wood stove fans for my two Buddies. They work flawlessly and dissipate the heat much more efficiently than letting it rise straight up or by putting a fan behind the heater. New subscriber!
Some bulk propane companies don't filter their gas very well. After I lost a few tank top heaters, I started using the filters anytime I use a heater with a refillable bulk container. The little one pound cylinders seem to be filtered pretty well.
YES ! Mine stopped after 7 days, thank goodness temp went up, have 20 lb tank and no filter, not good. Found sites to help clean heater, will try soon winter comes
So my furnace took a dump about 5 years ago. I have an eden pure in the bedroom, a small electric heater in the bathroom and the same Big Buddy for 5 years to keep the main living quarters comfortable on low. How do I describe comfortable? Well, in the summer I'll turn the ac on and at 60. But like most people I would turn on the furnace if it even got close to that. Lol. So I just say to myself, if it was summer I would be enjoying this. Anyway. I've had the same Big Buddy and only had an issue with it after about 2 years of 24 /7 use in the colder months in Michigan. Replaced the filter and no problem. My shut down process has always been the same. Turn off the 20lb source and set the heater control to Pilot and let it burn out. As far as filter or no filter? Their are impurities in every kind of fuel. So if whatever one owns can accept a filter?? Use one. I appreciate your vid and concern. But before the haters start up again.... because they ways do. My house is a single floor with 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms in Michigan. Savings requires cost: I highly recommend getting the power adapter for the fan if your Big Buddy has it. You'll spend a ton on D batteries if you don't. Not too mention you'll reduce waste in the environment. I have a cheap little solar panel system which powers the adapter and our TV for many hours. Or you can do what I did in the past, (while learning) you can purchase a small (Eco Fan ) and wire it to the top of the Big Buddy with a coat hanger. No electricity needed at all and works great. But savings require investment. If it requires fuel, it requires filters and maintenance. I stood in my garage all day..... I'm still not a mechanic, but I do have common sense. Thanks for the vid.
Thank you so much for translating and illustrating the particulate build up /also described as ‘fluid build up in lines’ problem that causes heater to shut off seemingly for no visible reason. Found solutions through Google troubleshooting, but I appreciate so much more your preventative information and instruction. I wish I had paid more attention last year before the build up from my uninformed ignorance was able to accumulate. Now after clearing out lines, I will definitely get a filter. Great Video!
To be honest , I just ran a filter on a bran new heater . After 1 winter season on a 4 foot hose , the whole system was soaked with oil . Buy a good hose and use a filter and hope for the best . Thanks for the advise !
@@EastTexasHomestead I used it as my sole source of heat for an entire winter . If I get 1 year out of a 87.00 ( going price at Walmart )got a new one ) I might be complaining too much .
The longest of those hoses, which has a regulator attached, and which then is hooked up to the Buddy heater, would, by your definition, "over-regulate" the gas flow. This seems to be a contra-indicated hose, and yet Buddy offers it. I think that lowering the pressure to the Buddy, with an external regulator, would not "over-regulate" the Buddy, since Buddy itself, markets just such a hose/regulator assembly.
The regulated hose connects to a quick detach on the heater, the other hoses attach where the 1lb canisters attach (which is a regulator) that's why hose with the regulator doesn't over regulate
I'm not positive, but I believe the regulated hoses are for use with older model buddy heaters that do not have a regulator installed on the heater itself.
The filter is just an inline canister that allows the oils pressed from the walls of the hose to rest outside the path of flowing gas. They suggest you should replace these annually. There's no way that you're going to fill this canister with oil before the hose itself is ruined, and I'd expect it would take more than a couple of ruined hoses to get any notable amount of oil into this container.
that explains it.never could get both sides to fire unless using small tanks.regulater inline and regulater in heater its like cancelling itself out.thanks for this info vid.excellent
I have also read that a 20 lb tank can readily have impurities in the propane or tank itself. The filter will prevent these impurities from getting into the heater. My only question is, if you only use your heater for an hour or two, once or twice a year, do you still have to change your filter annually? Is it reasonable to say change the filter after so many hours of use, rather than annually? What about the guy who ice fishes every weekend all winter and has hundreds of hours of use each year?
That's because it's regulated. Therefore the hose is low pressure, and likely didn't leach oily residue. Many are not regulated, and under high pressure, thus they leach plasticizers.
You do not need a filter with the regulator hose (F271803) and Quick Disconnect. And the newer hoses from Mr. Heater without the regulator no longer need the filter. Mr. Heater. "Currently, we make three hose models that do not require a filter: the F273704 which is made from a different chemical compound of rubber that does not have the oily substance that can get into the fuel flow, the F271802 that attaches to a low-pressure line, and the F271803 which is a regulated hose."
IMO., the heater shouldn’t be sold without the filter. Very few people are going to use the small green bombs because of how expensive they’ve become. And good luck trying to get a filter in Canada.
One of the hoses Hulu showed includes a regulator and you just mentioned adding a regulator would “over-regulate” the gas flow. So why is the other hose an option?
If your hose came from China, probably a good idea to use the filter. My propane guy told me to forget the filter. When you shut it down, turn off the valve at the tank and let the heater burn off any gas that was in the hose. He says everything will be just fine.
@@justaguydoingguythings2762 but my grill has safety BS in place so it shows there's a leak. Meaning I would have to disconnect from the tank and reconnected if I did that every time
I have a stupid question. I have the Big Buddy and the 10-foot Mr. Heater hose that does not require a filter. BUT -- COULD I add a filter anyway. as extra protection? OR would that be overkill? Would it cause issues with the 10foot hose? Just wondering. (Great video, by the way.)
If rubber is squeezing thru your hose then you are using the wrong hose. They do make hard hoses and I have had one for 15 years and still works fine. Coleman propane hose.
Most excellent video! Thanks for posting. I have the regulated 12 footer. I like it very much. For any case no way I would replace that filter every year. Have you checked the price of these filters on Amazon? They are like >$40 now. Your link shows lowest price $33 now. Not sure where the $8-12 ones are. Ridiculous.
@@sanchopancho2145 It's still a waste of money. I bought the no filter needed hose from Amazon for $29. I could have saved maybe $10 on a cheap hose, but the first time I buy a filter I've spent more than I would have buying the official hose. Then every time I have to replace that filter, I'm deeper in the hole.
This may be slightly off topic but the 20 Lb Cylinders of Propane you get at a Home Depot or Lowes typically has between 14.9 to 15.0 pounds of propane in it. I go to a local independent store where their cylinders have 17 pounds of propane for the same price. I just found a propane company where I can bring my 20 Pound cylinder and get 20 pounds of propane put in for about the same price as Home Depot or the other local independent. I have verified this by weighing the empty tank and the weight after filling. Makes sense to me to go to a propane company and have your tank filled to full capacity if you can find one within a reasonable distance. Obviously it doesn't pay to go 100 miles to refill. In my case the propane distributor is 15 miles each way. If you bring 6 cylinders to be filled they only charge for 5. This is on Long Island, New York.
Observation: fwiw; My oem Mr. Heater filter from Lowes F273699(diagram)/ 73699C (package) reads 300hrs or yearly As a retired engineer I would presume some rubber-plasticizer-oil-chem E-slide rule guys say 300 for a damn good reason. Yearly accounts for storage/ season concerns. I just installed mine going fromgoing from a 20lb tank to Mr. Buddy heater AND refilling 1lb greenies. Also using a spankin' new black hose. (no part # but is Lowes. Why did I go all out? Because I'm having newly purchased Mr Buddy issues. It will prime and stay lit but 50% time won't ligt to low or high. My time aint worth it and getting cold camping aint smart. Gotta say I'm refilling for the first time ever 12 used-once greenies. I want them pure. My 20lb may have gotten contaminates from my local Ace on this recent fill but what ya gonna do? Did oils/ critters/ dust get in possibly? Who knows? but throwing $50 was worth it and I can sleep on it. With green 1lb @ $5 each I'm still a nickle dime at heart and frankly re-filling is kinda fun. P.S. I love to huff a little propane here and there and freeze burn turns on matures.
There is a quick connect behind that 1lb bottle regulator that DOES NOT go to a regulator! If you are using the quick connect (@1:37, brass colors, right side of 1lb bottle regulator), you need the hose with the regulator at the tank! If you are using the hose that screws into the regulators meant for the 1lb bottles, then you do not need a regulator at the tank. If you pull up the Big Buddy parts diagram, there are only TWO regulators (for the 1lb bottles), not three! The quick connect taps into the line AFTER the 1lb bottle regulator!
Thank you! I was about to ask why one of the hose choices has a regulator if it's built in. But now I get it, thanks. With a regulator on the hose with a 20lb, you connect to the quick connect. Appreciate the post.
Most similar devices have a regulator at the tank to minimize pressure. But the Buddy hoses are under pressure. So with a cheap hose, you'll get an oily residue (plasticizer) that leaks out and will clog your heater over time. Mr. Heater part #F273704 solves this problem by using a different material for the hose.
I bought a mr heater brand hose that does not require a filter and a year later my buddy heater is filled with oil. Im thinking it was either a counterfeit or you still need a filter. Expensive lesson.
The first 10 ft hose you showed definitely needs a filter. I had one and it still let a dirty rhino refill tank to clog up and destroy the pipes in a 2-month-old Mr Buddy. So jammed up that high pressure gas along with alcohol only made it worse there was no getting it cleaned again. Ruining the system. That was even with complete disassemble. Also every single time you start Mr Buddy up again using that hose you were going to have to turn the gas off empty the line slowly repressurize it or the regulator inside the Mr Buddy will Peter out and refuse to stay ignited after you've turned it on. This includes if you move it 3 ft in your Workshop. So if you move the heater frequently keep in mind you will be constantly having to take three or four minutes out to re-pressure the hose just to get it to work again. I would recommend never purchasing that piece of crap hose. Other hoses work just fine that one for some reason messes with the regulator and is a nightmare to deal with from beginning to end. Did I mention don't buy it it's garbage save yourself a serious headache never ever ever purchase it unless you are masochistic and then you'll truly love it.
at $13.00 , it may be cheap insurance to filter the incoming propane that travels thru a hose if needed. Some single burners screw directly on to a 20lb tank for an emergency... So make your choice!
You do NOT need the filter if you buy the 12' hose with regulator for the Big Buddy heater. The new hoses are made differently so they do not leach oil into the Propane.
good to know. nice to have a working heat source... esp when it is COLD. not too important when it is HOT HOT HOT in SUMMMMMERS, but sure is nice when it is COLD COLD COLD.
False. It's from the hose. The pressure from the tank is rather high and causes oils used to help the hose stay flexible to enter the heater and jam it up. They don't put oil in propane hahaha what you smoking man?
The fuel filter is not for the propane, but from the oil from the hose, that the pressure causes, Alway use filter even on MR Heater hose, this is a plus.
My Mr Big Buddy has tooken care of my family during power outages several times. I wouldn't go back to kerosene for anything. My generator also takes propane. And the best thing about propane is you can stock up on it and don't have to worry about it going bad.
I bought the 10 foot hose knowing it didn't need a filter, but didn't understand why it didn't which made me aprehensive that my new heater would clog. Thanks for this video, I get it now.
I did that. with that so called filter and it still want bad 3 times , save your $. it does not fitter anything . Test the filter put dirt and or oil in the hose and watch what happens it goes right trough the filter! Those filters are a jock. But the heaters are great !And my filter was always empty, I weighed it before and after.
@@DIYTFY if it is false, show us the video and the test of the filter. put your money where you mouth is . saw one in half and show us how there is nothing to stop oil.
@@bigjimcountryboy I did see one opened up (on youtube) and there was an oily residue, even enough to form a few drops, on the sides of the filter that it had pulled from the hose.
Always use filter. I opened a filter, its hollow. It has a piece of metal plate loose in the middle. Easy to clean use acetone works. Had thermocouple problem with mine. Removal was easy
Yes use a socket to open one side and a tire stem removal tool to open the other side. Make sure to remove all the cleaner that you use. Wish I could post a picture its really simple filter to own. Its all metal and thick enough not to worry about using a hard cleaner (I use acetone). With one big o'ring in the middle. The rattling you hear is the piece of metal that you see, looking through the filter. It stops you from seeing all the way through the filter.
Yes. I did cut the filter in half making it trash.. see what all is going on inside. I posted this to help others so they don't have to cut their filter open. Just remove what you can and follow my directions and or use another cleaner up to you
I figure it will catch any rust also correct, I have a rust problem inside a 40gallon tank, not saying I would ise the buddy filter, but definitely an inline filter other that the small one at the shutoff
I got the filter, & it didn't make a damn bit of difference. My Buddy Heater still broke just after the Walmart return period. I tried calling Mr Heater, but they don't seem to have any humans working there 🤮✌
@@condor5635 After months of struggle with Mr Buddy, I was able to get a new igniter, which I had to replace myself. The instructions they provided, indignantly, were from the wrong unit(if they had instructions for my unit, they did, or would not provide them). I had to figure it out on my own. Mr Buddy has about the worst customer service I've ever dealt with!
the Contaminants ARE NOT from the hose! - Contaminants are from something called "heavy ends" and part of the cracking process. It drops out of the propane when it vaporizes.
They are from the hose. Specifically, they are plasticizers that make the hose flexible and soft. Under high pressure (non-regulated) they leach out oil.
I saw a video of someone who was using a Mr Heater filter for years. He decided to cut it open to see what was inside. There were four tiny drops of oil inside the filter. And the filter is just a hollow aluminum ball....there is nothing else inside the filter. I do believe the filter is a good idea but it will last forever. Buying a new one every year is a total waste of money.
I have not found a video or picture of someone opening up a propane fuel filter. I heard they were hollow inside but you are saying they have a ball inside for the oil to collect on? Thanks.
If you use the more expensive hose the filter is not needed. The cheap hose requires a filter, as it breaks down. Every year $20 is a pitiful waste of money.
It's easy enough to clean the portion of the aluminum line inside the heater that gets filled with oil rather than buying an over priced filter every year.... In my opinion. YMMV
Yeah I have a question when using Mr heater hose should I still use a filter. For the most part i will never use a 1 pound bottle only a 20 through 40 lb tank
Is the filter directional or can you go either way? Filling the small 1 pound bottles the filter fits one way and hooking up the buddy to a 20 lb canister it would filter the other way.
I just bought a Buddy and in the manual it says to use a filter with a SHORT hose. but NOT with a long hose as I won't need one. To me this seems backwards. Can you explain???
Just a bit confused??? Big Buddy 12ft Hose with Regulator and Quick Connect is not really meant for the Big Buddy bc it doubles the regulators considering there is one already built into the unit???
Funny thing about the fuel filter. For ice fishing my friend and I both run buddy heaters off 20lb tanks. He swears by the filter, I don't care. Inside the buddy is a 1/4" aluminum tube that feeds the system. Both buddy's plug this tube up after 3 years with a grease like substance. The filter does nothing. Both heaters quit working and we both have to clean them out. Its like clockwork, my buddy heater is 17 years old.
Can you clarify this... if I buy a hose with a regulator I then would not need a fuel filter is this correct? It’s only if I buy a hose without a regulator that I would need a fuel filter? Thank you for your videos too by the way. Absolutely great
That's correct. There is an exception though. That is if you purchase a non regulated hose that is designed to handle the high pressure without leaching oil. This would not require a filter as well.
Oil can come out of some hoses under no pressure at all. I had hoses for a beer keg many decades ago and they dripped oil when I had them stored on a hook in my garage. They had oil inside and outside of them. I never knew why they did that but I threw them away because of it.
I don't get it. I've bought two filters and I've tried them both on three different brand new Buddy heaters. I've never gotten the heaters to do much more than light that way. Slows the flow of gas too much. Works fine without the filter but only for a few months. Then I have to buy another heater
Something was a bit odd. You explained that a regulated hose cannot be used because the Mr Heater has a built in regular; two regulars in series will not function properly. But then at the end you showed us a regulated hose from Mr Heater. Huh?
What exactly does the filter do? The reason I ask is that I own a Coleman stove that will operate with the 1 lb talk installed. It will run initially if connected to a 20lb tank but will not operate once the burner is shut off then turned back on the following day. I understand that compounds are used in the hoses to make them flexible and they will leak out into the hose under full pressure from the tank. So I have to ask, what is the solution? Do I need this filter, a regulator, perhaps a stainless hose, or is the stove faulty?
for the stove, a regulator is needed. One of the reasons maybe, and you can try it before thinking of something else...If you dont close the line then air can build up and it could take lots of time to get the gas flowing before it reaches the igniter. To purge the air, you can open the gas for a few seconds before igniting. If that is not the problem, another issue I can think of is regulator going bad.
@@bigdog7914 It maybe the difference in the pressure the regulator can handle. The 20# pressure is much higher and maybe triggering the regulator, while the 1lb is less and it works ok with it.
Hi. I'm trying to change the regulator/fuel filter on my Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, but I can't get the black panel off. I've removed 4 Phillips-head screws, but only the bottom of the black panel is moving. Something's still holding it together at the top, but I can't see where. Could you give me some advice, please? Signed, Juli--freezing in northern NM!
@@Northof54 You're right, the Mr Buddy one that doesn't leach rubber oils into the fuel. Thats actually the one I have, but for the couple bucks, a filter is cheap insurance.
I just bought a brand new buddy heater, filter and 6 foot hose. After a day or so my heater would not stay lit longer that a few minutes. I removed the filter and reattached the hose, and now it stays lit. Is this a filter problem? It was bought brand new when I bought the heater.
I'm confused. There's a regulator built in the heater which is why they don't recommend a hose with a regulator to avoid over-regulation. However, they sell a hose with a regulator (F271803). Why won't their hose cause over-regulation? What am I missing?
Depends on which Big Buddy you have.....mine is the larger Mr Heater...it cost the most, but it has the two side connections for the 1lb bottles AND a built in quick connection for an external tank using a hose....the two 1lb connectors have a regulator but the quick disconnect hose connection does not....the regulator may or may not be on the hose you purchase...I've purchased both hoses...one I use in my RV, the other when I connect directly to a tank, like when I'm camping
My line has a schrader valve (similar to a tire valve). Take the outfit out doors, open the the valve on the twenty pounder, point the hose down towards the ground and push that Schrader valve and watch (safely) the oil blast out. Shameful where ever that oil comes from.
Wow hope you have more than 2 now and tons of tanks of gas. Stupid power grid. Don't use filters just good hoses 3 yrs no problems had tons of issues with filter. Causing me to clean out heater lines. Never letting heater run long.
I've got 2 hoses for my Mr heater big buddy and Mr heater portable buddy I have 2 hoses and 2 filters and a carry bag for all the extras I got like the battery cord and the cigarette lighter cord my Mr heater big buddy
I am a little confused. In the beginning you stated that using two filters would be over filtering the gas. But then later on you state some hoses need an additional filter. What am I missing? Thank you so much for your time.
The hose with the regulator bypasses the internal regulator of the unit on the Big Buddy. This is because it has a regulator on one end, and a quick connect on the other end. Hope this clears it up.
@@EastTexasHomestead thank you for your reply. When you say it is suggested to place the filter yearly does that mean the filter connected to the heater or an external filter? Thank you again for your time I just found your channel and I’m binge watching your videos. Really well done.!
@@craighellberg4366 Mr. Heater suggests that you replace the external fuel filter once a year. You shouldn't have to replace anything inside the unit unless something goes wrong. Thanks for watching and commenting :)
It's high pressure that causes the hoses to leach oil. Most heaters have a regulator at the tank and low pressure in the line, but Buddy heaters have the regulator on the heater, thus high pressure in the line.
Here are some quick links to the Mr. Heater Hoses:
◾ 10-foot-long hose eliminates the need for a fuel filter
🔗 amzn.to/2NVpXAZ
◾12' Hose With Regulator & Quick Disconnect
🔗 amzn.to/2r15bqG
◾12-Feet RV Hose, Quick Connect x 3/8-Inch Female Flare Thread
🔗 amzn.to/2NXfZ1U
◾Mr. Heater F273699 Fuel Filter
🔗 amzn.to/2Om0vDW
◾Mr. Heater Big Buddy
🔗 amzn.to/32USnPJ
◾See all products on Amazon
🔗 www.amazon.com/shop/easttexashomestead?listId=2WLDOXLHYXONO
These are affiliate links so if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.
My buddy heater only lasts an hour from 1 lb green tank.. Its not leaking and bottom of tank gets very cold
So will a F271804 it is a 12 ft quick Connect with Regulator work on a Big Buddy?
9
One of the best videos around about these filters and the use of the connection hose for the 20lb tank and the damage that they can cause to the heater unit ( I found this out the hard way)
What an excellent job explaining the filter and when needed,
There is a tremendous amount of wrong info about the filter and regulator.
You nailed it.
Thanks, Bill!
Thank u for explaining in detail u are the video I been looking for . Finally someone who actually knows what he’s talking about
This is great info! I contacted the manufacturer directly before I went and bought my fuel line. Exactly as you said, the 10 foot hose is the only one that doesn't need the filter. Here are the part numbers, and the letter I got directly from Mr. Heater:
F273701 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
F273702 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
F273703-60 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
F273703-144 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
F273704 (No fuel filter required)
F273705 (Requires fuel filter F273699)
Thanks for the part numbers my friend greatly appreciated
Thank you Stephen 👊🏻
Damn guess I'm just lucky! Been running my buddy heater for 4 years with no filter off my 15 lb cylinders!
Some hoses are fine. Others leak the oil or plasticizers.
Most informative video on Mr. Heater, hoses and filter. Clear and concise....I wish the info sources on other subjects of interest to me were as nicely done as this.
Thank you so much!
I suggest using a brand new larger bottle if you are going use a 20 pounder. An older bottle is full of rust and clogs the filter very quickly.
wet gas,,, i grew up in fairbanks alaska in a family owned store 60 yrs ago,.we sold pro;pane,ive never heard of oil in the propane till i started using a buddy heater a few yrs ago,my friends heater got sluded with oil ,,so i took it apart. the gas lines were totaly full of propane smellig oil,you cant tell me this thing got so full of oil just from the hose... its in the damn propane. the producers make more profit that way
Interesting. So would you recommend the filter no matter what hose you're using?
bob pope is correct.
The oils come from the propane tank itself as it comes from the pumps when being moved from the trucks to the storage tanks and again when it is pumped from the tanks to your smaller tanks since they don't use purely the pressure from the tank itself.
For your average gas grill it won't matter as they don't have anything to clog up before the burners fail anyways but for heaters they will clog up the ceramic plates over time.
So if it doesn't have ceramic plates such as campy gears chubby then a filter is of no concern???
Well, that explains why my buddy heaters only last a year or two. Thanks for the video.
Sorry to hear that but hope this helps.
you can also take it apart and clean it. what I had to do when my buddy stopped working, every line was plugged with that oil, blew it all out with brake clean and let airdry
@@ShadowDragon246 was it a pain to take apart?
@@koreyhannan9071 nah not at all. just lots of screws, take pictures as you take it apart. I used chlorinated brake clean to blow out all the lines, then followed by 99% rubbing alcohol, and air dry
@@ShadowDragon246 ok cool
Be sure to use a filter if you are using 1lb propane bottles that have been refilled. When you refill a bottle and your 20lb tank is tipped upside down the debris that is in your tank goes to the outlet valve and to your bottles. Commercial propane can have water, dirt, rust, and oil.
Thank you for posting that information.
Or with adapter, put the filter inline when refilling.
But the 1lb bottles are screwed into the regulator upright just as if the 20lb tanks would be so I'm not sure that makes a difference. The contaminates would be at the bottom of the 1 lb tank
@@staind288 How long has it been sitting there, completely undisturbed?
I'm not willing to bet my heater on that, on the coldest night of the year.
Because we ALL know it's most likely to fail is when we need it most.
IDK. Mr. Heater never recommended that in all their literature, in my experience. It sounds plausible in theory, but I see no actual empirical evidence. And I've never seen it recommended by Mr. Heater.
It might just be a theory, an imagined problem.
You really helped me out a while back with refilling 1lb propane tanks and I would have bet a Diet Coke I subscribed to your channel then. I see now that I didn’t.
I have the filter you mention and have burned many 20lb tanks thru my Mr Buddy over the last three years without failure even once.
Aside, I just bought two of the wood stove fans for my two Buddies. They work flawlessly and dissipate the heat much more efficiently than letting it rise straight up or by putting a fan behind the heater.
New subscriber!
This has to be the best explanation for our big buddy fuel filters thank you
So true - straightforward with the right context.
You are answering all my rv heating questions. Well done.
I’m glad to hear that!
Some bulk propane companies don't filter their gas very well. After I lost a few tank top heaters, I started using the filters anytime I use a heater with a refillable bulk container. The little one pound cylinders seem to be filtered pretty well.
That is very good info. Thank you.
Thanks for letting us know, Jonn.
Thank you, I was wondering about that.
I think I will order a hose that won’t require a filter.
👍
Then you will need Mr. Heater hose #F273704. Otherwise you will need a filter to put on the 20# tank before you hook the propane hose to it.
For about 13 bucks, I will use the filter anyway
YES ! Mine stopped after 7 days, thank goodness temp went up, have 20 lb tank and no filter, not good. Found sites to help clean heater, will try soon winter comes
So my furnace took a dump about 5 years ago. I have an eden pure in the bedroom, a small electric heater in the bathroom and the same Big Buddy for 5 years to keep the main living quarters comfortable on low.
How do I describe comfortable? Well, in the summer I'll turn the ac on and at 60. But like most people I would turn on the furnace if it even got close to that. Lol. So I just say to myself, if it was summer I would be enjoying this.
Anyway. I've had the same Big Buddy and only had an issue with it after about 2 years of 24 /7 use in the colder months in Michigan. Replaced the filter and no problem. My shut down process has always been the same. Turn off the 20lb source and set the heater control to Pilot and let it burn out.
As far as filter or no filter? Their are impurities in every kind of fuel. So if whatever one owns can accept a filter?? Use one.
I appreciate your vid and concern. But before the haters start up again.... because they ways do. My house is a single floor with 2 bathrooms and 3 bedrooms in Michigan.
Savings requires cost: I highly recommend getting the power adapter for the fan if your Big Buddy has it. You'll spend a ton on D batteries if you don't. Not too mention you'll reduce waste in the environment. I have a cheap little solar panel system which powers the adapter and our TV for many hours. Or you can do what I did in the past, (while learning) you can purchase a small (Eco Fan ) and wire it to the top of the Big Buddy with a coat hanger. No electricity needed at all and works great. But savings require investment.
If it requires fuel, it requires filters and maintenance. I stood in my garage all day..... I'm still not a mechanic, but I do have common sense.
Thanks for the vid.
Thank you so much for translating and illustrating the particulate build up /also described as ‘fluid build up in lines’ problem that causes heater to shut off seemingly for no visible reason. Found solutions through Google troubleshooting, but I appreciate so much more your preventative information and instruction. I wish I had paid more attention last year before the build up from my uninformed ignorance was able to accumulate. Now after clearing out lines, I will definitely get a filter. Great Video!
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with the new setup.
To be honest , I just ran a filter on a bran new heater . After 1 winter season on a 4 foot hose , the whole system was soaked with oil . Buy a good hose and use a filter and hope for the best . Thanks for the advise !
Wow! that's no good.
I've always run the Mr. Heater brand hoses and haven't had an issue.
@@EastTexasHomestead I used it as my sole source of heat for an entire winter . If I get 1 year out of a 87.00 ( going price at Walmart )got a new one ) I might be complaining too much .
Just got this for Christmas, answers the question in a short time. Thanks,
Glad I could help!
The longest of those hoses, which has a regulator attached, and which then is hooked up to the Buddy heater, would, by your definition, "over-regulate" the gas flow. This seems to be
a contra-indicated hose, and yet Buddy offers it. I think that lowering the pressure to the Buddy, with an external regulator, would not "over-regulate" the Buddy, since Buddy itself,
markets just such a hose/regulator assembly.
The regulated hose connects to a quick detach on the heater, the other hoses attach where the 1lb canisters attach (which is a regulator) that's why hose with the regulator doesn't over regulate
I'm not positive, but I believe the regulated hoses are for use with older model buddy heaters that do not have a regulator installed on the heater itself.
💯 True. One of the stainless lines on the inside goes down then back up forming a trap. I had to blow mine out with brake cleaner.
I've heard this is an issue but haven't seen it myself
The filter is just an inline canister that allows the oils pressed from the walls of the hose to rest outside the path of flowing gas. They suggest you should replace these annually. There's no way that you're going to fill this canister with oil before the hose itself is ruined, and I'd expect it would take more than a couple of ruined hoses to get any notable amount of oil into this container.
that explains it.never could get both sides to fire unless using small tanks.regulater inline and regulater in heater its like cancelling itself out.thanks for this info vid.excellent
I have also read that a 20 lb tank can readily have impurities in the propane or tank itself. The filter will prevent these impurities from getting into the heater. My only question is, if you only use your heater for an hour or two, once or twice a year, do you still have to change your filter annually? Is it reasonable to say change the filter after so many hours of use, rather than annually? What about the guy who ice fishes every weekend all winter and has hundreds of hours of use each year?
Yup, water and debris
We have been using the regulated low pressure house for years no problems so far. in our big buddy heater.
That's because it's regulated. Therefore the hose is low pressure, and likely didn't leach oily residue. Many are not regulated, and under high pressure, thus they leach plasticizers.
You do not need a filter with the regulator hose (F271803) and Quick Disconnect.
And the newer hoses from Mr. Heater without the regulator no longer need the filter.
Mr. Heater. "Currently, we make three hose models that do not require a filter: the F273704 which is made from a different chemical compound of rubber that does not have the oily substance that can get into the fuel flow, the F271802 that attaches to a low-pressure line, and the F271803 which is a regulated hose."
So the 12 foot hose has a regulator, but the Big Buddy also has a regulator, but your not to double regulate the big Buddy. Makes perfect sense.
Exactly 🤪
Hears the deal, the regulate hose uses the quick connector and bypasses the built in regulator. Hope that helps.
John D - make sense now?? 12 Ft hose bypasses built in bottle regulators so not double regulating…
I've clogged two of the filters so far with my two heaters. So my advise is yes and buy a spare...
IMO., the heater shouldn’t be sold without the filter. Very few people are going to use the small green bombs because of how expensive they’ve become. And good luck trying to get a filter in Canada.
One of the hoses Hulu showed includes a regulator and you just mentioned adding a regulator would “over-regulate” the gas flow. So why is the other hose an option?
Good explanation of filters/hoses. Thank you for posting.
You're welcome!
If your hose came from China, probably a good idea to use the filter. My propane guy told me to forget the filter. When you shut it down, turn off the valve at the tank and let the heater burn off any gas that was in the hose. He says everything will be just fine.
Good tip! 👍🏼
Shutting off the gas to alot of things and letting it burn out is great practice. I.e generators. Lawn mowers, weed eaters, grills, etc etc
@@justaguydoingguythings2762 but my grill has safety BS in place so it shows there's a leak. Meaning I would have to disconnect from the tank and reconnected if I did that every time
I have a stupid question. I have the Big Buddy and the 10-foot Mr. Heater hose that does not require a filter. BUT -- COULD I add a filter anyway. as extra protection? OR would that be overkill? Would it cause issues with the 10foot hose? Just wondering. (Great video, by the way.)
If you want the extra protection, I don't think it would hurt. Just keep in mind that if you use the quick connect, the filter won't work.
That hose doesn't contain the material (plasticizer) that generates oily residue. So yes it's overkill, not needed.
If rubber is squeezing thru your hose then you are using the wrong hose. They do make hard hoses and I have had one for 15 years and still works fine. Coleman propane hose.
Mr. Heater part #F273704 is the one to get.
Most excellent video! Thanks for posting. I have the regulated 12 footer. I like it very much. For any case no way I would replace that filter every year. Have you checked the price of these filters on Amazon? They are like >$40 now. Your link shows lowest price $33 now. Not sure where the $8-12 ones are. Ridiculous.
Mr. Heater F273699 Fuel Filter
$16.50
Got one on ebay that looks just like the Amazon ones. $15
@@sanchopancho2145 It's still a waste of money. I bought the no filter needed hose from Amazon for $29. I could have saved maybe $10 on a cheap hose, but the first time I buy a filter I've spent more than I would have buying the official hose. Then every time I have to replace that filter, I'm deeper in the hole.
Very good video spot on information. Very few videos give this very important information.
This may be slightly off topic but the 20 Lb Cylinders of Propane you get at a Home Depot or Lowes typically has between 14.9 to 15.0 pounds of propane in it. I go to a local independent store where their cylinders have 17 pounds of propane for the same price. I just found a propane company where I can bring my 20 Pound cylinder and get 20 pounds of propane put in for about the same price as Home Depot or the other local independent. I have verified this by weighing the empty tank and the weight after filling. Makes sense to me to go to a propane company and have your tank filled to full capacity if you can find one within a reasonable distance. Obviously it doesn't pay to go 100 miles to refill. In my case the propane distributor is 15 miles each way. If you bring 6 cylinders to be filled they only charge for 5. This is on Long Island, New York.
Great info and thanks for sharing 😊
I go to Tractor Supply because they fill the tank in front of you and you can see they put a full 20 pounds in. I don't go for the swap out services.
All major places are that way, always shop local to get you're money worth
Don't know about you, but by law where i am they can't fill over 80% due to expansion.
Observation: fwiw; My oem Mr. Heater filter from Lowes F273699(diagram)/ 73699C (package)
reads 300hrs or yearly
As a retired engineer I would presume some rubber-plasticizer-oil-chem E-slide rule guys say 300 for a damn good reason. Yearly accounts for storage/ season concerns.
I just installed mine going fromgoing from a 20lb tank to Mr. Buddy heater AND refilling 1lb greenies.
Also using a spankin' new black hose. (no part # but is Lowes.
Why did I go all out? Because I'm having newly purchased Mr Buddy issues. It will prime and stay lit but 50% time won't ligt to low or high.
My time aint worth it and getting cold camping aint smart.
Gotta say I'm refilling for the first time ever 12 used-once greenies. I want them pure.
My 20lb may have gotten contaminates from my local Ace on this recent fill but what ya gonna do?
Did oils/ critters/ dust get in possibly? Who knows? but throwing $50 was worth it and I can sleep on it.
With green 1lb @ $5 each I'm still a nickle dime at heart and frankly re-filling is kinda fun. P.S. I love to huff a little propane here and there and freeze burn turns on matures.
👍🏼 thanks for caring and sharing 🙏🎄
I swear I bought a hose (years ago) that said I shouldn't need a filter; however, I'm seeing oil in my Mr. Buddy and buying a filter today.
There is a quick connect behind that 1lb bottle regulator that DOES NOT go to a regulator! If you are using the quick connect (@1:37, brass colors, right side of 1lb bottle regulator), you need the hose with the regulator at the tank! If you are using the hose that screws into the regulators meant for the 1lb bottles, then you do not need a regulator at the tank. If you pull up the Big Buddy parts diagram, there are only TWO regulators (for the 1lb bottles), not three! The quick connect taps into the line AFTER the 1lb bottle regulator!
Thank you! I was about to ask why one of the hose choices has a regulator if it's built in. But now I get it, thanks. With a regulator on the hose with a 20lb, you connect to the quick connect. Appreciate the post.
Most similar devices have a regulator at the tank to minimize pressure. But the Buddy hoses are under pressure. So with a cheap hose, you'll get an oily residue (plasticizer) that leaks out and will clog your heater over time. Mr. Heater part #F273704 solves this problem by using a different material for the hose.
Thanks for the clarity on the topic, appreciated.
I bought a mr heater brand hose that does not require a filter and a year later my buddy heater is filled with oil. Im thinking it was either a counterfeit or you still need a filter. Expensive lesson.
Counterfeit.
Excellent overview that explains what i was looking for…many thanks.
The first 10 ft hose you showed definitely needs a filter. I had one and it still let a dirty rhino refill tank to clog up and destroy the pipes in a 2-month-old Mr Buddy. So jammed up that high pressure gas along with alcohol only made it worse there was no getting it cleaned again. Ruining the system. That was even with complete disassemble. Also every single time you start Mr Buddy up again using that hose you were going to have to turn the gas off empty the line slowly repressurize it or the regulator inside the Mr Buddy will Peter out and refuse to stay ignited after you've turned it on. This includes if you move it 3 ft in your Workshop. So if you move the heater frequently keep in mind you will be constantly having to take three or four minutes out to re-pressure the hose just to get it to work again. I would recommend never purchasing that piece of crap hose. Other hoses work just fine that one for some reason messes with the regulator and is a nightmare to deal with from beginning to end. Did I mention don't buy it it's garbage save yourself a serious headache never ever ever purchase it unless you are masochistic and then you'll truly love it.
at $13.00 , it may be cheap insurance to filter the incoming propane that travels thru a hose if needed. Some single burners screw directly on to a 20lb tank for an emergency... So make your choice!
You do NOT need the filter if you buy the 12' hose with regulator for the Big Buddy heater.
The new hoses are made differently so they do not leach oil into the Propane.
the regulated hoses are the way to go for sure. Not all "new" hoses are good.
good to know. nice to have a working heat source... esp when it is COLD. not too important when it is HOT HOT HOT in SUMMMMMERS, but sure is nice when it is COLD COLD COLD.
Very clear. Very detailed. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
The oil is from the propane It’s in there to lubricate the pumps and such in the trucking and delivery process
If oil does build up, is it dangerous when that oil starts burning when heater is in use.?
False. It's from the hose. The pressure from the tank is rather high and causes oils used to help the hose stay flexible to enter the heater and jam it up.
They don't put oil in propane hahaha what you smoking man?
Literally EVERYONE on the internet is saying the opposite. Why are you the only person saying this?
Nope. The oily residue is a plasticizer made into rubber hoses to keep them soft and flexible.
The fuel filter is not for the propane,
but from the oil from the hose, that the
pressure causes,
Alway use filter even on MR Heater hose, this is a plus.
👍
My Mr Big Buddy has tooken care of my family during power outages several times. I wouldn't go back to kerosene for anything. My generator also takes propane. And the best thing about propane is you can stock up on it and don't have to worry about it going bad.
It's an excellent fuel for sure. We were glad to have a few of these heaters last week.
I bought the 10 foot hose knowing it didn't need a filter, but didn't understand why it didn't which made me aprehensive that my new heater would clog.
Thanks for this video, I get it now.
Glad it helped
Are they going to put the fans back on the Mr Buddy?????
We need that
I just bought a big buddy yesterday and it has a fan.
Great information. Understand it much better now. 💯
Fantastic video! You did a great job explaining concisely why a fuel filter is needed or not. Thank you!! Ordered through your link. :)
If it is giving off toxinS...
Where u need a filter,,,
Buy stainless
Same Price!
Dont click
The Link*
I did that. with that so called filter and it still want bad 3 times , save your $. it does not fitter anything . Test the filter put dirt and or oil in the hose and watch what happens it goes right trough the filter! Those filters are a jock. But the heaters are great !And my filter was always empty, I weighed it before and after.
False.
@@DIYTFY if it is false, show us the video and the test of the filter. put your money where you mouth is . saw one in half and show us how there is nothing to stop oil.
@@bigjimcountryboy I did see one opened up (on youtube) and there was an oily residue, even enough to form a few drops, on the sides of the filter that it had pulled from the hose.
Always use filter. I opened a filter, its hollow. It has a piece of metal plate loose in the middle. Easy to clean use acetone works. Had thermocouple problem with mine. Removal was easy
Were you able to reuse the filter after taking it apart (put it back together)? I always wondered what was inside.
Looking for same response...never cut one open, is it possible to use alcohol or Simple Green to clean the filter mechanism, dry it, and re use it.
Yes use a socket to open one side and a tire stem removal tool to open the other side. Make sure to remove all the cleaner that you use. Wish I could post a picture its really simple filter to own. Its all metal and thick enough not to worry about using a hard cleaner (I use acetone). With one big o'ring in the middle.
The rattling you hear is the piece of metal that you see, looking through the filter. It stops you from seeing all the way through the filter.
@@jonathanzweig00 Thanks, I thought you actually cut it open. I see the brass stem and the schrader valve.
Yes. I did cut the filter in half making it trash.. see what all is going on inside. I posted this to help others so they don't have to cut their filter open. Just remove what you can and follow my directions and or use another cleaner up to you
I figure it will catch any rust also correct, I have a rust problem inside a 40gallon tank, not saying I would ise the buddy filter, but definitely an inline filter other that the small one at the shutoff
I got the filter, & it didn't make a damn bit of difference. My Buddy Heater still broke just after the Walmart return period. I tried calling Mr Heater, but they don't seem to have any humans working there 🤮✌
Broke? What is wrong with it? Did you try to fix it?
@@condor5635 After months of struggle with Mr Buddy, I was able to get a new igniter, which I had to replace myself. The instructions they provided, indignantly, were from the wrong unit(if they had instructions for my unit, they did, or would not provide them). I had to figure it out on my own. Mr Buddy has about the worst customer service I've ever dealt with!
the Contaminants ARE NOT from the hose! - Contaminants are from something called "heavy ends" and part of the cracking process. It drops out of the propane when it vaporizes.
They are from the hose. Specifically, they are plasticizers that make the hose flexible and soft. Under high pressure (non-regulated) they leach out oil.
How about the steel braided hose? Is that a better hose to use on the buddy heater?
I saw a video of someone who was using a Mr Heater filter for years. He decided to cut it open to see what was inside. There were four tiny drops of oil inside the filter. And the filter is just a hollow aluminum ball....there is nothing else inside the filter. I do believe the filter is a good idea but it will last forever. Buying a new one every year is a total waste of money.
I have not found a video or picture of someone opening up a propane fuel filter. I heard they were hollow inside but you are saying they have a ball inside for the oil to collect on? Thanks.
Question ... what about hooking the " portable " Buddy up to a 20 lbs ?
What about it? If you do - use Mr. Heater # F273704 and you will not need a filter. If you use any other hose, you WILL need a filter.
@@sassylady2001 a bit on the Karen side aren't you #blocked
Thanks for sharing! You saved me some time. :D
Great to hear!
If you use the more expensive hose the filter is not needed. The cheap hose requires a filter, as it breaks down. Every year $20 is a pitiful waste of money.
It's easy enough to clean the portion of the aluminum line inside the heater that gets filled with oil rather than buying an over priced filter every year.... In my opinion. YMMV
Yeah I have a question when using Mr heater hose should I still use a filter. For the most part i will never use a 1 pound bottle only a 20 through 40 lb tank
You only need the filter when using a hose. You don’t need one when using the green bottles
Is the filter directional or can you go either way? Filling the small 1 pound bottles the filter fits one way and hooking up the buddy to a 20 lb canister it would filter the other way.
I've used the proper hose for my heater. But it still needs a filter. The gas flow was still inconsistent without the filter.
Interesting. I'm curious how the filter helped. Glad you figured out what works for you.
I just bought a Buddy and in the manual it says to use a filter with a SHORT hose. but NOT with a long hose as I won't need one. To me this seems backwards. Can you explain???
Just a bit confused??? Big Buddy 12ft Hose with Regulator and Quick Connect is not really meant for the Big Buddy bc it doubles the regulators considering there is one already built into the unit???
I don't think you heard that right. The quick connect bypasses the built-in regulator so that the hose requires one on the hose itself.
Funny thing about the fuel filter. For ice fishing my friend and I both run buddy heaters off 20lb tanks. He swears by the filter, I don't care. Inside the buddy is a 1/4" aluminum tube that feeds the system. Both buddy's plug this tube up after 3 years with a grease like substance. The filter does nothing. Both heaters quit working and we both have to clean them out. Its like clockwork, my buddy heater is 17 years old.
You have to change the filters annually as a minimum if used a lot. The filters get dirty/full and will pass the crap into the heater.
@@winstonsmiths2449 o
You replaced the filter every year? You can't use 1 filter forever
Can you clarify this... if I buy a hose with a regulator I then would not need a fuel filter is this correct? It’s only if I buy a hose without a regulator that I would need a fuel filter? Thank you for your videos too by the way. Absolutely great
That's correct. There is an exception though. That is if you purchase a non regulated hose that is designed to handle the high pressure without leaching oil. This would not require a filter as well.
@@EastTexasHomestead thank you for all your great information. You have a wonderful channel and it is very much appreciated. Keep up the great work!!!
Oil can come out of some hoses under no pressure at all. I had hoses for a beer keg many decades ago and they dripped oil when I had them stored on a hook in my garage. They had oil inside and outside of them. I never knew why they did that but I threw them away because of it.
That's nasty 😖
I’ve had 20# tanks refilled and the hose that’s used in the process looks as if it could be contaminating the propane too.
Could be 😣
I don't get it. I've bought two filters and I've tried them both on three different brand new Buddy heaters. I've never gotten the heaters to do much more than light that way. Slows the flow of gas too much. Works fine without the filter but only for a few months. Then I have to buy another heater
I forget where I read it but I remember someone saying to avoid certain length version of the hose? do you know anything about it?
Something was a bit odd. You explained that a regulated hose cannot be used because the Mr Heater has a built in regular; two regulars in series will not function properly. But then at the end you showed us a regulated hose from Mr Heater. Huh?
Sorry for the confusion. The regulated hose uses a quick connection on the Big Buddy which bypasses the built in regulator.
What exactly does the filter do? The reason I ask is that I own a Coleman stove that will operate with the 1 lb talk installed. It will run initially if connected to a 20lb tank but will not operate once the burner is shut off then turned back on the following day. I understand that compounds are used in the hoses to make them flexible and they will leak out into the hose under full pressure from the tank. So I have to ask, what is the solution? Do I need this filter, a regulator, perhaps a stainless hose, or is the stove faulty?
for the stove, a regulator is needed. One of the reasons maybe, and you can try it before thinking of something else...If you dont close the line then air can build up and it could take lots of time to get the gas flowing before it reaches the igniter. To purge the air, you can open the gas for a few seconds before igniting. If that is not the problem, another issue I can think of is regulator going bad.
@@philindeblanc It does work if you revert back to the 1lb bottle.
@@bigdog7914 It maybe the difference in the pressure the regulator can handle. The 20# pressure is much higher and maybe triggering the regulator, while the 1lb is less and it works ok with it.
Hi. I'm trying to change the regulator/fuel filter on my Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, but I can't get the black panel off. I've removed 4 Phillips-head screws, but only the bottom of the black panel is moving. Something's still holding it together at the top, but I can't see where. Could you give me some advice, please? Signed, Juli--freezing in northern NM!
Short answer is “Yes”. The long answer is unless you want to take a chance and wreck your buddy heater, “yes”.
Short and to the point. :)
There are hoses made for it that does not need a fuel filter!! I checked my hose with the manufacturer and was good to go with no filter!
@@Northof54 You're right, the Mr Buddy one that doesn't leach rubber oils into the fuel. Thats actually the one I have, but for the couple bucks, a filter is cheap insurance.
@@MrRayMac1963 Very true! I love my big buddy!!!!
Why not just restrict the flow of gas from the tank valve? Thereby reducing pressure in the line.
He said because there's a built-in regulator and by doing that it would be over regulating the system.
You can get a hose with a regulator that attaches to the quick connect in the big buddy, bypassing the regulator built in to the big buddy.
I just bought a brand new buddy heater, filter and 6 foot hose. After a day or so my heater would not stay lit longer that a few minutes. I removed the filter and reattached the hose, and now it stays lit. Is this a filter problem? It was bought brand new when I bought the heater.
I’ve not heard of this issue. Sounds like a defective filter to me
Have had 4 of these
Only 1 works.after not using a filter or the right hose,can they be repaired?
Hello, I'm glad, could you help me with a heater? The pilot light turns on, but it doesn't heat.
Thank You for this information!!!
I'm confused. There's a regulator built in the heater which is why they don't recommend a hose with a regulator to avoid over-regulation. However, they sell a hose with a regulator (F271803). Why won't their hose cause over-regulation? What am I missing?
You are so right and I asked the same question.
Depends on which Big Buddy you have.....mine is the larger Mr Heater...it cost the most, but it has the two side connections for the 1lb bottles AND a built in quick connection for an external tank using a hose....the two 1lb connectors have a regulator but the quick disconnect hose connection does not....the regulator may or may not be on the hose you purchase...I've purchased both hoses...one I use in my RV, the other when I connect directly to a tank, like when I'm camping
@@earnieb5318 So...if I use the quick connect and a 20lb tank with a regulator at the tank, do I need a filter at the heater?
+Tango India Mike, no. You would NOT need a filter with that setup.
@@EastTexasHomestead Nope
...you should be good....regulator needs to be on TANK end of line though
My line has a schrader valve (similar to a tire valve). Take the outfit out doors, open the the valve on the twenty pounder, point the hose down towards the ground and push that Schrader valve and watch (safely) the oil blast out. Shameful where ever that oil comes from.
Wow hope you have more than 2 now and tons of tanks of gas. Stupid power grid. Don't use filters just good hoses 3 yrs no problems had tons of issues with filter. Causing me to clean out heater lines. Never letting heater run long.
If I use a "high" pressure conversion (none mr heater brand) hose on the buddy do I need a filter?
I've got 2 hoses for my Mr heater big buddy and Mr heater portable buddy I have 2 hoses and 2 filters and a carry bag for all the extras I got like the battery cord and the cigarette lighter cord my Mr heater big buddy
Sounds like you're ready to go!
Thanks for the exact info I needed!
Great!
I am a little confused. In the beginning you stated that using two filters would be over filtering the gas. But then later on you state some hoses need an additional filter. What am I missing? Thank you so much for your time.
The hose with the regulator bypasses the internal regulator of the unit on the Big Buddy. This is because it has a regulator on one end, and a quick connect on the other end. Hope this clears it up.
@@EastTexasHomestead thank you for your reply. When you say it is suggested to place the filter yearly does that mean the filter connected to the heater or an external filter? Thank you again for your time I just found your channel and I’m binge watching your videos. Really well done.!
@@craighellberg4366 Mr. Heater suggests that you replace the external fuel filter once a year. You shouldn't have to replace anything inside the unit unless something goes wrong. Thanks for watching and commenting :)
The Big Buddy Heater takes two 1lb tanks, one on each side. When hooking up a 20lb tank to one side, what do you do on the other side?
Maybe just leave an empty bottle attached?
You don’t need to do anything. A bottle would be fine but it’s unnecessary :)
Great video. Very thorough.
So for a low pressure regualted hose does not require a fuel filter? I have a Procom wall heater and all Procom heaters are low pressure.
It's high pressure that causes the hoses to leach oil. Most heaters have a regulator at the tank and low pressure in the line, but Buddy heaters have the regulator on the heater, thus high pressure in the line.