Buddy Heater

[Foggy]

Been having lots of problems with my Mr Heater Buddy units. (mine are not the big buddy units….just regular size). I have several that I use in my box blinds for deer hunting and then use them in my fish house.

Seems I have pilot out problems on them. Watched a tune-up video on UTube and performed cleaning(s)….. but keep having problems. Really frustrating when its this cold. Advice?

[mnguy152]

u run a filter or regulator on them when running the big tanks

[Jeremy airjer W]

Are you using one pounders or a remote tank?

If using a remote tank what hose are you using?

If using a remote tank what have the outside temps been?

If using one pounders have you tried using a remote tank or vise versa?

[Foggy]

Only been using one pounders…..as I have heard about dirty fuel from bigger tanks. Seems odd…..works great in the warm garage…..but get them in the cold and they go bad for me.

[Rick G]

If you are fishing on days like the last few have been, I'm guessing your 1lb tanks are freezing up. Even in the shack my tanks have started freezing up at around half full, the heater will start to stink like propane and the heater shuts off, even though the tanks are far from empty. This only happens to me one the very coldest days, like the last month has been

[Jeremy airjer W]

If it runs fine for a while and then starts to shut down than I would bet the one pounders are getting to cold and losing pressure. Either that or there isn't enough oxygen left in your fish house but you should start having some physical symptoms if that where the case.

I would bet it would run better when it is colder (below 0) of of a ten pound or 20 pound tank. The larger tank has more surface area and can keep enough pressure to operate the heater in colder temps.

Something else you can try is keep a spare one pound tank warm and ready to go. When the heater starts to shut down, swap out the cylinders. If the heater runs fine than you know there is a pressure issue with the cylinders. If it continues to misbehave than there is a problem with the heater.

I ran a small buddy with a new hose without a filter for a couple years with no problems. Used that same hose on a big buddy for another year and again no problems. I still use that hose to run a propane grill and still have had no issues with it some 10+ years later. IMO the key is to turn off the tank and let the appliance burn off the pressure.

With that being said I would not use that hose since it has some years on it on a buddy heater without a filter. Rather error on the side of caution rather than bugger up a good working heater.

[centralmnguy]

get a neoprene sleeve for the 1lb tanks...helps keeps the condensation off the outside & helps a little bit from freezing up.

I think the propane they are selling is getting junkier every year. I used to be able to get by with filling my 20lb tank twice a year...I have already filled it up twice this year. Never tried the filter but that might help also.