Mr. Heater Cookers.. How safe are they?

[Kylersk]

I just set up my otter lodge, and fired up the heater to see how it worked. It's not that cold out, in the low 30's, and it heated it up nice and toasty on the lowest setting. My only complaint is the smell? I've got the upper vents open on the house... My wife walked in and the first thing she said "How come it smells like gas?".

Anyways.. are they safe? Should I look at the big buddy instead? I heard they have problems with wind blowing them out?

[Northlander]

They are safe just keep a door or window open as you should with any heater. The smell was probably because it was new or you had a full tank of propane. The smell should go away. If it doesnt and its new bring it back it could have a crack in the tubing or a loose fitting. Or try tightening things up,dont over tighten, turn on the propane without lighting it and then spray or drop some soapy water around fittings etc. If ya get bubbles turn it off and return it. If its new. Also do this in a well ventilated spot. Good luck.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I've never been comfortable having the tank in the house with me. Lots of other people don't seem to mind. I will be purchasing an Otter Lodge next weekend. I already have a big buddy heater waiting to heat it. There are THREE reasons why I chose the big buddy. I can use it with a twenty pound (bigger or smaller as needed) tank outside the shelter, the overall BTU's are greater than the sunflower heater. (18,000 BTU's max), and it has a low oxygen shut off sensor!

Here are some propane safety facts.

Propane expands from liquid to gas at a ratio of 270 to one. If you have a 20 lb. tank full of liquid its the same as having 270 20lb. tanks full of gas.

Every tank has a pressure relief valve. If a tank developes to much internal pressure (usually from a heat source) the valve will blow open to vent the excessive pressure and hopefully keep the tank from exploding.

Keeping the tank in the upright position and secured is extremely important. A tank can vent gas faster than liquid (if the relief valve should pop). It also keeps whatever else is rolling around in the trunk or box from damaging or breaking off the head resulting in a vehicle filled with gas (hit the remote door unlock button or the trunk button and boom). I hear about this happening at least once a year. In fact my nieghbors garage exploded (litterally) from a leaky tank when he hit the auto garage door open. He got burnt up a little but was O.k..

An empty 20lb. tank still has the same explosive power as 1 stick of dynomite. Imagine 270 of them in your ice house or vehicle!

[Northlander]

Wow airjer arent you getting a bit extreme? I have been icefishing for a long long time and have never heard of anyone having a tank blow. Even the old styled ones. My tanks didnt even blow when some punks burned my garage down and that was WAY hotter than any icehouse will ever get! In the scenario you describe it wont matter if the tank is in your house or outside it a few feet. The 2 1# tanks you run on the big buddy must be just as dangerous then? Im not saying it could never happen Im just saying its highly unlikely. No sense in getting anyone scared to use their propane tanks.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I don't think the facts are extreme, they are what they are. Propane is propane it doesn't matter if its in a 1lb, 5lb, 10lb, 20lb, ect. tank.

I think that the more info a person has about propane the more respect they will have for it. Double checking connections, condition of hoses, checking for leaks, being aware of co (carbon monoxide not conservation officer ) or lack of O2(how many times a year do we hear about co killing a person on a lake or in there home).

I started off using a sunflower heater and never had any problems (I still fish with guys that use them and I don't have a problem with them). Over the years I have become familiar with other options that I think are safer alternatives. If mr heater hadn't come out with the big buddy I would be using a sunflower heater.

Have you seen the warnings in the instruction booklet for a heater cooker or sunflower heater? Thats excessive!

A Quote from Crappie Kid, Heater reccomendations post. "You will want to use a hose if you use a larger tank of propane. Yes for extra space but also for safety. I know a guy who had a 20lb. cylinder with a Mr. Heater cooker attatched to it in his portable. If the tank has been in the cold and is heated up too fast in the shelter the pressure relief valve will open and fill your fish house full of propane. Not a good scene... this guy was burned but is ok. Could have been worse though."

I don't think that the tank "heated up to fast" but I do believe there may have been a defect or possible overfilled (if this story is true).

When it comes down to it a heater is only as safe as the person using!

[ice_junky]

I don't think your going to get any safer. I've had one for 6 years and never had a problem except for being to hot. I just bought the big buddy and can't wait to try it. But on them cold days I will still go with old faithful the one the only MR. HEATER ? COOKER. The best part about it is if you get hungry just throw on a can of stew and your set.

[Rainman]

There only as safe as the guy operating it! Just like snowmobiles and atv's. But it should not smell like raw propane!

[Bob Horn]

I don`t think any manufacturer would put a heater on the market knowing that a tank would purge itself at any time. There would be alot of lawsuits and I don`t think anyone would insure the company either. But saying that I will keep my ears open to see if I hear anything on this. Thanks for the info.

[korn_fish]

I only had one problem with my mr heater cooker and the smell of propane. The hose attaching to the cooker and the tank was too close to the burner and melted a hole in it. Small enough that you couldnt see it. Like was mentioned before, check all the fittings with soapy water, ,then check your hose.

I duct tape the hose to the side of the cooker frame now so that when I bump or move the cooker, that the new hose doesn't rub up against it and melt another hole in it like I did to the old one.

[korn_fish]

I only had one problem with my mr heater cooker and the smell of propane. The hose attaching to the cooker and the tank was too close to the burner and melted a hole in it. Small enough that you couldnt see it. Like was mentioned before, check all the fittings with soapy water, ,then check your hose.

I duct tape the hose to the side of the cooker frame now so that when I bump or move the cooker, that the new hose doesn't rub up against it and melt another hole in it like I did to the old one.