"Big Buddy Heater" Repair?

[rooney5150]

Anyone have any first hand knowledge with repair of a Big Buddy Heater?

I purchased a brand new heater last winter, that will not ignite the left side (low and medium setting) of the ceramic pads. The pilot works fine and the left side will ignite every time I turn the knob to low, but a blue flame bounces across the ceramic tile, instead of heating it bright orange like it should. When I turn the heater to high, the right side will ignite and turn orange right away while the left side continues to show blue flames. The ceramic tile on the left side NEVER gets orange no matter how long it's left on.

It's still usable, however there is a strong odor of propane (probably coming from the unburned fuel on the left side I would guess) and I doubt it'd be safe in a 6x8 portable. Not to mention the headaches and soar eyes one gets from huffing unburned propane all day...

Are there any user-servicable parts that I should be cleaning, checking, etc? It's not like they are super expensive, but I'd hate to have to buy a new one when this one's got less that 3 months (and maybe 3-4 fishing trips) of use on it.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[UdeLakeTom]

Now with all these replies, I am going to question a decision my bother and I and debating....We both owne '70 style hard shell travel trailers we use for deer shacks. The furnaces have gone out....rusted out burners. Also these cannot be repaired. We were thinking of getting Buddy Heaters to replace the furnaces. Both of these are 20 footers, so not big, however, now I don know if we should.

[CrappieAttitude]

dude Lake Tom- If you are looking for a heater to only use in your campers, Have you considered looking for a wall mount unit. I have a reddyheater in my fish house that is mounted on my wall. It is very quiet and would heat up to 500 square feet. They are relatively in-expensive. I think you can pick them up for about $150 I think that it is like a 10,000 BTU heater. I think it would work great in your campers.

[Meat-Run]

Yes that are wall mounted heaters and I think you can get them at FF for under $100 on sale.

mr

[Shawnny B]

Roo-

Make sure that the ceramic plate is seating firmly into place, I know last year i had that problem with my lil buddy heater. I just ended up pressing the ceramic heating unit back and it "clicked" into place. I relit the heater and Wala it worked fine.

Shawnny B

Also,

you may want to contact MR. Heater to see what they recommend, maybe you have a faulty side to your heater??? Always contact the manufactor first, they built it and should know how to fix it.

[rooney5150]

SB,

Thanks for the advice. I apparently just had some cob webs in the plenum or something. I shot some compressed air through the system and life's good now.

[UdeLakeTom]

Thanks....Maybe I'll have to have the kids change my Christmas present this yeat to one of them....Are they self venting? We were hoping to pull the old units out and put the heaters in the old furnace spot.