Post your Preps/Tips and ideas.

[DRB]

I use a Mr. Heater as well and found this fan helps move the warm air around and lets you keep the heater turned lower to get more out of a propane tank.

https://www.amazon.com/COMBIUBIU-Fir...t=ELECTRIC_FAN

[Emptymag]

So then it*s safe to run inside without windows open or would that be an issue question

Yes. I guess if your home is incredibly airtight, some ventilation would offer peace of mind, but these are rated for indoor use.

Look up the manual online and read over it.

You are NOT supposed to run it off a 20lb tank UNLESS the tank is located outdoors.
I don't know what the safety issue is with having the tank inside, but that's what the sheet says.



My thoughts on the 20 lb tank vs small "camping" cylinders is this:

Sure, the 20 lb is more economical to run for long hours, but this Buddy heater is not meant to be a long term source of heat.
If you are concerned about needing something to provide heat for DAYS, perhaps a kerosene heater would be better.
I have both options - for that reason.
I don't care for kerosene heaters, so I keep the Buddy heater for power outages and if it ends up being a long-term outage, I have a better source of heat waiting to go.

[markshere2]

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/prod...pter?a=2142461

small tank in freezer beforehand
Hook them up

flip upside down so liquid propane runs into small tank

Be prepared for seal failure (leaks) on small bottles. They are engineered for single use, not refillage.

Thats why I quit diddling with those.

No wait, I just remembered -the new big tanks have a dingus inside that prevents liquid from flowing when upside down.


You can transfer vapor, but its not worth dinking with.

[Gunowner99]

What I*m looking at it for is if the power to go out for a day or two to have a readily available heat source. That*s why I ask about the 20 pound tank which to me seems like it would be most appropriate instead of refilling the small ones.

Does that fan that runs off of the heat really work well enough to consider buying?

[markshere2]

Dual fuel propane / Gas generator in use here when the power drops off.

I elected to get a portable vs whole house because others in the clan may need it.

I have a WEN 11K unit

it runs the furnace, pellet stove and fridge / freezer and lights.

[Emptymag]

What I*m looking at it for is if the power to go out for a day or two to have a readily available heat source. That*s why I ask about the 20 pound tank which to me seems like it would be most appropriate instead of refilling the small ones.

Does that fan that runs off of the heat really work well enough to consider buying?

Then don't refill them. Just buy some 16 oz coleman cylinders and you're done. Use and dispose.
I don't think I've used more than 3 or 4 of them for the longest outage.
Sure, it costs more than a 20lb refill (which is absurdly expensive too these days), but it's not like the cost of buying a generator or something - it's like $7.40 for a twin pack. I keep about 6-8 of them on hand. Even I can afford that.

[Gunowner99]

I do have a 5500 watt generator as well. The problem with that is what is an easy way to plug my furnace into that? I feel like in my last house the way the furnace was rigged is that it had a plug that went into an outlet that was attached to the furnace and had a switch on it so technically you could turn the furnace on and off if you were servicing it. That made it easy for me to just use that plug and then plug into a drop cord into the generator and run the furnace fine. I am assuming for me to plug my current furnace into the generator I would have to disconnect the wires and then put a plug on the end to plug-in but that*s a pain to do every single time unless I am missing a way to just have a plug that you only need to use an emergency? I have the technical know how to work on small projects like that electrical wise but it*s just not coming to me right now how I would accomplish that.

I guess technically what I would do is take the current wires that are connected to the furnace and terminate them with a plug and then plug it into the outlet that I do have on the side of my furnace now that powers the water pump for condensation.

[markshere2]

I do have a 5500 watt generator as well. The problem with that is what is an easy way to plug my furnace into that? I feel like in my last house the way the furnace was rigged is that it had a plug that went into an outlet that was attached to the furnace and had a switch on it so technically you could turn the furnace on and off if you were servicing it. That made it easy for me to just use that plug and then plug into a drop cord into the generator and run the furnace fine. I am assuming for me to plug my current furnace into the generator I would have to disconnect the wires and then put a plug on the end to plug-in but that*s a pain to do every single time unless I am missing a way to just have a plug that you only need to use an emergency? I have the technical know how to work on small projects like that electrical wise but it*s just not coming to me right now how I would accomplish that.

I guess technically what I would do is take the current wires that are connected to the furnace and terminate them with a plug and then plug it into the outlet that I do have on the side of my furnace now that powers the water pump for condensation.

You are thinking clearly now...

[McSull]

So then it*s safe to run inside without windows open or would that be an issue question

Yes. They make ventless "fireplaces" too.

We have the smaller one. We lost power in February of 2018 for three days. Never went above 25 degrees over those 3 days. We ran that little heater and it kept the house at around 55 degrees. Used a one pound canister about 3-4 hours each.

[Walleye Hunter]

small tank in freezer beforehand
Hook them up

flip upside down so liquid propane runs into small tank

Be prepared for seal failure (leaks) on small bottles. They are engineered for single use, not refillage.

Thats why I quit diddling with those.

No wait, I just remembered -the new big tanks have a dingus inside that prevents liquid from flowing when upside down.


You can transfer vapor, but its not worth dinking with.

How new? I refill little ones at my camp and have been for quite a few years. I lube the O-rings with a little silicone lube periodically.

Yes. I guess if your home is incredibly airtight, some ventilation would offer peace of mind, but these are rated for indoor use.

Look up the manual online and read over it.

You are NOT supposed to run it off a 20lb tank UNLESS the tank is located outdoors.
I don't know what the safety issue is with having the tank inside, but that's what the sheet says.



My thoughts on the 20 lb tank vs small "camping" cylinders is this:

Sure, the 20 lb is more economical to run for long hours, but this Buddy heater is not meant to be a long term source of heat.
If you are concerned about needing something to provide heat for DAYS, perhaps a kerosene heater would be better.
I have both options - for that reason.
I don't care for kerosene heaters, so I keep the Buddy heater for power outages and if it ends up being a long-term outage, I have a better source of heat waiting to go.

I don't understand why they wouldn't be suitable for continuous use. It's not like they'll build heat forever.

And I got one of these in addition to a little buddy from TSC several years ago. This uses 20 pounders and is real light without the bottle attached. The price of gas in a 20 lber vs 1 lbers is quite significant.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...a?cm_vc=-10005