It works great and produces a ton of heat. We hope to get the updated story into the next News for RVers newsletter this coming Sunday. Of course that was a detached garage, but now that he’s in a house with an attached garage I have to keep warning him NOT to warm up his truck while sitting in the garage especially with the garage door closed. Never heard of a Mr. Heater, but for me, I’d never EVER consider using such a device inside my unit. For heat I installed a Mr. Heater Portable Propane Buddy Heater from Cabela's inside the cab. In our 20th year serving RVers. We say “in-date” detector, because each detector has a limit as to how long it will really detect carbon monoxide. We contacted the public information office of the Kennewick Fire Department, the agency that sent the team of first responders. I am always concerned using the heater in my camper. I love my Little Buddy! I told her to get everyone outside and they immediately felt better. No way to purchase. There really needs to be more education about anything that burns fuel in an enclosed space. We occasionally update our terms and privacy policies pages so if you have not read them lately, we encourage you to do so. cylinder and is the perfect solution for heating enclosed spaces like large tents up to 200 sq. It isn’t nice to speak ill of the dead but, OMD you can not legislate ignorance. By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. $6.45. Maybe they need to include someone to watch over the users of the items they sell. Give the previous owners some credit… Maybe they disconnected the propane (so it can not be used) and then sealed the chimney to reduce that heat loss. Wow. For RVers, ensuring that you have enough air flowing into your unit is critical. Finally, on the next day, we got a terse phone call from a woman who said she represented Enerco Group. In our 20th year serving RVers. but grasshopper, you grossly underestimate the ignorance of many of our citizens. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We called and left a voice-mail, asking for clarification. It’s all also so darn noisy. That fits with the observations of first responders who said it appeared Dana was trying to cook on the heater. These alarms have 10 year batteries (with warnings when they get low) and the alarms talk to each other. lots of speculation in the comments…. Anyone making that many modifications knows enough about the technology to understand it was a time-bomb waiting to time out. MH18B Big Buddy (No Fan) The Most Popular Portable Propane Heater in North America. Safety in your home and your RV, no matter what size or brand is paramount. $7.99. Another thought, with all the modifications and tape, sadly, maybe he committed suicide. An excellent article that explains the difference & how a catalytic heater really works is this link: 1-lb bottle: about 5 hours on low 1-lb bottle: about 2 hours on high. Are they expensive, yes. Call Us at Call Us Store Locator Weekly Ad Track Order Gift Cards CHOOSE A STORE ... MH18B Big Buddy Portable Propane Heater. They are sold with a exoust kit to vent outside. Believe me, in the 22 years of service business, I have seen it all. It’s highly likely that this van dweller never had, nor read, the safety warnings that originally came with this heater. Indoor Safe Propane Heater 2 HEAT SETTINGS 4,000 9,000 BTU/HR. Apparently I was reading and looking at different heater in this article. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Popular . We made dinner and later went to sleep. Overall if you are looking for a portable propane heater, Mr. Heater’s portable heater buddy can be the right choice. Later that day we heard that a husband, wife and dog had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Why are people still using these heaters ???? Further, the connection between the air intake tube and control valve was loosened so the entire burner assembly could be rotated to pointing up when attached to the propane cylinder, as opposed to the factory set face-out position. Also for: Big buddy mh18b, Big buddy. View and Download Mr. Heater Portable Buddy information sheet online. Yes I know that is not an option for folks living as Mr. Dana did. The next generation 'Portable Buddy' is here. This can’t happen because most of the legislators who write law are lawyers by education. Enerco in the literature provided with the heaters it sells points out that their heaters must be used with adequate ventilation. North America’s Most Popular Portable Propane Heater! erase it and point to the update. This obviously was not a camper van. How many people pay any attention to anything other than f-book or the like. Why would he bother if he intended to commit suicide? Now he may be putting his neighbors unknowingly at risk. Save my name and email in browser cookies for the next time I comment so I won't have to enter that information again. Unfortunately, there will be ALOT of readers that don’t read the follow up, and will next post on the internet not to use buddy heaters. It was a hot day when we arrived and most boats that size use their A/C, but there was no noise so the AC was not being used. Mr. Heater Fuel Filter for Portable Buddy and Big Buddy Heaters . Clearly one design obstacle still remains for engineers to tackle: How to completely idiot-proof potentially dangerous appliances. I’m sorry it sounds calloused but it’s called thinning out the gene pool. They sealed the RV up tight and let the Buddy burn through an entire tank and then went in to check for CO. Th e detector didn’t register any CO at all. Hence, the ODS in a Mr. Heater should potentially protect you from carbon monoxide, the byproduct of insufficient oxygen; but as we can see, things can cause that sensor to not work – and, hence, not protect you. Stop burglars with this easy fix, Dehumidifier “mod” takes care of its own drain water, Park Service needs help with Yosemite cold case, https://www.hunker.com/13409397/how-do-catalytic-heaters-work, Fact-checking, ethics & corrections policy. —Diane at RVtravel.com. For the same price you can buy a vented diesel air heater on eBay or Amazon. Thanks Russ and Tina for the update, its made many of us more aware to be aware and smart, in our travels and procedures. Why assume it is one of the Buddy line of heater? In any event, safety authorities are quick to point out the same thing that Mr. Heater’s maker says: Don’t use this kind of appliance without sufficient outside air. Dell, regardless of who did the research, it’s obvious from the photos (provided by the city), that the unit was an “outdoor use only” unit – if you’re doubtful, check Mr. Heater’s website. This will not show on your comment but is for us to contact you if necessary. Where did that carbon monoxide come from. At least one RVtravel.com reader brought this story to our attention, as Mr. Heater brand propane heaters are popular among some in the RVing community. Their tact is this, bring huge notoriety to this event, file a humongous dollar value suit, then settle before trial. —Diane at RVtravel.com. In fairness to Enerco, it doesn’t look like much could have been done on their part of have saved Mr. Dana. But we hesitate to use our Buddy heater much. You’ll find reading it how the media manipulates then controls the public message & mind when an incomplete doctored model of reporting creeps into the media. How many read the instructions that come with a product? Thank you! Portable Buddy Heater Approved for indoor use, low-oxygen, and accidental tip-over shut-off Systems, piezo push button ignition, 4000 & 9000 btu high and low setting The Mr. Heater name is on a lot of different heaters other than the Buddy line that is used by RVers. There is a big difference between combustion, as in your stove top burners, & the catalytic process that uses a catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction, as in a catalytic heater. The Tri-City Herald reported that Mr. Dana was “Using a parabolic propane heater for keeping warm and cooking.” In a story released the same day, KXLY.COM indicated that Dana “Was using a Mr. Heater brand heater, which was hooked up to a five-gallon propane tank, to cook a roast on a skillet inside his van right before his death.” Both media outlets indicated their source was the local coroner. I doubt he had any money since he was homeless and living in his van. Give me a call, I can get rid of the current anchor!! How you can read the findings and look at the pic’s and think that Enerco could have any conflict of interest is unbelievable. You could take them with you when staying in a hotel or motel to increase your protection. I asked if the stove was on and it was. Free shipping. The fact that carbon monoxide deaths have happened in the past led the company to the development of their “Buddy Heater” line of indoor-outdoor-approved-use heaters. You have 24 hours to edit a comment. Who, what , where and why? Why does this publication seem to always look negatively at virtually all organizations and manufacturers? See the updated story in tomorrow’s News for RVers newsletter, Timothy. Mr. Heater user dies from carbon monoxide – Could you? This is an example of good journalism. Here’s a link to that page: https://amzn.to/2s2J6ZR Hope this helps. I guess that makes me a FOOL!! Finally, we repeat for the umpteenth time: Invest in a carbon monoxide detector, keep the batteries fresh, and don’t go beyond the unit’s replacement date. Item #1691973. There are two different heat settings to select from; 4000 BTU power and 9000 BTU power. The safety features included in the “Buddy” lineup include a tip-switch that shuts off the heater if … Life is precious. Do not use if head of cylinder is damaged, punctured or deteriorated. Just adds fuel to the argument that foolishness can be fatal. Report item - opens in a new window or tab. It has two heat settings and requires either 1 lb propane bottles or a hose and fuel filter to connect to a larger external source. Always leave a couple of windows cracked open if using in a RV. First, someone removed all the factory-provided guards from the front and back of the heater. 6V AC Power Adapter for Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Propane Heater #F276127. A lot of assumptions made in this article. Last week we posted a piece regarding Dana’s death, and since have had plenty of feedback. It’s doing both the Mr. Heater company and Rv’ers reading this article a great and dangerous disservice unless you get the complete story. If a normal alarm went off in our home basement we would not hear it in our bedroom at the far opposite end of the house. Mr Heater 9000 BTU Buddy Portable Heater features two heat settings, with 4,000 or 9,000 BTU per hour options Heats up to 200 sq.ft for 3 to 6 hours with a 1 lb propane cylinder Can also heat up to 110 hours on a 20 lb tank with an optional hose connection (at low setting) This portable propane heater is a very safe and ideal propane heater … However, Kennewick Fire officials tell us that Dana had turned the heater over on its back. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We also found other “helpful” folks on the internet telling readers how they can quickly and easily defeat oxygen sensors in Mr. Heater and other gas-burning appliances equipped with them. Even then it will have to be below freezing, can’t drive to warm facility, and only used long enough to keep hypothermia from setting in. If you ask the fire department they will tell you that it’s very dangerous to have a little buddy inside unless the propane tank is outside of a certain distance because it could explode. Moreover, Enerco expressly prohibits the use of any type of non‐approved attachments with its Buddy heaters … Enerco expressly prohibits its Buddy heaters from being used for the cooking or warming of foods. All of that could have significantly increased potential carbon monoxide production. “One cause of carbon monoxide poisoning from unvented heaters – incomplete combustion caused by lack of air – has been virtually eliminated in newer heaters by use of Oxygen Depletion Sensors (ODS),” says a posting from the University of Iowa. I want to second your comments. A little more internet research yielded plenty of “helpful” users who gave specific instructions on how to disable these safety tip-switches, right down to describing which screws to remove from the heater to access the necessary internal area to make the change. The discoloration on the grid screen assembly in the shape of a circle suggests to the Enerco team that the user may have been putting something directly on the burner surface. For us, this left more questions than answers. But one of Enerco’s safety features, built into each of their portable heaters, is a “tip-switch” that immediately shuts down the heater if it is tipped away from its upright operating position. I have the 8kw unit which I vent out a house window. I believe you need to do some additional research for this article. CO poisoning from unvented heaters remains a concern.”. An oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) system checks the oxygen level of the air around the heater and shuts it off if the level becomes too low for human safety. No spam, just interesting, helpful information. That’s a key question and, sadly, one that we’re apparently not going to get an answer to, at least not from Enerco, the company that really should know. Never. Notice the black tape wrapped around it, rendering it useless. Interesting. You are the first to mention “catalytic heater” and start the ‘misinformation’. Blaming Mr. Heater for this guy’s bad choices is like blaming the van maker for making the van too air tight. In addition to these physical devices, the company likewise aims to educate users to keep even these inherently safe heaters safe. To our readers: We NEVER have or will sell reader's data. Thank you! There is a four-point temperature control dial. Like I mentioned before, the first responders said it appeared he was fixing himself a meal. As we mentioned in our last story on this subject, there needs to be sufficient outside air available when using any non-vented heating appliance, and Enerco stresses NEVER using third-party add-ons, as these might endanger users. Set up deal alerts for your favorite stores, categories, or products and we'll instantly alert you when a new deal is posted. Installation was a real PITA! The man died – how do you think they are going to get more info????? Never. Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater and Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Carry Bag 9BX Bundle 3.3 out of 5 stars 3 103.58 $ 103 . This patented radiant 4,000-9,000 BTU Liquid Propane heater connects directly to a 1 lb. No spam, just interesting, helpful information. David Dana, 61, and his Labrador were found dead on December 5. He then said he would have the company’s vice president of engineering call us to talk in greater detail. so after reading everyone’s comments i checked with Amazon. Where/how did you purchase yours? The safety features included in the “Buddy” lineup include a tip-switch that shuts off the heater if moved away from strictly upright. We got rid of the ventless heater. There are currently 3 versions available: Mr Heater Buddy, Mr Heater Little Buddy, and Mr Heater Big Buddy. Your information will *never* be shared with outsiders. It is also believed that Mr. Dana may have added additional insulation to the van, in which he was living at the time of the incident. All the more reason to get through to him. So that, IMO, doesn’t fit with the possibility of suicide. The Mr Heater is a radiant heater and is TOTALLY different. If you want to edit a comment click the gear icon to the right of your comment and choose edit, or delete. Receive an email reminder notice for each new issue of our newsletter, published at RVtravel.com every Saturday and Sunday morning. How I Repaired My Buddy Portable Heater by Les Paul. By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. Regarding the company’s initial reluctance to comment, Bush explained, “Always better to deal with facts, than start talking first without the facts.” And facts we now have, which fill in a lot of the missing gaps in the story. Many people faced with anything technical couldn’t think their way out of a paper bag. Still years have past and and I still wonder what happened. Buddy heaters “radiant heaters” rather than “catalytic heaters”. Find a large selection of Mr. Heater at low Fleet Farm prices. I am sure there are other brands on the market. Oh, it’s better than that. But what price do you value on your life or the life of your family members. Buddy Heater (up to 9,000 BTU) (view on amzn) The 9,000 BTU model has a standard design to accept a 1-lb disposable propane bottle. I don’t use it overnight as an extra precaution. Goldberg’s splendid book “Arrogance” isn’t a bad one to have in the library either. Mr Heater is Safe for RVs When Used Properly. Mr. Heater Portable Outdoor Buddy Propane Gas Space Heater with Buddy Carry Bag. HOWEVER, from a Comment it appears the initial article was NOT so stellar in keeping with the journalistic process; the journalistic process providing VERIFIED facts of the who, what, when, where, and why. Which sunflower heater is best? Diane, I tried looking for that info, also, and even looked for Crossfire on Amazon, but no luck. It is portable and easy to use. Taking 1/3 plus expenses. Because the litigation costs, would be more than settling. This implies it was NOT a Buddy heater. Thank you. The company includes safety information with all of its products, and likewise posts that information on the internet. The person did this to themselves and the manufacturer has zero responsibility. While parabolic propane heaters are generally regarded as safe for outdoor use only, Mr. Heater brand portable infrared heaters are touted by their maker in an advertisement this way: “You will enjoy years of comfortable indoor safe heat.” That quote comes from an advertisement on Amazon.com. Absolutely safe ‘for intelligent, open-minded RVers’. A sad story, I hope we can all learn something from. Contemplate that for a while! Also for: Buddy … Years ago my dog alerted me to carbon monoxide poisoning. A day went by, with no call. In Mr. Dana’s case, it appears his van was tightly closed. Sounds like this guy planned his last supper unfortunately. Buying any propane heater is like buying a new Smartphone, TV, or kitchen can opener. Who would have thought there was a dead family on that boat just anchored next to us. And just how much outside air is “sufficient” for safety? And of course, running propane stovetops without ventilation can also be a cause of CO poisoning. Learn how your comment data is processed. This week we heard from Enerco’s president, Jeff Bush. Never. As well, the shut-off button was taped in and used as a stand against the tank itself. What ever happened to personal responsibility. I have a Mr Buddy that I have used in a tent, a tent is hardly air tight, with out any problem. That same cabin cruiser was still anchored. I wish you would leave the negative bias out of your articles and stick to the facts. We do not have any affiliation with that company. Read the article again. Remember how Boeing blamed the pilots for the first 737 Max crash? We do not put all our trust on what is normally installed in our home or in our Class A DP motor home in terms of Smoke or CO 2 alarms. Mr. Heater Hose for the Buddy Series. I wonder if his dog tried to warn him? Mr. Heater $129.99. It might help him understand the danger. The original article provides more information, and the updated article clarifies some of the questions presented in the original one, so I think both articles should remain. View and Download Mr. Heater BIG BUDDY MH188 operating instructions manual online. At the time, Enerco Group, Inc., the manufacturer of Mr. Heater, wasn’t providing a comment on the incident. That poor puppy . Kennewick city officials have provided photos showing the equipment as they found it. its also to be used outdoors only. At least Mr Dana only killed himself and, didn’t take any innocent others with him. ”And carbon monoxide can kill you.”. Much more to write about…. Product 1: 4,000- to 9,000-BTU radiant heater for spaces up to 225 square feet. I have to say something. Your information will *never* be shared with outsiders. But in so doing, the result could easily be a quenching of the burner flame and an interference with the burner’s access to secondary air. It appears to Enerco that the propane cylinder valve was used to control the flow of LP. I am in the process of buying a house where the fireplace was converted from woodburning to gas logs. https://www.hunker.com/13409397/how-do-catalytic-heaters-work I like redundancy. And we also ensure that any third parties we contract with either anonymize your data or have strict privacy policies in place that are aligned with ours. We anchored by an approx 40 ft cabin cruiser, maybe a Bertram . We can’t do anything now but we can learn from the tragedy. Not having fire/CO/propane alarms indoors is flipping the coin for survival. Thanks, Chuck. Fools all, for some reason they simply do not want to do it right. —Diane at RVtravel.com. A van dweller and his dog have died from what authorities say was carbon monoxide poisoning in Kennewick, Washington. The Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Radiant Heater is a portable heater. Bob is right more people than you think won`t follow to the update, (not of any real interest) your asking for it. I may add a CO safety discussion to my RVelectricity Master Classes this year because so many RVers are using generators when boondocking. This easy to carry portable heater is safe for indoor use in small apartments and office places and also in various recreational enclosures. This portable heater can heat up 225 square feet with a maximum run time at max BTUs of 3 hours and a … Just make sure you’re getting enough outside ventilation it could just save your life one day. Yes, Russ and Tina are definitely doing a follow-up on this story. That fact alone made Dana’s situation perilous, but a chain of other factors could easily have contributed to the danger that Dana was exposed to. Mr. Heater | Portable Buddy Radiant Heater 4 Operating Instructions and Owner’s Manual A A A Off Position Figure 1 Figure 2 OPERATION WARNING: Always inspect propane cylinder and heater propane connections for damage, dirt, and debris before attaching propane cylinder. Shisters will be swarming all over on this one. “ALL ATTEMPTS TO IDIOT-PROOF OUR PRODUCT HAVE RESULTED IN BETTER IDIOTS”, My Mr. Heater close to the one pictured) clearly states in the manual that it’s not to be used in a closed environment. Third party products intended to change the intended operation of the Buddy heaters are not endorsed by Enerco and, in fact, are expressly prohibited for use as they could cause serious harm to consumers.”. So, does this mean that the average RVer, who only wants to heat his RV but has no interest in cooking his dinner on it, is safe from the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning when using a Mr. Heater or similar heating appliance? Seems like a “Here’s your sign” moment. I sometimes get up early & turn it on a couple of hours before we plan to rise for the day, & we use it during the day. It took me at least 45 minutes to make a bracket to hold it in place on the floor and to make a heat shield to go over the top of the unit. You are confusing/lumping together all Mr. Heater units with the Mr. Heater Buddy series. Yes, already installing additional smoke and CO detectors in this new townhouse. And that sounds like a very smart idea. Your information will never be shared with outsiders. It’s very easy to use, comes with some really useful safety features, and is one of the most portable heaters on the market. What went wrong? We have installed a commercial brand series of Smoke, CO 2 and Heat alarms in our home. About Wave Heaters. Save my name and email in browser cookies for the next time I comment so I won't have to enter that information again. I get flack from all who want to create simple cheap heat by catalitic heaters. The basic of facts is that an outside heater was used in an enclosed area.