Mr Heater MH18B Portable "Big Buddy" Heater
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Mr Heater MH18B Portable "Big Buddy" Heater
Customer Review: Good heater
Summary: 5 Stars
I am using this heater in our camping trailer. Although there was a slight odor during the first use, there was no odor after that. The unit is easy to use, and produces a considerable amount of heat. This allows us to expand our camping season.Customer Review: Good heater, but kind of finicky.
Summary: 3 Stars
I don't agree with some of the reviews. I don't see that it's a fire hazard at all. My Big Buddy was delivered last week. Here's what I found:
My elevation in Virginia, About 800 feet
Ambient temperature, 72.8 (in my house). Outside temp 29.0
1. Running on high on ONE Disposable Cylinder caused unit shutdown after 50 minutes. (Pilot started to flicker, cut out and then gas shut down). Single bottle was covered with ice (I assume that's bad...)
2. Running on TWO Disposable Cylinders got me the balance of three hours smoothly and well.
3. No fumes observed at all. Some moisture, but cracking the window an inch kept it under control.
4. A lot of heat. Too much for my wood floor. I had to put it on my brick mantle. This might scorch tile.
5. It kept my upstairs (1000 square feet) at 72.5. Only a loss of 0.3 degrees over three hours. Better than expected.
Suggestion: If you are trying to run on high with disposables, use two of them. This is not in the manual.
I don't know how it works with tanks, or whether you need to feed one or both inputs.
My unit did not come with the AC adapter. The batteries work.
If you bump it gently, it shuts off.
Conclusion:
For 139 bucks, it fits the bill well enough. It appears to be very well made, but the safety features make it tempermental. For my use as an emergency heat source, it's adequate.
Customer Review: Good short-term supplemental heat. Less good long term.
Summary: 4 Stars
This Winter, WHEN the main heat goes down (it happens several times each year) I will be grabbing this heater first, as opposed to my big Kerosun Omni. Here's why:
1. The Mr. Heater Big Buddy (MHBB) weighs less than 1/2 what the Kerosun Omni (KO) does. It is also a lot less bulky. So while both are portable, technically speaking, the MHBB FEELS a whole lot more portable than the KO, which can be pretty awkward to move around.
2. The MHBB also lights a lot more easily than the KO, particularly since the Auto-Ignite coil on the KO keeps going bad, needing replacement. This necessitates that you use a BBQ style butane lighter. There is a lot of stooping and crawling around involved.
3. Properly maintained neither the KO or MHBB has much of a smell while burning. But the KO stinks on initial startup and especially when burning out. As a matter of fact, I won't light OR shut the KO down anywhere in my living space because of the smell. By comparison, the hint of fumes from the MHBB is nothing.
4. The MHBB gets to its maximum heating temperature pretty quick. The big KO gets hotter but you have got to wait a while for it to get going.
5. The MHBB has three easily adjustable heat settings, whereas for all intents & purposes the KO is either "On" or "Off".
6. Last but not least, Kerosene is a mess and if you spill even a few drops it stinks. The portable butane tanks that the MHBB uses are a whole lot less trouble.
However - and it is for this reason I rate the MHBB as four stars rather than five - the MHBB is not so good as the big KO for a long term heating solution. If the lights aren't on again once I have burned off a pair of the 1 Lb propane bottles, the big KO is the way to go:
1. The big KO puts out more heat and has never failed to keep my well insulated split level ranch warm.
2. It is a lot cheaper to heat with the KO than with the propane fuel. Two of the 1 Lb bottles will run the heater on high for about 3 hours, no more. If you buy the Mr. Heater accessory adapter to refill the 1 lb. tanks you can save some money but you will still pay more than using Kerosene.
Customer Review: Great Heater
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned the Big Buddy Heater for a couple years now and must say it is one of the best cold weather items I have found. The heater can be operated with (2) 1lb. cylinders or a 20 # refillable cylinder,hose and the recommended fuel filter. ( Recently, I found out there is another even better hose to use with a refillable cylinder) The hose F271803 and you don't even need a fuel filter!! The heater has a small fan that circulates the warm air and runs on D batteries or 115 volt adapter.
I talk to a lot of RV owners and they swear by the heater.
Customer Review: Great Heater even with large spaces
Summary: 5 Stars
This heater puts out a ton of heat we have a large sun room and heats it up quickly and with very little propane. Its a greater heater and very poratable.