Bad news for you. There is a reason most of the time it reads 0. That’s a homeowner co detector. The lowest reading you’ll get is 30. I spent many years as a fire fighter. Those detectors are not sensitive enough to detect under 30ppm. 30ppm is considered the safe level of exposure for up to 8 hours, as in working on a car repair shop. Problem is co builds up in your blood over time. And when you move to fresh air your system will never give up all the co. This is why firefighters have so much trouble later in life with high co levels in the systems. I bought the buddy heater and tested with one of the 4 gas meters from our fire trucks in my 8X12 camper with window open 3 inches as directions state. The co level quickly rose to 10 and drifted from between 10 and 20 ppm while in operation. Well under the 8 hour limit. But well over what would be considered safe for long term exposure. So I returned the buddy heater and just use an electric heater that runs off my small generator outside. I’m not saying don’t use it. But be careful. It does make low level co that will be in your blood. Blood is 9 times more likely to absorb co over o2. So it will be in your system and will build up over time. All I have to rely on is 20 years in the fire service. I’m not a scientist or doctor. But I would never use one inside a camper.
Very good point about the detector's limitation. What is your opinion on using this type of heater in an ice fishing house, made from thick canvas, with the vents opened? I use the big buddy while sleeping at night in the fish house, but I only install 1 bottle at a time. My theory is that, if there should be any CO, one small tank worth won't be enough to kill me. When one bottle runs out in 3 hours, it gets cold, which wakes me up. Get fresh air, have a smoke, install another bottle and go back to sleep.
They were kind of designed for ice fishing shanties and such where there is decent ventilation. Keep some air flowing and your probably OK. But if your getting sleepy in there it could be because of co. Drowsiness is an early first sign. Just be careful. There are millions of these on the market. As long as they are burning perfectly and there is decent ventilation they are probably fine. They just make me nervous. Too many years in fire service. Want to know for sure buy a hand held detector. Link below. Pretty accurate and cheap. You’ll have to replace it every 3 to 4 years. You can nurse more life out of it by always storing in a plastic bag. With a detector like linked below, Then you’ll have to decide. Co scares me. I have one of these in my garage. It’s amazing how little an engine needs to run to push it. He also ruined that co detector as soon as he put it near the exhaust. The sensors get coated with co and the other exhaust gasses and get even less sensitive in high co environments. If I was going to use a buddy heater I would always have a hand held and then you can monitor it and you’ll know for sure. Read the directions. Hand Held Carbon Monoxide Meter - High Accuracy and 1000 PPM Measurement Range CO Sensor w/Digital LCD Display Auto Power Off Safety Alarm Battery Operated and Control Buttons - Pyle PCMM05 www.amazon.com/dp/B005FU5J5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.B8zCbCTPVFPQ
The Arizona Homestead Project... No. co is ever so slightly lighter than air which is also part of the reason it is so dangerous. It fills the room gradually and very evenly. That’s why you don’t really want your co detectors all the way up near the ceiling where there can be dead air spaces. You want them in the air you are breathing. The common misconception that co is heavier I think comes from the camper world. Often in camper they are installed near the floor because they are combined with propane detectors. Propane is heavier than air so the detector has to be low to give the earliest warning, so the combo propane co/propane detectors commonly used in campers have to be low. My recommendation for standalone co detectors is put them shoulder to chest height in a room and keep them out of corners where there is dead air. I have mine right in the main hall outside the bedrooms, in my small house. In the camper I have mine at head height sitting on the bed. Then your covered well standing, sitting, or laying. You want the soonest warning you can get.
Homebuiltcamper Dave well thanks. I drive a semi and keep a detector close to the floor. Sometimes you get a guy parked next to you with a bad running gas generator and you can smell it in the truck. Never have problems with the diesel generators. I just don’t want to die in my sleep because some guy parks next to me while I’m sleeping. I’ve had it go off several times.
I’m in the HVAC industry and have a $2500 Co detector and I have use my heater for about 9 years now and have never detected co during operation. Pretty reliable heater, I use the 12’ hose connected to a big tank, way cheaper than the 1lb bottles, unless you’re going to refill them.
@@MustadMarine Of couse he did not test your unit nor you test his, and maybe some units burn cleaner than others. I personally have a hard time trusting a cheap burner to burn clean forever if my life depended on it.
@@MustadMarine Propane / alcohol burners *shouldn't* create any CO, if there's enough oxygen available in the space for full combustion and if the burner is working correctly. So either you had a faulty unit / valve (not super likely), or you didn't have adequate oxygen &/ airflow in whatever space you were using it, which of course is a major concern in an enclosed space like an RV.
Lived in Pertersburg, Alaska for 4 years. I lived in a one bedroom cabin and used the larger version of this heater for the duration of the time there. It was a fantastic tool of survival.
I love Petersburg! I lived in Juneau for 14 years and I had the inimitable pleasure of traveling to P-Burg with a fabulous group of performers called Heliotroupe. We took the ferry, performing for the passengers to pay for our tickets, and did two shows there. I got rubbings of the petroglyphs on the beach that I have on my wall to this day.
I live in my camper. Have same heater and have used it for over 2 years. Absolutely no problems. I'm a heart patient and blood and lungs are checker regularly.
Short answer: YES! They are designed to be used indoors. A heater that only works outside would make no sense at all. A carbon monoxide detector is only about $15. You have no excuse not to have one.
Short answer: NO the carbon monoxide detector for the Buddy heater is located on the ground the last place the carbon monoxide is going to be. You can die from using these I nearly did.
@@zorbbful Carbon Monoxide is heavier than air, so the bottom is exactly where the sensor should be. If it was on the top like a smoke detector, you'd be long dead before the sensor realizes there is a problem.
@@AndrewPowerTower I’m afraid you’re mistaken. According to the US EPA: “Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and also because it may be found with warm, rising air, detectors should be placed on a wall about 5 feet above the floor. The detector may be placed on the ceiling. Do not place the detector right next to or over a fireplace or flame-producing appliance.” Might you be thinking of propane, which is indeed heavier than air?
I performed essentially the same test in my garage last night with a new Big Buddy, and instead of the Kidde CO detector I used an MSA Altair 4XR 4 gas monitor, the type of monitor that your local fire department would be using if they showed up for a complaint about a carbon monoxide alarm going off or a gas leak. My result was after 3 hours of run time in my small 1 car garage with no ventilation opened was that I read 1 PPM of CO. Generally speaking low level extended exposure is considered hazardous at 50 PPM ( if that space is occupied for an 8 hour period) , and 1200 PPM is considered an environment immediately dangerous to life and health. It is a best practice that anyone using any fuel burning heater have a CO detector like the one you have there installed inside the habituated space, as well as a working smoke alarm, as space heaters are a leading cause of fatal home fires when used in sleeping areas.
We have used a Buddy Heater for 4 years now and we love it... Our primary use is to supplement the forced air heater in our 32 foot travel trailer. Mainly to save on battery power in the winter. Our CO detector has never been triggered but we do keep the roof vents open just a crack... We have seen temperatures as low as neg-15 deg, C and the Buddy heater keeps the trailer comfortable on low to medium heat most of the time.
@jmcdrawer5031 In truth, I've never used the canisters. I only run 5 gallon or larger. The rub time of course will depend upon how cold it is, how warm you want it and the size of space being heated. We mostly use it for our 32 foot travel trailer to supplement the trailers heater when it's really cold, like in the teens or colder.... Usually we use a 10 gallon tank and that lasts close to a week.
Just a heads up. What you had there was probably a CO detector, not a monitor. There's small amounts of CO around us all the time, and a sensitive monitor will always show a number greater than zero because of that. A detector, on the other hand, will stay pegged at zero until a threshold of danger has been crossed, then suddenly it jumps from zero up to 70 or whatever (and makes you wet yourself when it starts screeching). So don't be lulled into thinking that just because your detector reads zero, that this thing isn't putting out any CO.
Indeed, there's CO in the normal air around us and we breathe it all the time, about 100 parts per billion, so the scientists say. So simply seeing "0" and assuming there is a lack of carbon monoxide or no change in the amount present is a logical fallacy. OSHA gets concerned if it reaches over 50 parts per million. You're right PPB and PPM (parts per billion and parts per million) aren't the same thing, we'd need to shift three decimal places (1 PPM = 1000 PPB) so 50 PPM = 50,000 PPB or 500 times the amount normally found in the air we breathe. Of course, all that info is useless unless someone holds an air sniffer, not a simple alerting device in front of an active heater to get us some real data.
It's also recommended to place those readers on the wall because they get a better reading from the CO that travels the wall. This I'd what I heard. I get the reading on mine for 30 and today it was 45 with my little buddy... so I am trying to get that number down but stay warm!
Also, make sure you throw that CO Detector out. You killed it by having 900ppm put into it. The written User's Manual clearly state not to test residential units using vehicle exhaust. Will cause permanent damage.
I fainted from CO poisoning once sitting in a tank(army tank) and when my buddy dragged me out I had a headache for three days. I never felt it happening at all. Probably a great way to commit suicide. However I have used these a lot on boats and tiny cabins, but I would never leave it on all night.
The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy ruclips.net/user/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
There’s a little sticker by the knob that says indoor, garage, kitchen for the hi and low setting. I bought one of these which I’ll probably never use as I don’t camp but I have it just in case I ever need it. This is a good video for info for sure.
I've done the same test so many times and came up with zero ppm. My tests were always in a tent camper between 1400 and 7000 ft above sea level. Then I was above 10,000 ft and I woke up again to 0, but after pushing the button to see the max reading ever recorded I found that at one point that night the CO meter registered 40 ppm before it went back down again. So keep that in mind.
Yup, It only takes one time. I think going forward with caution, a vented window, and a CO reader, and we'll be fine. Almost anything can kill us but we manage. ( ;
I’d always keep a window or vent cracked open. I use a 30,000 BTU Mr Heater for back up heat in my ranch style 1300 square feet home. No issues with the kitchen window open a bit. I have camped in tents with the buddy heater with 2 other guys in the tent with no issues. I’d still open a vent or window no ,after what.
Great test, I have used one of the large Buddy heaters in my uninsulated box trailer at shows and I have never set off the very same detector and never got any reading from the heater. But, once I fired up my propane camp stove and set the burners on high that reading went up fast!! So don't worry about the heater but definitely worry about the stove!
I agree with your test. If the heater is stored it should be kept dust free. Dusty heaters could create CO. Keep them clean and they’re good. A small vent is always a good idea for fresh air.
@@MrChancebandit they emit almost no CO when the burn is clean. Maybe an old unit that had no filter running a rubber hose to it would produce more CO but generally not. They are quite safe and have been used indoor/outdoor by millions for DECADES.
@@sumbeach5561 I was in a foth wheel trailer ...using a mr buddy Hester for full time heat....I forgot to open a window and ran the heater fpr a couple of hours. I started feeling really sleepy. And something wasn't right ...as soon as I got up to get outside the C02 alarm went off. I shut the heater off and aired out the trailer and the alarm shut off. I never used one pf those again in an air tight space ....I use a propane wall heater now not a mr buddy heater with bkue flame with an oxygen deficiency safety shutoff. And I always have 2 WI dows cracked for cross ventilation. Been using one for 6 years with no issues or alarms...couple times I left the trailer forgetting the heater was on and when I got home the oxygen difference shutoff worked great. DYNA GLO 20 000 btu blur flame is the one I have . Buy that before the buddy heater
I've been using buddy heaters for years. They work great for tent camping, also a great emergency heat source for power outages. I'll never be without one for backup. I highly recommend these heaters. I have the double buddy heater, which also does have a battery operated blower, which can also be plugged into 110v ac.
I am a boondocker. I will camp for 1 to 2 months, & at temperatures as low as 4°. I have an R-Pod travel trailer and I’ve been using the Mr. Heater inside for many years because it’s much quieter than the trailer furnace! Since you have to keep it ventilated, I get the best of both worlds! Cold air coming through the windows, but it’s nice and toasty inside. I run a line out the window, from the Mr. Heater to a 5 gallon propane tank outside my trailer. So there is always ventilation, even if I forget to open up the other windows. I love it!
One morning, you'll waken cold and shivering. You'll wonder why you ran out of propane and go outside to investigate. Only to find your bottle has been stolen by a crackhead. Lol
The balanced equation for combustion of propane is: C3H8 + 5O2 = 3CO2 + 4H2O. The products are 3 moles of CO2 and 4 moles of H2O. ... In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide.
In a perfect combustion yes but when not perfect combustion it creates a bunch of carbon monoxide kill you especially since the sensor for shut off is located on the ground where carbon monoxide isn't because it's lighter than oxygen
@@zorbbful the sensor is for low oxygen not CO hence it will shut off preventing an enclosed area from being starved of oxygen which would also be a main reason for incomplete combustion.
I use two of them in my home and garage when the power goes out, but I would NEVER use any kind of device that consumes fuel to make heat under any circumstances in a small enclosed space, and that includes a tent, camper, or a small room. Homebuiltcamper Dave is absolutely right. His 20 years as a fire fighter is all the experience I need to believe his cautionary tale.
I lived in my camper for 2 years while I built my off grid home in Vermont. I used a Big Buddy as my heat source both winters. The RV has propane detector and CO2 detector and they never went off. Only issue was moisture that burning propane puts off collecting on the metal window trim. I’m still alive and kicking.
I lived in a van for over a year traveling around looking for a place to build off grid. I often used a Big Buddy for heat with a window cracked. Me and my dog were fine but some will say that is crazy. It's also crazy to freeze to death is what i would say. But you, do you. Here's looking up bud. @@justinkanicki8044
Thanks. I bought a used one awhile back for emergencies in case the power goes out. Recently had an issue with my furnace not blowing hot air, but I still had power, so I used portable electric heaters until the hvac guy came. It was before all this brutal weather we just had. Our temps got down to -25°F with windchill of -45°F. It was bad enough, but I cannot imagine those temps if the power goes out and there's no heat source. My heart goes out to all those dealing with the current crisis.
Have used buddy heater for 4 winters here in Canada and will say it'll definitely keep you warm, even at -22'c. Saved my life many times but it'll also rust your vehicle out and creates moisture/ mold Good review m8😊
I purchased the big buddy 3 years ago as a backup in case my furnace failed. I have a 37 foot Class A. I now use it as my main source of heat as it sips the propane as compared to my furnace. Having an older RV, it has drafts and is not airtight. Also, the vent fan for the stove top is always open. I have smoke, carbon monoxide, and Propane detectors in the coach.
Put in a humidistat. Complete combustion produces both CO2 and water vapours. If you are not careful, you could have mold growing especially if you have foam mattresses on plywood platforms instead of slats or a box base as those are designed to ventilate your mattress to remove trapped perspiration.
Make sure to use an inline filter if you use a 20lb propane tank with this heater. I friend of mine had his clog up from using large tanks without a filter and he could never repair it. Oily substance clogged up all of the lines and they are TINY.
You should try using a geothermal fan to put on top of the buddy heater it will take the heat that rises and blow it around. It is a very efficient and effective tool.
Have run a Buddy for years now and found that they will shut off from the oxygen sensor long before CO builds up - so much so that it's too sensitive. The major difference is that with the combustion of propane you create water vapor. The furnace in your camper is vented so that only the heat comes into the cabin and the propane combustion happens in a separate combustion chamber that is sealed from the heated air and then the exhaust from that gets vented outside so it drastically reduces water vapor / condensation in a camper or tent. The Buddy isn't able to be vented outside, so all of that water vapor + human's breathing stays inside. This is also why opening a vent helps mitigate condensation. After using a Buddy for years, I was so much happier installing an actual furnace and using the Buddy as a backup.
First..., Yep, that's the downside to the Buddy. Condensation is a thing. But it just doesn't take that much ventilation to fix it. The downside to the furnaces with the outside vents is that they blow a lot of their heat out with the exhaust. Nothing is perfect. We make the best of what we have.
I couldn't tolerate the condensation,I'm putting a wood stove in, a dry heat that I've used all my life and feel totally comfortable with.When the buddy heater wouldn't light during a 0 degree power outage during a ice storm for the 2nd time I gave it up.When I can see my breath in the air using a heater i have to open vents for I feel I've wasted my money.
@@maxinemcclurd1288 I'm curious as to what type of wood stove your going with. I've been researching portable camp stoves for the past year and there are some real good options out there.
@@rprovasoli probably.... do you have any air circulating into the shed? Sometimes helps to leave the shed door a crack open. The O2 sensors are designed to shut it off. Either that or something is wrong with your unit. I'd try opening the door to the shed a crack and seeing if it works after getting some fresh air...
Long post about Carbon monoxide facts: 1. Any ... ALL carbon based fuels can easily produce Carbon monoxide when it burns. This means fire wood, candles, match sticks, cigarettes, oil lamps, alcohol, and of course propane and other hydro-carbon fuels like gasoline. 2. Heat, and therefore, usually flame, is produced when a carbon atom combines with an oxygen atom(s). This is called "oxidation" and the efficiency of this chemical process depends on the amount of available oxygen for each carbon atom and heat energy surrounding the atoms. 3. The efficiency of the oxidation determines how much CO1 and CO2 is produced by the burning fuel. A fully oxidized carbon atom will attach 2 oxygen atoms (CO2) given enough time, heat and oxygen availability The more efficient the burn the less CO1, and more CO2 is produced. 4.The efficiency of the burning process is marked by it's resulting flame. > From just smoke to a dim yellow and sooty flame (cigarette or oil lamp with too long of a wick or burning puddle of gasoline or oil) is producing extremely high amounts of carbon monoxide. > A bright yellow flame with nearly no smoke or soot (candle flame or fresh camp fire or burning match stick or Bic lighter) is producing about 50% CO1 and 50% CO2 > An orange flame with no smoke (center of a hardwood camp fire) is producing about 80% CO2 and 20% CO1 > A turquoise flame (a Coleman Dual Fuel stove with a partially restricted generator or misaligned nozzle needle) produces about 90% CO2 and 10% CO1 > An Azure blue flame produces 98% CO2 and 2% CO1 ( a properly cleaned and maintained Coleman DF Camp Stove or a home LPN gas stove flame and any other commercial propane or butane burner) > As the flame goes into bluish violet eventually into (invisible) ultraviolet it is approaching 100% burn efficiency and nearly 100% CO2 and 0% CO1 5.Both CO1 and CO2 are heavier than normal breathable air. This means concentrated levels of these gasses will build from the floor up like filling a bathtub. The best ventilation would be a floor grate to the outside - like draining a bathtub. 6. CO1 makes you feel sleepy. CO1 will kill you in your sleep. Our bodies have no natural detection for CO1 and we will die (literally) content and comfortable when breathing too much of it. 7. CO2 makes you feel "short of breath". You CAN NOT sleep breathing high concentrations of CO2. You will (literally) go into primal panic mode to find breathable air if you breathe too much CO2. 8. The Buddy Heater is (practically) a 100% efficient burn when the ceramic grid heats up to cherry red or brighter. The propane comes through this heated mesh that maintains the heat necessary for complete oxidation of the hydro-carbon molecules. It is using available oxygen in the room and replacing it with fully oxidized carbon molecules (CO2). 9. The box labels, device warning decals, and printed instructions with CO1 warnings are called "Commercial C.Y.O.A." Out of the box the heater produces almost no CO1, but a bit of lint, cat hair, spider web, or anything else that would restrict the air mixing carburetor will cause it to begin producing CO1. 10. *In no way am I advocating or advising the use of any flaming heat or cooking product beyond it's published intended uses* . (personal C.Y.O.A.)
Man this is awesome. I have read this a couple times. I just wanted to say thank you and wanted you to know that I appreciate how much time you spent typing this out.
I always chuckle at people who react in horror over a gas or gasoline burning device designed for 95% or better efficiency, and set a wicked, kerosene heater with a humongous yellow/white flame in the middle of the room thinking because it's not gasoline it isn't producing carbon monoxide. Anyway ... safety requires knowledge and diligence.
Carbon monoxide has a slightly lower specific gravity than air. It's slightly lighter than air, look it up. It's close enough to the density of air that it generally won't stratify. The whole it's heavier than air nonsense was started by salesmen pushing the carbon monoxide detectors that plugged into wall AC outlets and people asking if it shouldn't be higher. It is lighter than air but close enough that any height where airflow is undisturbed is sufficient for a carbon monoxide detector.
Thank you for spending your time to educate people about the dangers of gases I see many people living in theirs cars and RVs with these heaters and it scares me because they are saying they are safe for inside .I dont understand why the governments dont make it mandatory for every house to have carbon monoxide detectors .thank you for this lesson on gasses and colors of flames we have to debtors in our one story house we have one in the furnace room and one in the living room where we have our pellat stove.
I just used mine on a hippie living event and it worked good. It was in a van and only needed it in short bursts (10+/- total) had a brand new detector. It never set it off. Recomend cracking a window due to condensation. Mine was minimal but more use more moisture. Thanks for the upload.
Take this anyway you want. I was at deer camp a couple years ago we left two buddy heaters running in a converted School bus. When we came back from our blinds the carbon monoxide detector was wailing full blast. Just saying.
Hi Matt, you kinda left out some important details like heater size and bus size,,, what level was your heater set on,,,low medium or high and when was the last time you changed your batteries in the detector,,, I live in a 30 foot motor home and have 1 mr heater big buddy with 3 heat levels,,, I run it on low and medium 24/7 5 months a year and never have had a problem,,, I'll use high to preheat if I run to town and have it shut off,,, I've used the same heater for 5 years,,, you might be using the wrong type of heater or you might have bumped your heaters around and the heating elements have become dislodged from their seats which will give you the same results as turning your oven on to heat up your place,,, I would check with a different brand of detector and check operation by placing near exhaust pipe of running vehicle for a few seconds,,,
@@bigginspd standard size full school bus up on blocks. No modifications to the windows just gutted all the seats and put in bunk beds. Two double burner little buddy heaters one in each end of the bus. Once we aired it out the alarm stopped going off.
@@bigginspd you know what the more I think about it it was several years ago we also had a big camper too. The school bus had a wood stove in it with beds. But we slept in the camper with the heaters. So I have to correct myself a little bit. Deer camp is kind of a blur. There was only two of us at the time and keeping the bus warm was a pain in the ass.
Thank you for the review. I too had concerns about buying this in Canada for indoor use and It’s great to see a fellow Canadian doing some real world testing. Keep up the great work.
@@noname-zg8lh that's to protect from liability. they can't sell it without adding that. no different than how everything ever made, causes cancer, but only in the state of california. guess why? because that's where most the world's damn lawyers live.
I have one in my work shop for winter. Works great keeping the chill out. I also use a co2 detector in the same area. However I have the 20lb hose adaptor and fuel filter. (the filter screws into the buddy connector, then the hose to the filter and tank) If you get the hose adaptor, the filter is a must. The oils in the hose rubber to make it flexible can and will clog the pilot light, stopping it from working. Then you will have to take it apart to clean.
Thanks to you and the firefighter that helped with information. I learned more in these few moments than I ever knew. BTW I did have a CO issue while pregnant and camping. It was cooler so we ran the on board heater. The trailer was borrowed and we didn't realize the vent was right below the window I had opened for my ventilation. Killer headaches sent me to the hospital.
I use this heater in my Dodge Grand caravan when boondocking. I've turned it on with no vent and fell asleep with it on. I woke up about 3 hours later cold as it had shut itself off due to the oxygen sensor. Very safe heaters and I recommend them but if your going to need it a lot based on location definitely get the hose and 20 gallon tank.
I have used these to heat my small cabins which I live in year round in the cold snowy north and have had no problem! With that said what I do is I crack my back window about a 1/4 inch and front window a little less so there is always fresh air. Oh, I also use 20lb tanks with long hose. 6 years and never set off CO2 detector.
I just recently went deer hunting and stayed in my buddies 14 foot cargo trailer for 5 days. We used one of those heaters to stay warm and I was wondering about the carbon monoxide. So we cracked the door about a quarter of a inch. I woke up the next morning with a sore throat and all that day sinuses were out of control. Felt better later that evening. Went back in the trailer to sleep with the heater on and same thing happened next day. Thought maybe coming down with a cold but the third day started coughing all day ruining my hunt. The fourth night choking and coughing while trying to sleep. feeling worse the next day. Finally packed up and went home and next day felt perfectly fine. So my theary was that cracking the door was not sufficient enough to vent this heater. Maybe to much carbon monoxide not enough oxygen. Either way better have plenty of air flow with that heater. Because I personally think I was a quarter inch away from killing myself. So if you have these symptoms you are probably not coming down with the flu. You need more air flow. I hope this helps. God bless
And there is the difference.....a cabin.... not a camper. Your cabin breaths naturally also the cold snowy north as you put it is very low humidity in the winter. Which also helps. With these heaters people are worried about the wrong thing. They trow a gallon of water into the air for every 3 gallons of fuel burned..
as long as there is a fresh o2 supply propane burns cleanly and doesnt put out CO but can put out CO2 and use up all the O2. so keep a window cracked or some way for fresh air to get in and you should be fine. its when there isnt enough O2 it starts burning dirty and puts out the CO. at least thats what i been told. the propane will dry out the air though so a humidifier may be needed. I got 1 for emergencies and had to use it other night. i ran it 10 min to heat room then shut off. cycled it like that
Thank you! I've been wanting to get one of these for a long time. They make one with a catalytic converter in it, I don't know what difference it makes. I have an older model that sits on top of the propane canister. Although it's efficient, it's a bit unnerving to light. Nevertheless, thank you for a well done review!
We’ve been using a BIG BUDDY heater in our 27’ Class A RV (through Canadian mountain winters) for six plus years, without incident. We simply leave both the driver and passenger windows open 4” each, even in -50°F weather. The only detraction is that, after a year, it’s necessary to purchase a new hose (it accumulates ‘gunk’), which costs about $70 CAD. We use 20 lb propane tanks exclusively, and in wintertime we use our BUDDY 24/7. We do clean (using compressed air) our BUDDY every two or three days. I hope this is useful.🙏🏻 Love and All Good Things, Jess.🌹
I use the exact same Buddy Heater in my bedroom, now here is why. I have a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath a little over 2200 sq.ft. but I don't want to heat the whole thing at night. I turn my furnace down at night to 55 to 60 F, and use my Buddy on low in my bedroom, 20x22 ft. No problems with CO2, I have heat vents and a cold air return vent, so always should be air circulating. NOW, if you always use the 1 pound tanks, you should refill them from a 20 pound tank with an adapter. Very cheap. If you connect via a hose to a 20 pund tank, get a filter. The filter is good for 2 to 3 years. Now LISTEN, in about a year, your Buddy will light then shut off or you cannot get the pilot light to light. If the pilot light is burning a yellow, it means the gas outlet where the pilot light burns from needs cleaned, (the little tube). No problem. Take the wire cover off, take a Q-tip, and cut it down to fit in the tube where the pilot light come from, dip the cotton swab into alcohol and clean the tube. The flame when you light it, will turn from yeallow back to blue as when you first purchased it.
The only problem with refilling the green 1lb tanks with a 20lb tank is you never get the 1lb as full as a "new" one. When using the buddy heater that means you will run out faster wile sleeping and need to change it out.
@@ronnierowe6764 I use postal scales on mine and can get a little over 1 pound in them. You have to put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then while you are filling it up, take a pair of curved hemostats and pull on the little green vent tab. Make sure you have the vent tab at about the 10 or 2 o'clock position. When gas starts to spew out a bit, let go of the tab. When you do that, you are at your normal 80%, that is one pound.
@@anythingadrenaline4515 I bought my filter on Amazon for around 11 bucks. It goes where you screw the can on. You screw it on the gas inlet fitting then screw the hose to the filter. Depending on how much you use it, it should be changed every two to three years.
We have used them in the bathrooms of the house since last Sunday Mary...still here. We didn't close doors and we left the windows cracked in the bathrooms and it was nice to have a warm bathroom at night. We use them in deer blinds every winter.
Patrick Biggins 1 second ago I live off grid and have been using my Mr heater big buddy for 5 years in my motor home,,, even in the bedroom section with door closed and vent closed and windows closed i have no problems,,, motor homes and trailers and tents have enough air leaks to keep oxygen levels pretty safe,,, I run mine 24/7 throughout the winter,,,about 5 months
I have a couple of buddies. Use in home, trailer home and tent. I love the product. It only runs for 5 1/2 to 6 hrs on low. I have used them for about 4yrs now. Works awesomely.
I like the buddy heaters but the small canisters of fuel dosent last long enough for me. I would recommend a larger 30 or 40 lb tank outside. Then use the small canisters for back up.
I've used one in a house room once. No problems with CO. I did keep the window cracked open though. The only real problem I had with one of these heaters is that it got fouled quickly. A propane filter is a must.
@@michaeldaley1861It is an inline filter that traps impurities in the propane. It comes in an aluminum body. Various hardware stores sell it for this heater under the brand name Mr. Heater. However there appears to be a shortage on it right now.
My Story!!! I was moving my daughter cross country and spent the night in Missoula MT, during the winter, in the back of a small moving truck. I closed the back door due to the snow. I lit the Buddy one bottle Heater and suspended it on the wall. It was fine for one hour on low and then it went out. I tried to light it again but the lighter would not light so I couldn't relight the heater. I laid back down and remembered the heater has a sensor so I opened the back door and stuck the lighter outside and it lit. I brought it back inside and the lighter would not light. BOOM!!!!! I opened the back door to get fresh air inside. After a few minutes I was able to light the heater again. That told me the heater WAS NOT SAFE in an enclosed space. So I spent the rest of the night without heat.
@@MrSupernova111 Sorry you are can not understand a simple story. The fact is this heater is NOT safe in an enclosed area with no fresh air input. But you can use it.
As the propane tank is used the propane gets colder. Watch for a frost line. The boiling point of propane is -44F so when the propane boils down to that temperature fuel pressure is zero.
Thanks for doing this video. I have this heater and was afraid of this but sometimes it was so cold I would turn it on, but just leave it on for like 15-30 minutes so that I could at least get changed in some comfort. Now I have some reassurance that I can maybe push it further for my next outing.
A battery powered CO detector with digital readout like the one in the video runs about $30 USD and is a small price to pay for extra insurance. You can even fasten it to the heater with a velcro strip so they are always together.
I'm a 40 year home renovator. I purchased one only for extreme emergencies. That kidde dector only goes off after 30 whatever. In the USA they consider that ok, here in Canada we have stricker rules. It produces water vapor, hence condensation around the perimeter of your vehicle, hence possible mold build up. Like the Firefighter said be careful
@@johncpen2000 I'm not sure. I have two wall mounted 'Kidde' carbon monoxide detectors with 10 year batteries. Contrary to what I said back then these only go off after a certain point is passed. I'm in Canada.
Ok. Thanks for this video. I have one of these and have been nervous about carbon monoxide too. I use it in the truck as a heater. So far have used it for several years with no problems. However, I can smell a few fumes from the actual propane. I still think it's best to ventilate a little bit.
Use a propane tank to run a dual fuel generator outside, then run an electric heater inside powered by the generator. Walla, 0 co2 inside but technically propane heating.
I was always under the impression that, regardless of what the manufacturer says, we all need to leave a window or a roof vent cracked to prevent condensation, if nothing else. I've been to numerous "unattended deaths" caused by carbon monoxide as an Criminal Investigator. Most of them were accidental, some were intentional, (which I'll just leave as that.) ALL of the accidental deaths were preventable with more education. It amazes to that, even in this day and age, people still misuse devices that run off of carbon-based fuels. Bottom line is, you made a very good video, and did a good job testing the heater, but there's no way I could use one in an enclosed area without fear of injury to myself or my wife.
I have one of these heaters. Use it in my boat for heat if needed. Have a CO monitor as well as smoke detector. Have had the smoke alarm go off occasionally while cooking but have never had a CO event. Note: I always keep a window cracked to prevent the low oxygen shutdown. Do not use while sleeping, just use warm bedding and reheat boat in the A.M. No issues.
Of course you need open vents for the depletion of o2 alone. I recommend getting a diesel heater that has a sealed combustion chamber. You route the exhaust and combustion intake outside. They work great and have a pretty neat control module that shows you error codes. Very fuel efficient I use one to heat my house.
Hi. Tip for natural gas home furnaces. You can (I have) wire your furnace via extension cord (of appropriate gage) and plug it into a 110v wall outlet for normal operation. I’ve mounted a wall outlet with one plug and an on/off switch to the outside of my furnace. If you have kids, choose an appropriate place for mounting. When (not if) you have a power outage in the winter you can unplug furnace from the wall outlet and plug it into your generator outside - repeat OUTSIDE! (my generator is only 4300 watt output, works great). I got the idea from other RUclips videos, search for and watch for more details. Of course you should consult an electrician and local electrical codes first. Unfortunately, I don’t think you can power your whole house AC in this way with anything but a large generator.
I despise giving the local utilities company money, so I heat with a woodstove, and this year I bought a heat buddy to use in the bathroom for some extra heat on that end of my mobile home. So far so good, it definitely does the trick! Thanks for the extra reassurance though. And I was confused by what the box said as well, I’m in Tennessee and it says the same thing, not for indoor use., etc.. I only turn it on a few minutes before a shower and turn it off afterwards, works perfect for that! Stay warm!
Always allow for a small draft and FRESH air movement. I live in the country work in the city. When in city I live in a van for the the duration of the work week.
The gas heater in our home is 35 years old. When we moved in 8 years ago I was a bit paranoid about having such an old heater so I bought almost a dozen CO detectors for our 5 bedroom home. We have a mix of the digital readout and the type that just alarms but no readout. I also put a smoke detector in the closet where our electrical panel is in. I've never seen a readout above zero. When it comes time to replace a CO detector I'll put it near a car exhaust just to confirm it really was working all these years.
That might work with a really old car but the catalytic converters will put out close to zero hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. An old car would put out one or two percent.
@@lightningdemolition1964 - interesting...I'll update this comment in a couple years when my CO detector reaches end-of-life. I'll try this on my 2006 Toyota, 2012 Honda, and 2022 motorcycle.
I have used Mr. Buddy & Mr. Heaters for years. They have been very reliable . I always crack a window as an added safety. However recently I have bought a bunch of the little Mr. Buddy heaters at Costco for $79. I even gave 4 away for Christmas gifts last year. I have used 3 other ones for myself. All 3 have had a malfunction at the pilot light and they quit working . I returned them to Costco. Thinking it was a bad batch. Got another one and it did the same thing. I have larger Mr Heater’s and they still work flawlessly. I’m done buying the little Mr. Buddy s.
You did a marvelous job with the CO aspect!! VERY impressive and thorough. It would be great to also test the O2 levels in much the same manner. Yes, the Buddy has the 'low O2 shutdown', but at what level of O2 does it shut down and how safe is that level, whatever it is?? A CO2 monitor would be an indirect way to test it, but there are O2 level monitors available that have a digital display similar to the CO monitor you used in the video. If you had added the O2 monitor during the test you did, we'd all know how much the O2 levels were affected in the test. It's worth mentioning about the condensation - open flames from propane produce water vapor as a byproduct, which is the source of much or all the condensation you had. Some viewers would benefit from learning this.
He did not do a marvelous job with the CO. That’s incorrect use and I’m surprise it’s not mentioned. The unit he used is alarm only. Not measurement indication.
The thing about Propane is: It is HEAVIER THAN AIR, burning Propane produces CO2 and water Vapour. the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is also heavier than air, and will settle into the lowest point and collected and build up, Parking your RV/Trailer/Camper or tent with the buddy heater in the lowest point, facing your sleeping area, with a very small opening behind the heater, will prevent CO2 or propane vapour from removing all the oxygen, A Dehumidifier will remove the water vapour. Ideally in an RV/TT/Camper you want the water vapour to be below 40%
I'm not worried about the CO levels (the Buddy has a built-in CO monitor). What I worry about is condensation, which always seems to be problematic for propane heaters. The last thing that I want when I'm camping 4hrs North of Moosonee, in the winter, is condensation build-up inside my camper, or tent. That's instant death, mate!
For real, I use my Big Buddy in north eastern Nevada mostly during October and May and I go to a lot of trouble to put RainX on my windows...ON THE INSIDE of the Fifth Wheel because of the condensation. And I never leave it on while I am asleep. During November through April I use a micro woodstove from Cubic called Grizzly and it takes the moisture out of the air...very nice.
Use one ice fishing, but wouldn't take chances in a camper or pay the money to go through those little bottles. I used my furnace two nights in a row in single digit temps (f) and only drained the batteries to 1/2. My solar panel charges them right back up in the daytime. Too much of a gamble when you weigh the possibilities...O2 depletion, CO buildup, fire danger...etc. Just my 2 cents. Great video though and brought up good discussions.
I have the big buddy in our camper. I put a quick propane connector and it works great. We use it when we are up and shut it down when sleeping. Saves our battery. I have friends that run it all night with a window cracked.
Thanks for the practical use test! I just bought the smaller version for my 8x16 trailer. I will immediately purchase a CO detector too. And thanks for the temperature in C and F for an American guy!!! R
Great video! Little Buddy kept me from freezing to death when I had to live in an uninsulated bus for 5 years in the PNW. Please, my Canadian friend, the vital importance of readily accessible Fire Extinguishers cannot be emphasized enough in any type of RV. I have two twenty pound ones next to my bed and one near my woodstove.
The true test would be to let it run all night, un-vented, using a more sensitive CO detector. Still, it all depends on how tightly sealed the enclosure is. If perfectly tight, it will eventually use up all the oxygen and fill with CO. Not perfectly tight will just take longer. Even vented (as Dave commented) CO will build to a level that might not kill you today, but is still unhealthy in the long run.
I have a Little Buddy for my A Frame pop up camper and have never had a problem with it. Heats up really well, keeps me toasty and will continue using it during my camping trips. Great video. Really informative. Kudos to you fellow Canadian!
Thanks a ton. We just bought one for our boat. Common sense and being informed always helps one cross the road, as I was taught over 60 years ago. Many thanks from a fellow B.C. Canadian. Happy trails and safe boating everyone.
I've been using Little Buddy heaters in my R.V for years now, frequently in below freezing temps. I also have a CO monitor. The only time it has ever gone off is if I don't have the roof vent open enough. Basic chemistry: The product of propane combustion is almost entirely CO2 & H2O. The only time significant amounts of CO is produced is when environmental oxygen (O2) levels begin to fall which then causes inefficient combustion and you start getting CO rather than CO2. That's why the auto-shut off is linked to 02 levels, not CO. Low O2 is a precursor to high CO so the heater shuts off before conditions deteriorate to the point CO will begin being produced. But either way--CO or CO2 --you still get the same amount of H2O. It's the water condensate that is the problem w/ propane heaters of this type. In my experience, if we don't open the roof vents enough, water begins to condense on the walls and ceiling long before the CO alarm goes off. Nobody likes dying in their sleep from CO asphyxiation, true 'nuff, but being dripped on all night long from condensate coming off the ceiling can be pretty annoying, too.
You can still have plenty of oxygen on the floor while you're getting poisoned by carbon monoxide above that especially in a subzero environment. The oxygen sensor is on the floor where oxygen is going to be the carbon monoxide is not going to be there the shut-off valve is completely pointless. I nearly died from using one of these because it didn't shut off.
I've used them in a mobile home during the colder months of winter to supplement heat. Also great for emergency heating if power is out. I always sit them on a brick up off ground. I never had no issues besides typical maintenance.
Thanks very much Taylor. I'm looking at getting one for my boat and was wondering if it will heat enough, as well as will it poison me. I Googled and got lots of conflicting reports on these propane heaters. Your tests and subsequent results have put my worries to rest. Much appreciated.
they need to be kept level, so not sure how well they'll work on a boat. i've fished with a guy who uses those ones that mount on a 20 lb tank, for on his boat, and those work great.
@@keithscott9774 ya. And now that i think about it, i did take mine out a few times, on a friend's boat, trolling on winter days. The buddy heater did work fine while trolling.
The problem with propane is that it creates a lot of condensation, therefore humidity and that's something you want to avoid in any type of camper. So if you have the money, the best is to go for a diesel heater. I did some research on that, and it's strongly recommended to avoid Chinese brands. They are very affordable, but not dependable and even dangerous. The bests are: Webasto/Air Top and Eberspatcher/Espar Airtronic. Get a 4 to 5.5kw.
You will get alot of moisture from that Mr. Buddy heater but you have vents so as long as you're comfortable with it then it's fine I've used it in a cabin and in a van for few days but they can cause mold and mildew if not ventilated good
If you crack open the instruction manual (vs the marketing blurb on the outside of the box), it is safe for indoor emergency heating use when using the 1LB propane cylinders, but *not* with the 20LB cylinder. The "indoor vs outdoor" is due to the fuel supply, not CO buildup. You do need some amount of ventilation, though to provide combustion air and vent CO/CO2/H20. They give the vent requirements in the manual. It's not large, a 4 inch dia vent for the "Big Buddy" (12,000 BTU) model. It does say not to sleep with it running. But with a CO Alarm, it should be totally fine.
I use a similar indoor rated heater and something to note is that it creates humidity. I like it because where I usually camp it's quite dry, but it's something to be aware of. On days with more humidity I've woken up to find the windows 'sweating' on the inside. I like that it's quiet, uses less propane, and no battery power. I leave the RV's thermostat on in case it gets too cold for the little heater to keep us comfy.
Uvjhamil, DH and I have excellent, -40°, ‘expedition-style’ (these models were used on Everest) sleeping bags, which we zip together for maximum warmth. They’re great, but they’re not enough when our Canadian winters get serious. Even putting three duvets on top of our bags isn’t good enough. Our little ensemble keeps *us* warm enough but the rest of the RV freezes, and we can’t allow that, as we have both musical instruments and sensitive electronics on board. Bottom line: We need our Big Buddy!💃💃💃
Jesse Leigh Brackstone I have a Big Buddy that I use to heat my 12’x15’ uninsulated shop,works great but any device that consumes oxygen in an airtight space can lead to hypoxia so just make sure there is some amount of ventilation. 👍
Got one of these for me and my wife when we went tent camping with my buddies and their girlfriends. The wifes not big into the outdoor scene or the cold so this was my bargaining chip with her. I must say these things are pretty damn amazing, I did go through 2 tanks of propane though but it was 15 degrees (Fahrenheit) and I ran on high the whole night. Worst part of having a heater while camping is dealing with the ball busting from your friends that you need a heater to go camping.
Used one for two winters. No problem with the unit, only the user, who hung a towel above it to dry. Didn't mean to fall asleep but I did. Towel dried and came off its hangar onto the flame. Woke to lots of smoke and a small fire, the towel burning on the unit. I've never moved so fast. It was almost the end of me.
I love my buddy heater, Its a good ( back up ) for me and because I refill the 1 pound bottles it costs virtually nothing. my motorhome has a forced air propane furnace and it does use a lot of energy to run.
@@KazOn120FPS you should watch the video. He shows that while the CO gets to a level that won't kill you instantly, it does get to a level that can harm you from repeated long term exposure.
Rocky Pine Ranch, no insult intended, but your comment is similar to saying "I've smoked for 3 years now. Still breathing." Great 😁, but that doesn't mean it's not harmful over the long term.
@@gellotion Self righteous Cunt's are more likely to be Murdered, within the next three years, though, which might be harmful, to your health, over the long term.
I used this model in the cabin of my sailboat. It worked very well when I set the output to "High". My CO detector did not alert. The heater worked well on the "Low" output setting, but the CO detector alerted to an abnormally high level. This made sense since CO is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. So, fair warning... Keep the CO meter/detector functional!
I'm a paramedic/firefighter as well. I use the same CO ("Four Gas") meters at work. I kept my reply at a Harry Homeowner level instead of trying to explain the varying levels of carboxyhemoglobin that the human body endures. I simply intended to cast a warning.
I use one to take the chill off my bathroom before I jump in the shower or when I'm working in my garage. It's an awesome little appliance. The catalist raises the Temperature enough to burn off the CO. CO is a flammable gas.
Bad news for you. There is a reason most of the time it reads 0. That’s a homeowner co detector. The lowest reading you’ll get is 30. I spent many years as a fire fighter. Those detectors are not sensitive enough to detect under 30ppm. 30ppm is considered the safe level of exposure for up to 8 hours, as in working on a car repair shop. Problem is co builds up in your blood over time. And when you move to fresh air your system will never give up all the co. This is why firefighters have so much trouble later in life with high co levels in the systems. I bought the buddy heater and tested with one of the 4 gas meters from our fire trucks in my 8X12 camper with window open 3 inches as directions state. The co level quickly rose to 10 and drifted from between 10 and 20 ppm while in operation. Well under the 8 hour limit. But well over what would be considered safe for long term exposure. So I returned the buddy heater and just use an electric heater that runs off my small generator outside. I’m not saying don’t use it. But be careful. It does make low level co that will be in your blood. Blood is 9 times more likely to absorb co over o2. So it will be in your system and will build up over time. All I have to rely on is 20 years in the fire service. I’m not a scientist or doctor. But I would never use one inside a camper.
Very good point about the detector's limitation. What is your opinion on using this type of heater in an ice fishing house, made from thick canvas, with the vents opened? I use the big buddy while sleeping at night in the fish house, but I only install 1 bottle at a time. My theory is that, if there should be any CO, one small tank worth won't be enough to kill me. When one bottle runs out in 3 hours, it gets cold, which wakes me up. Get fresh air, have a smoke, install another bottle and go back to sleep.
They were kind of designed for ice fishing shanties and such where there is decent ventilation. Keep some air flowing and your probably OK. But if your getting sleepy in there it could be because of co. Drowsiness is an early first sign. Just be careful. There are millions of these on the market. As long as they are burning perfectly and there is decent ventilation they are probably fine. They just make me nervous. Too many years in fire service. Want to know for sure buy a hand held detector. Link below. Pretty accurate and cheap. You’ll have to replace it every 3 to 4 years. You can nurse more life out of it by always storing in a plastic bag. With a detector like linked below, Then you’ll have to decide. Co scares me. I have one of these in my garage. It’s amazing how little an engine needs to run to push it. He also ruined that co detector as soon as he put it near the exhaust. The sensors get coated with co and the other exhaust gasses and get even less sensitive in high co environments. If I was going to use a buddy heater I would always have a hand held and then you can monitor it and you’ll know for sure. Read the directions. Hand Held Carbon Monoxide Meter - High Accuracy and 1000 PPM Measurement Range CO Sensor w/Digital LCD Display Auto Power Off Safety Alarm Battery Operated and Control Buttons - Pyle PCMM05 www.amazon.com/dp/B005FU5J5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.B8zCbCTPVFPQ
Homebuiltcamper Dave also, doesn’t CO collect at ground level first?
The Arizona Homestead Project... No. co is ever so slightly lighter than air which is also part of the reason it is so dangerous. It fills the room gradually and very evenly. That’s why you don’t really want your co detectors all the way up near the ceiling where there can be dead air spaces. You want them in the air you are breathing. The common misconception that co is heavier I think comes from the camper world. Often in camper they are installed near the floor because they are combined with propane detectors. Propane is heavier than air so the detector has to be low to give the earliest warning, so the combo propane co/propane detectors commonly used in campers have to be low. My recommendation for standalone co detectors is put them shoulder to chest height in a room and keep them out of corners where there is dead air. I have mine right in the main hall outside the bedrooms, in my small house. In the camper I have mine at head height sitting on the bed. Then your covered well standing, sitting, or laying. You want the soonest warning you can get.
Homebuiltcamper Dave well thanks. I drive a semi and keep a detector close to the floor. Sometimes you get a guy parked next to you with a bad running gas generator and you can smell it in the truck. Never have problems with the diesel generators. I just don’t want to die in my sleep because some guy parks next to me while I’m sleeping. I’ve had it go off several times.
I’m in the HVAC industry and have a $2500 Co detector and I have use my heater for about 9 years now and have never detected co during operation. Pretty reliable heater, I use the 12’ hose connected to a big tank, way cheaper than the 1lb bottles, unless you’re going to refill them.
Huh? My professional CO meter registered 20-30 ppm of CO on low flame after a few minutes of operation.
@@MustadMarine Of couse he did not test your unit nor you test his, and maybe some units burn cleaner than others. I personally have a hard time trusting a cheap burner to burn clean forever if my life depended on it.
@@MustadMarine Propane / alcohol burners *shouldn't* create any CO, if there's enough oxygen available in the space for full combustion and if the burner is working correctly. So either you had a faulty unit / valve (not super likely), or you didn't have adequate oxygen &/ airflow in whatever space you were using it, which of course is a major concern in an enclosed space like an RV.
@@MustadMarineso putting “professional “ on front means it trumps anything else? 🙄
@@seanpeacock5595 it means it is not a home style dumb CO detector
Lived in Pertersburg, Alaska for 4 years. I lived in a one bedroom cabin and used the larger version of this heater for the duration of the time there. It was a fantastic tool of survival.
I love Petersburg! I lived in Juneau for 14 years and I had the inimitable pleasure of traveling to P-Burg with a fabulous group of performers called Heliotroupe. We took the ferry, performing for the passengers to pay for our tickets, and did two shows there. I got rubbings of the petroglyphs on the beach that I have on my wall to this day.
How long does a 20 lb propane tank last?
@@PeaceJourney... I should think it lasts 20 times longer than a one pound tank.
@@PeaceJourney... depends on temperature
@@elevatedgrubgardens118 so, if it's forty degrees outside and you want to keep it 68° inside, does it last for one night or more?
I live in my camper. Have same heater and have used it for over 2 years. Absolutely no problems. I'm a heart patient and blood and lungs are checker regularly.
Short answer: YES! They are designed to be used indoors. A heater that only works outside would make no sense at all.
A carbon monoxide detector is only about $15. You have no excuse not to have one.
Short answer: NO the carbon monoxide detector for the Buddy heater is located on the ground the last place the carbon monoxide is going to be. You can die from using these I nearly did.
@@zorbbful Carbon Monoxide is heavier than air, so the bottom is exactly where the sensor should be. If it was on the top like a smoke detector, you'd be long dead before the sensor realizes there is a problem.
@@AndrewPowerTower I’m afraid you’re mistaken. According to the US EPA: “Because carbon monoxide is slightly lighter than air and also because it may be found with warm, rising air, detectors should be placed on a wall about 5 feet above the floor. The detector may be placed on the ceiling. Do not place the detector right next to or over a fireplace or flame-producing appliance.”
Might you be thinking of propane, which is indeed heavier than air?
@@JeffFreemanPresents guys, what if we take 2 detectors, one we put in the floor second one to the ceiling. Cmon now... its just $15 per device...
@@jabuvduvatel By all means, do what you feel is safe for you.
And that applies to far more than smoke and CO!
I performed essentially the same test in my garage last night with a new Big Buddy, and instead of the Kidde CO detector I used an MSA Altair 4XR 4 gas monitor, the type of monitor that your local fire department would be using if they showed up for a complaint about a carbon monoxide alarm going off or a gas leak. My result was after 3 hours of run time in my small 1 car garage with no ventilation opened was that I read 1 PPM of CO. Generally speaking low level extended exposure is considered hazardous at 50 PPM ( if that space is occupied for an 8 hour period) , and 1200 PPM is considered an environment immediately dangerous to life and health. It is a best practice that anyone using any fuel burning heater have a CO detector like the one you have there installed inside the habituated space, as well as a working smoke alarm, as space heaters are a leading cause of fatal home fires when used in sleeping areas.
You deserve a thousand up votes. Thanks.
this reply needs to go to the top
We have used a Buddy Heater for 4 years now and we love it... Our primary use is to supplement the forced air heater in our 32 foot travel trailer. Mainly to save on battery power in the winter. Our CO detector has never been triggered but we do keep the roof vents open just a crack...
We have seen temperatures as low as neg-15 deg, C and the Buddy heater keeps the trailer comfortable on low to medium heat most of the time.
I use one two but I’m not brave enough to sleep with it running as I’m afraid of not waking up.
How long would one canister of propane run?
@jmcdrawer5031
In truth, I've never used the canisters.
I only run 5 gallon or larger. The rub time of course will depend upon how cold it is, how warm you want it and the size of space being heated.
We mostly use it for our 32 foot travel trailer to supplement the trailers heater when it's really cold, like in the teens or colder....
Usually we use a 10 gallon tank and that lasts close to a week.
Just turn it to low when you get a headache. Thats what i do ice fishing in 20 ft camper.
You use it at night @@Brood_Master
WOW! You were so thorough! Now I feel safe buying one for my home. Thanks! I’m glad you’re still alive!
Just a heads up. What you had there was probably a CO detector, not a monitor. There's small amounts of CO around us all the time, and a sensitive monitor will always show a number greater than zero because of that. A detector, on the other hand, will stay pegged at zero until a threshold of danger has been crossed, then suddenly it jumps from zero up to 70 or whatever (and makes you wet yourself when it starts screeching). So don't be lulled into thinking that just because your detector reads zero, that this thing isn't putting out any CO.
Good info.
That's not encouraging
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that. I guess I should have known at some point but forgot about the differences between the two. THANKS 😊.
Indeed, there's CO in the normal air around us and we breathe it all the time, about 100 parts per billion, so the scientists say. So simply seeing "0" and assuming there is a lack of carbon monoxide or no change in the amount present is a logical fallacy. OSHA gets concerned if it reaches over 50 parts per million. You're right PPB and PPM (parts per billion and parts per million) aren't the same thing, we'd need to shift three decimal places (1 PPM = 1000 PPB) so 50 PPM = 50,000 PPB or 500 times the amount normally found in the air we breathe.
Of course, all that info is useless unless someone holds an air sniffer, not a simple alerting device in front of an active heater to get us some real data.
It's also recommended to place those readers on the wall because they get a better reading from the CO that travels the wall. This I'd what I heard. I get the reading on mine for 30 and today it was 45 with my little buddy... so I am trying to get that number down but stay warm!
Also, make sure you throw that CO Detector out. You killed it by having 900ppm put into it. The written User's Manual clearly state not to test residential units using vehicle exhaust. Will cause permanent damage.
Correct
I hope he read this.
I fainted from CO poisoning once sitting in a tank(army tank) and when my buddy dragged me out I had a headache for three days. I never felt it happening at all. Probably a great way to commit suicide. However I have used these a lot on boats and tiny cabins, but I would never leave it on all night.
dah. tank has an engine and sucky exhaust. heater no co like the tank?
My tank never had that issue m60-a3 and I don’t recall the heater working that great soooo there is that lol
Mine was a M-60 A1… it wasn’t from the heater, it was the idiots tank in front of us.
@@boathemian7694 good times lol
Note to self: can defeat tank with sleepy fumes
Note to self #2: sleepy fumes can defeat self when self no want to live anymore
The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy ruclips.net/user/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
That's an electric heater.
There’s a little sticker by the knob that says indoor, garage, kitchen for the hi and low setting. I bought one of these which I’ll probably never use as I don’t camp but I have it just in case I ever need it. This is a good video for info for sure.
I've done the same test so many times and came up with zero ppm. My tests were always in a tent camper between 1400 and 7000 ft above sea level. Then I was above 10,000 ft and I woke up again to 0, but after pushing the button to see the max reading ever recorded I found that at one point that night the CO meter registered 40 ppm before it went back down again. So keep that in mind.
Yup, It only takes one time. I think going forward with caution, a vented window, and a CO reader, and we'll be fine. Almost anything can kill us but we manage. ( ;
I’d always keep a window or vent cracked open. I use a 30,000 BTU Mr Heater for back up heat in my ranch style 1300 square feet home. No issues with the kitchen window open a bit.
I have camped in tents with the buddy heater with 2 other guys in the tent with no issues.
I’d still open a vent or window no ,after what.
Great test, I have used one of the large Buddy heaters in my uninsulated box trailer at shows and I have never set off the very same detector and never got any reading from the heater. But, once I fired up my propane camp stove and set the burners on high that reading went up fast!! So don't worry about the heater but definitely worry about the stove!
The difference there is that the stove uses an open flame to create heat.
I agree with your test. If the heater is stored it should be kept dust free. Dusty heaters could create CO. Keep them clean and they’re good. A small vent is always a good idea for fresh air.
They are safe, used one for years in my hunting “shack” it was an 8’x8’ structure and I never had any problems or CO issue! Great video and review!
I bet it wasn't air tight.
I use them all the time, vent your space and turn it off before going to sleep.
@@MrChancebandit they emit almost no CO when the burn is clean. Maybe an old unit that had no filter running a rubber hose to it would produce more CO but generally not. They are quite safe and have been used indoor/outdoor by millions for DECADES.
@@escapetherace1943 I used one with no filter and I almost died. Be safe
@@sumbeach5561 I was in a foth wheel trailer ...using a mr buddy Hester for full time heat....I forgot to open a window and ran the heater fpr a couple of hours. I started feeling really sleepy. And something wasn't right ...as soon as I got up to get outside the C02 alarm went off. I shut the heater off and aired out the trailer and the alarm shut off. I never used one pf those again in an air tight space ....I use a propane wall heater now not a mr buddy heater with bkue flame with an oxygen deficiency safety shutoff. And I always have 2 WI dows cracked for cross ventilation. Been using one for 6 years with no issues or alarms...couple times I left the trailer forgetting the heater was on and when I got home the oxygen difference shutoff worked great. DYNA GLO 20 000 btu blur flame is the one I have . Buy that before the buddy heater
I've been using buddy heaters for years. They work great for tent camping, also a great emergency heat source for power outages. I'll never be without one for backup. I highly recommend these heaters. I have the double buddy heater, which also does have a battery operated blower, which can also be plugged into 110v ac.
If that's really what they are called, I feel like they missed an opportunity: it should be called Buddy Double 😁
Once it gets below the 20s propane heat in a tent becomes very soggy.
Just sayin
Cool video. I camp in the winter and I use the larger version with 2 tanks inside my tent all zipped up and no issue so I trust it
I am a boondocker. I will camp for 1 to 2 months, & at temperatures as low as 4°. I have an R-Pod travel trailer and I’ve been using the Mr. Heater inside for many years because it’s much quieter than the trailer furnace! Since you have to keep it ventilated, I get the best of both worlds! Cold air coming through the windows, but it’s nice and toasty inside. I run a line out the window, from the Mr. Heater to a 5 gallon propane tank outside my trailer. So there is always ventilation, even if I forget to open up the other windows. I love it!
What type of line do you use connecting the propane tank outside to Mr. Heater?
Thanks for the information.
God bless and stay safe.
One morning, you'll waken cold and shivering. You'll wonder why you ran out of propane and go outside to investigate. Only to find your bottle has been stolen by a crackhead. Lol
The balanced equation for combustion of propane is: C3H8 + 5O2 = 3CO2 + 4H2O. The products are 3 moles of CO2 and 4 moles of H2O. ... In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide.
In a perfect combustion yes but when not perfect combustion it creates a bunch of carbon monoxide kill you especially since the sensor for shut off is located on the ground where carbon monoxide isn't because it's lighter than oxygen
@@zorbbful the sensor is for low oxygen not CO hence it will shut off preventing an enclosed area from being starved of oxygen which would also be a main reason for incomplete combustion.
I use two of them in my home and garage when the power goes out, but I would NEVER use any kind of device that consumes fuel to make heat under any circumstances in a small enclosed space, and that includes a tent, camper, or a small room. Homebuiltcamper Dave is absolutely right. His 20 years as a fire fighter is all the experience I need to believe his cautionary tale.
I lived in my camper for 2 years while I built my off grid home in Vermont. I used a Big Buddy as my heat source both winters. The RV has propane detector and CO2 detector and they never went off. Only issue was moisture that burning propane puts off collecting on the metal window trim. I’m still alive and kicking.
I don't know if you'll get this butt.. homeless and I live in my truck. Is it a good idea for me to use this if I keep all for windows cracked?
I lived in a van for over a year traveling around looking for a place to build off grid. I often used a Big Buddy for heat with a window cracked. Me and my dog were fine but some will say that is crazy. It's also crazy to freeze to death is what i would say. But you, do you. Here's looking up bud. @@justinkanicki8044
@@justinkanicki8044 You could just crack one window and be fine. Sorry for the late reply.
Thanks. I bought a used one awhile back for emergencies in case the power goes out. Recently had an issue with my furnace not blowing hot air, but I still had power, so I used portable electric heaters until the hvac guy came. It was before all this brutal weather we just had. Our temps got down to -25°F with windchill of -45°F. It was bad enough, but I cannot imagine those temps if the power goes out and there's no heat source. My heart goes out to all those dealing with the current crisis.
Have used buddy heater for 4 winters here in Canada and will say it'll definitely keep you warm, even at -22'c. Saved my life many times but it'll also rust your vehicle out and creates moisture/ mold
Good review m8😊
And so will the salt on the road.
I purchased the big buddy 3 years ago as a backup in case my furnace failed. I have a 37 foot Class A. I now use it as my main source of heat as it sips the propane as compared to my furnace. Having an older RV, it has drafts and is not airtight. Also, the vent fan for the stove top is always open. I have smoke, carbon monoxide, and Propane detectors in the coach.
Even new RV's are not airtight. If I close my roof vent , yes i can smell something but otherwise ... the heater still burns clean.
Put in a humidistat. Complete combustion produces both CO2 and water vapours. If you are not careful, you could have mold growing especially if you have foam mattresses on plywood platforms instead of slats or a box base as those are designed to ventilate your mattress to remove trapped perspiration.
According to some posters here, not me, there's no way in hell that you're still alive.
@@terrywaters6186 I'm happy to report that the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated!😂😝😂
Make sure to use an inline filter if you use a 20lb propane tank with this heater. I friend of mine had his clog up from using large tanks without a filter and he could never repair it. Oily substance clogged up all of the lines and they are TINY.
You should try using a geothermal fan to put on top of the buddy heater it will take the heat that rises and blow it around. It is a very efficient and effective tool.
It has a built in fan
“Geothermal” 😂 so it uses the earth to operate the fan on top of the heater? Thermal electric fan.
ITS called Seebeck effect. Not geothermal
Heat from the stove creates electricity.
The Buddy Heater
Won't produce enough
Have run a Buddy for years now and found that they will shut off from the oxygen sensor long before CO builds up - so much so that it's too sensitive. The major difference is that with the combustion of propane you create water vapor. The furnace in your camper is vented so that only the heat comes into the cabin and the propane combustion happens in a separate combustion chamber that is sealed from the heated air and then the exhaust from that gets vented outside so it drastically reduces water vapor / condensation in a camper or tent. The Buddy isn't able to be vented outside, so all of that water vapor + human's breathing stays inside. This is also why opening a vent helps mitigate condensation. After using a Buddy for years, I was so much happier installing an actual furnace and using the Buddy as a backup.
First...,
Yep, that's the downside to the Buddy. Condensation is a thing. But it just doesn't take that much ventilation to fix it.
The downside to the furnaces with the outside vents is that they blow a lot of their heat out with the exhaust.
Nothing is perfect. We make the best of what we have.
I couldn't tolerate the condensation,I'm putting a wood stove in, a dry heat that I've used all my life and feel totally comfortable with.When the buddy heater wouldn't light during a 0 degree power outage during a ice storm for the 2nd time I gave it up.When I can see my breath in the air using a heater i have to open vents for I feel I've wasted my money.
@@maxinemcclurd1288 I'm curious as to what type of wood stove your going with. I've been researching portable camp stoves for the past year and there are some real good options out there.
Is this why my buddy heater always shuts down is because of the o2 sensor? I use is it a shed and garage.
@@rprovasoli probably.... do you have any air circulating into the shed? Sometimes helps to leave the shed door a crack open. The O2 sensors are designed to shut it off. Either that or something is wrong with your unit. I'd try opening the door to the shed a crack and seeing if it works after getting some fresh air...
Long post about Carbon monoxide facts:
1. Any ... ALL carbon based fuels can easily produce Carbon monoxide when it burns. This means fire wood, candles, match sticks, cigarettes, oil lamps, alcohol, and of course propane and other hydro-carbon fuels like gasoline.
2. Heat, and therefore, usually flame, is produced when a carbon atom combines with an oxygen atom(s). This is called "oxidation" and the efficiency of this chemical process depends on the amount of available oxygen for each carbon atom and heat energy surrounding the atoms.
3. The efficiency of the oxidation determines how much CO1 and CO2 is produced by the burning fuel. A fully oxidized carbon atom will attach 2 oxygen atoms (CO2) given enough time, heat and oxygen availability The more efficient the burn the less CO1, and more CO2 is produced.
4.The efficiency of the burning process is marked by it's resulting flame.
> From just smoke to a dim yellow and sooty flame (cigarette or oil lamp with too long of a wick or burning puddle of gasoline or oil) is producing extremely high amounts of carbon monoxide.
> A bright yellow flame with nearly no smoke or soot (candle flame or fresh camp fire or burning match stick or Bic lighter) is producing about 50% CO1 and 50% CO2
> An orange flame with no smoke (center of a hardwood camp fire) is producing about 80% CO2 and 20% CO1
> A turquoise flame (a Coleman Dual Fuel stove with a partially restricted generator or misaligned nozzle needle) produces about 90% CO2 and 10% CO1
> An Azure blue flame produces 98% CO2 and 2% CO1 ( a properly cleaned and maintained Coleman DF Camp Stove or a home LPN gas stove flame and any other commercial propane or butane burner)
> As the flame goes into bluish violet eventually into (invisible) ultraviolet it is approaching 100% burn efficiency and nearly 100% CO2 and 0% CO1
5.Both CO1 and CO2 are heavier than normal breathable air. This means concentrated levels of these gasses will build from the floor up like filling a bathtub. The best ventilation would be a floor grate to the outside - like draining a bathtub.
6. CO1 makes you feel sleepy. CO1 will kill you in your sleep. Our bodies have no natural detection for CO1 and we will die (literally) content and comfortable when breathing too much of it.
7. CO2 makes you feel "short of breath". You CAN NOT sleep breathing high concentrations of CO2. You will (literally) go into primal panic mode to find breathable air if you breathe too much CO2.
8. The Buddy Heater is (practically) a 100% efficient burn when the ceramic grid heats up to cherry red or brighter. The propane comes through this heated mesh that maintains the heat necessary for complete oxidation of the hydro-carbon molecules. It is using available oxygen in the room and replacing it with fully oxidized carbon molecules (CO2).
9. The box labels, device warning decals, and printed instructions with CO1 warnings are called "Commercial C.Y.O.A." Out of the box the heater produces almost no CO1, but a bit of lint, cat hair, spider web, or anything else that would restrict the air mixing carburetor will cause it to begin producing CO1.
10. *In no way am I advocating or advising the use of any flaming heat or cooking product beyond it's published intended uses* . (personal C.Y.O.A.)
Man this is awesome. I have read this a couple times. I just wanted to say thank you and wanted you to know that I appreciate how much time you spent typing this out.
I always chuckle at people who react in horror over a gas or gasoline burning device designed for 95% or better efficiency, and set a wicked, kerosene heater with a humongous yellow/white flame in the middle of the room thinking because it's not gasoline it isn't producing carbon monoxide. Anyway ... safety requires knowledge and diligence.
Carbon monoxide has a slightly lower specific gravity than air. It's slightly lighter than air, look it up. It's close enough to the density of air that it generally won't stratify. The whole it's heavier than air nonsense was started by salesmen pushing the carbon monoxide detectors that plugged into wall AC outlets and people asking if it shouldn't be higher. It is lighter than air but close enough that any height where airflow is undisturbed is sufficient for a carbon monoxide detector.
3DPDK Glad for your explanation! 😃👍
Thank you for spending your time to educate people about the dangers of gases I see many people living in theirs cars and RVs with these heaters and it scares me because they are saying they are safe for inside .I dont understand why the governments dont make it mandatory for every house to have carbon monoxide detectors .thank you for this lesson on gasses and colors of flames we have to debtors in our one story house we have one in the furnace room and one in the living room where we have our pellat stove.
I just used mine on a hippie living event and it worked good. It was in a van and only needed it in short bursts
(10+/- total) had a brand new detector.
It never set it off. Recomend cracking a window due to condensation. Mine was minimal but more use more moisture.
Thanks for the upload.
Take this anyway you want.
I was at deer camp a couple years ago we left two buddy heaters running in a converted School bus. When we came back from our blinds the carbon monoxide detector was wailing full blast.
Just saying.
These things can get screwed up. If the pilot light is ever orange and not completely blue then turn it off.
Hi Matt, you kinda left out some important details like heater size and bus size,,, what level was your heater set on,,,low medium or high and when was the last time you changed your batteries in the detector,,, I live in a 30 foot motor home and have 1 mr heater big buddy with 3 heat levels,,, I run it on low and medium 24/7 5 months a year and never have had a problem,,, I'll use high to preheat if I run to town and have it shut off,,, I've used the same heater for 5 years,,, you might be using the wrong type of heater or you might have bumped your heaters around and the heating elements have become dislodged from their seats which will give you the same results as turning your oven on to heat up your place,,, I would check with a different brand of detector and check operation by placing near exhaust pipe of running vehicle for a few seconds,,,
@@bigginspd standard size full school bus up on blocks. No modifications to the windows just gutted all the seats and put in bunk beds. Two double burner little buddy heaters one in each end of the bus. Once we aired it out the alarm stopped going off.
@@bigginspd you know what the more I think about it it was several years ago we also had a big camper too. The school bus had a wood stove in it with beds. But we slept in the camper with the heaters. So I have to correct myself a little bit. Deer camp is kind of a blur. There was only two of us at the time and keeping the bus warm was a pain in the ass.
Yes it's safe to use indoors been using two of them has low Oxygen sensor I have had no problem for 13 years .
Thank you for the review. I too had concerns about buying this in Canada for indoor use and It’s great to see a fellow Canadian doing some real world testing. Keep up the great work.
It's not certified for indoor use. Says so right on the box.
@@noname-zg8lh It says they have to put that warning on there due to federal regulations..But yes,as long as it is vented it is perfectly safe.
Canadians are silly, worried about a heater and a camper? Down here in Alabama we don't study a heater we study football.
@@noname-zg8lh that's to protect from liability. they can't sell it without adding that. no different than how everything ever made, causes cancer, but only in the state of california. guess why? because that's where most the world's damn lawyers live.
Don't use this indoors without having windows cracked for constant fresh air. Doesn't need alot but you need that fresh air.
Thank you, I just bought this heater and I feel better watching this!
I use the same one in my hunting blind @ 4 hours at a time with out a problem , thanks for video ....
Same here
Even after 4 yrs its still a very informative video. thanks for taking the time, please do others if you can.
My body has a low oxygen shut off feature too 👍 Double safe.
That's mad funny! Sensors bitch! Auto soul ejection feature lmao!!
🤣 lmao
I have one in my work shop for winter. Works great keeping the chill out. I also use a co2 detector in the same area. However I have the 20lb hose adaptor and fuel filter. (the filter screws into the buddy connector, then the hose to the filter and tank)
If you get the hose adaptor, the filter is a must. The oils in the hose rubber to make it flexible can and will clog the pilot light, stopping it from working. Then you will have to take it apart to clean.
What exactly is the fuel filter for?
Hope you meant carbon monoxide, not co2
Thanks to you and the firefighter that helped with information. I learned more in these few moments than I ever knew. BTW I did have a CO issue while pregnant and camping. It was cooler so we ran the on board heater. The trailer was borrowed and we didn't realize the vent was right below the window I had opened for my ventilation. Killer headaches sent me to the hospital.
I use this heater in my Dodge Grand caravan when boondocking. I've turned it on with no vent and fell asleep with it on. I woke up about 3 hours later cold as it had shut itself off due to the oxygen sensor. Very safe heaters and I recommend them but if your going to need it a lot based on location definitely get the hose and 20 gallon tank.
I crack my window a bit for oxygen and my buddy heater works all night in the Canadian Rockies. yup. COLD outside, cozy warm in my van.
I have used these to heat my small cabins which I live in year round in the cold snowy north and have had no problem! With that said what I do is I crack my back window about a 1/4 inch and front window a little less so there is always fresh air. Oh, I also use 20lb tanks with long hose. 6 years and never set off CO2 detector.
I just recently went deer hunting and stayed in my buddies 14 foot cargo trailer for 5 days. We used one of those heaters to stay warm and I was wondering about the carbon monoxide. So we cracked the door about a quarter of a inch. I woke up the next morning with a sore throat and all that day sinuses were out of control. Felt better later that evening. Went back in the trailer to sleep with the heater on and same thing happened next day. Thought maybe coming down with a cold but the third day started coughing all day ruining my hunt. The fourth night choking and coughing while trying to sleep. feeling worse the next day. Finally packed up and went home and next day felt perfectly fine. So my theary was that cracking the door was not sufficient enough to vent this heater. Maybe to much carbon monoxide not enough oxygen. Either way better have plenty of air flow with that heater. Because I personally think I was a quarter inch away from killing myself. So if you have these symptoms you are probably not coming down with the flu. You need more air flow. I hope this helps. God bless
And there is the difference.....a cabin.... not a camper. Your cabin breaths naturally also the cold snowy north as you put it is very low humidity in the winter. Which also helps. With these heaters people are worried about the wrong thing. They trow a gallon of water into the air for every 3 gallons of fuel burned..
as long as there is a fresh o2 supply propane burns cleanly and doesnt put out CO but can put out CO2 and use up all the O2. so keep a window cracked or some way for fresh air to get in and you should be fine. its when there isnt enough O2 it starts burning dirty and puts out the CO.
at least thats what i been told. the propane will dry out the air though so a humidifier may be needed. I got 1 for emergencies and had to use it other night. i ran it 10 min to heat room then shut off. cycled it like that
Great video - thanks for this. Just bought one myself for emergency use in case of power outages and wanted to know just *how* safe they were indoors!
Thank you! I've been wanting to get one of these for a long time. They make one with a catalytic converter in it, I don't know what difference it makes. I have an older model that sits on top of the propane canister. Although it's efficient, it's a bit unnerving to light. Nevertheless, thank you for a well done review!
For the turbo boost effect, place propane bottles closer to the heating elements...
😂
We’ve been using a BIG BUDDY heater in our 27’ Class A RV (through Canadian mountain winters) for six plus years, without incident. We simply leave both the driver and passenger windows open 4” each, even in -50°F weather.
The only detraction is that, after a year, it’s necessary to purchase a new hose (it accumulates ‘gunk’), which costs about $70 CAD. We use 20 lb propane tanks exclusively, and in wintertime we use our BUDDY 24/7. We do clean (using compressed air) our BUDDY every two or three days.
I hope this is useful.🙏🏻
Love and All Good Things,
Jess.🌹
I use the exact same Buddy Heater in my bedroom, now here is why. I have a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath a little over 2200 sq.ft. but I don't want to heat the whole thing at night. I turn my furnace down at night to 55 to 60 F, and use my Buddy on low in my bedroom, 20x22 ft. No problems with CO2, I have heat vents and a cold air return vent, so always should be air circulating.
NOW, if you always use the 1 pound tanks, you should refill them from a 20 pound tank with an adapter. Very cheap.
If you connect via a hose to a 20 pund tank, get a filter. The filter is good for 2 to 3 years.
Now LISTEN, in about a year, your Buddy will light then shut off or you cannot get the pilot light to light. If the pilot light is burning a yellow, it means the gas outlet where the pilot light burns from needs cleaned, (the little tube). No problem. Take the wire cover off, take a Q-tip, and cut it down to fit in the tube where the pilot light come from, dip the cotton swab into alcohol and clean the tube. The flame when you light it, will turn from yeallow back to blue as when you first purchased it.
You mention get a filter for when you use a 20 pound propane tank. Can you be specific? Filter on what?
@@anythingadrenaline4515 Whether you buy a Buddy hose, or a generic, buy a filter. Amazon. 20 bucks. They will last 3 to 4 years at least.
The only problem with refilling the green 1lb tanks with a 20lb tank is you never get the 1lb as full as a "new" one. When using the buddy heater that means you will run out faster wile sleeping and need to change it out.
@@ronnierowe6764 I use postal scales on mine and can get a little over 1 pound in them. You have to put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then while you are filling it up, take a pair of curved hemostats and pull on the little green vent tab. Make sure you have the vent tab at about the 10 or 2 o'clock position. When gas starts to spew out a bit, let go of the tab. When you do that, you are at your normal 80%, that is one pound.
@@anythingadrenaline4515 I bought my filter on Amazon for around 11 bucks. It goes where you screw the can on. You screw it on the gas inlet fitting then screw the hose to the filter. Depending on how much you use it, it should be changed every two to three years.
Thank you so much I was freezing during the big freeze here in Texas scared to use the damn thing inside, Thank you sooooo much dude!
We have used them in the bathrooms of the house since last Sunday Mary...still here. We didn't close doors and we left the windows cracked in the bathrooms and it was nice to have a warm bathroom at night. We use them in deer blinds every winter.
Patrick Biggins
1 second ago
I live off grid and have been using my Mr heater big buddy for 5 years in my motor home,,, even in the bedroom section with door closed and vent closed and windows closed i have no problems,,, motor homes and trailers and tents have enough air leaks to keep oxygen levels pretty safe,,, I run mine 24/7 throughout the winter,,,about 5 months
@Mary Boyd I have lived in a 200 square foot tiny house for the past 6 years. I use a big buddy during the winter with no problems.I live in Ohio.
You should have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. They’re about $15. No excuse.
@@totallyfrozen I have one plugged into the wall and my fire detectors also have Carbon monoxide detectors.
I have a couple of buddies. Use in home, trailer home and tent. I love the product. It only runs for 5 1/2 to 6 hrs on low. I have used them for about 4yrs now. Works awesomely.
I like the buddy heaters but the small canisters of fuel dosent last long enough for me. I would recommend a larger 30 or 40 lb tank outside. Then use the small canisters for back up.
Awesome i need this
New sub here I to live in Canada just bought one myself …..I don’t have a vent like that have to open a window a bit …
I've used one in a house room once. No problems with CO. I did keep the window cracked open though. The only real problem I had with one of these heaters is that it got fouled quickly. A propane filter is a must.
What is a propane filter?
@@michaeldaley1861It is an inline filter that traps impurities in the propane. It comes in an aluminum body. Various hardware stores sell it for this heater under the brand name Mr. Heater. However there appears to be a shortage on it right now.
My Story!!! I was moving my daughter cross country and spent the night in Missoula MT, during the winter, in the back of a small moving truck. I closed the back door due to the snow. I lit the Buddy one bottle Heater and suspended it on the wall. It was fine for one hour on low and then it went out. I tried to light it again but the lighter would not light so I couldn't relight the heater. I laid back down and remembered the heater has a sensor so I opened the back door and stuck the lighter outside and it lit. I brought it back inside and the lighter would not light. BOOM!!!!! I opened the back door to get fresh air inside. After a few minutes I was able to light the heater again. That told me the heater WAS NOT SAFE in an enclosed space. So I spent the rest of the night without heat.
You have to vent, just like it says.
Your story makes no damn sense. Sounds like you're a hazard to yourself and your daughter.
@@MrSupernova111 Sorry you are can not understand a simple story. The fact is this heater is NOT safe in an enclosed area with no fresh air input. But you can use it.
As the propane tank is used the propane gets colder. Watch for a frost line. The boiling point of propane is -44F so when the propane boils down to that temperature fuel pressure is zero.
SO WHEN YOU SAID BOOM, DID IT EXPLODE?
Thanks for doing this video. I have this heater and was afraid of this but sometimes it was so cold I would turn it on, but just leave it on for like 15-30 minutes so that I could at least get changed in some comfort. Now I have some reassurance that I can maybe push it further for my next outing.
A battery powered CO detector with digital readout like the one in the video runs about $30 USD and is a small price to pay for extra insurance. You can even fasten it to the heater with a velcro strip so they are always together.
Push it as hard as you can, after all the only thing that can happen is that u will fall asleep. Not like it's going to blow up...
If someone hasn't already said so, the 4 square inch opening is for the heater to have enough oxygen to operate at optimum efficiency
I got one of these for my wife, she ran it night and day,...now I’m a happy single man patrolling the local bars, I absolutely love these things!
So, she gave you up for a heater? Pleas respond quickly. Tractor Supply is open two more hours.
bobberguy1 r/wooosh
LOL
Well..your both are likely happier.
Checked with my wife though and she’s against it...SURPRISED.
@@strangedays4 why are the girls whores?
I'm a 40 year home renovator. I purchased one only for extreme emergencies. That kidde dector only goes off after 30 whatever. In the USA they consider that ok, here in Canada we have stricker rules.
It produces water vapor, hence condensation around the perimeter of your vehicle, hence possible mold build up.
Like the Firefighter said be careful
Is this detector good? www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005FU5J5Q/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div
@@johncpen2000 I'm not sure. I have two wall mounted 'Kidde' carbon monoxide detectors with 10 year batteries. Contrary to what I said back then these only go off after a certain point is passed. I'm in Canada.
The small buddies are good BUT I wish it had a thermostat that turns it on and off.
Something tells me the price of those would be jacked with thermostats...dunno
@@robertallen6710 true
Ok. Thanks for this video. I have one of these and have been nervous about carbon monoxide too. I use it in the truck as a heater. So far have used it for several years with no problems. However, I can smell a few fumes from the actual propane. I still think it's best to ventilate a little bit.
I've had one for years and it is awesome. Tent, camper or inside as long as you have air flow.
Just bought one and plan to use it in a tent. Glad to hear it works
Use a propane tank to run a dual fuel generator outside, then run an electric heater inside powered by the generator. Walla, 0 co2 inside but technically propane heating.
Propane doesn’t do well in the cold.
I was always under the impression that, regardless of what the manufacturer says, we all need to leave a window or a roof vent cracked to prevent condensation, if nothing else. I've been to numerous "unattended deaths" caused by carbon monoxide as an Criminal Investigator. Most of them were accidental, some were intentional, (which I'll just leave as that.) ALL of the accidental deaths were preventable with more education. It amazes to that, even in this day and age, people still misuse devices that run off of carbon-based fuels. Bottom line is, you made a very good video, and did a good job testing the heater, but there's no way I could use one in an enclosed area without fear of injury to myself or my wife.
I have one of these heaters. Use it in my boat for heat if needed. Have a CO monitor as well as smoke detector. Have had the smoke alarm go off occasionally while cooking but have never had a CO event. Note: I always keep a window cracked to prevent the low oxygen shutdown. Do not use while sleeping, just use warm bedding and reheat boat in the A.M. No issues.
I've used my Mr heater for several years in my 12x24 cabin in New Hampshire woods without ever having problem
I live in Oregon and we were just without power for 3 days. We have 2 Buddy Heaters and used 15 bottles of propane. Glad we had our Buddy.
15 big bottles or little bottles?
@@laineybugger little bottles
Of course you need open vents for the depletion of o2 alone. I recommend getting a diesel heater that has a sealed combustion chamber. You route the exhaust and combustion intake outside. They work great and have a pretty neat control module that shows you error codes. Very fuel efficient I use one to heat my house.
which one you use in your house?
Hi. Tip for natural gas home furnaces. You can (I have) wire your furnace via extension cord (of appropriate gage) and plug it into a 110v wall outlet for normal operation. I’ve mounted a wall outlet with one plug and an on/off switch to the outside of my furnace. If you have kids, choose an appropriate place for mounting. When (not if) you have a power outage in the winter you can unplug furnace from the wall outlet and plug it into your generator outside - repeat OUTSIDE! (my generator is only 4300 watt output, works great). I got the idea from other RUclips videos, search for and watch for more details. Of course you should consult an electrician and local electrical codes first. Unfortunately, I don’t think you can power your whole house AC in this way with anything but a large generator.
I despise giving the local utilities company money, so I heat with a woodstove, and this year I bought a heat buddy to use in the bathroom for some extra heat on that end of my mobile home. So far so good, it definitely does the trick! Thanks for the extra reassurance though. And I was confused by what the box said as well, I’m in Tennessee and it says the same thing, not for indoor use., etc.. I only turn it on a few minutes before a shower and turn it off afterwards, works perfect for that! Stay warm!
Good call. My local utility is worse than DMV, so I may follow your lead.
Always allow for a small draft and FRESH air movement. I live in the country work in the city. When in city I live in a van for the the duration of the work week.
The gas heater in our home is 35 years old. When we moved in 8 years ago I was a bit paranoid about having such an old heater so I bought almost a dozen CO detectors for our 5 bedroom home. We have a mix of the digital readout and the type that just alarms but no readout. I also put a smoke detector in the closet where our electrical panel is in. I've never seen a readout above zero. When it comes time to replace a CO detector I'll put it near a car exhaust just to confirm it really was working all these years.
That might work with a really old car but the catalytic converters will put out close to zero hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. An old car would put out one or two percent.
@@lightningdemolition1964 - interesting...I'll update this comment in a couple years when my CO detector reaches end-of-life. I'll try this on my 2006 Toyota, 2012 Honda, and 2022 motorcycle.
@@donaldlee6760 all you need is a single charcoal briquette from the BBQ. Voluminous carbon monoxide to be had with no fuss or muss 😎
I’ve heard doing that will destroy the detector, so never put it near the car exhaust
I have used Mr. Buddy & Mr. Heaters for years. They have been very reliable . I always crack a window as an added safety. However recently I have bought a bunch of the little Mr. Buddy heaters at Costco for $79. I even gave 4 away for Christmas gifts last year. I have used 3 other ones for myself. All 3 have had a malfunction at the pilot light and they quit working . I returned them to Costco. Thinking it was a bad batch. Got another one and it did the same thing. I have larger Mr Heater’s and they still work flawlessly. I’m done buying the little Mr. Buddy s.
You did a marvelous job with the CO aspect!! VERY impressive and thorough.
It would be great to also test the O2 levels in much the same manner. Yes, the Buddy has the 'low O2 shutdown', but at what level of O2 does it shut down and how safe is that level, whatever it is?? A CO2 monitor would be an indirect way to test it, but there are O2 level monitors available that have a digital display similar to the CO monitor you used in the video. If you had added the O2 monitor during the test you did, we'd all know how much the O2 levels were affected in the test.
It's worth mentioning about the condensation - open flames from propane produce water vapor as a byproduct, which is the source of much or all the condensation you had. Some viewers would benefit from learning this.
Thanks, water vapor yucky
Pretty sure I read where a guy did a test in a barrel with one and it shut down at 16% 02 concentration. So plenty safe that way
He did not do a marvelous job with the CO. That’s incorrect use and I’m surprise it’s not mentioned. The unit he used is alarm only. Not measurement indication.
@@Peeziejizzle At the end he tests it on his truck exhaust and it definitely showed a measurement first, followed by alarm.
I have the same one and use it for winter tent camping. I never had any issues with mine but my tent is ventilated so you have to keep that in mind.
Great Video.. Ive used a Buddy Heater for years in my Class A motorhome as I'm a full time RV guy and have had No problems.... "Works Amazing"..
The thing about Propane is: It is HEAVIER THAN AIR, burning Propane produces CO2 and water Vapour. the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is also heavier than air, and will settle into the lowest point and collected and build up, Parking your RV/Trailer/Camper or tent with the buddy heater in the lowest point, facing your sleeping area, with a very small opening behind the heater, will prevent CO2 or propane vapour from removing all the oxygen, A Dehumidifier will remove the water vapour. Ideally in an RV/TT/Camper you want the water vapour to be below 40%
I'm not worried about the CO levels (the Buddy has a built-in CO monitor). What I worry about is condensation, which always seems to be problematic for propane heaters. The last thing that I want when I'm camping 4hrs North of Moosonee, in the winter, is condensation build-up inside my camper, or tent. That's instant death, mate!
For real, I use my Big Buddy in north eastern Nevada mostly during October and May and I go to a lot of trouble to put RainX on my windows...ON THE INSIDE of the Fifth Wheel because of the condensation. And I never leave it on while I am asleep. During November through April I use a micro woodstove from Cubic called Grizzly and it takes the moisture out of the air...very nice.
@@boydwhite3708 did you even WATCH this video? As.s
Use one ice fishing, but wouldn't take chances in a camper or pay the money to go through those little bottles. I used my furnace two nights in a row in single digit temps (f) and only drained the batteries to 1/2. My solar panel charges them right back up in the daytime. Too much of a gamble when you weigh the possibilities...O2 depletion, CO buildup, fire danger...etc. Just my 2 cents. Great video though and brought up good discussions.
Thanks for taking time to perform the carbon monoxide test. I trustMr Heater more now and am getting ready for the frigid weather🙌🏼
I have the big buddy in our camper. I put a quick propane connector and it works great. We use it when we are up and shut it down when sleeping. Saves our battery. I have friends that run it all night with a window cracked.
Thanks for the practical use test! I just bought the smaller version for my 8x16 trailer. I will immediately purchase a CO detector too. And thanks for the temperature in C and F for an American guy!!! R
Great video! Little Buddy kept me from freezing to death when I had to live in an uninsulated bus for 5 years in the PNW. Please, my Canadian friend, the vital importance of readily accessible Fire Extinguishers cannot be emphasized enough in any type of RV. I have two twenty pound ones next to my bed and one near my woodstove.
I have twenty two pound ones 🤔
Want so badly to get a wood stove to heat n cook but then there's the issue if venting it which cost $$$$$
The true test would be to let it run all night, un-vented, using a more sensitive CO detector. Still, it all depends on how tightly sealed the enclosure is. If perfectly tight, it will eventually use up all the oxygen and fill with CO. Not perfectly tight will just take longer. Even vented (as Dave commented) CO will build to a level that might not kill you today, but is still unhealthy in the long run.
If it produces less than 1 PPM of CO, that is not enough to be considered unhealthy.
@@Teeitup68 100ppm not 1
The good digital alarms are triggered at 100ppm
I have a Little Buddy for my A Frame pop up camper and have never had a problem with it. Heats up really well, keeps me toasty and will continue using it during my camping trips. Great video. Really informative. Kudos to you fellow Canadian!
Thanks a ton. We just bought one for our boat. Common sense and being informed always helps one cross the road, as I was taught over 60 years ago. Many thanks from a fellow B.C. Canadian. Happy trails and safe boating everyone.
Thanks from the North Thompson, BC
I've been using Little Buddy heaters in my R.V for years now, frequently in below freezing temps. I also have a CO monitor. The only time it has ever gone off is if I don't have the roof vent open enough. Basic chemistry: The product of propane combustion is almost entirely CO2 & H2O. The only time significant amounts of CO is produced is when environmental oxygen (O2) levels begin to fall which then causes inefficient combustion and you start getting CO rather than CO2. That's why the auto-shut off is linked to 02 levels, not CO. Low O2 is a precursor to high CO so the heater shuts off before conditions deteriorate to the point CO will begin being produced. But either way--CO or CO2 --you still get the same amount of H2O. It's the water condensate that is the problem w/ propane heaters of this type. In my experience, if we don't open the roof vents enough, water begins to condense on the walls and ceiling long before the CO alarm goes off. Nobody likes dying in their sleep from CO asphyxiation, true 'nuff, but being dripped on all night long from condensate coming off the ceiling can be pretty annoying, too.
You can still have plenty of oxygen on the floor while you're getting poisoned by carbon monoxide above that especially in a subzero environment. The oxygen sensor is on the floor where oxygen is going to be the carbon monoxide is not going to be there the shut-off valve is completely pointless. I nearly died from using one of these because it didn't shut off.
I've used them in a mobile home during the colder months of winter to supplement heat. Also great for emergency heating if power is out. I always sit them on a brick up off ground. I never had no issues besides typical maintenance.
I use one all de tym n ey don't hab kno problems... Mabe a liddl dize an heakkes mi wif sez im akting stuped,
Thanks very much Taylor. I'm looking at getting one for my boat and was wondering if it will heat enough, as well as will it poison me. I Googled and got lots of conflicting reports on these propane heaters. Your tests and subsequent results have put my worries to rest. Much appreciated.
they need to be kept level, so not sure how well they'll work on a boat. i've fished with a guy who uses those ones that mount on a 20 lb tank, for on his boat, and those work great.
@@zzz7zzz9 Thanks for that. I'm hoping I'll be OK in that regard because I get seasick quite easily so generally only go out in calm conditions.
@@keithscott9774 ya. And now that i think about it, i did take mine out a few times, on a friend's boat, trolling on winter days. The buddy heater did work fine while trolling.
@@zzz7zzz9 The heaters that mount on top of propane tanks are NOT SAFE. They generate too much CO.
@@Dxyzxyz ya, but this was out on a boat. No way of any harm.
The problem with propane is that it creates a lot of condensation, therefore humidity and that's something you want to avoid in any type of camper. So if you have the money, the best is to go for a diesel heater. I did some research on that, and it's strongly recommended to avoid Chinese brands. They are very affordable, but not dependable and even dangerous. The bests are: Webasto/Air Top and Eberspatcher/Espar Airtronic. Get a 4 to 5.5kw.
You will get alot of moisture from that Mr. Buddy heater but you have vents so as long as you're comfortable with it then it's fine I've used it in a cabin and in a van for few days but they can cause mold and mildew if not ventilated good
Sounds good, it's also a humidifier.
If you crack open the instruction manual (vs the marketing blurb on the outside of the box), it is safe for indoor emergency heating use when using the 1LB propane cylinders, but *not* with the 20LB cylinder. The "indoor vs outdoor" is due to the fuel supply, not CO buildup.
You do need some amount of ventilation, though to provide combustion air and vent CO/CO2/H20. They give the vent requirements in the manual. It's not large, a 4 inch dia vent for the "Big Buddy" (12,000 BTU) model.
It does say not to sleep with it running. But with a CO Alarm, it should be totally fine.
I use a similar indoor rated heater and something to note is that it creates humidity. I like it because where I usually camp it's quite dry, but it's something to be aware of. On days with more humidity I've woken up to find the windows 'sweating' on the inside. I like that it's quiet, uses less propane, and no battery power. I leave the RV's thermostat on in case it gets too cold for the little heater to keep us comfy.
I use mine all winter in a 29 ft trailer , never have a problem
@@TheMgd2929how much propane does it use per night if you don’t mind me asking
Best solution is a warm sleeping bag. Turn the heater on to warm up the camper then turn it off and climb into the sleeping bag 👍
NO! The BEST solution is a RUSSIAN SUPER MODEL who's immigration status is 'questionable' and YOU have some contacts.
@@fangfour ROFLMAO!!!!!! I got a Texas Fair Ground Beauty for that.....and she's frisky!!!! :-)
@@fangfour--Nothing says "overindulgence" like a fat cat jackass president and a Russian supermodel trophy wife.
Uvjhamil,
DH and I have excellent, -40°, ‘expedition-style’ (these models were used on Everest) sleeping bags, which we zip together for maximum warmth. They’re great, but they’re not enough when our Canadian winters get serious. Even putting three duvets on top of our bags isn’t good enough. Our little ensemble keeps *us* warm enough but the rest of the RV freezes, and we can’t allow that, as we have both musical instruments and sensitive electronics on board.
Bottom line: We need our Big Buddy!💃💃💃
Jesse Leigh Brackstone I have a Big Buddy that I use to heat my 12’x15’ uninsulated shop,works great but any device that consumes oxygen in an airtight space can lead to hypoxia so just make sure there is some amount of ventilation. 👍
Got one of these for me and my wife when we went tent camping with my buddies and their girlfriends. The wifes not big into the outdoor scene or the cold so this was my bargaining chip with her. I must say these things are pretty damn amazing, I did go through 2 tanks of propane though but it was 15 degrees (Fahrenheit) and I ran on high the whole night. Worst part of having a heater while camping is dealing with the ball busting from your friends that you need a heater to go camping.
Hickock
Do you keeps windows down or just slightly open when in the tent?
Used one for two winters. No problem with the unit, only the user, who hung a towel above it to dry. Didn't mean to fall asleep but I did. Towel dried and came off its hangar onto the flame. Woke to lots of smoke and a small fire, the towel burning on the unit. I've never moved so fast. It was almost the end of me.
I love my buddy heater, Its a good ( back up ) for me and because I refill the 1 pound bottles it costs virtually nothing.
my motorhome has a forced air propane furnace and it does use a lot of energy to run.
I've used one in an rv for 3 years now. Still breathing.
You save me 14:18 minutes my hero
@@KazOn120FPS you should watch the video. He shows that while the CO gets to a level that won't kill you instantly, it does get to a level that can harm you from repeated long term exposure.
Rocky Pine Ranch, no insult intended, but your comment is similar to saying "I've smoked for 3 years now. Still breathing."
Great 😁, but that doesn't mean it's not harmful over the long term.
I'm glad.
@@gellotion Self righteous Cunt's are more likely to be Murdered, within the next three years, though, which might be harmful, to your health, over the long term.
Got to remember these are not meant to be use for extended lengths of time. Their for hunting sheds and ice fishing shacks and emergency heating.
I used this model in the cabin of my sailboat. It worked very well when I set the output to "High". My CO detector did not alert. The heater worked well on the "Low" output setting, but the CO detector alerted to an abnormally high level. This made sense since CO is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. So, fair warning... Keep the CO meter/detector functional!
You should read some of the comments....a firefighter says it's not safe..
I'm a paramedic/firefighter as well. I use the same CO ("Four Gas") meters at work. I kept my reply at a Harry Homeowner level instead of trying to explain the varying levels of carboxyhemoglobin that the human body endures. I simply intended to cast a warning.
@@ryannorris2878 the unit literally says it will k*ll you. To each their own. I wonder if this guys okay, he hasn't posted a video in a year.
@@Alien_isolationistI watched a video they did tests at the fire department in a camper and it was completely safe
I use one to take the chill off my bathroom before I jump in the shower or when I'm working in my garage. It's an awesome little appliance.
The catalist raises the Temperature enough to burn off the CO. CO is a flammable gas.