Many years ago my buddy and I were fishing overnight and drinking way too much whisky. Both passed out. I woke up in a bit of a stupor to see the sunflower burning, but not in the unit. The base of the flames only started about 6” above the top of the unit. Drunk me thought that’s weird, better have a dart. Tried lighting a smoke, and as you mentioned, the lighter wouldn’t work. That’s when I realized what was happening, so I woke up Jonny and opened the door. Almost instantly the flames from the heater disappeared and the heater began normal operation. Scared the snot out of us being so close to having never woke up again.
You've done a lot of great videos over the years, Clay, but let this be your legacy. You've saved lives with this video. A lot of people needed to see this and you're absolutely the guy to bring the message. Thank you!!!
What? This has been done MULTIPLE times, by multiple people. I mean I like the guy and his content, but this is simply a repeat of the same old stuff. Anyone who doesn't already know this, just doesn't care to.
Everybody preaches it but you can’t beat seeing it first hand. Don’t trust anything completely, back up your back ups. I was out camping last weekend with a friend and had my new this year big buddy on low in my tent with 1 vent open while I was hanging out fishing in my friends tent. After 2 hours I heard my co detector going off and it was almost at 70 ppm with the big buddy still running.
ive been in 1500-1600 PPM room before. Threw up within 20 minutes of working, headache for an hour or so. Brother in law was running a forklift in a small room, he said it would be fine. the detector was broken. we were rebuilding a carwash. I was young and inexperienced.
Crazy to see how fast both heaters build up co ppm... sunflower used to be my main overnight heater due to its reliability and relatively smaller footprint. And I have even used both of these heaters at the same time overnight on real cold nights. Scary to think how dangerous it could have been. Good thing we usually don't sleep much and fish for the better part of the night...I guess the pee breaks saved our butts..lol. Thanks for doing this Clayton!! Very good information!! 👍
@Clayton Schick Outdoors for sure! Gotta be so aware out there! Thanks again for the much needed reminder and info! Stay safe out there and Merry Christmas!!! :)
Ya last season I thought the vents in a quick fish 3 would be good for air for a sunflower. I was wrong. Luckily I woke up to pee as the flame was lifting off the burner due to no oxygen in the space. I felt real funny and couldn't really think lol. Dodged a bullet that nite and approach the whole thing much different now. Keep up the good work and hard fishing brother! Peace from the INW
@@LuRanOutdoors the heater would put you to sleep with the carbon monoxide.. 😉 all seriousness I had an issue with my gas furnace in my home and my carbon monoxide detector went off. It's kinda scary. Ultimately any heat generated by a gas propellent should run with the utmost respect.
snowmobile ripping across the lake at 100mph at night has taken out several ice fishermen near me in the last couple years. reflective material and even external lights are great for safety!
Went oovernight camping with a sunflower heater… it almost killed us. I woke up because the heater was almost out and I was getting cold. I had a pounding immediate headache. I opened the fish house door and woooosh the sunflower fired right up. It literally had used up almost all the oxygen. I have no idea what the CO was but that headache lasted all day. I’m grateful for this video for others. Thank you Clayton, this video WILL save lives (probably the most important video you’ve made)
You can never be too long when it comes to preaching safety. Just remember the alternative, you're a long time taking a dirt nap. Glad to see that you took the lead in promoting this safety. Merry Christmas all. Thanks Clayton for all you do promoting the GREAT OUTDOORS.
This is why diesel heaters are the way to go! Dry heat that will actually dry you and yiur stuff out, and produces virtually zero emissions in the shack.
This video is awesome. So many people simply overlook this yearly, I've never ran a sunflower in my shanty. My Grandpa had a propane stove built into his spearing shanty and I know that I was exposed to about 15-20 ppm. Thank you for the amazing video, safety is key.
All professional youtubers should be preaching safety its a must as a lot of people look for advice and tips on you tube myself included i always have both vents open and one of the doors cracked a little bit when sleeping id rather wake up a little chilly then wake up dead.😁 Great job Clayton.
Hey Clayton. A video that was due!! Excellent real life test. Just one or two tips if I may add from experience. Always carry 2 Co2 detectors. Very cheap insurance. You never know if one should fail, batteries are low, etc.... And locate from what I understand lower to the ground. Not on the ice but lets say at bed level. Just like going into busk walking, hunting trails, etc. 2 compasses of some sort to never doubt your direction. Second, when setting up camp fingers can be cold and tightening up hoses and tanks can be a challenge. Always double and even triple check your connections. We had a leaking hose once and almost burnt down the monster lodge! Lesson learned. Keep up with the excellent content!
Great video Clayton! I shared it to the Ice fishing South Dakota page on Facebook. 35 years ago we didn't have the Big Buddy option. I had a 4x8 wood pop up with canvas and the kerosene Coleman lantern (with the mantles) would go dim and I would start pumping it up but no change. I would crack the little window and instantly it would get brighter. A person just doesn't realize how much O2 is being robbed until you see stuff like that. Stay safe! Tight lines bud! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I always keep my vents open and a window above my head open while ice camping, keep that fresh air coming in at all times, never once had issues or my alarm go off
Great video Clayton, you may have just saved a life with that knowledge provided, because of your position on youtube this will be very effective as it will get passed along among us ice fishermen outdoor enthusiasts, and we educate new people to the hobby well beyond this video. Cheers and Mery christmas 🎄
Sharing video with all my camping and ice fishing friends!! Good points made. I've told them several times to keep good ventilation if the heaters are on, now they know and knowing is half the battle...
Thanks for reminding me why I don't like fishing in a tent with a heater . Even with the window open I would get a headache and eyes would hurt . Get a good warm snow mobile suit and see how fast you need to take it off in a tent even on a cold day with it being closed . Merry Christmas Clayton and get out doors !
My uncle was fishing all day and he thought he was running out of propane bc his sunflower was dying out. He opened the door to his tent to run out and get something and the flower instantly fired back up, bc of lack of oxygen in the tent. Play safe everyone! Also in Winnipeg a couple died from their heater. They weren’t getting the proper gas/oxygen mix which will produce more CO2 than usual.
We have a 20 lb cylinder with a sunflower heater and we use all the time. We dont ice camp but fish for 14 hours sometimes but with the two vents in our eskimo shelter and the fact that I am opening and closing the door often because I pop holes all over there is no chance of co2 poisoning happening but it makes you think.
Like you mentioned the sunflowers are way way more consistent and reliable especially in the cold. But definitely rely on the big buddy for over night situations.
I think the mistake that most people make is assume that the vents is all that is needed. For the vents to vent air out you need an opening to replace the vented air. I always leave a door cracked open on the bottom and my co detector always reads 0. This is with a buddy heater.
Carbon monoxide is similar to mercury in the fact that it is extremely difficult for our bodies to process or displace. Once CO binds to the hemoglobin in our blood, it takes up the "slot" that oxygen uses. CO is also 240x more attracted to your blood than regular oxygen. Be safe everyone.
So happy you made this vid very informative detailed and honest. I have used the sunflower, it puts out good heat but i definitely feel a little funny after using it in a hut. I have since switched to a buddy style heater
Critically important illustration … not just relevant to shacks but also your home heating systems and ensuring adequate ventilation. Excellent job Sir!👍👏👏👏👏👏 Good job including the Garmin satellite as we get lulled into the security that having a cell alone is secure enough!
I love my Mr.heater buddy. Kept me warm on some blistering cold days. Would appreciate a new one but mines working awesome. I'll need a new shack soon but it's still holding on lol. Merry Christmas Clayton and family!!
After watching your video, it reveals a great opportunity for Kidde to reevaluate the warning alarm frequency and the db level on the CO device! Thank you so much Clayton.
Wow. I've been using a sunflower for years with the vets open. I've had only one experience where I didn't have it vented and it was wild. I did buy a diesel heater and love it.
Great video Clayton. I used to use a sunflower till one day ice fishing I got really nauseous with a severe headache. Got up and went outside and then it dawned on me. Sunflower went in garbage, Big Buddy purchased. Have had it 5 years. It bounces around in my sled, gets filled with snow and never have had an issue with it. Next purchase,as in this week, will be a detector.
It is worth mentioning, there is a difference between a Carbon Monoxide Detector and "personal" Carbon Monoxide Detector. One is meant for your house the other is meant to be carried on your person. I am not advising either way but it does mention in the instructions of the House Detectors, that they are not meant for Marine applications (I am assuming inside the cabin of the boat) or small rooms. The instructions also mention not for use in less than 4 degrees. Do your own research folks and look out for each other.
thanks for this video! I have a sunflower, sometimes after hours running ill get head aches. i always vent more than i think i need but now im ordering a CM-detector. i have seen a cpl people rig camping wood stoves with small propane elements inside, so it will heat the stove and vent the gasses. fairly easy to set up and its possible do it in a way that you can still burn wood if you wanted. Also makes cooking way easier than balancing racks on a buddy.
Awsome video Clay. You just opened a lot of eyes on why the big buddy is the better heater. The one thing you may want to consider if you ever get around to doing another test like this is add a tent fan in each and see if air circulation makes a difference
Very good information thank you for sharing this Clayton I'm one of the people that uses a sunflower heater when I'm ice fishing I've never had any good luck with the Buddy heaters. When I use my sunflower I keep one of my windows open in my Hut almost completely. However I do not sleep with my sunflower when I'm ice camping
Same here. One door is always partially open. Sunflower is super reliable and throws off so much heat. Big buddies have been a nightmare for me with regards to dependability. I also don't sleep, I fish all night and get out to stretch my legs a lot.
@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors definitely got to keep the vents clear and open like I said I usually have one of my windows open almost completely and I also forgot to mention I don't always seal my Hut to the ice with snow
@@Van020280 I've heard of quite a few people that do not like the dependability of the Big Buddy Heater so we're not the only ones. Yeah if I'm up there to fish at night I'm usually fishing and not sleeping very much. Also it wouldn't be a bad idea for these manufacturers of the ice fishing Huts to add a few more vents in the top would not be a bad idea.
Great information, crazy to see how fast it built up to a dangerous level. Glad you did a video like this as so many more people are trying winter camping and over nights on the ice.
Well said, Clayton. Kudos for addressing this safety issue. I 😂would have liked to know the temperatures associated with your findings as well, but the main thing is the safety when utilizing any heater in confined spaces. Thanx again Clayton.
Many years ago I purchased the sunflower heater. First time using it my eyes and throat had burning sensitive issues. Contacted customer service and figured out the jet diameter in my heater was the wrong size. They asked for my zip code and sent me the correct part, easy to replace and issues resolved. Taken me a long time to trust that heater…
Great video. Would love to see a follow up with the sunflower and how things worked if you vented the tent a little. Maybe also compare temps in the tent and how they related to the amount of venting.
Great video, definitely could save lives. It would be nice to see what you do overnight with keeping heat in your shelter, venting, and all so you can sleep comfortably
Great comparison! I run the little buddy heater and have good luck. Run kerosene in the diesel heater and wont gel and burns cleaner. Have run mine for 2 days on a standard deep cycle battery with no issues. Sip voltage and fuel.
Thank you for sharing. Hopefully, this will wake people up to the hidden danger!!! And as far as wood stove or diesel, you can still have a funky situation that causes CO. ALWAYS have a detectoe. Best 40 bucks you'll ever spend
Wow. I spend $100 on a great ice rod but wince at $25 on kidde detector. Thanks Clayton. My hope is someone watched this and you saved a life! Most fun comes with risk know how to reduce risk and have more fun!
Great educational video Clayton! Awesome job on making people aware of the dangers of propane heaters. This is a great video not only for fishermen but for hunters that are in a fire burn ban area and not able to have wood stove going. I have used the dual sunflower burner on a propane tank and they work great but having them running all night while you sleep is dangerous. Great video post! 👍
Awesome video, sir. Thank you for doing this. I don’t ice fish cause I don’t trust the ice here in southern Ohio but I never miss one of your videos. I find your ice fishing techniques work really well when I can get my boat out in the cold weather, though. I would be willing to bet you saved several viewers severe issues and maybe even saved a life with this one. Merry Christmas!
Good stuff Clayton I run a sunflower all year. Thanks for the information on what to look for, I have heard that they are dangerous but now I know how deadly! Thanks
This is an extremely important topic. Thank you for addressing it. What’s I also find terrifying is the breath(second hand smoke) of a smoker can be as high and even higher than 100 PPM of carbon monoxide. Many people smoke in their huts and although it’s not a sustained exposure with smoking it’s scary how potent the co level can be just from smoking.
The pilot + PTO system on the buddy heaters is very trustworthy. Its actually mandatory to have the same low oxygen shut off system on newer gas powered water heaters for your home. 18:03 NGL i was worried you were going to pass out. What I'd love to do is retro fit a small slide in camper specifically for winter camping and just use it as a base camp while its on the truck as i fish all day with the snowmobile. I could litteraly go and fish and travel anywhere and be comfortable sleeping at the same time.
It's good to know some of this stuff, even running a sensor during a day of ice fishing would be useful I'm sure. I'm going to start running it when I get out on the ice.
One thing about the sunflower heater. It produces so much more heat. I feel like it would drive you out the tent or at least force you to turn it down or off for a while. Prob safe to say with the sunflower heater you wouldn’t need your shack closed up tight to stay warm which would def make it safer carbon monoxide wise. Great video. Makes me wonder with lot of people I’ve seen struggling to get their buddy heaters to restart it was prob low o2 sensor kicking in
It’s an important conversation to have, as it’s truly a silent killer. The NIOSH 8 hr average exposure limit is set at 35 ppm, which would be easy to exceed if proper ventilation isn’t used. We always should remember CO is a poison and can accumulate in your bloodstream over time. Cheers and good information.
Great video Clayton! My wife bought me a Forensics Detector CO detector that goes all the way down to the 1 ppm detection. Last year I noticed myself getting a headache and “woozy” at 6.5 ppm. Opened up door a bit and vents and cleared right up. Home CO monitor can help, but highly recommend getting a personal CO detector if you camp out on the ice!
I have been ice fishing in home made huts and tents for over thirty years have used both kinds of heaters on the ice and in hunting tints I now use a small wood stove with a gas burner in side I can be 35 to 40 in outside temps down two -25 this works very good for me I get 48hr out of a 29lb bottle and I never get ice inside like I did when I used the catalytic heaters .this is vary safe but you still have watch out. I now us a 8' by 8' with come floor an run stack out window a small peace of plywood under stove with a peace of sheet metal on top of my flooring. this has been my favorite way to fish for over thirty years I am 70 and steel go when ever the ice is good
Thank you. New to ice fishing and having been contemplating a sunflower heater because you get the best bang for buck with BTUs but I didn’t even think about carbon monoxide threats. Thank you. Seriously! Have a merry Christmas :)
Great video Clayton. Also remember that CO2 is heavier than oxygen. The reading on top of that bucket is less than the entire area below it. So when you opened the door it probably wafted up to you, and you took a big hit.
Awesome video buddy. One cannot express enough how important it is to be cautious and be safe when doing overnights. Even when fishing in a tent during the day for a long period of time it is nice to have a CO detector just in case. We just got off the ice from an overnight in -40 with the diesel heater. There’s definite pros and cons. But all said and done. I also trust the buddy heater systems. PS thanks for the shout out.
We have a diesel heater as well. Havent used it for ice camping yet. Just be sure the exhaust vents outside. Excellent job on your video on your CDH as well!
With the big buddy heater, I did a little experiment with an air monitor. I found that running the big buddy on high in my 6x12 hard-side shack with the windows closed, CO was 10ppm at most. The concerning thing was the monitor was alarming due to it reaching concentrations below 19.5% ,which is considered oxygen deficient. With the windows open, I would get O2 readings of around 20.3 to 20.4%. Running on medium or low the atmosphere stayed fairly normal. Remember these thing not only put out CO they also put out CO2 which pushes out or consumes the O2 in the space.
I really appreciate you making this video! People need to know. I spent the night in a 4 man Eskimo, on a cot so a ways off the ground, with a little buddy heater. I woke up about 2 or 3am sick as a dog and i couldn't walk. Confused and vertigo and my head was pounding, but because of folks like you I immediately knew what happened. crawled outside and laid in the snow for a few minutes and within maybe 15 I was fine. Slept in the truck until tip up time. I have absolutely had them shut off before and we just air the place out. But i don't know if maybe the CO got so high, but still enough O2 that it didn't shut off? Either way I was okay but my alarm was probably set for 6 or 7 and another 4 hours... side story, I was parked next to the pit toilet at the state park access and just stuck the buddy heater in there. FIgured the 6am poop would be nice and warm. About 5am I was in the passenger seat in a sleeping bag and the trooper came up, checked the sticker that I'd paid for my spot, then went into the bathroom. Was in there a little while. I like to think I made his morning lol. it was still running when I got there. +1 for the Garmin InReach. Got mine for hunting but now I carry it just like phone and bear spray anytime I'm out there. If anyone bothered to read my essay, be safe and catch fish almost as big as mine😁
In our HAZMAT operations and general alarms in which we attend, the TLV (Threshold Limit Value) of CO is 25PPM which is the “Safe/Unsafe” zone of a general 8 hour workday. Anything above 25PPM we will immediately evacuate that area. Key to remember is CO is slightly lighter than air so the CO will be mixed evenly with a fan making the myth of “keeping the monitor low” a complete myth. Think ahead and stay safe 👨🚒
Great video, thanks for the experiment! Like others have recommended I would still get a more sensitive Ice fishing monitor/detector. Hovering at 30+ppm with just the small vents open and not setting off a detector or turning a buddy heater off from low oxygen can give you headaches, ect over long exposure (your propane throat in the morning???). I've had less headaches, feeling tired and felt overall better since keeping my tent vented to an absolute minimum CO exposure using the windows too and monitoring. Buddy heaters are way safer but not perfect. 30 ppm can affect kids/elderly/smokers and people sensitive to it pretty bad. The small, waterproof, low temperature, sensitive CO detector from Forensic Detectors is the way to go! Basement ones aren't made for ice fishing IMO, Better than nothing for sure but leave the orange juice at home and invest in something more rugged, waterproof and sensitive for your throat, health and possibly life. Cheers and thanks for touching on this topic Clayton, those sunflowers are scary! P.S. you are nuts for going in that tent without venting it out first! Be careful my friend. Tight lines and Thanks for everything! Happy Holidays!
OSHA standard in the states is 50 ppm for 8 hours. So anything throwing more than that overnight is not safe. Good job showing the detectors that show levels. People need to be aware of what they're exposing themselves to in a shanty.
I'm planning my first overnight on the ice this year great advice thanks for all your amazing videos Clayton by far my favorite angler out there cheers 🍻
So why was the Big Buddy shutting off?? I know technically why, but we all fish way more than 1 hour at a time without it shutting off. I’ve never seen it shit off in your other videos. I’ve had mine for over 10 years in an insulated Otter and it’s never shut off. It’s just interesting that it shut off for this video.
Kudos to you, Clayton, for taking a moment to help keep people safe. You continue to be such a stand up dude. Great content as always. I hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Excellent video Clayton. I really appreciate this video and the morality of you taking it upon yourself to demonstrate the dangers of this heater. It’s so easy to show the sunny side of overnight camping on the ice, but I’m glad you see the importance of demonstrating what could go wrong as well. Thank you!
Finally someone admits that buddy heaters have problems and the sunflower is more reliable. I will continue to use my sunflower. I just think venting my tent will be enough to keep me safe. I would have liked to see what the CO detected after the door was opened for a minute or two to see how fast the levels dropped back down.
After an incident at work with a broken part on a propane forklift; I spoke to the attending firefighters and they said they would put their respirators on at 30ppm.
Many years ago my buddy and I were fishing overnight and drinking way too much whisky. Both passed out. I woke up in a bit of a stupor to see the sunflower burning, but not in the unit. The base of the flames only started about 6” above the top of the unit. Drunk me thought that’s weird, better have a dart. Tried lighting a smoke, and as you mentioned, the lighter wouldn’t work. That’s when I realized what was happening, so I woke up Jonny and opened the door. Almost instantly the flames from the heater disappeared and the heater began normal operation. Scared the snot out of us being so close to having never woke up again.
You've done a lot of great videos over the years, Clay, but let this be your legacy. You've saved lives with this video. A lot of people needed to see this and you're absolutely the guy to bring the message. Thank you!!!
Saved lives ? Seriously that statement is comical. Are you wanting to suck his stove pipe?
What?
This has been done MULTIPLE times, by multiple people.
I mean I like the guy and his content, but this is simply a repeat of the same old stuff. Anyone who doesn't already know this, just doesn't care to.
Ice fishing needed this video Clayton.
Everybody preaches it but you can’t beat seeing it first hand. Don’t trust anything completely, back up your back ups. I was out camping last weekend with a friend and had my new this year big buddy on low in my tent with 1 vent open while I was hanging out fishing in my friends tent. After 2 hours I heard my co detector going off and it was almost at 70 ppm with the big buddy still running.
What type of CO detector?? That’s crazy
ive been in 1500-1600 PPM room before. Threw up within 20 minutes of working, headache for an hour or so. Brother in law was running a forklift in a small room, he said it would be fine. the detector was broken. we were rebuilding a carwash. I was young and inexperienced.
Crazy to see how fast both heaters build up co ppm... sunflower used to be my main overnight heater due to its reliability and relatively smaller footprint. And I have even used both of these heaters at the same time overnight on real cold nights. Scary to think how dangerous it could have been. Good thing we usually don't sleep much and fish for the better part of the night...I guess the pee breaks saved our butts..lol. Thanks for doing this Clayton!! Very good information!! 👍
It’s one of those things that a person always overlooked. But it only takes one slip up and boom….
@Clayton Schick Outdoors for sure! Gotta be so aware out there! Thanks again for the much needed reminder and info! Stay safe out there and Merry Christmas!!! :)
Ya last season I thought the vents in a quick fish 3 would be good for air for a sunflower. I was wrong. Luckily I woke up to pee as the flame was lifting off the burner due to no oxygen in the space. I felt real funny and couldn't really think lol. Dodged a bullet that nite and approach the whole thing much different now. Keep up the good work and hard fishing brother! Peace from the INW
@@LuRanOutdoors the heater would put you to sleep with the carbon monoxide.. 😉 all seriousness I had an issue with my gas furnace in my home and my carbon monoxide detector went off. It's kinda scary. Ultimately any heat generated by a gas propellent should run with the utmost respect.
@@andrewpansch7447 Totally! 100 percent agree!!
snowmobile ripping across the lake at 100mph at night has taken out several ice fishermen near me in the last couple years. reflective material and even external lights are great for safety!
What an good advocate for the industry. Your not being paid(other that RUclips), goes to show you actually care about your viewers.
Appreciate the kind words. I do care 100%
Went oovernight camping with a sunflower heater… it almost killed us. I woke up because the heater was almost out and I was getting cold. I had a pounding immediate headache. I opened the fish house door and woooosh the sunflower fired right up. It literally had used up almost all the oxygen. I have no idea what the CO was but that headache lasted all day. I’m grateful for this video for others. Thank you Clayton, this video WILL save lives (probably the most important video you’ve made)
You can never be too long when it comes to preaching safety. Just remember the alternative, you're a long time taking a dirt nap. Glad to see that you took the lead in promoting this safety.
Merry Christmas all.
Thanks Clayton for all you do promoting the GREAT OUTDOORS.
So true!! Merry Christmas!
Would be interesting to see how the sunflower type did with open vents or half opened door.
This is why diesel heaters are the way to go! Dry heat that will actually dry you and yiur stuff out, and produces virtually zero emissions in the shack.
More people need to promote and use these personal locator devices!! Way to go Clayton on all these tips
This video is awesome. So many people simply overlook this yearly, I've never ran a sunflower in my shanty. My Grandpa had a propane stove built into his spearing shanty and I know that I was exposed to about 15-20 ppm. Thank you for the amazing video, safety is key.
All professional youtubers should be preaching safety its a must as a lot of people look for advice and tips on you tube myself included i always have both vents open and one of the doors cracked a little bit when sleeping id rather wake up a little chilly then wake up dead.😁 Great job Clayton.
I agree very much!
Hey Clayton. A video that was due!! Excellent real life test. Just one or two tips if I may add from experience. Always carry 2 Co2 detectors. Very cheap insurance. You never know if one should fail, batteries are low, etc.... And locate from what I understand lower to the ground. Not on the ice but lets say at bed level. Just like going into busk walking, hunting trails, etc. 2 compasses of some sort to never doubt your direction. Second, when setting up camp fingers can be cold and tightening up hoses and tanks can be a challenge. Always double and even triple check your connections. We had a leaking hose once and almost burnt down the monster lodge! Lesson learned. Keep up with the excellent content!
Great video Clayton! I shared it to the Ice fishing South Dakota page on Facebook. 35 years ago we didn't have the Big Buddy option. I had a 4x8 wood pop up with canvas and the kerosene Coleman lantern (with the mantles) would go dim and I would start pumping it up but no change. I would crack the little window and instantly it would get brighter. A person just doesn't realize how much O2 is being robbed until you see stuff like that. Stay safe! Tight lines bud! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I always keep my vents open and a window above my head open while ice camping, keep that fresh air coming in at all times, never once had issues or my alarm go off
Great video Clayton, you may have just saved a life with that knowledge provided, because of your position on youtube this will be very effective as it will get passed along among us ice fishermen outdoor enthusiasts, and we educate new people to the hobby well beyond this video. Cheers and Mery christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas to you!
❤
Sharing video with all my camping and ice fishing friends!! Good points made. I've told them several times to keep good ventilation if the heaters are on, now they know and knowing is half the battle...
Appreciate that! Cheers!
Cant put a price on safety. Merry Christmas!! Looking forward to all the good stuff you probably have planned this winter!!
Sunflower heaters are scary when not used properly. The old Focus 5 heaters were even worse 25 years ago. Good safety video Clayton!!
One of the best ice fishing videos I’ve ever watched. Clayton Thank You for doing this video and speaking out about the safety side of our sport!
Thanks for reminding me why I don't like fishing in a tent with a heater . Even with the window open I would get a headache and eyes would hurt . Get a good warm snow mobile suit and see how fast you need to take it off in a tent even on a cold day with it being closed . Merry Christmas Clayton and get out doors !
My uncle was fishing all day and he thought he was running out of propane bc his sunflower was dying out. He opened the door to his tent to run out and get something and the flower instantly fired back up, bc of lack of oxygen in the tent. Play safe everyone! Also in Winnipeg a couple died from their heater. They weren’t getting the proper gas/oxygen mix which will produce more CO2 than usual.
Almost every year there seems to be a death. Always be safe :)
Non vented heaters are a pain for overnight ice camping . I built vented stove . No more damp or frost on walls /roof. No co .
We have a 20 lb cylinder with a sunflower heater and we use all the time. We dont ice camp but fish for 14 hours sometimes but with the two vents in our eskimo shelter and the fact that I am opening and closing the door often because I pop holes all over there is no chance of co2 poisoning happening but it makes you think.
Kudos to you Clayton. Hopefully people will watch and take precautions.
Like you mentioned the sunflowers are way way more consistent and reliable especially in the cold. But definitely rely on the big buddy for over night situations.
I think the mistake that most people make is assume that the vents is all that is needed. For the vents to vent air out you need an opening to replace the vented air. I always leave a door cracked open on the bottom and my co detector always reads 0. This is with a buddy heater.
Carbon monoxide is similar to mercury in the fact that it is extremely difficult for our bodies to process or displace. Once CO binds to the hemoglobin in our blood, it takes up the "slot" that oxygen uses. CO is also 240x more attracted to your blood than regular oxygen. Be safe everyone.
These kinds of videos are SO important!
iam from quebec canada and clayton is my model for ice fishing safety he reminde me co2 danger like no one did ty my man
So happy you made this vid very informative detailed and honest. I have used the sunflower, it puts out good heat but i definitely feel a little funny after using it in a hut. I have since switched to a buddy style heater
Great test here Clay awesome of you to be pushing the safety portion of being out on the ice like this! 🤙🤙🤙
Thanka Clayton , great info , diesel heater out door combustion much safer no condensation.
Thanks for the heads up Clayton!
Good video, take pride in helping others stay safe!
Merry Christmas everyone!
The best Christmas present for an ice fisherman you could have ever given!!! Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Critically important illustration … not just relevant to shacks but also your home heating systems and ensuring adequate ventilation. Excellent job Sir!👍👏👏👏👏👏 Good job including the Garmin satellite as we get lulled into the security that having a cell alone is secure enough!
I love my Mr.heater buddy. Kept me warm on some blistering cold days. Would appreciate a new one but mines working awesome. I'll need a new shack soon but it's still holding on lol. Merry Christmas Clayton and family!!
After watching your video, it reveals a great opportunity for Kidde to reevaluate the warning alarm frequency and the db level on the CO device! Thank you so much Clayton.
Great video Clayton. Thank you for highlighting a very serious concern for anglers and campers. Tight lines!
The girlfriend and I are laughing about the English is hard again lol. That's was a good talk in fargo, it was a pleasure to meet you
Thanks for making this clay! Important message to get out there for people!
Likely saved some lives
Wow. I've been using a sunflower for years with the vets open. I've had only one experience where I didn't have it vented and it was wild.
I did buy a diesel heater and love it.
Great video Clayton. I used to use a sunflower till one day ice fishing I got really nauseous with a severe headache. Got up and went outside and then it dawned on me. Sunflower went in garbage, Big Buddy purchased. Have had it 5 years. It bounces around in my sled, gets filled with snow and never have had an issue with it. Next purchase,as in this week, will be a detector.
Getting time to repost this one. Hard water coming very soon. This is such an awesome awareness video Clayton. ❤️✌️👍
Agreed!
It is worth mentioning, there is a difference between a Carbon Monoxide Detector and "personal" Carbon Monoxide Detector. One is meant for your house the other is meant to be carried on your person. I am not advising either way but it does mention in the instructions of the House Detectors, that they are not meant for Marine applications (I am assuming inside the cabin of the boat) or small rooms. The instructions also mention not for use in less than 4 degrees. Do your own research folks and look out for each other.
thanks for this video! I have a sunflower, sometimes after hours running ill get head aches. i always vent more than i think i need but now im ordering a CM-detector.
i have seen a cpl people rig camping wood stoves with small propane elements inside, so it will heat the stove and vent the gasses. fairly easy to set up and its possible do it in a way that you can still burn wood if you wanted. Also makes cooking way easier than balancing racks on a buddy.
Great video Clayton! I here so many people argue about these all the time. About time someone show the difference!
Awsome video Clay. You just opened a lot of eyes on why the big buddy is the better heater. The one thing you may want to consider if you ever get around to doing another test like this is add a tent fan in each and see if air circulation makes a difference
Very good information thank you for sharing this Clayton I'm one of the people that uses a sunflower heater when I'm ice fishing I've never had any good luck with the Buddy heaters. When I use my sunflower I keep one of my windows open in my Hut almost completely. However I do not sleep with my sunflower when I'm ice camping
For sure, there is no doubt the sunflowers work WAY better! Vents open are for sure needed with a sunflower.
Same here. One door is always partially open. Sunflower is super reliable and throws off so much heat. Big buddies have been a nightmare for me with regards to dependability.
I also don't sleep, I fish all night and get out to stretch my legs a lot.
@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors definitely got to keep the vents clear and open like I said I usually have one of my windows open almost completely and I also forgot to mention I don't always seal my Hut to the ice with snow
@@Van020280 I've heard of quite a few people that do not like the dependability of the Big Buddy Heater so we're not the only ones. Yeah if I'm up there to fish at night I'm usually fishing and not sleeping very much. Also it wouldn't be a bad idea for these manufacturers of the ice fishing Huts to add a few more vents in the top would not be a bad idea.
Great information, crazy to see how fast it built up to a dangerous level. Glad you did a video like this as so many more people are trying winter camping and over nights on the ice.
Ya, with no vents it makes a big difference... Merry Christmas you guys! Look forward to seeing you out there!
@@ClaytonSchickOutdoors Merry Christmas to you guys too! Hope santa is good to you :)
Well said, Clayton. Kudos for addressing this safety issue. I 😂would have liked to know the temperatures associated with your findings as well, but the main thing is the safety when utilizing any heater in confined spaces. Thanx again Clayton.
Many years ago I purchased the sunflower heater. First time using it my eyes and throat had burning sensitive issues. Contacted customer service and figured out the jet diameter in my heater was the wrong size. They asked for my zip code and sent me the correct part, easy to replace and issues resolved. Taken me a long time to trust that heater…
Great video Clayton🫂 thank you for taking the time to do this experiment. This will definitely open everyone's eyes to be safer❤️ Very awesome of you🤘
Great video. Would love to see a follow up with the sunflower and how things worked if you vented the tent a little. Maybe also compare temps in the tent and how they related to the amount of venting.
Great video, definitely could save lives. It would be nice to see what you do overnight with keeping heat in your shelter, venting, and all so you can sleep comfortably
Thanks for doing this type of video. You were so thorough. Gives us all something to think about and prepare for.
Great comparison! I run the little buddy heater and have good luck. Run kerosene in the diesel heater and wont gel and burns cleaner. Have run mine for 2 days on a standard deep cycle battery with no issues. Sip voltage and fuel.
Thank you for sharing. Hopefully, this will wake people up to the hidden danger!!! And as far as wood stove or diesel, you can still have a funky situation that causes CO. ALWAYS have a detectoe. Best 40 bucks you'll ever spend
Wow. I spend $100 on a great ice rod but wince at $25 on kidde detector. Thanks Clayton. My hope is someone watched this and you saved a life! Most fun comes with risk know how to reduce risk and have more fun!
Right? Get a detector :)
Great educational video Clayton! Awesome job on making people aware of the dangers of propane heaters. This is a great video not only for fishermen but for hunters that are in a fire burn ban area and not able to have wood stove going. I have used the dual sunflower burner on a propane tank and they work great but having them running all night while you sleep is dangerous. Great video post! 👍
I have both models of heaters. Thanks for sharing and educating all outdoorsman. Clayton’s clinical trials results speak for themselves ❤
Awesome video, sir. Thank you for doing this. I don’t ice fish cause I don’t trust the ice here in southern Ohio but I never miss one of your videos. I find your ice fishing techniques work really well when I can get my boat out in the cold weather, though. I would be willing to bet you saved several viewers severe issues and maybe even saved a life with this one. Merry Christmas!
Best video I’ve watched on this topic by far! Way to go Clay! Your ice fishing content is the best on RUclips!
Appreciate the kind words!
Good stuff Clayton I run a sunflower all year. Thanks for the information on what to look for, I have heard that they are dangerous but now I know how deadly! Thanks
This is an extremely important topic. Thank you for addressing it. What’s I also find terrifying is the breath(second hand smoke) of a smoker can be as high and even higher than 100 PPM of carbon monoxide. Many people smoke in their huts and although it’s not a sustained exposure with smoking it’s scary how potent the co level can be just from smoking.
Really hey? That is very interesting!!
Dang I never took that into consideration before 😮
I’m glad I read this comment
The pilot + PTO system on the buddy heaters is very trustworthy. Its actually mandatory to have the same low oxygen shut off system on newer gas powered water heaters for your home.
18:03 NGL i was worried you were going to pass out.
What I'd love to do is retro fit a small slide in camper specifically for winter camping and just use it as a base camp while its on the truck as i fish all day with the snowmobile. I could litteraly go and fish and travel anywhere and be comfortable sleeping at the same time.
It's good to know some of this stuff, even running a sensor during a day of ice fishing would be useful I'm sure. I'm going to start running it when I get out on the ice.
Yup! I will be taking mine with me on really cold days when I seal up the tent really good.
Haven't finished watching the video yet but just wanted to say thanks for doing this test man. Its gonna be great info for a lot of new people.
One thing about the sunflower heater. It produces so much more heat. I feel like it would drive you out the tent or at least force you to turn it down or off for a while. Prob safe to say with the sunflower heater you wouldn’t need your shack closed up tight to stay warm which would def make it safer carbon monoxide wise. Great video. Makes me wonder with lot of people I’ve seen struggling to get their buddy heaters to restart it was prob low o2 sensor kicking in
It’s an important conversation to have, as it’s truly a silent killer. The NIOSH 8 hr average exposure limit is set at 35 ppm, which would be easy to exceed if proper ventilation isn’t used. We always should remember CO is a poison and can accumulate in your bloodstream over time. Cheers and good information.
Very informative video, the silent killer. I've had confined space training and these odorless, colourless, gases are no joke! Thank you Clayton
Great video Clayton! My wife bought me a Forensics Detector CO detector that goes all the way down to the 1 ppm detection. Last year I noticed myself getting a headache and “woozy” at 6.5 ppm. Opened up door a bit and vents and cleared right up. Home CO monitor can help, but highly recommend getting a personal CO detector if you camp out on the ice!
It's crazy how so little can effect a person.
Thank you for using your platform to showcase major safety concerns with ice fishing, and what to do to mitigate those risks. Good work man
Well done video with very important information that some people tend to overlook or underestimate the effects of heaters. Thank you!
I have been ice fishing in home made huts and tents for over thirty years have used both kinds of heaters on the ice and in hunting tints I now use a small wood stove with a gas burner in side I can be 35 to 40 in outside temps down two -25 this works very good for me I get 48hr out of a 29lb bottle and I never get ice inside like I did when I used the catalytic heaters .this is vary safe but you still have watch out. I now us a 8' by 8' with come floor an run stack out window a small peace of plywood under stove with a peace of sheet metal on top of my flooring. this has been my favorite way to fish for over thirty years I am 70 and steel go when ever the ice is good
Thank you. New to ice fishing and having been contemplating a sunflower heater because you get the best bang for buck with BTUs but I didn’t even think about carbon monoxide threats. Thank you. Seriously! Have a merry Christmas :)
Sunflowers are still ok as long as you take precautions :)
Great video Clayton. Also remember that CO2 is heavier than oxygen. The reading on top of that bucket is less than the entire area below it. So when you opened the door it probably wafted up to you, and you took a big hit.
Awesome video buddy. One cannot express enough how important it is to be cautious and be safe when doing overnights. Even when fishing in a tent during the day for a long period of time it is nice to have a CO detector just in case. We just got off the ice from an overnight in -40 with the diesel heater. There’s definite pros and cons. But all said and done. I also trust the buddy heater systems. PS thanks for the shout out.
We have a diesel heater as well. Havent used it for ice camping yet. Just be sure the exhaust vents outside. Excellent job on your video on your CDH as well!
With the big buddy heater, I did a little experiment with an air monitor. I found that running the big buddy on high in my 6x12 hard-side shack with the windows closed, CO was 10ppm at most. The concerning thing was the monitor was alarming due to it reaching concentrations below 19.5% ,which is considered oxygen deficient. With the windows open, I would get O2 readings of around 20.3 to 20.4%. Running on medium or low the atmosphere stayed fairly normal. Remember these thing not only put out CO they also put out CO2 which pushes out or consumes the O2 in the space.
Don't get me wrong, great heaters. Just be smart with them
I really appreciate you making this video! People need to know. I spent the night in a 4 man Eskimo, on a cot so a ways off the ground, with a little buddy heater. I woke up about 2 or 3am sick as a dog and i couldn't walk. Confused and vertigo and my head was pounding, but because of folks like you I immediately knew what happened. crawled outside and laid in the snow for a few minutes and within maybe 15 I was fine. Slept in the truck until tip up time. I have absolutely had them shut off before and we just air the place out. But i don't know if maybe the CO got so high, but still enough O2 that it didn't shut off? Either way I was okay but my alarm was probably set for 6 or 7 and another 4 hours...
side story, I was parked next to the pit toilet at the state park access and just stuck the buddy heater in there. FIgured the 6am poop would be nice and warm. About 5am I was in the passenger seat in a sleeping bag and the trooper came up, checked the sticker that I'd paid for my spot, then went into the bathroom. Was in there a little while. I like to think I made his morning lol. it was still running when I got there.
+1 for the Garmin InReach. Got mine for hunting but now I carry it just like phone and bear spray anytime I'm out there. If anyone bothered to read my essay, be safe and catch fish almost as big as mine😁
In our HAZMAT operations and general alarms in which we attend, the TLV (Threshold Limit Value) of CO is 25PPM which is the “Safe/Unsafe” zone of a general 8 hour workday. Anything above 25PPM we will immediately evacuate that area. Key to remember is CO is slightly lighter than air so the CO will be mixed evenly with a fan making the myth of “keeping the monitor low” a complete myth. Think ahead and stay safe 👨🚒
You would know exactly how dangerous it can be then!! Scary...
Love the video showing awareness ! Better learning now then seeing it on a Headline on the news. Merry Christmas buddy 🙏🏼
Thanks for doing this I get a headache by 3pm and I'm on my buddies about this. I'm switching to my diesel heater.
Should've hooked up a fishing line to a vent flap to see how quickly if any drop in numbers. Thanks for the safety tips!
I like that idea :)
Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe!
Great video, thanks for the experiment! Like others have recommended I would still get a more sensitive Ice fishing monitor/detector. Hovering at 30+ppm with just the small vents open and not setting off a detector or turning a buddy heater off from low oxygen can give you headaches, ect over long exposure (your propane throat in the morning???). I've had less headaches, feeling tired and felt overall better since keeping my tent vented to an absolute minimum CO exposure using the windows too and monitoring. Buddy heaters are way safer but not perfect. 30 ppm can affect kids/elderly/smokers and people sensitive to it pretty bad. The small, waterproof, low temperature, sensitive CO detector from Forensic Detectors is the way to go! Basement ones aren't made for ice fishing IMO, Better than nothing for sure but leave the orange juice at home and invest in something more rugged, waterproof and sensitive for your throat, health and possibly life.
Cheers and thanks for touching on this topic Clayton, those sunflowers are scary! P.S. you are nuts for going in that tent without venting it out first! Be careful my friend. Tight lines and Thanks for everything! Happy Holidays!
OSHA standard in the states is 50 ppm for 8 hours. So anything throwing more than that overnight is not safe. Good job showing the detectors that show levels. People need to be aware of what they're exposing themselves to in a shanty.
I'm planning my first overnight on the ice this year great advice thanks for all your amazing videos Clayton by far my favorite angler out there cheers 🍻
Just make sure you leave both doors slightly cracked, if you get a headache or feel funny, eyes burn, throat, nose open the doors
Don’t sleep unless your doors are cracked like 6 inches
So why was the Big Buddy shutting off?? I know technically why, but we all fish way more than 1 hour at a time without it shutting off. I’ve never seen it shit off in your other videos. I’ve had mine for over 10 years in an insulated Otter and it’s never shut off. It’s just interesting that it shut off for this video.
Because all the vents were sealed, meaning if you aren’t careful and take cation it could cause issues
Kudos to you, Clayton, for taking a moment to help keep people safe. You continue to be such a stand up dude. Great content as always. I hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Make sure you put your alarm down low. Carbon dioxide sinks and builds upward. Where Clayton put it is fine. 16-18” high.
For sure!
Monoxide, sorry.
Great Video Clayton! This video could save someone's life.
Very informative video Clayton. I appreciate that you went through the effort to bring a great video on this to your viewers.
Excellent video Clayton. I really appreciate this video and the morality of you taking it upon yourself to demonstrate the dangers of this heater. It’s so easy to show the sunny side of overnight camping on the ice, but I’m glad you see the importance of demonstrating what could go wrong as well. Thank you!
Awesome work, this video will save lives!
Wow thank you for doing that test, its going to save peoples lives. keep up the amazing videos.
It’s all about Venting. Unzip the top of one door and the bottom of the other = plenty of ventilation.
yes
Finally someone admits that buddy heaters have problems and the sunflower is more reliable. I will continue to use my sunflower. I just think venting my tent will be enough to keep me safe. I would have liked to see what the CO detected after the door was opened for a minute or two to see how fast the levels dropped back down.
Sunflowers are way more reliable. Buddy heaters are not that dependable…. If sunflowers were not so loud I would run one more often too
After an incident at work with a broken part on a propane forklift; I spoke to the attending firefighters and they said they would put their respirators on at 30ppm.