Big Buddy discontinued fan option...any suggestions?

[jim58]

I bought a Big Buddy at Lowes and discovered no fan. Mr Heater rep said they discontinued selling with a fan starting in 2019.


Does anyone have any comparable heaters that have a fan they would recommend?


Thanks.....Jim58

[J Birder]

Why do you want a fan? for most people, the whole point to the non-vented propane heaters, is that they don't need a fan, and won;t run down the battery.



Joel

[Mtn. Lion]

So that is why I had a hard time finding one. I looked pretty hard before the Thanksgiving storms. I was all geared up to buy that and a 40 lbs bottle. Ended up with an electric Personal Heater. 750w and 1500w settings with a thermostat. $30. That turned out to be the better option.

[Cassy]

Check Tractor Supply they may a few of the older ones in stock. I purchased a Big Buddy with the fan a few weeks ago.

[jim58]

Originally Posted by Cassy

Check Tractor Supply they may a few of the older ones in stock. I purchased a Big Buddy with the fan a few weeks ago.

Excellent tip! Found one of the older stock at TS in Auburn Ca.



Thanks!


Jim58

[John Hilley]

I have never used the fan on mine. The radiation works fine. Also only use one side, so Buddy Heater would be fine.

[Cassy]

Originally Posted by jim58

Excellent tip! Found one of the older stock at TS in Auburn Ca.



Thanks!


Jim58

Also purchase a fuel filter approx price $10, it use reduce the amount to propane it use. After I get the heater lit I turn the propane off at the tank then I do a half turn to get the propane flowing.

[Cassy]

Camping World have the large Mr Buddy Heater with the fan.

[Dranrab]

Originally Posted by jim58

I bought a Big Buddy at Lowes and discovered no fan. Mr Heater rep said they discontinued selling with a fan starting in 2019.


Does anyone have any comparable heaters that have a fan they would recommend?


Thanks.....Jim58

Would a small portable fan placed near the unit help?

[Itinerant1]

I forgot to turn the fan on one time with the large buddy heater and the ceiling area above the fan was very warm. Couldn't imagine using one of these without a fan and certainly wouldn't buy one without the fan.

Nothing like bean counters getting involved for the bottom line.

[FL420]

Originally Posted by Dranrab

Would a small portable fan placed near the unit help?

Unless the heater is a radiant type with a cone-shaped reflector all the heat is going to the ceiling. The temperatures are then stratified with the warmest at the ceiling and the coldest at floor level. The part of the room where we humans hang out will slowly warm up after energy is wasted heating up the upper levels.
My solution is to place a cheap analog control Honeywell electric fan from WM set on LOW in front of a cheap analog control ComfortZone electric heater also from WM set on LOW on a cheap folding stool also from WM.
The fan picks up cold air from the floor and sends it in front of the heater and carries the mixture of warm and cold up to the ceiling where it spreads out. The room is quickly warmed up with the heat distibuted much more evenly from ceiling to floor without a bunch of too warm air up at the ceiling and too cold air down on the floor.
Much less complaining from the DW about cold feet as a result.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet on a Portable Mr. Buddy because, as full timers, we like to choose zip codes within a range of 65° to 75°(+/-5°) when we can. Right now we are stuck in Colorado due to medical issues so we are on an electric leash. The only upside is we are using very little propane for heat doing just fine on our cheap electric heaters and fans and the campground's 50, 30 and 20 amp circuits to keep us and our plumbing comfortable.
The heaters' LOW setting is 750 watts(6.25 amps) and the HIGH setting is 1500 watts(12.5 amps.) The fans' LOW setting is 31 watts(0.26 amps,) the MEDIUM setting is 26 watts(0.22 amps) and the LOW setting is 22 watts(0.18 amps.)
The reason for analog versus digital controls and displays is the latter don't play well with our modified sine wave inverter. We found that out the hard(and dangerous) way with 2 Lasko digital tower fans from Costco.
The Kill-A-Watt meter is invaluable for determining how much electricity every electrical device or appliance you have draws.

[John Hilley]

Originally Posted by Cassy

Also purchase a fuel filter approx price $10, it use reduce the amount to propane it use. After I get the heater lit I turn the propane off at the tank then I do a half turn to get the propane flowing.

the filter is to filter out oil and contaminants from cylinders. It is very unsafe to open the valve only half way. It certainly doesn't save gas.