There are many ways that we heat our surroundings each day. Electricity is one of the most common, but Liquefied Petroleum (LP, most commonly Propane), kerosene, firewood, solar and other methods are also in use by many households throughout the world. For emergency heating, I strongly recommend the use of LP (propane) since it is readily available, inexpensive, and most importantly, it will store indefinitely without going bad. This means you can stock up before an emergency, and not have to worry if it will still be good in a year or two. Read on below to learn about some of my recommendations on products that will help prepare you for a heating emergency and ensure the comfort and safety of you and your family..
Recommended Products
Mr. Heater Big Buddy Pro Series Portable Heater (MH18B)
This is one of my favorite products for supplemental, portable, or emergency heating. The Mr. Heater MH 18B Big Buddy portable radiant heater gives you a lot of features and functionality in a small, lightweight, easily portable product at a very reasonable price. These heaters are approved for both indoor and outdoor use. They are clean-burning and nearly 100 percent efficient. It uses a built-in Piezo sparking mechanism that lights the pilot light without the need for a battery so it is always ready to go. The heater is equipped with an automatic shut-off in case it gets tipped over, if the pilot light goes out, or if it detects low oxygen levels. That being said, anytime you are using a gas or kerosene powered heating device indoors, you should also have a CO2 sensor as a precaution to ensure your safety. This heater can be set for 3 heat outputs (4,000 , 9,000, and 18,000 BTU), and is rated to heat up to 450 square feet.
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater can be set for 3 ranges of heating:
4,000 BTU which uses a single burner on low
9,000 BTU which uses a single burner on high
18,000 BTU which uses both burners on high
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy model can run off of any of the following gas sources:
One 1-lb LP (propane) bottle
or
Two 1-lb LP (propane) bottles
Or, you can use the Mr. Heater F271803 12-foot hose with regulator and quick-connect adapter, seen below, that allows you to supply the heater’s fuel from a standard 20-lb “grill” LP (propane) tank for extremely long runtimes without the need to replace cylinders.
Approximate Runtimes for each setting and fuel supply size:
(2) 1 lb bottles: ~10.8 hours on low (4,000 BTU)
(2) 1 lb bottles: ~4.8 hours on med (9,000 BTU)
(2) 1 lb bottles: ~2.4 hours on high (16,000 BTU)
20 lb tank: ~92 hours on low (4,000 BTU)
20 lb tank: ~41 hours on med (9,000 BTU)
20 lb tank: ~20 hours on high (16,000 BTU)
I personally use this exact heater with either 2 of the the Mr. Heater Keg refillable 1-lb bottles or the 12ft hose connected to a 20-lb grill tank for supplemental heating when the temperature outside drops below freezing since we have a heat pump, and heat pumps cannot keep up when the temperature outside drops too much. Even though the heat pump has emergency electric heating, it still won’t keep our 2-story 2,000 square foot house comfortable when the outside temperature is below freezing once the sun goes down and the temperature drops even further. I setup the Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater downstairs since heat rises, and set it to either Low or Medium. At that setting it will help the heat pump heat the whole house to our normal comfort zone of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If I need to, I can heat the whole upstairs of our house (where the 4 bedrooms are) with just the Big Buddy heater by itself. I have a second Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater as a both a backup for the first one, and in case it is ever needed in an emergency to heat a neighbor’s house, or if we need to use both of them to heat a church or other shelter in a really bad situation.
Mr. Heater F271803 12 foot hose with regulator
As mentioned above, the Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater can use a 12 foot hose to connect to a larger 20-lb “grill” tank of propane. If you decide to use the Mr. Heater F271803 12 foot hose with regulator and a 20 pound “grill” tank, it is HIGHLY recommend that you keep the propane tank outdoors in case of gas leaks. You can just set the tank outside a window and run the hose through the opening of the window. You would then use something like some thick foam, or a towel, in the window to keep cold air, or any leaking gas, from coming in. Just lay the towel or foam along the bottom of the window sill to fill that area until it is level or a little high. Then put the hose through the window opening and as you close the window on the hose use another piece of foam or a towel fill in any gaps to seal out as much airflow as possible. I personally use a piece of thick foam since I can cut out an area a little smaller than the hose so the house will seal tightly around it. I also recommend that if you will be using this method, you prepare for it ahead of time. Figure out what you plan to use to seal the gap, and once you have that in place, with the hose going through the window, take a measurement of the distance from the top of the window pane, to the top of the window where you could put a small dowel rod or piece of wood in place to keep the window from being able to be opened. I usually place a dowel rod on each side above the window pane since they are less likely to become dislodged there. This method of keeping the window closed without being able to lock it not only provides additional safety for you or your family, but it will help ensure that the window cannot creep up from the pressure of the sealant and allow cold air inside.
Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater (MH9BX)
The Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater is a 4,000 – 9,000 BTU propane fueled heater that works great for camping, or heating smaller areas like a garage, shed, or work site. The Mr. Heater Buddy portable heater gives you all of the same features and functionality as the Big Buddy heater (except for the lack of a quick-connect connector for using a hose), but in a much smaller, lighter weight, and more easily portable package. This heaters is also approved for both indoor and outdoor use, same as the Big Buddy. It is a clean-burning and nearly 100 percent efficient heater with a built-in Piezo sparking mechanism that lights the pilot light without the need for a battery. It is equipped with an automatic shut-off in case it gets tipped over, if the pilot light goes out, or if it detects low oxygen levels. Again, anytime you are using a gas or kerosene powered heating device indoors, you should also have a CO2 sensor just in case for your safety. This heater is rated to heat up to 225 square feet.
The Mr. Heater Buddy heater can be set for 2 ranges of heating:
4,000 BTU which uses the single burner on low
9,000 BTU which uses the single burner on high
The Mr. Heater Buddy model can run off of any of the following gas sources:
Single 1-lb LP (propane) bottle
Or, you can use the that allows you to provide fuel from a standard 20-lb “grill” LP (propane) tank for extremely long runtimes without the need to replace the cylinder.
Approximate Runtimes for each setting and fuel supply size:
1 lb bottle: ~5.4 hours on low (4,000 BTU)
1 lb bottle: ~2.4 hours on med (9,000 BTU)
20 lb tank: ~92 hours on low (4,000 BTU)
20 lb tank: ~41 hours on med (9,000 BTU)
I use this heater with either 1 Mr. Heater Keg refillable 1-lb bottle, or the 10 foot hose connected to a 20-lb grill tank for heating my shed, garage, tent, job site, or other work areas when needed in the winter months. It works great, I love the smaller size and lighter weight, and it fits in smaller areas like a tent better than the Big Buddy. It’s also nice when you just don’t need the extra heating capacity of the Big Buddy. You can get a carrying case for this model that will carry the heater, two 1-lb bottles of propane, and any accessories you need.
Mr. Heater Buddy Series 10 foot hose (F273704)
This 10 foot hose is used with the Mr. Heater Buddy. Since the Mr. Heater Buddy does not have a quick-connect adapter like the Mr. Heater Big Buddy, it cannot use the 12 foot hose with quick-connect and regulator that the Big Buddy uses. If using this hose, please read and follow the advice given above for the 12 foot hose that the Big Buddy uses. You should always store the tank outside of your living area, and follow all safety precautions. This hose does not require a regulator or a Mr. Heater Fuel Filter (F273699) according to Mr. Heater.
Mr. Heater Fuel Keg Refillable 1-lb Propane Tank
The Mr. Heater Fuel Keg, a 1-lb Refillable Propane Tank is by far my favorite refillable fuel tank, and it is DOT Certified, which means you can transport it, and you won’t have any grief at a park or campsite about refilling non-refillable tanks. This system is the safest I have found, and one of the easiest to use and refill. I spent years refilling the “single use” bottles to save money, and once I tried this system, I ordered 10 Mr. Heater Keg refillable 1-lb bottles and started tossing my old bottles once they went dry. This bottle has an overflow indicator valve on the side of the neck with a small ring to open or close the valve. When the tank is connected to the refill adapter (and only when it is connected to the refill adapter) this overflow indicator will both allow any trapped air out of the bottle while refilling, and then, once the propane inside the keg has reached the maximum fill level, it allows some liquid propane to escape to indicate the bottle is full. Once the propane reaches the correct fill level in the keg, and you see liquid propane escaping from the side valve, you turn this valve off and the gas stops flowing out of the keg instantly, unlike some of the other refillable bottles that require you to use an allen wrench to close the bleeder valve outlet.
Refilling the Keg (propane bottle)
The Mr. Heater Fuel Keg should ONLY be refilled with the Mr. Heater Propane Refill Kit for Fuel Keg. Click the image below to see the picture in full resolution, and you will see a small off-center hole just below the center hole in the keg’s neck. That has a small spring-loaded rod that gets pressed in by the bleed valve engagement pin inside the refill adapter. This prevents the refill adapter from being able to be used on any other type of propane bottle.
This kit is easy to use, has a lever to control the flow of the gas, includes 3 plastic feet that you put on the top collar of the 20-lb propane tank that you will invert to refill these. The feet ensure the tank is the proper height above the table and stable so it won’t wobble or fall over. They are easy to attach and remove, and store easily in a small area when not in use. I have used other methods to refill 1-lb bottles, and this is the easiest and safest by far. If you click on the image below, you can see the bleed valve engagement pin inside the keg end of the refill adapter just to the left of the main fill tip. This extra tip keeps this adapter from being able to be used on any other brand/type of propane bottle.
A Word of Caution
I love the Mr. Heater Fuel Kegs and the Mr. Heater Propane Refill Kit for Fuel Keg, but there is one word of caution; it is possible for the small white sealing ring in the top of the tank’s neck to come out as you remove the keg from the refill device when refilling them. I have only had this happen once or twice, but if this happens, the keg can leak gas when inserted into your heater. If it is going to leak, you will hear it venting gas as soon as you start to screw it in, it won’t be a silent slow leak.
There are several ways to handle this issue if it arises, the easiest of which is just to watch out for it and make sure you always see the white insert when you remove the tank. If it comes out, just re-insert it. You could also reinstall the insert with some blue Loctite to help keep it from coming out as easily, just be sure no Loctite gets down into the neck of the bottle. I usually place a SMALL amount of loctite on the ring with my fingers or a Q-Tip. Loctite cures in the absence of air, so any that squeezes out is easy to clean up. I apply Loctite to the outside of the ring only, and then insert the ring back into the Fuel Keg using a small wooden dowel rod to ensure it is fully seated without damaging the ring, and immediately turn the tank upside down and leave it for an hour or so to allow the Loctite to cure. This way nothing can drip into the neck of the bottle.
I am not sure if these inserts are meant to be replaceable so if they start to wear out, you can simply replace the ring instead of the whole keg, or if it is a manufacturing defect and the rings just don’t have the correct outside diameter to stay firmly in place. I really wish Mr. Heater would redesign them so that this isn’t an issue in the future. Maybe thread them instead of a friction fit, or have some kind of removable locking ring above them so they can’t easily come out when refilling. Still, this is my favorite refillable 1-lb propane bottle. I have tried other systems, but I like this one the most.
Other useful items
Mr. Heater Dual 1 lb. Tank Hook Up Kit
The Mr. Heater Dual 1-lb tank hook up kit allows you to use 2 fuel bottles (or kegs) on heaters or other portable propane powered devices that only have one connection for fuel. This is useful when you don’t have the room, or don’t want the weight of a 20-lb “grill” style propane tank, but you do need a longer runtime than one 1-lb bottle can provide. This package comes with a stand to hold 2 1-lb bottle, and a connector that allows gas to flow from both bottles at once. The connector is the same as the top of a 1-lb propane tank, so it will work with anything that uses 1-lb propane bottles. It’s a little pricey for no more than what it is, but if you can’t use a 20-lb tank, this is the next best thing.
Although they are not strictly needed, I do recommend you purchase some brass propane tank caps for your bottles. If there is ever a slow leak, they will help contain the gas, but more importantly, they protect the threads on the Fuel Keg from damage, and they can protect your hands from any potentially sharp threads on the fuel keg or other propane bottles. Another important reason to use them is that they will keep dust, dirt, debris, and bugs out of the necks of the fuel kegs so when you go to use them, they are clean and ready to go. The caps are inexpensive when compared to the cost of a new fuel keg should the threads on the fuel keg be damaged, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector (CO605)
The First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector is a plug-In (standard 120 volt outlet) carbon monoxide detector with a 9 volt battery backup in case of power failure. I have used one of these for years to give me peace of mind and to ensure the safety of my family. I love the fact that it has a battery backup (and comes with a 9V battery in the package) since I need this carbon monoxide detector the most when the power goes out and I have to use an alternative heat source. It’s low profile, loud enough that you won’t sleep through the alarm, and it doesn’t block the other outlet when in use. Since carbon monoxide is heavier than air and will stay close to the floor, I trust this to detect it faster than the combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that are mounted closer to the ceiling. It has a low battery alert indicator that can be muted for up to 8 hours with the push of a button so you don’t have to change the battery in the middle of the night, which I really appreciate. I wish smoke alarms has this as well.