Big Buddy Heater

oldballs · Dec 6, 2011

In a 24 x 24 attached garage (9 ft ceiling) would the Mr Heater Big Buddy propane do me any good? It's 25 deg F in the garage today and I'd like to get a little more comfortable out there. Old age is making these chores less and less desireable under these conditions. Any comments would be appreciated. Usually I would only be out there 2-3 hours with the Kubota or truck etc.

SpringHollow · Dec 6, 2011

If nothing else, it warms up right where you are working. I have the double infra red setup and I do not think it would make the garage 50 degrees.

Ken

MichMan · Dec 6, 2011

I tried my big buddy a few weeks ago. It was about 35 deg out, and it raised the garage temp 8 degrees after a couple hours, so I would not rely on one to make it comfortable in the garage in the dead of winter. My attached garage is 24 x 24 x 10, well insulated.

Nissan197 · Dec 6, 2011

I just purchased a Mr. Heater convection heater, which hooks up to a 100 lb propane tank. I have not used it yet, but it states it will heat an area of 4,700 sq ft. I will let you know how it does when I start it up.

Oldstuff · Dec 6, 2011

How many BTU's is the big buddy? I ask because I have found that a dual burner BBQ grill heats my 24 by 26 insulated garage really good. Takes about 40 minutes maximum to warm it up to where I only wear a heavy flannel shirt. When Laying on the floor you can feel that most of the heat is about waist high and up. I remember looking at the BTU rating once and it was either 20,000 or 25,000 BTU.

Oldstuff

oldballs · Dec 6, 2011

The catalog says it (Big Buddy) will do up to 18,000 BTU...on sale for $120 bucks. My son sent me some info on a double burner propane heater that is suppose to put out 30,000 BTU (propane) but the ad says it is to be used in an "open garage" among other places. So, what about a closed garage? I'm still a tough old bird, and don't expect to get real warm.... don't want to gas myself ... just want to take the edge off out there. Suppose to go down to 13 deg tonight. Thanks everybody. Mike

SpringHollow · Dec 6, 2011

Make sure you have enough ventilation for whatever you use. Also be careful not to have explosive/flammable fumes around.

Ken

Rustywreck · Dec 6, 2011

part of the problem is the heater not only has to heat the air, but all of the objects in the garage as well, including the floor - it could take a while.
Make sure the heater you are using is good for indoor use. You can get some nasty headaches and worse from the fumes.

oldballs · Dec 6, 2011

:thumbsup:Thanks for the tips TBN'ers. Flamables would be a no-no, but I don't quite understand how one can have ventilation in a closed garage since it would be cold outside. I guess one could leave a door cracked open if it wasn't down around zero....in which case I'd probably not be out there anyway.

Rustywreck · Dec 7, 2011

a cheap way to add ventilation if you have a window is a twin window fan. Turn fans on exhaust. You surely have enough air leaks in the garage for the fans to pull in fresh air. If not, turn one of the fans to intake.

CurlyDave · Dec 7, 2011

A Big Buddy (two burners) will keep my toy hauler, about 8' x 20', very comfortable overnight even in elk season, when the temps get down into the teens. I keep a window and an overhead vent cracked about 6 square inches each.

It is not particularly well insulated.

roman · Dec 7, 2011

I have a Big Buddy in the out house at snowmobile camp. Yup, the outhouse. It is a roomy outhouse (8x5) with small cracks around the door edges and not insulated. We use the heater to take the chill off. I leave it running until all have made thier morning visit.
If I was to heat a garage I would get a small torpedo type propane heater. They put out some serious heat and also circulate it. Serious heat for sure.
If I remember correctly Mr Heater makes one. Just make sure you get the in-line fuel filter. I had to rebuild the burner on ours because the oil in the gas gummed it up over a few seasons.
Fire ONE! Torpedo away...

GPintheMitten · Dec 7, 2011

I don't think you would be happy with the Big Buddy heater for your garage. It would be something to walk over to and warm up with, but I agree you'll want more btu's like the torpedo's. You can get them in propane or kerosene.

IndyIan · Dec 7, 2011

Maybe you are doing this already, but keeping your body warm will keep your hands and feet warm. They even make heater vests for guys working in the cold where gloves aren't practical.
I just have an old winter coat and put it on for a couple minutes before I go out to work in the cold. Also I have some winter boots too that have insulation under your foot which helps if you are standing on cold concrete.

Gizmo2 · Dec 7, 2011

Bought a Mr Heater Hero, 35,000btu cordless propane heater for my basement when we were painting the basement. Worked great! Tried it in the garage, 20' X 32' and 9' ceilings (no insulation), I don't think I would live long enough for this unit to even warm the garage.

oldballs · Dec 7, 2011

IndyIan said:
Maybe you are doing this already, but keeping your body warm will keep your hands and feet warm. They even make heater vests for guys working in the cold where gloves aren't practical.
I just have an old winter coat and put it on for a couple minutes before I go out to work in the cold. Also I have some winter boots too that have insulation under your foot which helps if you are standing on cold concrete.

Your are right, Indy! That's the way I've been doing it for years. Guess I'm getting kinda wussy in my old days. Laying on the concrete floor or outside in the gravel ...or sitting in the engine bay, used to work pretty good.

IndyIan · Dec 7, 2011

oldballs said:
Your are right, Indy! That's the way I've been doing it for years. Guess I'm getting kinda wussy in my old days. Laying on the concrete floor or outside in the gravel ...or sitting in the engine bay, used to work pretty good.

Well, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable!
When we were building our house we thought that when the wood stove was put in, that we'd be toasty warm even working in the winter. Even running it hard outputting maybe 60,000-70,000btu, it didn't raise the air temps very much from -5C over a whole day before we had the insulation done.
A few shops I've been in use an old forced air oil furnace to keep the temps above 40F most of the time and then the run it for an hour or 2 before working in there. But it never really raised the concrete floor temp much at all so as soon as the furnace is off, the whole place feels like 40F within a few minutes.

LBrown59 · Dec 7, 2011

I've had 3 of these heaters .
1 big buddy and 2 regular ones .
All 3 blew up into flash fires.

oldballs · Dec 7, 2011

LBrown59 said:
I've had 3 of these heaters .
1 big buddy and 2 regular ones .
All 3 blew up into flash fires.

How come the blew up?

bucktaker · Dec 7, 2011

I have used the regular buddy's in several camping trailers during Ohio's deer seasons and had great sucess with keeping them warm and FYI it will last for 5 days on low one one 20 lb tank.

Garage will be a big challenge and I think you will be disappointed. I have a a wall mounted propane heater from Farm n Fleet that I use to heat my insulated 26x26 insulated garage I added a blower to it and it will keep my garage at 65 degrees even when it <20 outside. Takes a few days for the concrete to warm but once it does you can work on the floor in a sweatshirt.
just my opinion.