‘Buddy Heater’ for Winter Survival Preparedness
October 3, 2011, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
A recent reader-comment revealed what appears to be a fantastic idea regarding a cold weather heater backup for home, in the event of a power outage or emergency. With the winter upon us, our preparedness plans and purchases will shift somewhat to accommodate the season. Not only is it about gathering up extra food, but it’s about preparing for the c-c-c-cold.
The following portable heater is not expensive, it can be connected to a barbeque-grill style ’20 pound’ propane tank (which will last a long time), or can be used with smaller propane canisters, and will provide life saving heat for as long as you have propane…
It is a Mr. Heater Buddy (4,000-9,000-BTU) Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater
Comment regarding Buddy Heater:
Another little item that is good to have are those indoor safe Buddy Heaters that can be safely run as long as there is a little air circulation and you have a battery operated carbon monoxide detector to warn you as these heaters run on propane.
I know people that have stayed quite comfortable in tents using these while the temperature was near 0 degrees F. There are attachments that can use a 20 lb tank
4000 BTU’s would almost certainly keep something from freezing. An estimated fuel usage is 22,000 BTU’s per one pound of fuel. That means that one disposable jar would last 5.5 hours on low. While a 20 lb. tank would last about 110 hours or 4 and 1/2 days on low. That would give someone over 4 days of heat and time to get the power back up.
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Anyone that uses a Buddy heater a lot with a propane hose assembly that connects to a 20 lbs tank should have a Mr. Heater fuel filter. Propane can collect a sediment base and could affect the heater over time, a fuel filter prevents this. Also, Buddy heaters have a low oxygen shut off device that prevents too much carbon monoxide from building up and at very high altitudes about 7500 feet there is an occasional shut down and has to be turned back on. Since close to 99.9% of the population lives below this altitude this should not be a problem for almost anyone. These things can keep someone warm enought to survive a power shutdown as 4000 BTU’s could keep someone warm enough in a small enough, such as a bathroom no matter how low the temperature reached, well probably to -40. There is a sale where I live for these for $69.95.
I recently purchased the All-Pro SPC-15RG Propane Infra-Red Heater
for less than $30 from Amazon for this very purpose. Haven’t tried it out yet. The only other concern is that the description does not say “safe for indoor use” but I can’t see why this radiant heater would be any different than any other heater.
Greetings All, I am glad to see the input of “Bee” on this type of unit. The personal experience I would add is that using enough of these units to keep you from logistics failure and hypothermia requires investment in many 40 plus lb. propane tanks. That’s not saying I don’t have just that. There is a bigger picture to add to the equation… Water systems will need attention during a week, 2 or 3 of arctic wave settling in on you. This demands fully addressing washers, draining p-traps, toilets and dish washers need noninvasive antifreeze. Don’t forget that after x-amount of time your hot water system will loose heat retention. Since, their piped systems aren’t being heated as you conserve for later use, isolate the tank by shutting off incoming and out going pipes. ( Make sure you have drains with your shut offs. I have installed what many consider over-kill for many folks who have and encourage “The better safe than sorry forethought”. It’s just old school common sense. ) Then use the base drain to access heated water. All incoming lines need to be shut down below freeze line. Opening and draining is a water system must. You can heat conservatively a small, well insulated zone for a long time as you add B.T.U.’s using the 3 dog night maxim. The old “fill your bath tub with water” is great for seasonal issues of power outage . For a no power cold moving on your water systems, winter survival mentality needs to be enacted. ( Toilet use, quick rinse cleansing; Yet another whole topic for another post…) The last fail safe is having a battery operated carbon monoxide detector. 99.9% isn’t good enough for a small space-honker down for a long period. The cold tends to slow you down naturally. Hibernation ( inactivity ) is an intrinsic survival mode which will naturally occur with the onset of drawn out exposure; use it. Have a clock alarm on hand to know when it’s close to tank change time. If it looks like a long run you can conserve calories and lower your gas consumption needs. This is helpful if you are short on fuel. You also have the topic of food. Frozen no problem, put the perishables in your cooler to keep them from freezing before your refrigerator turns into a freezer and you loose your families stocks. Lastly, back to the carbon monoxide detector, people will likely use candles or coleman fuel to cook or light your space. Another cumulative oxygen depletion action. Hopefully you have draped your windows, doors, and even walls to add to your heat retention. This is another whole school of awareness to add as a money saver regarding innumerable issues different life situations may present. From comfort to sustenance, avoiding future plumbing repairs, an overall mother of invention intuit when faced with adversity can save not only you but your elder neighbors you think to help. It takes a village… Survive-All… Best wishes for this unfolding future we live in…