Mr. Heater revisited January 27, 2009, 02:53:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98839I'm looking at the Mr. Heater Big Buddy. I see some old posts on it, but I wonder if opinions have changed. Someone mentioned that they wouldn't use it at night. That's the main time I'm looking for some extra heat. Could anyone tell me why night use is a bad idea??Thanks, Joe
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #1 – January 27, 2009, 03:07:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98840Could anyone tell me why night use is a bad idea?? I wouldn't use ANY non-vented heater at night. They produce carbon monoxide and consume oxygen. Not a problem if you keep adequate ventilation by opening a couple of windows (we open a downstairs window about an inch and open the vent in the bedroom by about the same amount). However, I wouldn't want to take a chance when I was asleep because I might not wake up to discover a problem! We also don't let our non-vented heater running when we aren't in the rig.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #2 – January 27, 2009, 03:14:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98842wrote: Could anyone tell me why night use is a bad idea?? --- From the Mr. Heater manual: "This is an unvented gas-fired portable heater. It uses air (oxygen) from the area in which it is used. Adequate combustion and ventilation air must be provided."A "by-product" of combustion (of this and other like-type space heaters) is carbon monoxide; if ventilation is inadequate, CO can build up. If one is sleeping and this situation occurs, waking up is unlikely. What happens if a kid or someone in the motorhome (who doesn't "get" the need for ventilation) decides that the vent or the cracked window is letting in too much "cold air" and gets up during the night and closes the vent/window?JMHO, but I think that prudent RVers avoid using an "unvented" heater while sleeping.Joan
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #3 – January 27, 2009, 06:04:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98845"Someone mentioned that they wouldn't use it at night. That's the main time I'm looking for some extra heat. Could anyone tell me why night use is a bad idea?"Two words: carbon monoxide. (Oxygen depletion is also an issue, but once the CO gets into your bloodstream, it won't matter how much oxygen you breathe in--your hemoglobin won't be getting any of it.)I used to use a Portable Buddy for about five minutes to warm up my bathroom in the morning, but overnight? Absolutely no way. That's suicidal.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #4 – January 27, 2009, 06:32:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98847QuoteI'm looking at the Mr. Heater Big Buddy. I see some old posts on it, but I wonder if opinions have changed. Someone mentioned that they wouldn't use it at night. That's the main time I'm looking for some extra heat. Could anyone tell me why night use is a bad idea?? If by 'at night' you imply while you are sleeping, then my response echos the others here. When we are awake and not out, we use our cat heater for almost 100% of our heating, anytime. For sleeping, I've modified our furnace thermostat to turn that appliance on as low as 40F, though usually I'll set it for about 50F. The furnace is much safer because it uses a heat exchanger, with combustion intake/exhaust vented outside. We sleep with a comforter, so all I need is enough warmth inside to make a dash for the potty and back to bed before hypothermia sets in. Some here have eliminated the furnace, but their solution is usually to flee to warmer climes in winter.Steve
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #5 – January 29, 2009, 02:15:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98903Quote I'm looking at the Mr. Heater Big Buddy. Thanks for the info. It's just the two of us, so there's no kids around. They say now they have auto shut-off sensors for oxygen depletion. That's why I was wondering if opinions have changed. From what I've seen of them, installing a cat heater in my 86 for So Cal weather just seems like too much $$$. The Mr Heater idea has been scared out of me, though!Thanks, Joe
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #6 – January 29, 2009, 06:01:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98907wrote: The Mr Heater idea has been scared out of me, though! --- Joe, I don't any of the posts on using a Buddy heater were intended to "scare" anyone into not buying one; the posts were just cautions to remind folks that there are a (very) few "rules" to using one safely. Lots of folks use these heaters in their RVs without any problems!Joan
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #7 – January 29, 2009, 06:25:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98908"They say now they have auto shut-off sensors for oxygen depletion."Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that they emit carbon monoxide constantly--unlike a catalytic heater.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #8 – January 29, 2009, 08:02:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98911Isn't that what a Carbon Monoxide detector is for?[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #9 – January 29, 2009, 08:13:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98912"Isn't that what a Carbon Monoxide detector is for?"Yes, but... given a choice between staking your life on a poison detector, or not poisoning your air in the first place, which is most prudent?Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #10 – January 29, 2009, 08:43:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98913Quote "Isn't that what a Carbon Monoxide detector is for?" BrendaBrenda Yes indeed, exactly what it's for... to alert 'alert' people. That's not to say you will be alert enough to take action. Believe me, carbon monoxide poisoning is NOT fun, nor is it funny. I got a good dose from a leaky exhaust in a Model 'A' Ford and had excruciating headaches for nearly three weeks. Never do that again!Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #11 – January 29, 2009, 09:07:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98915We use a Mr. Heater periodically, mostly
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #12 – January 29, 2009, 11:17:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98916On Jan 29, 2009, at 12:15 PM, joe_gigz wrote:Quote The Mr Heater idea has been scared out of me, though! Hi Joe -- I'm a fulltimer and weighing in on the Mr. Heater issue.In my salad days, before I could afford a catalytic installation, I used a Mr. Heater for years, always with a vent or window cracked open -- just like I do now when my catalytic is in use -- and lived to tell about it!!! IMHO, so long as you use a little common sense, I think Mr. Heater is a great solution for temperate climates. As others have noted: open a window or vent; turn it off when you turn in. Simple, not very scary, and very convenient.Lorna Santa Cruz
Re: Mr. Heater revisited Reply #13 – January 31, 2009, 10:49:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 98966Does "smarten me up to the dangers of using one for sleep" sound better? That's all I meant.
Topic: Mr. Heater revisited (Read 7 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Mr. Heater revisited (Read 7 times)
previous topic - next topic