Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering

Jason · 12-01-2008, 11:42 PM

and I'm flippin cold

I'm pretty sure this needs a cleaning but I've no idea how to safely go about it, anyone?

Symptoms, noisey like when your tank is going empty and even on high the heat output now seems less than the LOW setting used to be.

Cold smoking sucks!

taltos · 12-02-2008, 06:37 AM

Depending on the temperature at your location, you could be seeing one of the negatives with propane, it hates to flow at lower temperatures. Not sure how low but I know that I have had problems with it in the northeast.

12-02-2008, 06:47 AM

I doubt it's the cold. I've had 10 & 20 lb tanks sitting on the ice outside my fish house when it's as cold as -20 with no problems.

I use the same heater in the off the bottle-cooker configuration. This one here: http://www.buy.com/prod/mr-heater-mh...203529894.html

Only I use an 8 foot hose to the heater to a 20lb tank rather than a small disposable bottle. In 20 years of use there's been roughly zero issues with it. But if I had to make a first guess as to what's up with yours, I'd think a plugged orifice or a problem in the regulator.

http://www.propaneproducts.com/paulin-parts.html

jjirons69 · 12-02-2008, 01:46 PM

Take it off the tank and disassemble as best you can, careful not to lose any parts. Make sure all the orifices are clean and reassemble. They're not that complicated and it should come back around. All else fails, call the manufacturer.

tedrodgerscpa · 12-02-2008, 02:21 PM

Spiders do love to spin cobwebs in the tubes of those things.

My guess is that some compressed air would do nicely to blow things out.

That, and I think new ones run $30ish...

I'm assuming you've been to the troubleshooting section of their website, but if not, here's a link.

http://www.mrheater.com/troubleshooting.asp?id=24

Good luck, and let us know what you found...

Ted

shilala · 12-02-2008, 04:02 PM

Like Ted said, spiders fill up the venturi tube with spider webs.
You can blow it out with compressed air. Like Jamie said, it's easy to take apart.
I have the same thing and I believe the oricfice is behind the venturi tube, so it's unlikely it's plugged at all, but there could still be stuff laying on it.
I keep mine in it's box over the summer so it doesn't get hogged up. I'm using it right now. It's the only thing standing between me and sofaman freezing to death while we try to smoke our cigars.

Jason · 12-02-2008, 09:02 PM

haha, just read your Oliva review and noticed one in there

I stopped by the office earlier and blew it out with air everywhere possible, if that doesn't work I'll tear into it tomorrow.

Thanks to one and all

BlackDog · 12-02-2008, 10:02 PM

It may want a filter. Sometimes oil gets in the propane tank, and clogs up the tube. You can buy a filter from most hardware stores for about $10.

12-01-2008, 11:42 PM	#1
Jason the thing under the thing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ok Posts: 290 Trading: (4)	Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering and I'm flippin cold I'm pretty sure this needs a cleaning but I've no idea how to safely go about it, anyone? Symptoms, noisey like when your tank is going empty and even on high the heat output now seems less than the LOW setting used to be. Cold smoking sucks!

12-02-2008, 06:37 AM	#2
taltos Really, really old Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Paul Location: Saugus, MA Posts: 2,486 Trading: (3)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering Depending on the temperature at your location, you could be seeing one of the negatives with propane, it hates to flow at lower temperatures. Not sure how low but I know that I have had problems with it in the northeast.

12-02-2008, 06:47 AM	#3
rsamos Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering I doubt it's the cold. I've had 10 & 20 lb tanks sitting on the ice outside my fish house when it's as cold as -20 with no problems. I use the same heater in the off the bottle-cooker configuration. This one here: http://www.buy.com/prod/mr-heater-mh...203529894.html Only I use an 8 foot hose to the heater to a 20lb tank rather than a small disposable bottle. In 20 years of use there's been roughly zero issues with it. But if I had to make a first guess as to what's up with yours, I'd think a plugged orifice or a problem in the regulator. http://www.propaneproducts.com/paulin-parts.html

12-02-2008, 01:46 PM	#4
jjirons69 Haberdasher Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jamie Location: Chucktown, SC Posts: 4,120 Trading: (94)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering Take it off the tank and disassemble as best you can, careful not to lose any parts. Make sure all the orifices are clean and reassemble. They're not that complicated and it should come back around. All else fails, call the manufacturer. __________________ Somebody has to go back and get a chitload of dimes

12-02-2008, 02:21 PM	#5
tedrodgerscpa Palmetto State Herf Crew! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ted Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,712 Trading: (87)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering Spiders do love to spin cobwebs in the tubes of those things. My guess is that some compressed air would do nicely to blow things out. That, and I think new ones run $30ish... I'm assuming you've been to the troubleshooting section of their website, but if not, here's a link. http://www.mrheater.com/troubleshooting.asp?id=24 Good luck, and let us know what you found... Ted __________________ Everyday I'm shufflin...

12-02-2008, 04:02 PM	#6
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering Like Ted said, spiders fill up the venturi tube with spider webs. You can blow it out with compressed air. Like Jamie said, it's easy to take apart. I have the same thing and I believe the oricfice is behind the venturi tube, so it's unlikely it's plugged at all, but there could still be stuff laying on it. I keep mine in it's box over the summer so it doesn't get hogged up. I'm using it right now. It's the only thing standing between me and sofaman freezing to death while we try to smoke our cigars. __________________

12-02-2008, 09:02 PM	#7
Jason the thing under the thing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ok Posts: 290 Trading: (4)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering haha, just read your Oliva review and noticed one in there I stopped by the office earlier and blew it out with air everywhere possible, if that doesn't work I'll tear into it tomorrow. Thanks to one and all

12-02-2008, 10:02 PM	#8
BlackDog Gonna make you groove... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Warren Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,468 Trading: (19)	Re: Mr Heater Buddy is sputtering It may want a filter. Sometimes oil gets in the propane tank, and clogs up the tube. You can buy a filter from most hardware stores for about $10. __________________ "We live in the good of this."