Compare heating / Mr. Heater Buddy

Mr. Heater · Buddy
Mr. Heater Big Buddy 18,000 BTU (MH18B, no fan)
Model MH18B · F274805
SCORE7.0 / 10
A good heater for blinds, shelters, camp and outages on 1 lb cylinders, with a low-oxygen shutoff and tip-over switch. A closed garage isn't on its manual's indoor list, and there's no thermostat or fan.
Specs
| Spec | Mr. Heater Big Buddy 18,000 BTU (MH18B, no fan) |
|---|---|
| Type | Portable propane |
| Max heat output | 18,000 BTU/h |
| Fuel / power | Propane |
| Indoor use per manual | Recreational enclosures + emergency, 1 lb only |
| Thermostat | No |
| Heat settings | 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU/hr (LO / MED / HI); HI needs two 1 lb cylinders |
| Ventilation | 18 sq in at the ceiling and at floor level |
| Fuel | 1 lb cylinders, or a remote tank up to 20 lb kept outdoors (hose + F273699 filter, or F273704 hose) |
| Run time | 2 x 1 lb: 3-12 h; one 20 lb: 24-108 h |
| Altitude | May shut off above 7,000 ft |
| Warranty | 3 yr limited on the product page; Mr. Heater's policy page still says 1 yr |
Sources: Mr. Heater owner's manuals · mrheater.com product pages · Mr. Heater warranty policy page · Amazon listing B07Q82MG8S (model MH18B, part F274805, Creators API)
Before you buy
- The Massachusetts and Canada version (F274806) ships with a manual that says For Outdoor Use Only; check for F274805 before using it indoors.
- Not for use in a dwelling home in California, per the US manual.
- The low-oxygen shutoff does not detect carbon monoxide; run a battery CO alarm listed to UL 2034 wherever the heater runs.
- Using third-party attachments or cooking on it voids the warranty.
Compare it with
- Mr. Heater Big Buddy 18,000 BTU (MH18B, no fan) vs Heatstar 18,000 BTU Vent-Free Radiant Propane Heater with Thermostat and Blower
- Mr. Heater Big Buddy 18,000 BTU (MH18B, no fan) vs Fahrenheat FUH54 5,000W Ceiling-Mount Unit Heater (our score 6.4)
- Mr. Heater Big Buddy 18,000 BTU (MH18B, no fan) vs Comfort Zone CZ220 5,000W Ceiling-Mount Garage Heater (our score 7.0)
- Every heating model, ranked