Winter Heaters

Over the years, I have used either oil-filled radiator heaters or else ceramic heaters to protect my Butler TM at night during winter.  When the temps get down below 25, I winterize and just leave a ceramic inside set on low, but there are times when I have to take a different approach like pre-heating the inside to prepare for a job, if the power goes out, and if the temps get down into the single digits and lower.

I had been using 2 oil-filled heaters sandwiching the TM when the temps get really low which is about 10,300 btu's.  That normally keeps the interior around 40 degrees at night, but if the temps dip below zero it struggles to stay above freezing.  It also provides zilch for when the power goes out.

When the power goes out, it gets a Mr. Heater portable propane heater using a 1 lb. propane cylinder.  At 9,000 btu on high it almost equals the two radiant heaters and no electricity needed.  The only flaw was always that there is no fan to move the heat around.

Well, I just bought the larger version of it, the "Big Buddy" heater that can run off of dual cylinders or connect to a standard bbq tank using a quick connect.  This thing tops out at 18,000 btu which is almost as much as a kerosene shop heater!  I am running the hose out the butler hose port to a standard propane tank, that will give me several days worth of great heat (4k/9k/18k) and it even has a built in circulation fan that runs off batteries.  

I really like this thing and it should solve my issues with heating the TM or even the living room of my house when power goes out and I still need to keep my TM ready for work in the morning.

 

I have a garage, finnally. The best heater I've used is a vornado. Great balance of heat and fan. 1 fan set on med, good to"down to 15°". Below that I set a smaller vornado(low setting) thru the security cage(hole I cut to get to blower) from the passenger compartment. Blows right to the tm, towards the water pump. So 2 vornados- I'm good!
95% of the time this is good to 0°. Doesn't get that low very much; usually down to 10 for a week or two.
And I don't have to empty every freezable item of concern.

I almost tried one of those last season Matt. The biggest problem with a Butler is that it sits right on the floor so although most heaters warm the van, the floor is still freezing without a fan to direct the heat to the machine.

On really bad weeks it gets parked in the garage, but it is an unheated detached garage with moderate insulation. If there is a job scheduled and the temps are well below freezing, I need to fill my fresh tank and keep things toasty inside until I am ready to work.

I might have to take a look at those vornado units as well.

So if there is a job scheduled, do you fill up the water the day before or the morning of ? Well either way you’re dealing with low temp, how do you fill up the water without getting the water to freeze on the way from the spigot to the tank ?

I normally fill the evening before and use a heated hose that I buy from the farm store. Then the interior is kept at around 55 degrees over night so that I can load tools while the engine is running to get up to normal temperature.

I leave at that time and keep the motor running until I get home. It is a pita and wastes a lot of fuel, but I can work into the low single digits that way. I guess I could go lower, but I normally reschedule on those days.

This is the hose that I referenced...supposed to be good down to 10 degrees. I have only had one fail and freeze up, but it was around 6 degrees that day.

https://nofreezewaterhose.com/pages/specs

6 degrees!? holy shit man I would just move. Thats just too damn cold.

Not sure how attached you are to the area but seriously I would consider it.. I mean with no disrespect we deal with rain and some snow here but those temps your talking about are just miserable.

I think about it every single winter with this business. The thought of relocating is a tempting one, but quite frankly the amount of work it would take to move all this crap would be a daunting task at this point.

I keep hoping for a big fire.

Lol sounds like you're leaving that house in a stretcher. I know where you're coming from though. Im.starting the fill up my carport with a carpet cleaning equipment junk yard

I'm getting closer every day....

Damn, $ 1200 for 100 feet hose ? Wowza

Thankfully, my spigot is facing my driveway so I only needed the 15 feet of hose.