Other propane ceramic heaters

I tried one of the Mr Heater inline filters but the heater clogged up with oil anyway. After that happened I cut the filter apart and found that it trapped almost no oil. I've gotten really good at disassembling the heater and cleaning out the oil.

Almot wrote:

hugemoth wrote:
The problem I've had with the portable catalytic heaters is contamination of the pad with oil from the bulk propane. They're toast after about a year of use.

The "little buddy" heater I had was also damaged by oil contamination. It caused the regulator to leak, shooting flame out of the regulator vent hole, lighting the plastic on fire. Scary!

Looks like your bulk propane is dirtier than in other places. People use Buddy and catalytic heaters for years.

You need to install inline propane filter right on the tank - before the regulator. By suggestion of people here at the forum I'm installing one this winter: Inline propane filter. I've been told it's good for 5 years of heavy use. You'll need to do some minor changes of fittings between the tank and regulator, to accommodate the filter.

Btw, Buddy Mr Heater have some inline $10 filter. At that price I don't think much of it, and it looks like its fittings are made to fit the Buddy only.

Catalytic heaters are susceptible mostly to dust. I cover mine when not in use. Olympian catalytic heaters qualify as "portable", but many people (including me) install them permanent on the wall, tapping into propane line.