Mr Heater/Big Maxx Propane Install - Easy?

[Winmon]

I am going to be ordering a 75,000 btu Mr Heater Big Maxx propane heater.

Has anyone here installed one themselves? If so, how tough is it?

 

[Scott]

The only kind of difficult part is hooking up the gas, aka teeing off a existing line. I cut and spliced my black iron gas feedline. If you already have access to gas then it is easy if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. Search for Big Maxx in this forums, there are quite a few people that have them. Mine works great! The only thing different about my install now is that I sheetrocked the garage since then and cut the flue pipe down by a few inches.
Here is my install:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2637&highlight=maxx
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2655&highlight=maxx

 

[SKINNER]

The only kind of difficult part is hooking up the gas, aka teeing off a existing line. I cut and spliced my black iron gas feedline. If you already have access to gas then it is easy if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. Search for Big Maxx in this forums, there are quite a few people that have them. Mine works great! The only thing different about my install now is that I sheetrocked the garage since then and cut the flue pipe down by a few inches.
Here is my install:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2637&highlight=maxx
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2655&highlight=maxx

Scott,

Did your install require running gas line underground? I've been told to use the Poly/Plastic line, but can't find it at Lowes/HD ??

 

[Scott]

No, the black iron pipe was already in place for my house furnace/hot water. It just happened to be in a convenient place to hook up the garage heat.

 

[Winmon]

Thanks Scott! I was going to go with a Hot Dawg, but it looks like the Mr Heater is pretty much the same, except ALOT cheaper.

 

[Scott]

Did you find a good price? Northern tool puts them on sale once in awhile and usually has a spring sale(not that it helps now) on heaters. I only ended up paying $325 for my 45k unit, I bought it for like $375 on sale, then it went on sale for $325 later in the month and they honored the price.

 

[Winmon]

Did you find a good price? Northern tool puts them on sale once in awhile and usually has a spring sale(not that it helps now) on heaters. I only ended up paying $325 for my 45k unit, I bought it for like $375 on sale, then it went on sale for $325 later in the month and they honored the price.

No, not really. It was on sale for $472 (reg. $499) @ Northern. Summit Racing sells them for well into the $500 range. I did some searching from the link you gave me on your install and saw that the 75,000 btu unit was selling for $399 in January! Oh well, I am going to have HEAT!! Can't wait. My local HVAC guy was trying to sell my a 60,000 btu unit (for a brand I have not heard of before) for $700!!

 

[Scott]

It will be well worth it once it gets cold!

 

[dragginbalz]

Scott,

Did your install require running gas line underground? I've been told to use the Poly/Plastic line, but can't find it at Lowes/HD ??

This is my problem exactly!

Our local Menards sells some CSST tubing but it is $$$ and it says you have to protect it inside a steel pipe anyway when burying.

No one wants to help you because of the liability and the fact that most people frown upon do it your selfers running gas lines.

My friend is a plumber and said that he can get me the plastic stuff and help me hook it up, so I may have lucked out there.

Let me know if you find another alternative.

Good luck

t

 

[Special55]

My local plumbing supply has the plastic pipe. I haven't hooked mine up yet but was planning on going that route.

Check the price on the end fittings though. It looked like the money saved to go with plastic was offset by the expensive fittings.

 

[Donzi4me]

My local plumbing supply has the plastic pipe. I haven't hooked mine up yet but was planning on going that route.

Check the price on the end fittings though. It looked like the money saved to go with plastic was offset by the expensive fittings.

I just ran my gas and water lines to my detached garage. Went to the local plumbing supply store and bought a 150' roll of the yellow 1" plastic line and 2 male end fittings. Total price was $143. Each compression fitting was $25, so yes the line is not very expensive. I ran 3/4" plastic for my water line.
Also, I ran a 14 ga. solid tracer wire with the gas line. Since I ran almost 150' of the gas line, I wanted it to be able to be detected by anyone doing any digging near this line. Some areas, this is code.

If you are doing propane, I think 3/4 is fine. I use Natural gas and upsized in case I ever added on any gas appliances in the garage.

 

[dragginbalz]

Donzi

Where in Illinois did you purchase the tubing from?
I also live in Illinois (Chicago suburb) and would like to get some this week.

Thanks in advance,

t

 

[Donzi4me]

I'm near Peoria. Look in the yellow pages for plumbing suppliers. Most will sell to you on a cash sale. That's what I did and no problem. I did have a plumber do all the connections. I just did the trench with a trencher attachment on the skid steer. Also my local ACE hardware store here also had the same yellow gas line and fittings. But it was about $50 higher. ( Oilcreek Plastics ) was the brand name.

 

[dragginbalz]

Thanks for all of your help. I greatly appreciate it.

t

 

[W-Cummins]

I installed about 350' of 1" (out of a 500' roll) I don't remember how much the line was (not too bad or I would remember, but you need the special risers and they are about 50 each. They will allow you to transition from the plastic line to an above ground metal line (they are 90 deg bends and are protected from galvanic action)
Here you can not run the plastic into the building (ymmv). You have to use the riser and then go back to an aproved methoud of running a gas line into the structure. I got my gas co to give me 2 riser brackets to attach the risers to the building foundation for free!.

Also if you have a long distance you will need to up size the line, as normal (residental) natural gas pressure is 7" H2O (about 1/4 psi). So you need a large line for long distance and/or high BTU loads.


William.....

 

[ponjohn]

The Yellow flexible gas hose - is that the same for a gas stove?

John

 

[lorin f fry]

If you go to your local gas utilty they will make it for you with rizers on each end.