Mr. Heater MH42T 42,000-BTU Propane Tank-Top Radiant Heater

by Mr. Heater

Product Features

• 8,000- to 42,000-BTU triple tank-top propane infrared heater
• Operate 1, 2, or 3 burners at a time; runs up to 10 hours on low setting
• Efficient infra-red heat warms objects directly, not surrounding air
• For outdoor use only; shuts off automatically with loss of flame for safety
• Measures 15-3/4 by 6-1/2 by 22-1/2 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Details

Product Manual [792kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 20 x 14 inches ; 10.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00005LEXK
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: F273900
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,503 in Home & Garden (See Top 100 in Home & Garden)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Mr. Heater MH42T 8,000-42,000 Btu triple heater is a step up from the two-burner model, giving you the flexibility of using one, two, or three burners. The unit mounts directly to 20- to 100-pound cylinders. It uses infra-red heat, which means that it warms the objects in front of it, not the surrounding air. This gives you more heat per Btu, which means that using all three burners at the highest of the three settings will keep you warm even in miserably cold situations. Each element shuts off automatically with loss of flame. Do not use in unventilated areas. One-year limited warranty.--Josh Dettweiler

What's in the Box
Heater (manifold with safety shutoffs and orifices, twelve-inch thermocouple lead, plenum assembly, screen assembly, bolt set, replacement regulator with soft nose POL, reflector, wire guard, metal ring, collar mounting bracket assembly, hose assembly/less regulator, replacement safety shutoff with orifice, locking knob, bold with seal washer, plenum assembly with clip), owner's manual

Five Tips for Buying a Heater
Choosing a space heater is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Let's break it down a little to make the process easier.

What are the different types of space heaters?

• Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that directly warms the objects in front of the heaters (rather than the surrounding air). If you only need heat by a desk or in a small section of a room, a radiant heater is quiet and will use very little power.
• Forced-air heaters use a fan to blow air that has been warmed by metal or ceramic heating elements. A forced-air heater is appropriate for quickly heating up a small- to medium-sized room, but can be noisy.
• Convection heaters draw cold air from the floor; the air is warmed by heating coils and emitted from the top of the heater. A convection heater is appropriate for quickly heating up a small- to medium-sized room, but also can be noisy.
• Radiators work by heating oil enclosed in a reservoir, gradually heating the surrounding air. If heating speed isn't an issue, you might want to opt for a radiator. These are extremely quiet and effective--perfect for bedrooms.

Should I buy an electric or a combustion model?
If you want a heater that will be available in emergencies, or that can heat areas larger than a single room, choose a "combustion" model--one that is powered by a gas or fuel like propane, kerosene, natural gas, or diesel. Which fuel type you choose depends largely on convenience and local availability. For example, diesel would be appropriate for a heater you take with you on long car trips.

How powerful a heater do I need?
Heaters are rated by BTU, which stands for British Thermal Unit (the amount of heat needed to heat one pound of water by 1 degree F). To find out how many BTU you need:

• Calculate the volume of the space to be heated by multiplying square footage by height.
• Multiply that number by 4 if your insulation is poor, 3 if it's average, or 2 if it's good.

The resulting number is a ballpark figure for how many BTU you'll need.

Do space heaters cost a lot to operate?
As a general rule, electric space heaters are more expensive to use than combustion models. To ensure energy efficiency, a thermostat is a must-have feature for any heater. For radiant heaters, models with a 360 degree heating surface can heat larger spaces. If you need a forced-air heater, models with ceramic elements tend to be more efficient.

Are space heaters a fire hazard?
Space heaters are implicated in about 25,000 residential fires every year. To ensure proper safety, always follow the manufacturer's usage instructions and fill out the warranty card to receive informational updates from the manufacturer. Also, look for extra safety features such as an automatic shutoff switch that can shut down the unit if, for example, it gets upended. In addition, choose a model where the heating element is adequately enclosed within the unit.

From the Manufacturer

Take the chill out of that garage, shop, or patio party with this 8,000 to 42,000 BTU radiant propane heater from Mr. Heater. Just mount it to a 20-pound propane cylinder for optimal stability and operate with one, two, or three burners at a time to burn at nine different BTU settings. Equipped with a high, medium, and low regulator, three safety shutoffs, and three thermocouples, the Triple Heater will burn for approximately 10 hours on high.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Now this is a heater!, December 31, 2006

By 

E. Smith (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mr. Heater MH42T 42,000-BTU Propane Tank-Top Radiant Heater (Kitchen)

The triple burner Mr. Heater works wonderfully! Now this is what you call a radiant heater! Prior to purchasing Mr. Heater I was using a Bernzomatic patio heater (that cost significantly more) that didn't heat very well - I had to practically hug the Bernzomatic to feel heat. The triple burner Mr. Heater keeps me toasty warm! I love the red glow it gives off too! I installed Mr. Heater on a 40 lb. propane tank - this is just the right height to keep me warm while on my deck swing.

Mr. Heater isn't a particularly stylish unit - however, it sure does heat well!

I have a few minor criticisms; overall I'm very happy -

During my first week using Mr. Heater the burners kept shutting off - they would not stay lit for very long. I adjusted the thermocouples to position them closer to the burner and I haven't had a problem since.

Mr. Heater doesn't work very well in wind - it works fine in a breeze or a little bit of wind. I tried to use it on my deck in a storm with fairly gusty winds - not a good idea. The wind tended to cause the burner to ignite the chamber that carries the gas to the burner. If this happens - you'll know it.

It'd be really nice to have an electric ignition! The two burner model has this; however I really wanted a maximum amount of heat - I wanted the three burners.

It'd be really nice if the propane tank mounting hardware was adjustable for height. If I mounted Mr. Heater on a 20 lb. propane tank it'd simply be too short to set next my patio table or swing. If you could adjust the height a couple of feet that'd be nice - you can probably jerry rig something.

Overall, it heats great - an excellent value too, in relation to the cost of patio heaters (which is what I use this for).

******* 2//2010 Update *******
While it's been a great product the last couple years, another issue has become evident. Mr. Heater is not rust resistant! It's rusted to the point that I can't use it anymore. I kept it in an enclosed screened in porch so it was never exposed directly to rain. However, rain that was blown in and the summer humidity has had a big impact. I've replaced Mr. Heater with another manufacture's version that doesn't rust.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Does a very good job, November 22, 2006

By 

Plainsman "Plainsman" (Kansas Hill Country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Heater MH42T 42,000-BTU Propane Tank-Top Radiant Heater (Kitchen)

I've had my triple Mr. Heater for one full winter (0 to 30 degree nights/days in Kansas). It does a nice job of heating my two-car garage, even with the double wide door being opened periodically. My only complaints are that one of the burners occasionally goes out (but is easily relit) and it "sings" once in a while as it heats up. Apparently the difference in metal expansion as the three burners are lit individually and warm up at a slightly different rate, causes some kind of harmonic and it "sings" until everything has warmed up completely. No big deal. If ya wanna get warm fast, this is the heater for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Got Heat, February 5, 2008

By 

jj (CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mr. Heater MH42T 42,000-BTU Propane Tank-Top Radiant Heater (Kitchen)

I use this in my shop which is not well insulated. It takes the bitter cold off and gives a warming location. Nice that you can run 1,2, or 3 burners on low, medium, or high for a variety of heat levels. Nice and solid mount on the bbq tank. Burns through the tank about as advertised, maybe 10 - 12 (guessing from limited use) hours or so on the high setting with all 3 burners on, scale down from there with the lower settings or less burners.

The only negative I see is that once you start more than one burner, and want to go to a lower number of burners running, you have to shut the whole thing down and let it cool and then light the burner(s) you want. Frankly this doesn't happen to me as I need all 3 all the time for now.