Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater vs Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater
Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater (#3) vs Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater (#5, best budget): in our Space Heaters for Garages scoring the Mr.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater | Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater | |
|---|---|---|
| Heater Type | Portable propane (radiant/convection) | Electric fan-forced (milkhouse style) |
| Voltage | None — no electricity required | 120V (standard outlet) |
| Power | 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU on 1 lb bottles or 20 lb tank | 1300W / 1500W (≈5,120 BTU) |
| Coverage | Up to 450 sq ft | Spot heating: a workbench, single bay, or small shop |
| Thermostat | None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) | Adjustable dial; high, low, and fan-only settings |
| Mounting | Portable, floor-standing | Portable, carry handle |
| Safety | Low-oxygen shut-off (ODS), tip-over shutoff, overheat cutoff, piezo ignition | Tip-over switch, overheat protection with caution light, ETL listed |
| Warranty | 1 year limited | 1 year limited |
| Weight | — | About 5 lb |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our space heaters for garages scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater made our Top 5 Space Heaters for Garages, at #3 and #5 (best budget). The escape hatch for garages without a suitable outlet at all. Consistently the top propane pick across Bob Vila, findingdulcinea, and Garage Gym Reviews, the Big Buddy MH18B runs on two 1 lb bottles or a bulk 20 lb tank and pushes 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU across three settings, enough to warm ~450 sq ft with no electrical hookup. Automatic low-oxygen shut-off, tip-over shutoff, and piezo ignition make it the safest portable propane heater rated for indoor use. It ranks here rather than higher because propane demands active ventilation, and per-hour fuel cost at the top setting is higher than electric. The budget pick now that Amazon no longer sells the Comfort Zone CZ285. Its stablemate, the CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse heater, is the cheapest way here to put thermostat-controlled heat at a workbench: 1300W or 1500W (about 5,120 BTU) from a standard 120V outlet, a fan-only setting, and both a tip-over switch and overheat protection with a caution light, in a 5 lb housing with a carry handle. It ranks last because owners report that its small fan throws heat only a few feet, some also report a warm cord at full output, and it lacks the DR-968's electronic thermostat, timer and remote. Buy it to spot-heat a bench or one bay, not to warm the whole garage.
We score space heaters for garages on Heating Power for Garage Size (30%), Warm-Up Speed & Coverage (20%), Installation & Portability (15%), Safety Features (15%), Running Cost & Efficiency (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater totals 8.2 out of 10 and the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater 7.4. The widest gap is Heating Power for Garage Size, where the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores 8.5 against 6 for the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater: BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation. Warm-Up Speed & Coverage also separates them: 8.5 for the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 6 for the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater. The Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater claws back ground on Value, Running Cost & Efficiency and Safety Features.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Heater Type: Portable propane (radiant/convection) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Electric fan-forced (milkhouse style) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Voltage: None — no electricity required on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 120V (standard outlet) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Power: 4,000 / 9,000 / 18,000 BTU on 1 lb bottles or 20 lb tank on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus 1300W / 1500W (≈5,120 BTU) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Coverage: Up to 450 sq ft on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Spot heating: a workbench, single bay, or small shop on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Thermostat: None — 3-position manual (Low/Med/High) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Adjustable dial; high, low, and fan-only settings on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater; Mounting: Portable, floor-standing on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Portable, carry handle on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater. They match on Warranty.
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater for no electricity required: it's the answer for detached garages and remote workspaces and 18,000 BTU high setting warms up to ~450 sq ft, comparable to a 5,000W electric unit; the most common complaint is propane combustion demands adequate ventilation; never run in a sealed space. Owners praise the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater for the lowest-cost heater here, with an adjustable thermostat and tip-over switch plus overheat protection with a caution light; ETL listed; the most common complaint is owners report its small fan throws heat only a few feet, so it spot-heats rather than warms a garage.
Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater
- No electricity required: it's the answer for detached garages and remote workspaces
- 18,000 BTU high setting warms up to ~450 sq ft, comparable to a 5,000W electric unit
- Runs on two 1 lb bottles or (with the included fuel-line accessory) a bulk 20 lb tank
- Automatic low-oxygen shut-off (ODS) plus tip-over shutoff and overheat protection
- Propane combustion demands adequate ventilation; never run in a sealed space
- Fuel cost is higher per hour than electric at the top BTU setting
- Radiant heat is directional; the far side of a garage warms more slowly than the beam side
Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater
- The lowest-cost heater here, with an adjustable thermostat
- Tip-over switch plus overheat protection with a caution light; ETL listed
- 1300W and 1500W heat settings plus a fan-only mode
- About 5 lb with a carry handle; plugs into any standard 120V outlet
- Owners report its small fan throws heat only a few feet, so it spot-heats rather than warms a garage
- Some owners report the cord running warm at full output
- Basic dial thermostat with no digital readout, timer or remote
Which should you buy?
The Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater is the better fit for detached garages, barns, and workspaces without a suitable outlet and owners who need occasional or seasonal heat rather than daily runtime; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Heating Power for Garage Size and Warm-Up Speed & Coverage. The Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater is the better fit for spot heat at a workbench or in a single garage bay and buyers who want the lowest-cost thermostat heater with a tip-over switch, and the stronger choice if Value and Running Cost & Efficiency matter more to you than the overall score. The Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater is a poor fit for sealed, unventilated garages; the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater is a poor fit for warming a whole two-car or uninsulated garage.
Choose the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater if
- Detached garages, barns, and workspaces without a suitable outlet
- Owners who need occasional or seasonal heat rather than daily runtime
- Job sites and shops where portability matters
Skip it if
- Sealed, unventilated garages
- Anyone who wants a set-and-forget thermostat-driven heater
Choose the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater if
- Spot heat at a workbench or in a single garage bay
- Buyers who want the lowest-cost thermostat heater with a tip-over switch
- A spare heater for a shed, greenhouse, or workshop
Skip it if
- Warming a whole two-car or uninsulated garage
- Buyers who want a remote, timer, or digital thermostat
Common questions
Is the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater better than the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater?
In our Space Heaters for Garages ranking the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater scores higher overall, 8.2 to 7.4, with the biggest advantage in Heating Power for Garage Size. The Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater is stronger on Value and Running Cost & Efficiency, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
What is the main difference between the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater and the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater?
The headline spec difference is Heater Type: Portable propane (radiant/convection) on the Mr. Heater Big Buddy MH18B Portable Propane Heater versus Electric fan-forced (milkhouse style) on the Comfort Zone CZ798 Deluxe Milkhouse Utility Heater. In use, the gap that matters most is Heating Power for Garage Size (8.5 vs 6 in our scoring): BTU or watt output matched to typical garage square footage and insulation.