Smow
- Thread starter SamSpade
- Start date
BOP
Well-Known Member
Same. I do have one of those propane heater buddy that's big enough to heat the bathroom. Both of those are at the other end of the house.
Every year for 20 years I've been saying I'm going to install some kind of generator or battery backup, and then I don't.
Gas Fireplace, portable generator. Also have a gas grill, charcoal grill (outside only of course. I'm not a demonrat/moron), a Coleman two burner stove that uses propane bottles for cooking. In a pinch I will stuff the fridge and freezer with snow/ice from outside. It will be cold enough to put a cooler outside, fill it with fridge stuff, then pack the top with snow/ice.
sunshine98
Active Member
Wood stove. Heats most of the main level. Has a flat top that you can cook on.
My biggest concern is - Heat. Second - water, since we are on a well. I have no plan for extended outage - the last time we were without power for days it was July. We could function - but only for a while. If the storm wasn’t so huge, I would just go out of town for a while.
I have (2) 6 gallon and a couple of 3 gallon jugs for potable water jugs and (1) 5 gallon jug for flushing. You're welcome to borrow them. I'm on "city water" here and I cannot ever remember not having water available.
Don't forget... everyone has 40-80 gallons of clean water in their hot water heater. 'Cept those with on-demand hot water heaters. Fill the bathtub with water (after you've scrubbed it well.... ew...).
For those planning on a stove for heat, PLEASE have and use a carbon monoxide detector.
Growing up, I saw 1st hand the advantages and disadvantages of electric vs gas in a major outage. When I renovated this house, I kept that in mind, especially after moving in just months after the '94 ice storm. Gas stove, hybrid water heater, pellet stove, generator port. The water heater only draws 600w in heat pump mode, the pellet stove draws about 450w to start for about 5 min, then less than 100w to run fans, 30,000 BTUs. Because the draws were so low, I was able to install a battery backup that will run all of that plus the oil burner, lights, internet... for about 2 days. When the battery gets low, the inverter generator gets plugged in to recharge, which takes 1-2 hours. Huge saving in generator and fuel. I can also wire in solar panels to the battery for additional recharging.
All I have left to do is set out the driveway markers.
We have a gas stove, so we can still cook. No additional heat sources so I guess just heavy clothes and blankets.
Luckily our big freezer is in the garage, so as long as it's cold outside, we shouldn't have any spoilage.
Lots of battery operated lanterns and I made sure that my Direct TV app works on my tablet for entertainment.
Best of luck to all!!!!
Luckily our big freezer is in the garage, so as long as it's cold outside, we shouldn't have any spoilage.
Lots of battery operated lanterns and I made sure that my Direct TV app works on my tablet for entertainment.
Best of luck to all!!!!
This is the other thing people needlessly panic over. If it's colder outside and in your garage than it is in the fridge, put everything in a box or cooler and stick it outside or in the garage. You don't need panic over the fridge not working.
And along those lines.... WHY isn't there a fridge with outside vents to take advantage of cold weather??? Simple thermostatic flapper and fan to maintain the desired temp. If it gets warm out, then use the electric compressor.
WheezyCarl
Well-Known Member
Offspring #2 just returned from grocery store(s), in bordering state- Food Lion & Aldi. As expected, bread, milk and water are long gone, aisles are packed with frantic customers and check-out lines are ridiculous. Watched as an elderly lady yelled at a worker because there was no water available- "maybe tomorrow afternoon" wasn't quite the answer she wanted to hear. At least the customers at the liquor store were friendly. And so it begins....
LightRoasted
If I may ...
For your consideration ...
For light, and as a heater, use a Coleman lantern. The kind with a double mantle. Those things put out a bunch of heat.
For light, and as a heater, use a Coleman lantern. The kind with a double mantle. Those things put out a bunch of heat.
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
The Dunkirk Giant was in the process of going nuts this morning. People were shopping who really seemed to have never been in a grocery store before. Eggs were almost gone, the bread shelves were emptying, sugar was almost gone.
Gas stove and oven in one of the apartments, wood stove heat in the shop, 5 generators (15, 12, 8, 3 and 2 kw). The 15kw and 8kw are both mounted on 4x4 trucks...mobile power. Coleman stoves (3) and lanterns (3). Emergency LED room lights ..at least a dozen. Diesel fueled semi-portable hot air heater that will heat an entire apartment on a gallon per day. Kerosene tower heaters (2) and jet heaters (2) ....the list goes on. We love storms like this..makes the prepping worthwhile. ;-)