Posted on 11/01/2012 3:33:35 PM PDT by BobL
Hi fellow FReepers,
Since we have some really good people on this site when it comes to survival techniques, I'm wondering if people have suggestions as to the best method to keep warm in the aftermath of an event like Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast (where temperatures will be in the 30s in the next day or so). While we all talk about having 20 acres and multiple pillboxes for when it happens, I suspect that most people, like myself, live in relatively modest houses, in communities where people are packed together relatively densely. In other words most of us likely live on 1/4 to 1/2 of an acre. Lots of us probably don't have fireplaces, or have the lousy pre-fab ones that can barely fit a log.
So here's the scenario, and assume this is well before the hurricane has hit...so there's plenty of time to buy supplies and equipment:
1) Your house doesn't have a fireplace (it may or may not have natural gas service - I'd like to explore both scenarios). 2) You will not have electricity for a month after the storm, and it's winter. 3) You can store up to 50 gallons of fuel (any fuel), although an outdoor propane tank would get you into trouble with the town. 4) You can have firewood, but again, no fireplace. So you need some other way to burn it.
So the question is what would be the most practical way to prepare for this. I live in Houston and don't worry much about keeping warm (although it can get quite cold here in winter). I have lots of flashlights, batteries, gasoline/propane-powered lanterns, gasoline/propane powered stoves, even a portable propane-powered water heater (works great), along with electric and natural gas water heaters. I also have the ability to collect and purify rain water.
What I don't have is a way to keep warm if the temperature dropped to 10 degrees here (which it won't, but which it does in the Northeast).
So, any ideas? I would want the system used to keep warm to be the following: 1) Non-intrusive. In other words, not immediately noticeable if it's not in use. So something that can be deployed reasonably easy. 2) If combustion is used (as likely the case), then a way to safely vent combustion gasses, while keeping as much heat as possible indoors
Any suggestions are welcome, and thanks all!
Absolutely it works. I use the green Stabil... for marine use. Lasts longer although it is more expensive.
bttt
“Ours looks something like this only wider... “
Nice. I see the blower is 120 Volts. Can the fireplace run without it (i.e., in a blackout)?
I lived in a deep forest for the past 30 years.
At least one good wood stove that will burn all night without tending.
Keep well-house and all plumbing from freezing (thermo-controlled heat lamps; insulation, seal windows, heated pipe wrap)
Get ample firewood (I use 6 long cords per season) and the tools to handle it: two wheel barrows, roofed area for split wood storage, a good 12 hp splitter, two axes, a steel splitting maul, hatchets, Stihl Chain saw 19-22” chain blade.
Install a water tank indoor (mine is 300 gal and stands about 75” tall, a pump to fill it which takes its feed from the main water supply ( use a my well). All of thes systems can be rigged to go on or off regulated by pressure settings.
Install near the dwelling a good hydrant with the feed connection beneath the freeze depth line. Have next to the hydrant spigot a roll of water hose which will enable fire control to whatever you don’t want to burn.
Stores of medicines and madical first-aid kit and tools, learn how to suture.
A .45 cal for every shooter; 12 gauge pump for those who will safely handle it, a .22 LR, auto reload rifle, .222 cal rifle, 30-30 rifle.
Check out my page.
Inquire for details if you’re interested.
Regards R.
A cat, a blanket, and two comforters. It got so hot the cat bailed on me.
Awesome, gonna make one. Great tip/
Big Buddy Safe Indoor Propane Heater
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Ours doesn’t have a blower. So yes ours can.
My guess is that the blower doesn’t have to be on for that one to work either.
Just bought a Big Buddy this morning!!!
Thanks, tested it out. Took a few minutes to figure out how to use it, but it is AWESOME.
I’m so glad that I started this. I was pretty clueless. My conclusions are Big Buddy and wood pellets (but not available in Houston).
I also bought a couple of Carbon Monoxide alarms. Could not get them to fire with Big Buddy...they just burn too clean.
“Ours doesnt have a blower. So yes ours can.
My guess is that the blower doesnt have to be on for that one to work either.”
Concur. I just bought a Big Buddy (propane heater). I was getting nervous when I saw that it has a 6 Volt fan that runs on 4 D batteries or plug-in adapter. It wound up that the fan is OPTIONAL. So I suspect that you’re right - one can run the fan if one wants to...but it’s not necessary. The fan is nice, but NOT required.
I’m just sensitive to needing 120V power, as I’ve researched water heaters extensively, and found that the ONLY home water heaters that do not need 120 Vdc are the old, conventional, gas water heaters. Anything beyond that (i.e., anything that costs over $600) requires 120 Volts to operate.
Thanks for the info!!
“A cat, a blanket, and two comforters. It got so hot the cat bailed on me.”
Smart dude...I hate cats, but my neighbor has one that just LOVES us. It’s causing my brain to split in half.
OBVIOUSLY you take this stuff seriously. Congrats. Being suburban, I’m limited. I still dream of being like you.
;-{)
Be careful with that. One of the times I was at Sturgis, a lady died from Carbon Monoxide poisoning using a Coleman Lantern for heat--in a tent.
You may wake up shivering if you go to sleep without a fire, but you'll likely wake up. If you have a fire going in a fireplace all night, I'd recommend having someone stand fire watch as well.
It's a disaster--your sleep schedule is going to be messed up anyway.
I've help carry and bury 2 that tried to stay warm through the night with lanterns in campers on hunting trips.
Cold I can cope with. Dead is harder to overcome.
/johnny
I live in the Lakes region of NH. Pellets here are cheaper than dry hardwood and cleaner.
I have a pellet stove, a wood stove, a generator, required around here, and a 500 gal propane tank. Lights go out generator goes on freezer, refrigerator , stove, and range plugged in I am go to go. Next step whole house generator.
“dead is harder to overcome”. LOL. I’m going to remember that one.
Hehehe...that’s what cats do.
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