How could you heat a small house in an emergency?

Question

its minus 40 here in canada. i have elecric heat and i was wondering how i could heat the house if the power failed.

Answer 1

First of all, in 40 below weather, if your power fails and you don't have a backup generator, get yourself to the nearest hotel or public place, they will definitelyhave a generator. Figure out your next move from a safe place.


That haaving been said, I live in the Sierra's. We are having an ice storm, starting about now, and lasting through the weekend. Our power often fails. Last time the lines snapped and so did some trees in my property. I have a fireplace with a glass insert and it rocks.

It isn't uncommon to have the power go on and off for days. Off more than on when the winds pick up.

My heat is gas but the thermostat is electric. Stupid eh? So I had a backup generator hooked up to that, nothing else. It cost about $500 US. A backup generator for my entire electrical would have cost me a fortune. I can live with candlelight if I have heat.

The first time the power went out I realized one important thing: having candles and lanterns and lantern oil and radios and batteries and flashlights and such emergency items, that's fine, but knowing where they are and how to go directly to them and find them in pitch black, without stumbling or hurting yourself, that's the key.

Good luck to all of you up there!

PS. I guess Old Philbert up above me doesn't get around much if he thinks 40 below doesn't exist. What a joke.

Answer 2

Listen to liligirl & Brenda B. Those are the best answers. Using a gas range for heat is extremely dangerous as they put out entirely too much carbon monoxide. The CDC has an excellent fact sheet about carbon monoxide poisoning and tells you ways NOT to heat your home.

Liligirl's tip about knowing where your emergency items are before you lose power is excellent. (I've been there,.. trying to use a flashlight to search the cabinets for lantern wicks, candles, matches, etc.)

We are facing power outages from ice storms where I am right now, but at least our temp is in the teens and 20's. ;-)

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

We heat with propane and kerosene. We use most;y kerosene because it's cheaper. It doesn't get quite as cold here in alabama though. I have begun using a sleeping bag for a comforter and it's actually warmer than a regular comforter. Good luck

Answer 4

If the power failed you would have to have a gas fire to heat your house! When my house gets too cold and i dont want to turn the gas up (costs too much) i just turn on the dryer!

Answer 5

Minus 40, like I believe that.
Shouldn't you have thought about this, like, about last July? Buy a kerosene space heater.

Answer 6

DO you have a gas oven? We turned our oven on to 400 one time and hung out in the kitchen one time. It worked quite well. The house we live in now is all electric, but we do have one gas Dearborn heater if we need it this weekend. Hopefully we won't!

Answer 7

it would be difficult but not ompossible. you are better off taking precautions to keep the heat in. PLastic over windows, weather stripping on the doors ,kerosene heaters, in an emergency tack heavy blankets to outside walls.

Answer 8

Crack the gas stove door open. Buy a space heater and keep some fuel in the garage. Best of luck.

Answer 9

My suggestion would be to get a small gas powered generator that you could use in the case of power failure. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to find and operate.

Answer 10

if you had a wood burning fireplace that would work some of the propane tent heaters work ok, but propane freezes and you need to vent it, other then than you are outta luck till the power comes on