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Heating House when power goes out

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zooguy96
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7:38p, 12/30/24
AG
Trying to think ahead. Supposed to get below 10 next week - maybe as cold as negative numbers. Probably don't have enough time or $$ to invest in a generator and have it hooked up. No fireplace.

What can you do if the power goes out? Obviously, no propane heater - because of carbon gases.
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thenational
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7:48p, 12/30/24
AG
They have portable generators that run on gasoline. Are you being serious?
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zooguy96
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In reply to thenational • 7:53p, 12/30/24
AG
thenational said:
They have portable generators that run on gasoline. Are you being serious?


Well, I know there'd have to be some hookup to the electrical box.

I don't know anything about generators. Never used them. Understand the concept, obviously. .
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thenational
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8:01p, 12/30/24
AG
You run your generator outside and use multiple extension cords to run portable heaters, fridge, tankless water heaters, etc.

Depending on the size of the generator you can rum a lot of things all the time. You can buy these at any hardware store and with a little research you will understand what you can run on varying sized units.

They can also run on propane or natural gas if you want to go that route.

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thenational
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8:02p, 12/30/24
AG
It does not need to be connected through your breaker box either. It's nice to have that, but not needed.
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TAMUallen
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8:05p, 12/30/24
AG
https://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html
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Gator92
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In reply to zooguy96 • 8:07p, 12/30/24
AG
zooguy96 said:
Trying to think ahead. Supposed to get below 10 next week - maybe as cold as negative numbers. Probably don't have enough time or $$ to invest in a generator and have it hooked up. No fireplace.

What can you do if the power goes out? Obviously, no propane heater - because of carbon gases.
You have gas or electric heat?

You do have time to invest in a 5KW generator to run your air handler if you have gas heat. If you have an electric dryer plug, you can back feed your service w/ a long enough cord, but you'll need to make one that plugs into a 230V receptacle on both your generator and your dryer receptacle.
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zooguy96
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In reply to Gator92 • 8:07p, 12/30/24
AG
Gator92 said:
zooguy96 said:
Trying to think ahead. Supposed to get below 10 next week - maybe as cold as negative numbers. Probably don't have enough time or $$ to invest in a generator and have it hooked up. No fireplace.

What can you do if the power goes out? Obviously, no propane heater - because of carbon gases.
You have gas or electric heat?

You do have time to invest in a 5KW generator to run your air handler if you have gas heat. If you have an electric dryer plug, you can back feed your service w/ a long enough cord, but you'll need to make one that plugs into a 230V receptacle on both your generator and your dryer receptacle.


Electric.
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zooguy96
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In reply to TAMUallen • 8:09p, 12/30/24
AG
TAMUallen said:
https://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html


Do those produce carbon monoxide/dioxide or no?
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80sGeorge
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8:11p, 12/30/24
AG
I'm seeing days of 20s overnight and 40s in daytime.

The only precip accompanying all that is maybe first day.

I guess there could be demand based outages but I'm not seeing the type of winter storm event that caused issues like a couple of years ago.

Of course now I've jinxed it and it will be snow-mageddon.
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zooguy96
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In reply to 80sGeorge • 8:14p, 12/30/24
AG
80sGeorge said:
I'm seeing days of 20s overnight and 40s in daytime.

The only precip accompanying all that is maybe first day.

I guess there could be demand based outages but I'm not seeing the type of winter storm event that caused issues like a couple of years ago.

Of course now I've jinxed it and it will be snow-mageddon.


I'm in Tennessee.
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jagsdad
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8:15p, 12/30/24
We have 2 of the radiant style Mr Heater 30,000 btu heaters in our house. Absolutely love them, they make so much more heat than the older open flame heaters. Run on propane. During the big cold spell Uri, we never got cold. Dark maybe with the power out, but never cold.
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jagsdad
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8:18p, 12/30/24
These are larger versions of the big buddy heater. As far as co2, We use a regular buddy heater in our travel trailer at the lease, and have never had any co2 problems.
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Gator92
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In reply to zooguy96 • 8:19p, 12/30/24
AG
Better turn off your water and make hotel reservations. One that has back up power.

I use a small little buddy type propane heater in the deer stand and haven't died yet. Don't think it will do anything but give you slight relief.

And did I mention to turn off your water and purge all the lines?

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TAMUallen
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In reply to zooguy96 • 8:23p, 12/30/24
AG
zooguy96 said:
TAMUallen said:
https://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html


Do those produce carbon monoxide/dioxide or no?


They burn clean and have built in shut offs. I'd get a battery powered carbon monoxide detector to be double safe.

I run them in deer blinds and don't die
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Hodor
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8:29p, 12/30/24
AG
Get a carbon monoxide detector that works on batteries. (That's the one you worry about, no CO2)

The Mr buddy heaters are rated for indoors, but I've never used one inside (other than deer stands). When I was a kid, though, we had gas space heaters. People occasionally burned their houses down by having something too close to them, but you didn't hear about people dying of CO poisoning..
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RCR06
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In reply to zooguy96 • 8:34p, 12/30/24
AG
zooguy96 said:
TAMUallen said:
https://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html


Do those produce carbon monoxide/dioxide or no?


No. Good question. I always thought the same thing. I believe it actually say you can run them indoors. They run off 1 pound propane cylinders. I bought a hose that let's me hook it up to a 20 pound propane cylinder. Previous poster mentioned a battery powered CO detector, couldn't hurt if you're concerned.
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BurnetAggie99
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8:39p, 12/30/24
Get a few Indoor Portable Convection Kerosene Heater 23,800 Btu. You can buy Kerosene Fuel in 1 or 5 gallon tubs for fuel.


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GSS
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9:06p, 12/30/24
Generations were raised, with open flame heaters using natural gas or propane.
Quite sure the Mr. Heater lawyers would not allow "indoor safe" labeling, if toxic to users.
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terradactylexpress
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In reply to Gator92 • 9:32p, 12/30/24
A suicide cord, not recommended
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Gator92
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In reply to terradactylexpress • 9:39p, 12/30/24
AG
terradactylexpress said:
A suicide cord, not recommended
Bet you wear suspenders and a belt...

ETA Holding up your skirt.
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Mas89
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In reply to TAMUallen • 9:44p, 12/30/24
AG
TAMUallen said:
https://www.mrheater.com/big-buddy-portable-heater-nf.html
And these can be connected to a larger propane tank like a 5 gallon or 25 gallon tank with the right hose and filter connector. The box gives the Mr heater part numbers needed to connect.
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coolerguy12
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In reply to terradactylexpress • 9:45p, 12/30/24
AG
But highly effective
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FatZilla
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In reply to Gator92 • 9:47p, 12/30/24
AG
Gator92 said:
zooguy96 said:
Trying to think ahead. Supposed to get below 10 next week - maybe as cold as negative numbers. Probably don't have enough time or $$ to invest in a generator and have it hooked up. No fireplace.

What can you do if the power goes out? Obviously, no propane heater - because of carbon gases.
You have gas or electric heat?

You do have time to invest in a 5KW generator to run your air handler if you have gas heat. If you have an electric dryer plug, you can back feed your service w/ a long enough cord, but you'll need to make one that plugs into a 230V receptacle on both your generator and your dryer receptacle.


Do not do this without a cutoff to the grid or you will backfeed into it.


Quote:
Unintentional backfeeding
Can occur from distributed generation sources like solar panels, generators, or battery storage. For example, plugging a portable generator directly into a wall outlet or electrical panel is backfeeding. This can be fatal or cause injury to people, destroy homes, and harm utility workers.

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terradactylexpress
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In reply to Gator92 • 9:53p, 12/30/24
No but I take the extra step to do things properly and not risk the list of dangers half assing a solution like that provide
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Gator92
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In reply to FatZilla • 9:57p, 12/30/24
AG
I manually cut-off my main breaker.

And, no I don't have the stupid mechanical or any other type of transfer switch.

I have a 30A receptacle that is near my service entrance panel I installed MY SELF. And yes, I have a length of SOWJ cord w/ 30A plugs on each end.

Just takes a little common sense to cut the main, plug it in and THEN start the ginny.

Veteran of Ike, YurI, Beryl, etc...
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Gator92
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In reply to terradactylexpress • 9:59p, 12/30/24
AG
terradactylexpress said:
No but I take the extra step to do things properly and not risk the list of dangers half assing a solution like that provide
Good for you Nancy!
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Gunny456
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In reply to zooguy96 • 10:00p, 12/30/24
AG
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Gator92
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In reply to zooguy96 • 10:15p, 12/30/24
AG
zooguy96 said:
Trying to think ahead. Supposed to get below 10 next week - maybe as cold as negative numbers. Probably don't have enough time or $$ to invest in a generator and have it hooked up. No fireplace.

What can you do if the power goes out? Obviously, no propane heater - because of carbon gases.
I have one of these and they are very efficient and safe. Radiant oil filled heater.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DeLonghi-1500-Watt-5120-BTU-Electric-Oil-Filled-Radiator-Space-Heater-Quiet-Full-Room-Comfort-TRD50615E/310014121

You'll need to get a generator 2-3K will work fine.
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GSS
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10:32p, 12/30/24
Re generator sizing: If you think you can get by, or choose to, on 120v power, a heavy duty (12ga) cord is capable of carrying 20amps, or 2400 watts.
Generators often have 15 or 20amp circuit breaker receptacles.
Generators sized to have 208-220v receptacles, math still the same (volts x amps =watts), but routing it through a dryer receptacle (then breaker panel) utilizes it via breakers chosen, possibly 220v and 110v consumption.
Clear as mud?
Maybe a resident EE grad can explain it better.
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Milwaukees Best Light
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10:38p, 12/30/24
AG
Anything that burns natural gas or propane will produce CO. The Mr. Buddy heaters burn clean and efficiently. That means that they will put out minimal CO. If you run it indoors, have a battery powered CO detector. HD, Lowes and Amazon have them cheap. CO rises, so put the detector above where you would sleep. CO is not to be taken lightly, but it isn't some super toxic chemical. It has to build up a lot. Like, it has to build up enough to push all the regular air out of the room in your breathing zone. That's why you don't die while sitting in traffic behind a big diesel truck blowing exhaust at you. With enough time and no ventilation, the mr buddy will kill you, but it will take a while and is pretty preventable if you are smart.

All that said, if you aren't ready, just go to a hotel that has power, or someplace that isn't going to get super cold and then start getting ready for next time.
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Gunny456
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In reply to zooguy96 • 10:39p, 12/30/24
AG
Since moving to MO we have lived through three significant cold weather events where we lost power for a day or so. The bad one was two years ago and we had 10 days where temps never got above 20's and lows were minus 3-6 some nights.
When it's cold that long and you don't have power your house and everything in it will get very cold. We had to sleep in hunting clothes.
Small heaters will do little in that kind of cold in a normal size living room, bedroom etc.
I rented some generators and just ran some good size electric heaters. Thankfully I had two fireplaces and cook top in the kitchen was propane. Even with that I taxed the generators ( 1-3KW and 1-4KW ) pretty bad.
Fill your bathtubs up and fill lots of water containers as if you don't have power you may not have water as well. You can use the water in the filled bathtubs for flushing your commodes.
If you get in trouble we have extra bedrooms and you are welcome here for sure. I'm probably about 5-6 hours from you but here if you need the help sir.
I don't think this is going to be a bad event for us. Don't know about Tennessee. Maybe snow one day and then just cold for 6-7 days before we see some temps above freezing is what we are preparing for.
Be safe.
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Gunny456
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In reply to GSS • 10:42p, 12/30/24
AG
Good stuff.
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Shoefly!
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In reply to zooguy96 • 10:50p, 12/30/24
AG
If you need quick heat is your dryer in the house or garage, undo the hose or get the box you can open up that has a vent.
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Deerdude
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7:04a, 12/31/24
During freezepacylipse I had propane heaters both single and double head that screw directly to 20# propane tanks that ran on high during the day and low at night. I had fireplace running that draws out air but also had window cracked open for fresh air. CO2 is heavier than air. Watch your dog behavior and stay off the floor.
We ran that way for the entire 5 days that we were completely without power. Inside never got below mid 50's and we went through 7 20# tanks.
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