Winter heating?? Portable Kerosene as a backup heating method? Your thoughts

S

soapboxpreacher

Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
955
Ok...more about a disaster than survival/wilderness. I live around the chicago subs and this winter is forecasted to be one of the worst in history and is suppose to have the highest amount of snow fall in years over 59". Last year was bad enough...zero degree days were common and snow fall was very high as well! I am considering getting a kerosene heater for my townhouse (2 floors and a basement...1200 sq ft) as a backup. There are 10K BTU and 23K BTU as well as directional and omni...both do not need electricity so they would serve my purpose if the power goes out. Am I nuts even considering this? Almost no stores around here have/carry them. Also, where do i get the fuel...seems like the only place is the hardware stores and it isnt cheap. Most of these kerosene heaters use a gallon every 15 hours and the K-1 Fuel is around 10 bucks a gallon!!! EXPENSIVE! My idea would be to move the family on to one floor in one big room 30'x11', pin up some blankets at the door ways (That dont have doors) to keep us contained in a area that a 10K (probably the right size) or 23K could handle. I know you need to ventilate or risk damn near death. I called a few places around here but no one knows anything about this stuff and is overall worthless...which also could lead me to believe this is not necessary and I am worrying about nothing. We have no fireplace and if the roads are so full of snow we are stuck! Our power has been very solid so far here in the 6 years I have lived here...so far so good, knock on wood! But being prepared might be a good idea considering the forecast...then again weatherman tend to make big mistakes and seem to be right about 30% of the time. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks
 
Look into the newer ventless propane heaters. Tanks of fuel are common to BBQ grilles and easy to find.
 
Codger_64 said:
Look into the newer ventless propane heaters. Tanks of fuel are common to BBQ grilles and easy to find.
Click to expand...

I did, they recommend leaving the tank outside and run the hose in. I have heard mixed and they arent as efficient as kerosene...oh an most propane heaters need power as well. But I could be missing something. Let me know if I am. Propane tanks are easier to come by and cost around 21 bucks but I do not know how long they would last.
 
Why not get a regular gas generator and power
your furnace with it?
Im sure a forced air furnace doesnt take "that" much current to run
the fan. Could be a simple wiring job
to put a "ac plug" at the disconnect switch for the furnace and then
simply "plug it into the generator"
 
soapboxpreacher said:
I did, they recommend leaving the tank outside and run the hose in. I have heard mixed and they arent as efficient as kerosene...oh an most propane heaters need power as well. But I could be missing something. Let me know if I am. Propane tanks are easier to come by and cost around 21 bucks but I do not know how long they would last.
Click to expand...

This one heats my whole small house and can run on LP or natural gas. No electricity required. 6,000 to 30,000 BTU.
http://www.masterdist.net/glowarm/blueflameheaters/index.html

Tanks are refillable. You can buy or rent the tank from your LP gas distributor.
 
I don't have your extreme cold problem, but have an uninsulated frame home with only a heat pump that works down to about 45F outside temp before the electric strip goes on full time....... I use (2) Mr Heater infra red units that attach to a 25# bottle (with ventilation) and a pair of Coleman catalytic heaters for use in the bathroom that use rechargable 1# bottles

I was stationed in Japan 70-72 and lived off base... a KeroSun wick style omni heater worked well... of course kero price was cheap as everyone used it....
 
I use the 23KBTU battery started Sun Keorseen heater for my garage in the winter. Considering the poor fit of a gargae door and this will keep my garge a warm 70+ degrees in less than 30 mintues. Then keep it there on low for another 9 hours on 2.5 gals of Kerosene. Both Depot and Lowes sell 5 gallons for $40.00 I spend less than $100 a year on Kerosene and have had the same wick for 12 years. Gratned I only burn about 10 gallons a year but, it is well worth the peace of mind knowing if needed I could heat a large portion of my home with it for an extended period of time. Tric k alwasy refuel and start it outside. Let it run for 10 minnutes and then the ventalation required is minimal.
 
fugawee said:
Why not get a regular gas generator and power
your furnace with it?
Im sure a forced air furnace doesnt take "that" much current to run
the fan. Could be a simple wiring job
to put a "ac plug" at the disconnect switch for the furnace and then
simply "plug it into the generator"
Click to expand...

Cost of generator, Consumption of gas...doesnt last as long, noise, locating a generator outdoor during a snow storm...lose of natural gas...ok that would be a long shot but still. I did think about it for it would double for summer power outage like many around the burbs had.
 
RWT said:
I use the 23KBTU battery started Sun Keorseen heater for my garage in the winter. Considering the poor fit of a gargae door and this will keep my garge a warm 70+ degrees in less than 30 mintues. Then keep it there on low for another 9 hours on 2.5 gals of Kerosene. Both Depot and Lowes sell 5 gallons for $40.00 I spend less than $100 a year on Kerosene and have had the same wick for 12 years. Gratned I only burn about 10 gallons a year but, it is well worth the peace of mind knowing if needed I could heat a large portion of my home with it for an extended period of time. Tric k alwasy refuel and start it outside. Let it run for 10 minnutes and then the ventalation required is minimal.
Click to expand...

I believe a 10K might cover the job (1.2 gallons for 15 hours on high), They are cheap around $100 just not sure if I should do a Omni directional or a directional.
 
Codger_64 said:
This one heats my whole small house and can run on LP or natural gas. No electricity required. 6,000 to 30,000 BTU.
http://www.masterdist.net/glowarm/blueflameheaters/index.html

Tanks are refillable. You can buy or rent the tank from your LP gas distributor.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea! Could actually install it in the wall and have a gas line ran to it. I cant see Natural gas going out. Plus the natural gas is cleaner and a bite safer to burn..less smell etc. They arent bad either under 200...the install would suck and the gas line wouldnt be cheap but it would only be used in a emergency.
 
They surface mount on a wall. The gas line is not expensive, just needs to get outside. You can put the bottle on a concrete pad outside and cover it with a Suncast plastic closet if you want. Your gas supplier or plumber would have the changeover orifice for LP/NG, though some of the units come with one or the other installed and the other in a packet.

ETA: Mine is operated by a thermostat on the unit and has a pliezo igniter.
 
We do the generator thing at the Powernoodle compound. I have 2x 5500 watt generators, and a sweet 2000 watt Honda generator that weighs only about 40 lbs. We can plug the furnace into one the big generators, and its awesome to have your whole house heated when everyone else is freezing. Like Brother Fugawee says, it does not pull too much wattage because you are only running the fan. My goal is to get a panel installed, into which I can plug the generator and selectively power different circuits throughout the house.

eu2000.jpg

Honda eu2000i portable generator.
 
Wood stoves are the bomb. We've been using one for a while now, and I consider them the gold standard of winter heat.

Not what you asked.
 
When I worked as a paramedic, I treated several families that tried to use a kerosene heater indoors. I know of at least one family that didn't make it. Kerosene heaters require well ventilated areas.

I'd definitely look into some of these other solutions.
 
I'm in Ct and the power company just told me I might get power again in a week. I was out for a week in Irene. The difference this time is I got the generator transfer switch for my 6.5 KW gennie instead of running 300 ft of extension cord. If you have a gennie, get the transfer switch. Makes all the difference in convenience and safety. I also have a wood stove for heat. Plus if all those cords set your house on fire chances are your insurance company wouldnt pay off!--North and Central Ct looks like a war zone.--KV
 
Troy H said:
When I worked as a paramedic, I treated several families that tried to use a kerosene heater indoors. I know of at least one family that didn't make it. Kerosene heaters require well ventilated areas.

I'd definitely look into some of these other solutions.
Click to expand...

Thanks troy I am right there with you on this. I dont like handling it either, then there is storage and so on.
 
powernoodle said:
We do the generator thing at the Powernoodle compound. I have 2x 5500 watt generators, and a sweet 2000 watt Honda generator that weighs only about 40 lbs. We can plug the furnace into one the big generators, and its awesome to have your whole house heated when everyone else is freezing. Like Brother Fugawee says, it does not pull too much wattage because you are only running the fan. My goal is to get a panel installed, into which I can plug the generator and selectively power different circuits throughout the house.

eu2000.jpg



Honda eu2000i portable generator.
Click to expand...

Awesome generator, just big bucks!!
 
The Honda 2000Watt model is also the bomb. They make clean electricity which is safe for reefers and computers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top