We live in the 21st century, which surely allows us to take certain luxuries for granted. However, the modern age often has a funny way of humbling us by temporarily taking away some of the things we cannot live without. One of the more prominent examples of this is a power outage. During a power outage, most of our home’s functionality merely vanishes. Nevertheless, knowing that this could happen is a great thing. It allows us to prepare for such situations so that they don’t completely disrupt our lives. Let’s dive into the best alternative heat sources to use during a power outage.
Kerosene heater
Portable kerosene heaters are frequently used in these unplanned and unfortunate situations. They’re handy and don’t require much maintenance when not used. Its first spot on the list is primarily because it has a right of passage since it is the most traditional method. If you have a malfunctioning furnace and you have one handy, it’ll do just fine. Nevertheless, some issues have come up concerning the safety of this alternative heat source. The truth is, you mustn’t have a working kerosene heater in your home without placing it near a cracked window, and your home needs to have proper ventilation. Since this heat source releases carbon monoxide, you can never be too careful. What’s more, even though there are some more modern models, you never know whether they’ll malfunction or not. Be very cautious.
Propane heater
Another more traditional and maybe a bit less functional out of this bunch of alternative heat sources is the propane heater. Of course, if this is the only thing you have handy for emergency use, it’s okay to use it. However, you must do so safely and carefully. Since propane is denser and heavier than air, all kinds of safety hazards could occur if your space isn’t ventilated properly. Always use only the propane heaters that are meant for indoor use. It would be hazardous to make the mistake of using outdoor ones. However, if your heater checks all these boxes and you’re using it cautiously, it can be stored for very long, and it’s handy in case of a sudden power outage.
Wood-burning stove
If you just so happen to own a lot of wood, whatever the reason may be, investing in a wood-burning stove is an excellent idea. Installing this heating source shouldn’t be too big of a hassle. Make sure to follow all the rules and regulations. The stove needs to be close to a window, and you need to install a chimney pipe as well. Wood-burning stoves are superior to most other alternative heat sources since they’re safe and user-friendly. Additionally, they don’t really need much attention when not used and are can be pretty attractive.
Passive solar heating
Letting the sun heat up and maintain the warmth of your home is a brilliant idea for an impromptu heating source. Passive solar heating uses the sun and its energy in a very efficient and eco-friendly way. Investing in something like this is a good idea. Since it needs thermal mass to function, you don’t really need to invest in materials such as wood or gas for it to work. This mass can be anything from concrete to water, so it’s very versatile and low-maintenance. Make sure to do your research on how best to utilize this source of heat and energy.
Make it cozy
If there’s been a power outage and you haven’t really prepared your home for something like this, you’ll have to make do with what you own. Before you manage to track down and purchase your alternative heating source of choice, blankets, covers, and duvets will have to do. Make sure to close your doors and windows and dress in warm clothing.
Be practical – No reason to heat up the whole house
Assigning a designated room that you’ll keep warm is an excellent idea in a power outage. Especially if you haven’t had a heating source handy right away and your home has gotten cold, you need to act quickly and efficiently. You should start by heating up the room where you’ll spend most of your time during these hours. Once you’ve got that covered, you can think about the next step.
Relocation during a power outage
If you’ve experienced a power outage during a relocation, make sure to change your plans accordingly. Regardless of what your schedule had in store that day, why not switch it up a bit? The most important part of residential relocation is to be flexible and ready for anything. That’s how you’ll experience an easy process of relocation without being phased by the power outage.
Always be prepared
If there’s a lesson to be learned from this article, it is that you should always be prepared. This doesn’t only apply to the fact that you should have an alternative heat source around just in case. Once you’ve acquired one, you need to take care of heating maintenance and all that it entails. This way, you won’t have to be afraid of a possible power outage or any power-related issue that could arise. Your family will be able to continue the day as if nothing happened. Aside from owning a heat source, you should always winterize your home in other ways. Insulation is one of the most important things you need to look into. If you’re inexperienced with this sort of thing, have professionals come by and do it for you.
Safety always comes first
No matter what your plans are for protecting your home during a power outage, your safety needs to come first. Regardless of which one of the presented alternative heat sources you choose, there’ll always be some things to take care of and worry about. Use and maintain your heat sources carefully, and always ask for help if you need it.
