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WINTER HEAT

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diego View Drop Down
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    Posted: September 18 2007 at 9:26pm
hi everyone from the woods of Michigan's u.p. , this makes 32 winters on our Ashley side loader. we cut ,split and burn 10 pulp cord a season. also have a ready to use wood cook range, real beauty. something i didn't see mentioned was winter clothing. official ( yooper) winterware, carhearts or snowmobile suit with mickey mouse boots. buy for you and the kids. this is essential survival gear, you can live in your suit even without any heat. Ive been out all day in tree popping, eye watering, instant frozen nose hair, -35 below and stay toasty warm. kerosene will keep indefinitely. i have a few 55 gal. drums of k-1 clear stored since 1998 to be used for lighting only when t.s.h.t.f. the wood heat is free for the cutting. bye and stay warm , eh.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Never2late Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2007 at 10:05am
Kerosene - you can use for heat,light, and cooking. By being patient, I have bought a larger convection heater (23,000 BTU) and a small radiant heater (7000 BTU) and new wicks for less than $100. I've got these cleaned up and ready to go. I have two new, in the box, "old stock" Aladdin lamps and extra mantles that I bought off of E-bay for less than 1/2 price new. And I picked up a few "hurricane lamps" at garage sales for a few bucks. The only "trick" to kerosene is that you don't want to buy the fuel and have it go bad. I have a few 5 gallon containers ready to be filled and have identifed a couple of different sources. I buy a couple of gallons of synthetic kerosene (Kleen-Heat) whenever it is being sold cheap because it will last a very long time. Plus I have the Coleman "white gas" camping stoves and lamps that you can pick up for $5 at garage sales.

       
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2007 at 10:11pm
    You can get the propane cylinders at Walmart. Get the
Ozark Trail brand. There cheaper than coleman and are just as good. I cleaned out one of the cabinets under a bathroom sink. I have about 50 lined up in there. You can also get the 20 cylinders. You will need 2 adaptor hoses to make it work.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2006 at 10:23pm
You can do many things.

You can keep your barbecue outside and use it to boil pots of water.

Bring the hot water pots inside and cozy up.   Hot water stays hot
for long periods of time.

Or you can use your barbecue outside to heat rocks and bring them inside.  Rocks soak up heat and release it slowly.

Do not use the barbecue inside.  Do not do stupid things.

Keep a fire burning in a outside stove or camp fire and use it to
cook and heat inside.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2006 at 7:09am
Pegasus,
 
You just reminded me I need to stock some fire extinguishers. THANKS!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2006 at 7:07am
Originally posted by wrote:

soot?  How often do you have to clean stove pipe?  Could it catch on fire...like chimney fire?  I have to ask...as it sounds good, but I have zero knowledge of coal burning.

.....................

also... on the first ...second? post up there with the alcohol burning heater/paint can?   If you used it in a small room, and needed to crack a window for ventilation...you need to do that right?  well it's well below zero a lot...would it even give off enough heat?  with a window cracked?

 
anthracite coal ( hard coal ) not the same stuff used in power plants burns very clean with no soot, and no smoke especially compared to wood.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pegasus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 01 2006 at 6:16am
anharra,  I can't answer your soot question except to say that if you do not clean the soot from the pipes periodically (depends on how much use it gets) you could have a MAJOR pile of black sticky oily dust all over the room your stove pipe is in - if not thru the rest of the house.   Hard woods tend to burn cleaner/hotter so the flu build-up will be slower - NEVER burn pine in your fireplace.  Yes it's cheap and easliy available but the sap will build up on your chimney liner and can lead to a flu fire
 
   You NEED to open a window (even just a crack - not wide open) when you have a fuel source burning in your home or garage.  Even my little ceramic heater recommends ventilation of the room.  Keeps the carbon monoxide levels at bay and fresh oxygen coming in (for the heating unit to burn properly and more importantly for you to breathe).  I would also remind everyone to get a Carbon Monoxide detector for their home.  
 
Keep a fire extiguisher, water (not for electrical sources) or a box/bag of baking soda close by your fire/heat source.  You can't go running to the garage to dig it out in a time of need.  If it's not close by- simply get out and call 911.  Even if it's close by and you use it, call 911 and have the trained firefighters check to be sure there is no fire spreading elsewhere behind your walls. 
     "We do not know the true value of moments until they have undergone the test of memory."   unknown author
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 30 2006 at 10:56pm

soot?  How often do you have to clean stove pipe?  Could it catch on fire...like chimney fire?  I have to ask...as it sounds good, but I have zero knowledge of coal burning.

.....................

also... on the first ...second? post up there with the alcohol burning heater/paint can?   If you used it in a small room, and needed to crack a window for ventilation...you need to do that right?  well it's well below zero a lot...would it even give off enough heat?  with a window cracked?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2006 at 6:22am
I just bought a small old cast iron coal cook stove for $65 and refinished it. High quality clean burning coal is very cheap and can be bought and stored in 50 lb bags. It burns much cleaner than wood, doesn't absorb water like wood and burns all day long. I have used it in the backyard to try it out and am convinced , for me, that is the way to go. Seems so much easier than wood.

No I just have to install it in the house.
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Hi GG,   Big Help,  Thank you very much....Smile  You take care with those storms in the N.W.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 15 2006 at 3:14pm
c bass'n - I will tell you what we use.  We have a 2000 sq ft house on one floor.  Our wood stove is in our living room and that room has a 14 foot ceiling. When we are home, we use our wood stove for our primary heat.  We usually keep our thermostats set on 60 and when burning in the wood stove our boiler doesn't come on.  We live in the Northeast and our winters are cold and snowy.  We usually go through about 4 cords of wood a winter.  Remember, that is part time use.  To heat totally with wood, it would take us at least twice that amount.  Of course, we could stretch it out by blocking off part of the house.  Don't know what size your house is and how cold it gets where you are at, so the question is kind of hard to answer.   Also it depends on what kind of wood you get.  Different kinds produce different BTU's.  We are lucky enough to live in the woods and most of our trees are hardwood's - Oak and maple etc.
Hope this helps.
 
GG
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote c bass'n Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 15 2006 at 2:57pm
O.K.  Could someone please tell me how many Logs you use in 1Day in your fireplace, or your cook stove for heating and cooking.   I don't have alot of room to store 4 cords of wood.  Just trying to get a good guess of what I really need in amount of wood logs.  Thanks
                                                                                                      
My wood burning fireplace was converted to natural gas, next week having nat. gas taken out.,coverted back to wood burning.  And a chimmey stack put in for wood burning cook stove.  Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote c bass'n Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2006 at 8:37pm
How much wood do you need for a wood burning fireplace; If you were going to burn for 1 month with no other heat source.  Let's say, average winter in midwest.
 
How much wood do you need for a wood burning cook stove; for 1 month?
 
I don't know, how to come up, with a good estimate.
 
Just would like to know how you all have figured this out.
 
 
Thanks for the help, suggestion..Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 23 2006 at 1:06am
Originally posted by kymom kymom wrote:

 I wanted my fireplace cleaned, well bad news for us, It was put in wrong, they took out all the firebrick, then they had a home made woodburner.  I was glad to find that out early. Now need over 500 dollars to replace it. So please dont wait call to have your fireplace or wood burner cleaned and check out now.Smile
 
excellent point,,we just had ours done too and found out the bricks on top were crumbling,,etc,,(they took a polaroid up there and brought it back down to us to see) our house is 40 plus years old so things do age from time to time.  but importantly,,,we need to spend 1800.00 bucks for a new pan and restoration.  i am just glad we found out about it too before heavy usage occurs in our fireplace!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GreenTeam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2006 at 8:30pm
Thanks for the info, Chloe! I was looking at the Coleman heaters, perhaps the one that is skinny and upright, or the one that looks like a big light bulb that sits at an angle.
 
So yours at 3000 BTUs kept one room bearable? What temp do you think it was in your room? I would consider temps in the 50s to be bearable, and the 40s to be survivable. We usually keep our thermostat set at 62 during the night in the winter.
 
If one canister lasts just 6-8 hours, and if there is a long power outage, that means you'd have to have many canisters stocked away!  Is that doable?
 
Where do you buy the canisters? I haven't found them online.
 
Are there other viable strategies for heating without a fireplace?
 
I've also considered getting a solar generator system with enough power to run an electric space heater, but it would be quite expensive.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 09 2006 at 12:49pm
I have a coleman portable catalytic heater that is rated for indoor use and it is 3000 btu's.  I used it during an icestorm when the power was out and it only put out enough heat to keep one average size (closed off) room bearable.  One canister of propane lasts 6-8 hours. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GreenTeam Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 07 2006 at 7:11pm
I am looking at buying a small indoor propane heater for emergencies. What would be better:
 
- A 3000 BTU unit that will run for 7 hours on one propane canister, OR
- A 1500 BTU unit that will run for 14 hours on one propane canister?
 
We live in Minnesota and it can get mighty cold here in the winter. We have no fireplace, just a forced-air gas furnace.
 
Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote honeybee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 05 2006 at 9:27pm
A REQUEST FOR HELP FROM THE EXPERTS:
 
We use a pellet stove.  If we loose power during the winter we can't run it. 
 
Is there anything we can do to heat the house?  Is there a way to convert it somehow, still using the pellets?  Or a way to battery operate the fan system?  We won't care that it isn't using the thermastate, we can control that ourselves by starting and stopping it.  I figure by that point, we will drape off and only heat the livng room, kitchen area, and sleep in the lr.
 
any ideas?
 
 
Edited later - I just found another thread that said you can run the fan system off a car battery for about 18 hours give or take. 
 
My word - first I will be syphoning my car for gas for the generator, then stealing my own battery when that runs out...what then? lol
Honeybee
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kymom Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 04 2006 at 5:29pm
 I wanted my fireplace cleaned, well bad news for us, It was put in wrong, they took out all the firebrick, then they had a home made woodburner.  I was glad to find that out early. Now need over 500 dollars to replace it. So please dont wait call to have your fireplace or wood burner cleaned and check out now.Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roxy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 18 2006 at 4:34am
hi and thanks for posting, I checked the site,the problem with making this for my home is my windows slide from right to left, not up and down. but this would also be good for some one making a green house, they could add this to their plans roxy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 17 2006 at 9:20pm
I have not made one of these, but I have the plans and materials to make one.  In the winter it is usually sunny here, so I think it might work pretty well
http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1977_September_October/Mother_s__Heat_Grabber_
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roxy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 02 2006 at 9:48am
 thank you irene,i copied the site  and will put it my  prep binder.great infro for beginners and they also have infro on green houses that i always need roxy , thanks again
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roxy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 6:59am
hi to all, i want to buy a wood burnig stove in the next couple of months, one that will not put me in the poor house, i like to be able to heat the downstairs 4 rooms of my house ,and be able to heat or make water hot on it ,cooking on it would be great, novice buyer here .any body got any reconmendations , I live in connecticut,if all else fails we have a small pot belly stove in storage, but if no oil for furnice, and i believe the price of oil will be out of this world this winter , i'd  like to have something reliable  thanks for any help you can post  roxy
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 07 2006 at 8:26pm
I am from the south and while I do not currently have fireplace or woodstove, fatlight as it is called in the south is a great kindling.  It comes from the decayed stump of a pine tree and has concentrated oils in it and you can sometimes just light the end of it with a cigarette lighter.
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Originally posted by Rocky Rocky wrote:

    Planning to use a small propane heater in large tent for extended family. With ventilation, is a propane heater any problem re. carbon monoxide? Rocky


In my opinion the use of propane heaters in an enclosed area is potentially VERY dangerous.  Most common, small propane heaters (like the Coleman and Century models) are not rated for indoor use, and they can kill you.  Other propane heaters (like the kinds used in homes, houseboats, motorhomes) have catalytic converters (I believe) and are rated for indoor use.

By far the most common kind of small propane heaters that are rated for indoor use are the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy and Big Buddy models.  They give off small amounts of CO and have low-oxygen sensors, and with a bit of ventilation they're pretty darn safe.  I've used my Portable Buddy indoors many times.  You can connect them to the small 1# propane canisters (from Target or WalMart or tons of other places), or get an adaptor hose and feed them from a 20# "barbeque-type" of propane tank.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 05 2006 at 5:33am
I always wondered how to do that!  Thanks so much for the info!! It was worth the 'Whew'!!!-k
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Originally posted by nettie4263 nettie4263 wrote:

How do you drain the water lines??

    
First shut the water off to the entire house. Can be done at a valve near the meter (probably near street) or there should be a valve just before water enters your home.

Find the lowest AND highest point in your water pipes where there are valves. Open the highest one. This will bleed off any pressure that remained in the line after you shut off the entire house.

Then, open the lowest valve and HOPEFULLY most of the water in between will drain out. . . This won't be completely drained because of elbows (90 & 45's) that may be higher / lower.

Then if you are really ambitious, force air into the "highest" valve to push remain water out.

Then, again if you even more ambitious, use a wet / dry shop vac and suck the air / water out of the "lowest" valve.

Then, open and close ALL the valves in the house to get anything that was in a "riser" that didn't get drained.

Make sure you do both hot and cold water lines.

Also make sure you empty the water heater.

Also the hose faucets outside your house. . .

WHEW,
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Originally posted by Brad Brad wrote:


Originally posted by Gilmore Gilmore wrote:

Lowes Home Improvement has 100lb Propane tanks for (US) $80.00 


I have the impression that the 100# propane tanks use different
fittings and hoses than the standard barbeque 20# tanks.  Is that
correct, and if so, are there adaptors available so you can use 100#
tanks with things like a Coleman stove or a Mr. Heater Buddy
heater?  Thanks for any info.

.
.
    Brad,

I haven't filled it up yet. . . I'll get back when I do. I know that adapters are available if required. . .

Gilmore
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote nettie4263 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 04 2006 at 9:22pm
Originally posted by Gilmore Gilmore wrote:

Setting up a tent in your house reduces the amount of space needed to heat if you lose power/heating capability. Just pretend you're camping. . . Don't forget to drain the water lines so they don't freeze
 
Excellent idea, I hadn't thought of that!
 
How do you drain the water lines??
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    Planning to use a small propane heater in large tent for extended family. With ventilation, is a propane heater any problem re. carbon monoxide? Rocky
Prepare for the Unexpected!
Rocky
http://www.homeemergencyusa.com
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Originally posted by Gilmore Gilmore wrote:

Lowes Home Improvement has 100lb Propane tanks for (US) $80.00 


I have the impression that the 100# propane tanks use different fittings and hoses than the standard barbeque 20# tanks.  Is that correct, and if so, are there adaptors available so you can use 100# tanks with things like a Coleman stove or a Mr. Heater Buddy heater?  Thanks for any info.
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REMINDER: Get your chimney swept (cleaned) and service your furnace now.
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Lowes Home Improvement has 100lb Propane tanks for (US) $80.00 
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Setting up a tent in your house reduces the amount of space needed to heat if you lose power/heating capability. Just pretend you're camping. . . Don't forget to drain the water lines so they don't freeze
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tazman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2006 at 3:42pm
I bought a 55gallon metal drum for fuel. where can I buy clean burning kerosene for my keresene heater for cheap.
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Spoon---

You  mentioned that you have utliitiy poles? I hope you are not using those for firewood. They are treated with some nasty chemicals. Creosote is one and the other is a copper based preservative.

Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Breeze26 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 03 2006 at 7:11pm
Daydreamer thank you for the fire starter tip.  I made some a couple days ago and they turned out great.  I didn't have sawdust so I used some hamster bedding (new of course) and worked perfectly. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 30 2006 at 10:09am
I have propane to heat with, also a backup wood stove. BUT, I did not see any mention of a kerosine heater. I have one and it heats for about twelve hours on a gallon of kerosone. And kerosine will last for years without going bad.
I have a 55 gallon drum, and extra wicks for the heater.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Daydreamer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2006 at 7:50am
Diane~yes, we use the recycled paper egg cartons. Once they have the wax in them, they break off very easily. We usually manage to keep a fire in our stove all the time but I've had the occasion that the coals weren't hot enough to get it going very well. I'd just throw one of these on the coals and they'd either catch that way or I'd light them. I wouldn't go through a winter without at least an 18 pack of these. I believe we currently have 5 of the 18 packs so I should be good for quite a while, unless we use them to start our cooking fires outside in the fire pit. I may need to get more made.
Don't put off tomorrow what you can PREP today
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 26 2006 at 8:41pm
Great idea Daydream. We have used the kind you buy at the store in the past. Guess they will be out of those! Do you use the recycled paper egg cartons, and then just rip it off? We have found that keeping our wood stove going is very easy. It keeps the coals for a long time. It was definitely  the best forward looking investment that we made. We have been able to heat the whole house. I also like the way it looks. We got one of the off white porcelain ones that looks very European.  Matches my decor quite well. When i look at it sort of disguises the fact that we have gone SURVIVALIST!!! It looks very pretty tucked into my brick fireplace.  Friends remark how pretty it is, they have no idea it was a BF investment!!!
 
We also bought a few Mr. Heater Buddy heaters. They work of of one or two small propane cylinders. The larger model has a fan run with 4 D cell batteries. The run for quite a while, and each unit has a low oxygen shut of system. They are approved for use indoors. That is only with the 1 lb cylinders though. You can hook it up to a twenty lb tank, but you need a hose and must keep the tank outside.  We bought a bunch of cases of fuel to use for the heater, as well as cooking. We are having carbon monoxide detectors installed into our security system which will run on solar back up.
I do know that they sell battery ones as well.  I think this is a good precaution to take with using propane in the house!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Daydreamer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 21 2006 at 1:43pm
Sorry I didn't get back to this one sooner Mary Kay. We fill each of them enough to completely cover the sawdust. We've never stirred them before. I just make sure the all the sawdust is covered on the top with wax. As it hardens you can see where you missed and just pour a little more on that area.
 
These fire starters have worked well for me for several years. I hate having to start a fire with small twigs and such. I can but I'm lazy and don't like to take the time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2006 at 6:39am
Daydreamer, that sounds like a neat idea.
Do you fill each with enough wax to entirely coat the sawdust? Do you stir it?
I've got plenty of old wax from candles so this is a great cheap way to keep warm.
Thanks! : )

Mary Kay
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Daydreamer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 01 2006 at 3:52am
We don't have access to pine cones here unless we buy them at a store so we make our own fire starters. We take a cardboard egg carton. Fill up each section with dry sawdust (from when we are cutting wood). Then we take a cheap candle and melt it down. We pour the liquid wax over the sawdust in each of the sections. Let it dry and when you need one, you just break off a section and there you do. They burn for a long time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2006 at 8:05pm

This reminds me of looking for a house last week. The first house was beautiful, but had no fireplace so I didn't buy it. The next had a gas fireplace so I skipped it as well.

There's nothing more efficent and sensible than a woodstove. We used ours for 20 years of winters and it heated our home quite well, plus saved us about $500.00 a year in heating bills. It has well paid for itself.

Daydreamer, great idea about the extra firewood and chainsaw fuel............I forgot about that!

Dang, there's just too much stuff to remember!

I did store up a huge bag of pine cones, ....great fire starters. Also any recycling bin is a good resource for newspaper to wrap the pine cones with. I usually find dozens of unused papers that stores throw away. {Don't touch the stuff that's been used.}

Mary Kay
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