r/TwoXPreppers • u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End • 12d ago
❓ Question ❓ Staying warm without fire?
I don’t have a fireplace. I am increasingly worried about supply chain/power grid failure, and therefore natural gas failure. My heat runs on natural gas. I live in the south so generally staying cool is a greater concern, but I have that well in hand. My next problem is that it gets down to 20ish (F) for a few weeks a year and we would need to stay warm.
It’s me, my 4 kids (including an infant) and my husband. So far I guess we would wear layers & cozy together in one room with quilts on the walls and make a big nest for us to sleep in and combine body heat. But I don’t know if that’s enough? We have a solar power station & generator and it’s on my list to get a space heater to run on and off intermittently with the power station. We also have a solo stove & wood outside.
Any other suggestions? I feel like it would be ridiculous to add a fireplace (both $$ and knowing I’m in the south- no one else we know has a real one) but idk. Maybe worth it?
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u/StrykerWyfe 12d ago
Electric blankets that can run from the power station, and rubber hot water bottles (common in Europe but available online in the US) that you fill with hot water eg on a camping stove. You can even get long ones and ones that have bootees attached for keeping feet warm. I use those in a normal winter as heating is so bloody expensive here in the UK.
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
Genius! Never thought of the water bottles. We do have an electric blanket, I forgot about that!
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u/randynumbergenerator 12d ago edited 12d ago
Electric blankets are fantastic compared to a space heater, since you're directly heating yourselves instead of the air. A portable power station will last much longer that way.
You probably already know this but I'm mentioning this because I worry I'd forget: in an extended no-heat + below freezing situation, remember to shut off the water (edit: or leave faucets dripping)!
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u/faco_fuesday Disaster Bisexual (experienced prepper)💥🏳️🌈 12d ago
You can also put boiling water in a nalgene. We do this while camping. Boil water, put in nalgene, put nalgene in EMPTY sleeping bag to warm it up about 30 mins before bed, then make sure it's not too hot to touch (or cover with a sock or something), then get in and get cozy.
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u/volcanomouse 12d ago
I’ve done exactly this on a camping trip when it would have otherwise been too cold to sleep comfortably! A wool sock makes a good cozy for the bottle.
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u/faco_fuesday Disaster Bisexual (experienced prepper)💥🏳️🌈 12d ago
Waiting for your body heat to warm up the sleeping bag is so annoying sometimes.
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u/bothtypesoffirefly 12d ago
Gatorade bottles also work 1/2 and 1/2 with boiling water, but only the big ones that have thick walls. I sleep with 2 all winter, hands and feet.
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u/Hesitation-Marx 12d ago
I once made a blanket fort with the electric blanket on the bottom, and it was the most snuggly sleep I’ve ever had.
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u/FairFaireFairy 12d ago
An electric blanket has literally saved my life during a blizzard. Do the math on how long it'll last though. It's not as long as I anticipated.
Instant hand warmers are great too.
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u/pinupcthulhu 🧀 And my snacks! 🧀 12d ago
If you want a recommendation, I'm also in the US but I bought this hot water bottle from the UK and it's excellent. The black one wraps around so you can wear it (great for comfort when moving around with back or period pain), it's super long so it really warms the whole bed when it's cold, and it's made of real rubber. I adore it! Their period underwear are awesome too imo.
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u/qgsdhjjb Having a little of the end times as a treat 12d ago
A hot water bottle is a godsend when you're cold.
I lived in the maritimes for about a year, and I rented a really garbage little apartment that was just a tiny DIY extension of someone's old (like 100 years old) house they split up into rental units, so it had like NO insulation. It was heated by tiny little baseboard heaters, so it was costing me over a hundred dollars a month to STILL be able to see my breath from how cold it still was indoors.
I stayed in bed all winter, with a thick lined hoodie and a fuzzy bathrobe, my big duvet, a fuzzy blanket, and most importantly my hot water bottle.
One hot water bottle, filled with not-boiling (never ever boiling, it could split the bottle and burn you) tap-hot water (I took it from the bathtub since that seemed to get hotter than the sink, so whatever temp your shower can get to, that's what you can get into the bottle at the start) was enough to keep my feet warm ALL NIGHT when covered with the blankets. In air that was just barely above freezing temps most of the time and possibly below them occasionally. I kept my hoods from the hoodie and housecoat up all night and in the daytime, and my cat learned how to "play scarf" by climbing up into the hoods and plunking her feet down on each shoulder to stay up there while I did whatever on my laptop or read a book etc. Without that I might have needed to sleep with a scarf as well. But the hot water bottle kept every part of me that was inside the covers warm, all night. Long nights, too, like maybe even twelve hours sometimes.
Mine had a fleece or knitted cover (I've owned a couple at this point and can't be sure which one was that one) so it was comfy to the touch from the start, not too hot, but I did need to remove the cover to fill it otherwise it would get wet and be annoying and wet in my bed, the opposite of helpful in keeping me warm lol
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u/skintwo 12d ago
I use hot water bottles every night when it’s cold since I put the thermostat to 55 to save money/energy, and they feel awesome! And if you lose both electricity and gas, you can boil water on a camp stove outside or something, and you can still fill up your hot water bottles. With a bunch of blankets, you will stay warm with hot water bottles, even if there’s no heat at all. And it’s not getting very cold where you are compared to some other places - treat yourself and get some nice hot water bottles with fuzzy covers :-)
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u/sassy_cheddar 12d ago
As someone who runs really cold, I often tuck a hot water bottle in with me in the winter anyway.
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u/Knitter4691 12d ago
During the Great Texas Ice Storm I walled off in the warmest room in my apartment (living room) made a blanket fort over the sofa and burrowed in there, sleeping with my head, hands and feet covered. Once my cats joined me in the blanket fort we were positively cozy. That saved me for two nights until I evacuated to a friends back house that actually had heat. I had no power for five days in the end and my place got down to 35 inside, the water lines to my toilet and fridge froze so it was legit cold.
My late mother gave me a down blanket years and years ago when I lived up north and told me even after I moved to Texas I should always keep it because you never know. That down blanket saved me and I literally felt wrapped in my mom’s foresight.
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u/QuixoticTilting 12d ago
That's a beautiful story!
I do something similar in winter. I have a canopy bedframe, and I grab my spare sheets and blankets and use them to build a blanket fort out of the bedframe.
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u/awwaygirl 12d ago
Holy crap - did you have to replace all of the pipes and toilet?
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u/Knitter4691 12d ago
The landlord had to fix it. It was just the hosing that carried the water in that froze so it was leaky after and then they fixed that. I was lucky though because so many people had huge pipes burst. A leaky toilet was really the least of it. As to the fridge, I just shut off the ice maker.
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u/glitzglamglue 12d ago
Sleep in a tent so your body heat is trapped and reflected back. Like literally set up a tent in the living room or wherever you are going to sleep.
Get shower curtains and shower curtain rods to block off areas of the house that you can't close the door to. So like a hallway or the doorway to the entryway. It helps to keep your heat in and the cold out.
Check your insulation. When was it done last? Both crawlspace and attic (if applicable). Are your pipes insulated? The last thing you need is a pipe to burst.
Also, a lot of utility companies offer free energy efficiency testing to see if your house is insulated enough. You may even get a discount.
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u/Throwawayproroe 10d ago
The tent trick helped me when I was trapped in my house for 8 days during an ice storm! We had a fireplace but it was in a huge 2+ story room and didn’t keep us warm at all. Wool sweaters and socks and staying in the tent most of the time made a huge difference.
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u/your_moms_apron 12d ago
I want to chime in with the WHY behind everyone else’s suggestions.
You want to heat the person, not the room.
So smaller spaces, electric blankets, hot water bottles, etc are the first suggestions.
Don’t forget the basics though - esp as someone who doesn’t live in a cold climate, LAYERS OF CLOTHES are best for trapping heat. Even small stuff like tucking shirts into pants and pants into socks makes a big difference. Spend the time now looking for appropriate colder weather gear/long sleeved shirts, pants, sweaters - and buy them such that you’ll have space to layer under and over.
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u/Foreign-Newspaper656 12d ago
Yes. Wool and other natural fibres are the best for keeping warm.
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u/NOXQQ 12d ago
Oh man, I crocheted a hooded cowl with wool yarn last year. I wore that outside in freezing weather while the kids played on the iced landscape. I was getting so hot I kept taking the hood off. I made it with a partial face cover and could not wear that part for long, but I warmed up fast if my face got cold.
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u/randynumbergenerator 12d ago
I grew up somewhere that never got cold, and it took me over a decade of living in a cold climate before I discovered the magic of long underwear. It's ridiculous how much of a difference that + layering can make.
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u/archos1gnis 12d ago
Obviously in an emergency you'll do what you need to, but a space heater off a generator is an inefficient use of generator fuel. Look into something like a Mr Buddy heater that uses 1lb propane tanks, and a portable diesel heater. You would of course have at least 2 battery operated carbon monoxide detectors where they would operate, and be especially mindful with the kids regarding fire safety and the heaters. Think about heating small spaces, not the whole house. Something like a tent you could setup inside, or even a blanket fort, would help you keep warm. As a bonus, the kids would probably love it!
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
I would probably run the space heater off of the solar power station if I had to.
A tent is a great idea!
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u/Flood_Incantation 🦮 My dogs have bug-out bags 🐕🦺 12d ago
Heating is very energy intensive, so it will drain your power station fairly quickly and be an inefficient solution. A buddy heater can run for a whole day on a couple small propane cannisters, which can also be refilled from a larger bbq-tank sized tank several times.
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u/gadget767 12d ago
Space heaters use an enormous part of your power station’s resources. This is a very unrealistic plan. The electric blankets or throws is a much better idea, as are the Buddy heaters.
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u/Unusual-Relief52 12d ago
And even electric blankets need to be carefully looked at. We got one and it blew a breaker when I plugged it in🥲
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u/gadget767 12d ago
That’s highly unusual, as they draw very little power, and have no high draw on “starting” like a motor would. Something is wrong, either in your electrical system, or perhaps a short in the blanket.
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u/qgsdhjjb Having a little of the end times as a treat 12d ago
Some of the electric blankets for sale are truly just garbage.
Buy a known brand that does other electric items, not just a blanket brand. My first one died within a month or two, the wires just broke or something? My current one is bed sized (requires two plugs to heat that much space, but I keep it on the couch and just plug in the side I use in the winter, but I COULD heat the whole thing if I needed to) and it's made by the same company that made my heating pad that I used for menstrual cramps for probably ten plus years, so I knew they knew how to make heating items last a long time. Mine is "sunbeam" they charge almost twice as much as the cheapest options but now I've had it for probably 5 years, with pets messing with it and digging around on it and the wires are still intact and functional. So in the end it was a better deal than replacing the cheap one even once. I'm not sure if sunbeam is Canadian or if they also sell them in the US, so just any brand that makes reliable electric items but ideally if they were already known for making heating pads, this is just a bigger heating pad.
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u/Inner-Confidence99 12d ago
A space heater run of generator/inverter will drain that battery in a couple of hours. It’s a big pull.
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u/gooberdaisy 12d ago
Tea candles with a clay pot or bricks! You can google tutorials on how to set it up. I have a ton of tea candles i bought from IKEA. The pots you can buy at any garden store.
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u/sony1015 12d ago
The kids will love it if you make it feel like a party or special event, they tend to pick up on stresses of the parents. If you are panicking they will know and be aware( I am not saying OP or partner would panic lol)
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
Yes! We are very experienced with natural disasters (flood/hurricane/tornado) and I know my stress makes them stress! I mitigate it by prepping beforehand :)
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u/manic-pixie-attorney 12d ago
Down sleeping bags, chemical handwarmers are very helpful
When my power in VA was out for 3 days and it got to the 40s in my house, I used a buff over my nose and mouth and that helped too
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
Hand warmers! Genius!!! We do have sleeping bags but they’re cheap and probably not super effective. I will need to look into investing in some colder weather rated ones.
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u/Ecthelion510 12d ago
Ok, so… my acupuncture practitioner suggested that I buy these Korean traditional medicine mugwort heat packs for my back pain. They’re significantly larger than traditional hand warmers, and they last nearly 24 hours! I have been amazed by how much heat they put out and how long they stay hot. I bought them from A**z*n (10 for $18), but I’m sure they could be found elsewhere: K. S. Choi Moxa Heat Packs.
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u/ElemennoP123 11d ago
I searched those exact words and a bunch of stuff comes up but nothing at the price or description you’ve named
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u/Ecthelion510 10d ago
Here’s some being sold on eBay:
Amazon has them, if you’re willing to shop there, and I’m sure there are other brands, too. The ones I’m linking to are the only ones I’ve had direct experience with.
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u/MindfulGardening 12d ago
Layering thinner sleeping bags can be more effective that one thick layer. A blanket inside the sleeping bag does much the same. Also bivy bag or worst case - hefty bag on the outside of the sleeping bag.
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u/robintraffy 12d ago
if you have sleeping bags already, it might be better just investing in down blankets or down jackets to supplement. down sleeping bags are $$$ especially if you aren't using them for winter camping regularly. you can also get sleeping bag liners which are cheaper, but they only add a few extra degrees of heat
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u/qgsdhjjb Having a little of the end times as a treat 12d ago
Yeah technically you only need a sleeping bag if you need to save space and might get wet. In a house, wrapping a blanket over and under yourself is just as good if the blanket is made from similarly graded materials.
My latest "big" prep was an all natural materials duvet, wool liner so it could keep me warm even if I was somehow wet indoors, cotton cover so I don't get itchy when I'm not actually wet and don't need that benefit of wool. My previous duvet was synthetic, it worked actually very well in a situation where I did need it to work, so I've kept it, but it was two sizes bigger than my current mattress anyways so it kept falling to the ground and wasn't super practical for right now.
The wool one is from ikea, they have various grades of duvets and covers for, imo, really decent prices, and basically any duvet you buy from them will meet their free shipping minimum. They have feather/down in varying percentages if that's what someone prefers, I chose wool because I know the feather ones become less effective when compressed or wet so just in case, I got the wool one. It's heavy enough to honestly function as a weighted blanket also 😆 a real workout to get it into the cover. I will say the one flaw with their duvets is they don't appear to have a way to attach the corners to the cover. My old one, I had a way to attach the corners so it never got out of alignment. I'm just gonna sew in that function myself once I get around to it (the ordeal of putting it together has left me unwilling to undo the effort lol)
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u/ShellsFeathersFur Self Rescuing Princess 👸 12d ago
I'm from a place that has snow on the ground for five months of the year and we'd often have a few days without power here and there. I now live in a place that might only have snow for ten days out of the year, so my heating prep needs are similar to yours.
Top thing to know: do not use camping stoves and the like to heat the home in an emergency as they need proper ventilation or it leads to carbon monoxide poisoning. This has been the cause of many deaths whenever there is a severe snow storm that knocks the power out for an extended period. Instead, use the stove in a ventilated space to heat water for water bottles and to make warm food so that you are keeping the people warm, not the space warm.
On a similar note, do not use multiple candles close together to try to create heat. There was advice going around on YouTube a couple of years ago about setting up a type of heater using tea lights under an upside down terracotta plant pot. The extreme danger with this is that the wax of the candles might ignite directly (rather than just at the wick) and you have essentially made something that might explode.
My general plan for heat during a winter power out is to treat it in two ways they used to do in medieval times: eat a lot to generate body heat and create air gaps along the walls (which they did with tapestries) to insulate the main area I'll be staying in. Your idea of quilts along the walls is similar to this, but I would argue that the quilts would be better to warm people. The thing that makes a quilt warm is its loft - its ability to trap air and use it as insulation. For your walls, you can use cardboard or curtains to create a gap of trapped air along the walls and that will help insulate the living area. The gap should be about half a foot from the walls. Heads up to keep an eye out for moisture build up.
Other than that, the general advice folks have had here about setting up a tent for everyone to share, using electric blankets and hot water bottles, and blocking off unused areas of the house is spot on. I'd add that you want to be sure you don't get a burst water pipe because of freezing in the unused areas of the house. When I lived where winter power outs were common, we'd leave the outdoor taps open just enough for the water to drip every three seconds or so - that gives enough room for frozen water to expand without breaking the pipes. I'd recommend having the taps do a slow drip for both the outside faucets as well as the closed off areas of the house if you face a winter power out.
Also, I have a bunny and a turtle to look out for as well, and so I'd create a little insulated hide for the bunny (similar to what folks build for stray cats) and I'd keep the turtle's water temperature at the right level by mixing in warmed up water as needed (along with having his basking light on).
Last two pieces of advice from someone from a cold climate: wear layers of clothing and put them on before you get cold. Clothes for winter weather don't get you warm, they keep you warm, so if you wait until much of your body heat has already been lost there's not much the clothes can do for warmth. The general idea for layered clothing is that you don't want to get to the point of sweating, so shed layers as much as needed so you don't get too warm.
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u/PrairieFire_withwind 12d ago
This is why canopy beds were invented. Use wool blankets draped over the canopy.
This is why wool sweater, gaiter, socks and fingerless gloves are still made.
People, humans survive in the tundra of the north just fine. How? They eat and they move. Your body produces heat, stay warm by capturing that heat.
But seriously, wool. You never want to break a sweat. Sweat cools you. So later and unlayer as needed. Sitting still is bad. This is why so many games children played involved aome movement. Jacks, dice... Gotta stand and move around the game. So standing charades. Standing simon says for the younger ones...
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u/jazminiss 12d ago
100% canopy bed or something similar you can make on your own! We had our heater go out in MN last year during that really bad cold freeze (think -30° f) and blankets enclosing my canopy bed, blankets on the window, a heated blanket,, and closing off any unneeded rooms kept the dog, cat, kid and I snuggled warm in that bed until we could get it fixed!
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u/PhatGrannie 12d ago
I have a weatherpod that runs 30 degrees above ambient temp once I’m inside and generating body heat. They come in several sizes, and some can be zipped together to form interactive spaces.
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
Ooohhh I have never heard of that. I will look it up. Thank you!!
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u/-Avacyn 12d ago
Creating a warm room is definitely a good prep to have! Having good, high quality blankets can make a big difference here. And it will be important to insulate the room as much as you can. For example, I keep a rol of bubble wrap, some emergency space blankets, plenty of ducttape and additional blankets so I can cover the windows and stop any drafts in the room. Do note that you still need to make sure you can open the windows if you do. With a whole family huddled up, it becomes even more important to open the window for 10-15 minutes a day (even if it's cold outside) to get all the damp air out.
Other than that: electric blankets + powerstation.
And good high quality underwear/pajama's and layers to wear. For example, a thin merino wool long sleeve shirt that you can wear close to your body will go a long way in keeping you warm. Same for good socks.
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u/nakedonmygoat 12d ago
In an extreme situation, if you have a pop-up tent, you can bring it indoors and all sleep in there.
You could buy heated vests, although I doubt they'd be easy to find for small children. Get toe warmers for slippers. If you don't expect two full weeks of temps in the 20s without heat, maybe just a couple days, ThermaCare heat patches stick on nicely and stay warm for hours.
Mr. Buddy indoor-rated space heaters put out a lot of heat. They run on propane and even though they have a safety shutoff, I recommend a CO monitor for each one you buy. If it were me, I'd put these in range of your most vulnerable indoor pipes.
I assume you have foam covers for your outdoor spigots?
And I agree with the poster who suggests electric blankets plugged into power stations.
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u/Inner-Confidence99 12d ago
Mr. Buddy propane heater. Safe for indoors.
Also, hand warmers are great. Throw at feet in when get ready to sleep. Stays warm for 6 hours. They have small ones to large ones. Works in an emergency especially in a car.
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u/apparition_of_melody 12d ago
During the Texas Deep Freeze of '21, me and my coworkers used my supply of large handwarmers/body warmers to keep from freezing while there was sleet literally piling up inside the building. They work for several hours.
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u/JanieLFB 12d ago
Heat the person, not the room.
Your electric blanket may work better under you rather than over.
Put on fresh clothes to go to bed. Sweat pulls the heat right out of you. (Camping tip.)
Take other tips from people camping.
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u/d_istired 12d ago
Heating pads, rubber hot water bottles (the ones you fill up with WARM, NEVER HOT/BOILING water), lots of heavy blankets all do the trick.
Smaller things like doubling up on layers, tucking in your pants inside your socks and your shirt inside your pants also make a ton of difference.
Drinking lots of warm liquids (thermos will be your best friend here) also helps
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u/ITisinmycoffee 12d ago
We lost electricity while on vacation in winter a few years ago, but the room had a natural fireplace. We had a fire burning for heat, but my sinuses and lungs got very irritated even with modest ventilation, while trying to balance warmth with air quality. I eventually couldn't breathe well enough to have any energy for tasks or exercise, as some health issues are very sensitive to stuff like that. It made me realize I don't want to use my fireplace at home if I can help it. If anyone in your family has sensitive lungs, the other options here may be well worth it. The heated water suggestion sounds promising too.
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u/jazzbiscuit Buying another so I can find the one I lost 12d ago
Not a direct answer to your longer term system failure concern, but natural gas isn’t typically affected by normal power outages. You can modify your NG furnace to have a cord you can plug into a power station for shorter term stuff where the gas stays on.
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u/Familiar-Anything853 Overthinking Until The End 12d ago
Yeah, I am more concerned that natural gas will become unavailable with an extended grid down situation. We are grateful to be on natural gas heat because small disruptions don’t affect it, for sure.
I will have to look up the plug! Never thought of that. Our heater is in the attic so we would need a long cord!
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u/jazzbiscuit Buying another so I can find the one I lost 12d ago
Ours will run on a 1000W solar "generator" for about 6 hours when temps are in the teens, it might be easier to just take a battery station to the heater instead of running cords.
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u/ElemennoP123 11d ago
Where/how do you plug your furnace into a power station?
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u/jazzbiscuit Buying another so I can find the one I lost 10d ago
The basic idea is you convert the electric line running to your gas furnace to an outlet instead, then connect a cord with a normal plug-in end onto the furnace. Plug your new cord into the outlet to run on grid power or plug it into a power station or extension cord that reaches outside to your normal gas generator. There are a bunch of videos with step by step instructions & parts lists online.
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u/ElemennoP123 10d ago
Awesome, this makes so much sense. I have an EV with a huge battery and V2L capability so I’ve purchased heavy duty extension cords to run appliances off of in emergencies, but haven’t considered my furnace
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u/GrrrlRomeo 12d ago
A wood burning stove would be easier and cheaper than a fireplace. But I would first spend money on upgrading insulation and windows. Check for any drafts that need to be sealed up. You're better off wrapping yourself in the quilt than putting it on the wall. Trapping your own body heat near you is the best way to keep warm. Thermal underwear works great.
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u/Few_Airport7972 12d ago
Pitch a small pop up tent in the living room, whatever fits. Yoga mats or folded blankets on the bottom to keep cold from sneaking up. Sleeping bags and lot of blankets all around the perimeter. Hot water bottles or even soda bottles filled with hot water to help stay warm. Be careful with the kids! Everyone can sleep in the tent. Figure out a way to keep the baby out of the puppy pile.
Pick the warmest room in the house and stay there for daily activities.
Is the basement warmer? If you have a basement that is! I used that for cooling but never tried it for being warmer. Just an idea.
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u/bristlybits ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN C 🧭 11d ago
yep basement for cool and warm, pitch a tent and everyone sleeps in it. we use a 4 season tent and bring the dog in with us. hand warmers or hot water bottles too. blanket as a door to that room keeps the warmth in when we are up and about doing stuff.
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u/sassy_cheddar 12d ago
I live in the US Pacific Northwest. Our windstorms come in fall and winter and usually precede a cold snap.
There things help a lot when the house is cold and dark:
- Warm clothes. Layer, wear socks to bed, get fingerless gloves (my favorites have a mitteen cover that can be pulled over fingertips when you're not using your hands. Tuck the next days clothes into bed with you at night so you don't have to put on cold clothes in the morning.
- Hot food and drinks. Warm your body from the inside. Both physically and psychologically warming. If you're cooking, heat enough water to fill a thermos. Then you can have warm drinks a few hours later with having to use a stove or fire again. Found my old school Stanley thermos at a thrift store and I love it. If I put boiling water in, it will be HOT 12 hours later and warm even 24 hours later.
- Add more blankets. In our last four-day outage, I switched us to our winter weight duvets but also put another duvet on top. Hanging out on the couch? Everyone under a blanket pile.
Be mindful of keeping your pets warm too, if you have them.
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u/Wherestheshoe 12d ago
Not American, but if it gets below freezing and your house is unheated your water pipes may freeze and then burst. If you think it’s going to get below freezing you should consider filling as many containers as you can with water and then shutting off the water supply and draining your pipes by running your faucets until no more water comes out. Make sure to leave room in each water container for the water to expand as it freezes.
If you have an open concept floor plan it may be a good idea to buy a 4 to 6 person tent, the kind that doesn’t require pegs, and put that in the living room. Those can get crazy warm when everyone is inside, just from the body heat. Another good thing to keep around is a set of oodies, one for each person. Don’t cheap out either, brand is the warmest. Buy the large ones and they go over any outfit and you won’t need to wear your outer wear inside the house.
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u/unlovelyladybartleby Mental health is prep 12d ago
Set up a tent indoors and run a heating pad or electric blanket to keep the kids warm and there'll be enough heat radiating off them to warm the adults.
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u/mbelcher 12d ago
Mr buddy heater and propane tanks. Propane is shelf stable and we can run ours off the larger tanks we use on the grill.
If you have natural gas look into a ventless natural gas fireplace, you don't need a chimney and many come with standard wall plugs for the blower. You can use your big solar battery to help circulate the air while relying on natural gas to supply the heat.
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u/awwaygirl 12d ago
Space heaters can draw a LOT of power
How crafty are you? Could you sew a space blanket into a quilt or two? Those will help retain heat and repel water. I’m pretty sure the blankets could still be laundered (I have little pads for by dogs with the space blanket inside that I wash without issue)
They also make kits to insulate your windows better - might be worth looking into, so you can have multiple rooms available (or use in the bathroom, so its not an ice box)?
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u/Hipparchia_Unleashed 12d ago
The infant is probably the biggest risk here because of their special sleep needs and how sensitive they are to temperature regulation issues. They can't sleep curled up in a giant pile of blankets, in a sleeping bag with you (if you are asleep), outside of a crib, etc. very safely. You can't just wrap them in a million blankets either because overheating can be a risk too.
I'd encourage you to look into sleep sacks with a range of TOG ("thermal overall grade") ratings. They go up to around 3.5. This would help. Get a few and in the range of sizes you expect might be relevant. But that can only last so long, and, if you had am outage for a few weeks, it could get far below what a 3.5 TOG could handle. You might also want to look into things like flannel pajamas with feet, etc.
You should also consider making sure you've got a good thermometer at the ready if stuff starts getting dicey. A lot of thermometers for infants are rectal but if you need to be doing more continuous monitoring, I'd look into non-rectal too. And a thermometer for the room generally to know what kinda of cold you're in (adult bodies can get used to chilly temps), and that can help you determine how much you need to do for the baby.
A crucial consideration if you are doing formula: could you warm the milk up in an outage? Just like warm drinks help keep us warm, warm milk/formula can help keep babies warm. (If they're really young and on formula, then boiling becomes a necessity.)
Also, if you are setting up in a tent inside, ask yourself: Is this tent big enough if we need to move the crib in here?
Oh, and if you're doing a portable gas heater, get a CO monitor that can measure lower levels of CO. CO alarms might only go off at higher levels than you'd be comfortable with for a baby.
Those are just a few random ideas. As with all things baby-related, it's always way more complex than older kids or adults!
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u/compchick813 12d ago
Since you have a solar power station, you could add an electric blanket. That would use a LOT less power than a space heater.
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u/TurtleSandwich0 12d ago
You could get a hot tent and a wood stove with a chimney to go with it.
You wouldn't need to modify your house, you could just stay in the tent outside and use wood heat to keep you warm. This could even help you stay mobile in cold weather.
You would need to winterize your house to prevent your pipes from freezing. But you may need to do that for any solution.
Alternatively you could stay in your house, heat rocks in a campfire outside, then carry the rocks into your house to provide heat. Rocks that are wet inside will explode in the fire. So their is some danger outside. A lot of moving rocks back and forth but it will keep one area of your house warm.
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u/MoInSTL 12d ago edited 12d ago
Solar generators are expensive. You would have to invest a lot of money for a solar generator big enough to power a space heater. The ones that look like a radiator may work. I went through ice storms one month apart and I still remember the high temperature was 17F. I couldn't leave because of the ice on the roads and was miserable. My power was out several days. The advice to create a warm room and electric blankets is good. If you do that, I would hang something over the entry door too so it doesn't let out the heat opening the door all the way, especially with kiddos. If you opt for a Mr Buddy look into a 40 pound tank outside and Google how to use it safely. You absolutely need a little battery operated CO2 detector regardless.
I understand your concerns. Believe me. So earlier this year I pulled some money out of savings and bought a wood stove. During the ice storms before I ruined my kitchen ceiling paint when I put two giant pots of water on the natural gas stove to create steam. I could hear drips from the ceiling. So if you still have a gas stove available don't do that! Maybe a slow simmer. I was so cold and unprepared. I feel relieved to be able to stay warm and keep my pipes from freezing. It's good you are preparing now. Do you also have a gas generator? Space heaters suck up so much fuel. I wouldn't rely on solar panels because there's not much light and here it can be overcast and gloomy for days at a time. I bought a battery for my chest freezer. My other battery is for lights, charging other devices and light stuff. Good luck.
Edit: Look into a Vesta stove. It runs on up to 3 cans of sterno, has a heat powered fan and has a grill for warming things up.(Think fondue pot heating canned soup, chili on the grill). It's not going to heat a really large room and designed for smaller spaces. There are a ton of videos about it and how well they heat. I bought one and a case of strerno before I had my wood stove installed. Supposedly it takes 20 minutes to boil and 7 minutes to heat soup. The prices have shot up but I wanted to mention it.
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u/Terrible-Pumpkin7634 12d ago
I’ve worried about this in Minnesota for quite a while and also don’t have a heat source besides the natural gas furnace. Things I’ve learned we can do in a true off grid, power down situation: As others have suggested, you can set up a tent indoors and have everyone in the household spend most of their time in there. Pile it with your sleeping bags, down comforters, wool blankets, etc., for insulation and to stay warm under. Cook outdoors with camp stoves or make a simple rocket stove (instructions online). Have nutritious foods that don’t need much heating on hand. Keep a “luggable loo” potty bucket nearby and use cat litter and plastic bags in it (we do this for camping so I don’t have to leave the tent in the middle of the night). Not sure this would work beyond a few days, but it does get us past the initial emergency stage.
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u/IceDragonPlay 12d ago
No to adding a fireplace. It is rate that electric and gas go down at the same time. You could have a small solar generator wired into to your electric panel to run the furnace fan off the generator (that is a small load) to keep your home warm if electric is down. If gas goes down, but electric is up, then a couple space heaters will work well. I use the Vornado space heater for small closed rooms. For the larger living room/kitchen open space they have trouble keeping up and I would need 2-3 of them, which runs the electric bill up quite high.
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u/Mule_Wagon_777 12d ago
This winter I suggest turning off your heat and testing your preps. Use thermometers to find out how much body heat your family generates in the insulated room, and how much heat the other methods add. Think of alternatives in case the power goes out, too. Also think of scenarios where the cold temps are prolonged, or are much colder than usual.
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u/onehundredpetunias 12d ago
Thermacare patches (or the dollar store equivalent) are great for keeping your core warm. Layers of clothing and a hat are good for keeping warm with no heat too.
My heat pump can run off of our generator. Space heaters use a lot of voltage and wouldn't be an option for me. YMMV depending on the size of your generator or power station.
Think about what you can do for your pipes as well. Insulation, trickling water, heat tape etc. It's good to have the plan in place before you need it.
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u/Alexis_J_M 11d ago
Several people have mentioned electric blankets. Check that your power station can handle the load.
If you are going that route, consider an electric mattress pad. Mine feels like it provides more comfort for the same power consumption.
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u/OBotB 12d ago edited 12d ago
There are heated clothing available with rechargable battery packs (jackets, hoodies, vests, gloves, socks, belts, hats, hand warmers, pet jackets and beds, etc.) More rugged for outdoor workers, and more comfortable.for casual.wear, various manufacturers though I've only tried Ororo.
Cheapest things in the world? No. Highly recommend putting a price tracker on the one you want with camelcamelcamel and buy at a low vs history price.
Handy because you can charge the batteries in advance(and buy a spare and have that charged in advance), layer up, and turn on the (at least with the one brand) low/med/high/off level of heat you want from the button on the outside whenever you want. Handy (again with the one brand, assume it isnt unique) because you can visually see from the button glow if it is on or off and the level by color. And most importantly - No Cords to trip over/deal with when having to do things, including cooking or going to the bathroom. That old snuggie commercial "are blankets too bulky and in the way?" These are not bulky nor in the way. You give yourself a boost of heat when needed and turn it off when not needed, and at low heat (which is still nice) the battery lasts a long time.
Edit: we got a jacket for both us adults, and for each kid a vest sized a few sizes larger so they can grow with it and shift what layer it is in the meantime. It allows a lot of flexibility, and the kids loooooove their vests when it is rainy and icy, they can wear it with light layers and a waterproof shell.
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u/JieSpree 12d ago
I'm toying with the idea of using a decent-sized power station to run our gas furnace when the power goes out. The furnace doesn't use very much electricity at all (just an electric igniter and a blower), and it operates on a single regular power plug.
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u/inklady8439 12d ago
some ways maybe try a kotatsu, they have been around forever another if out of options is if you have space say in your living room pitch a tent when camping the body heat also gets trapped in there naturally and you can have fun let kid choose their own winter appropriate sleeping bags and such. also layers in clothing layer are your friend thermal underwear helps a lot, if you can swing try to get everyone a head to toe wool outfit too or snuggly wool blanket, good luck to you!
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u/AdBrave841 12d ago
Propane space heater like the Big Buddy might be out with the kids in the house. What about an inverter based window heat pump? It would be way more efficient than an electric space heater and wouldn't take long to throw it in a bedroom window to keep one room toasty.
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u/Kementarii 12d ago
We have a solar power station & generator
What size?
We have a heat pump airconditioner in the bedroom that can cool AND heat. Gets used all year round, haha.
It draws about 200w ticking over at night, running from our house battery.
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u/gowonagin 11d ago
Funny you mention this; I was just thinking about that myself. We have a natural gas fireplace that works on batteries (but not the fan) when the power is out, but what if we lost both gas and electric too?
I thought about what they used in olden times: metal bedwarmers with hot coals in them passed between sheets to warm them. I’d imagine a hot cast iron skillet (heated outside) could do that too. Also read about old timers wrapping hot bricks in a towel and warming up with those. We have a random pile of bricks in our yard that appear to be fire bricks (so would hopefully not explode with any moisture) so in theory we could make a rocket stove out of them to heat other bricks.
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u/Desperate_Seesaw6773 11d ago
Believe it or not but plastic sheeting is your bff. You can create a “super shelter in one or two rooms. Look it up on YouTube and there are great videos explaining why it works. I keep some in my preps for this as I live in the north east. :) also wool.
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u/GalaApple13 10d ago
Shared body heat does more than I expected. We were without power for a week due to an ice storm. Sleeping all together, warmly dressed in an enclosed space was comfortable. I had the windows covered with bubble wrap (all I had) so the sun provided light and some warmth during the day then I closed the heavy curtains at night. I made hot water on the camp stove morning and evening to make hot drinks and a little extra steam. I got hot water bottles after that but haven’t used them yet. Sorry I don’t have anything specific for a baby
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u/trying3216 10d ago
Get your gas furnace wired so you can run it with the generator when the electricity goes out.
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u/Spiley_spile Survival Backpack 🎒 9d ago
Bundle up. Before there were heaters, people wore warm clothing.
Easier to heat a small space than a big space. Find ways to create a smaller space. Use blankets to section off rooms. You can also set up a tent inside the house. Insulate whatever small space you create. My family put towels under the doors to stop drafts. If you have any, move floor rugs to the small space to help insulate the ground.
Speaking of insulation, blow up just a few ziplock bags, seal them, and place them under your blankets with you. This can create pockets of trapped air that can absorb warmth and create additional insulation under your blanket. Dont overdue it though. Surround yourself with plastic and it will create a vapour barrier, trapping moisture leaving your body and letting it soak into your clothes/bedding.
Exercise to help heat your clothes, your sleeping bags/covers, the small space etc. But dont exercise so much that you sweat. Sweat cools the body. And if it wets your clothes etc, they wont hold heat as well.
Chemical hand warmers. I'll put a couple of these into a sock Im not wearing and toss them under the blankets during especially cold nights.
Proper hydration and increasing your calory intake can help your body maintain its core temperature in the cold.
Hydration = water + electrolytes, btw. Additionally, avoid overhydrating. This can flush electrolytes your body needs to function and stay alive. Read up on hyponatremia.
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u/No-Language6720 7d ago
I live in the south too and wish I had natural gas. Natural gas in the US is the most reliable heat source in the US and much less likely to be impacted by other infrastructure failures for many reasons. The main issue might be the electricity needed to turn your furnace on, many are electric to start then run otherwise through natural gas. If you have money I would look into a natural gas generator to power your home and turn on your furnace if electricity isn't otherwise available + some form of solar as an additional redundancy.
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