Janna Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 We don't have a generator and are almost completely electricity dependent. So I have been trying to bake some things that can be eaten easily at room temperature, like muffins and bread. However, for anything warm, what will we do? A friend reminded me we had propane on our grill, so dh moved our grill into our screened in porch to be ready to use. So I have also been making soup today that can easily be warmed on the grill, if necessary. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to share, in case some of you have gas grills, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Janna, what will you do for heat? Does your propane, fuel oil, etc. furnace require electricity??? I worry about everyone under these circumstances. The grill is a great idea. For power outages, we break out the coleman cookstove and start eating "camp" food. Dh also grills inside our wood boiler...yum, yum. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janna Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 We will wear lots of layers and stay together! I have enough candles that we could hole up in a bedroom and the candles would keep us warm. We all have down comforters we could wrap in. We do have a fireplace, but honestly I don't know if that would help or hurt. The room is large, and then leads into the kitchen and a hallway, so I don't think it would be practical for heating - just an added light source - which is definitely something to consider. But I'm afraid with the flue open, we would lose more heat than gain it, you know? Really, there's nothing else we can do. At least we have a roof and walls to protect us from the wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Hi Janna, I'm glad you have a plan. Think of the fireplace as a campfire...very soothing and that alone has a lot of value. You could heat a small area a little bit if you can bring out boxes, tubs etc. and build some six or seven foot high "walls" around the fireplace area and then stay inside with your down comforters. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Lots of canned goods, like beans, fruit cocktail etc are handy when having trouble. Our furnace has been on the fritz all winter, and with one of our coldest winters on record we have learned to deal with a house with no heat. Layers are a great thing, we have stayed warm with house coats, slippers and hats in the house over our clothes. I keep the youngest in footed jammies during the day on the dayas teh furnace is not working. You may get to a point of wanting to use that furnace if the power outage lasts more than about 24 hours. Trsust me, we have gone as long as 72 hours with no heat this winter(the furnace currently has 2 settings, full blast, or off- and you never know when it will actually blow hot or blow cold), and I can say if we had a fire place it would get well used. After about 12 hours your house is pretty darned cold, by 72 hours it feels subarctic. So make sure you have wood etc ready in case you get to that point, you could also cook on it - make the whole ordeal a memory by roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in the livingroom. Hang a blanket blocking the hallway etc entrance from the room with the fireplace, it will help slow down the heat loss from it. Let us know when you make it through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janna Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 That's a good idea; thanks, Faith! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janna Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 It's a gas fireplace with already set ceramic "wood". It makes cooking with it difficult because the "wood" is stacked so high. But I like the idea of blocking off the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 It's a gas fireplace with already set ceramic "wood". It makes cooking with it difficult because the "wood" is stacked so high. But I like the idea of blocking off the room. well that makes a difference for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 The lights went out for about 5 minutes last night, while the boys were playing up in their room, and they freaked out a little. I was downstairs and couldn't get to them right away. So, now, I've put flashlights in their room that they can easily access. We are going to bring more wood into the garage for the fireplace. We've had two occasions during other winters where the electricity was out for hours and we cuddled around the fireplace. I'm putting batteries in the little hand held TV that dh takes on fishing trips, and in the camping lantern. We have a crank radio, too, that I'm setting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I baked a bunch of healthy muffins, too! We don't have a gas stove in this house, which I sorely miss, and are out of propane, so I have all easy to make cold meals and snacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 For the frozen pipes situation, here is something we bought 2 of these for the case of hurricanes or any other preparedness scenario: http://www.waterbob.com I'm very impressed with them and think they are brilliant. I have 3 tubs, so I might would eventually buy a 3rd, but I don't really think it necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 If you haven't planned for frozen pipes and you'll be subzero, now is a good time. Another thing I do is fill the bathtub (no little guys so I don't have to lock it) so we can have water for flushing and fill all the camping water jugs for drinking water. Ok, so people are filling bathtubs & preparing drinking water in case their pipes freeze? Half the people I know are posting on FB that they're preparing for no water if the power goes out & I couldn't figure out WHY water would magically disappear just b/c there's no power. Possible frozen pipes make sense though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Ok, so people are filling bathtubs & preparing drinking water in case their pipes freeze? Half the people I know are posting on FB that they're preparing for no water if the power goes out & I couldn't figure out WHY water would magically disappear just b/c there's no power. Possible frozen pipes make sense though. Won't keeping the water running keep the pipes from freezing? I thought I read that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 We have a well, and the pump runs on electricity. No electricity, no water! Our propane grill also fizzled out on us a few weeks ago. :glare: Fortunately, our community clubhouse has a generator. We have plenty of stuff to pack up and share with the rest of our electric neighbors. After 5 years here, I fully intend to have our own generator NEXT year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I am concerned. We tend to lose power when most others in our area don't. There's a couple block radium that gets hit often. Last time we were out for over 36 hours. Dh gassed up the cars so we could leave if it gets too cold. I'm looking forward to the snow, but I HATE being without electricity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 That is one of the coolest, most clever things I've seen in a while. LOVE it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Ok, so people are filling bathtubs & preparing drinking water in case their pipes freeze? Half the people I know are posting on FB that they're preparing for no water if the power goes out & I couldn't figure out WHY water would magically disappear just b/c there's no power. Possible frozen pipes make sense though. For people with wells, the pump that pumps the water up from the well is usually run with electricity. When we lose electricity, we lose water. This may not be an issue if you have city water as they may have a back-up power source to pump the water on through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lostinabook Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Won't keeping the water running keep the pipes from freezing? I thought I read that somewhere. Me too. We have a faucet that's leaking & I was thinking that that was good timing! We have a well, and the pump runs on electricity. No electricity, no water! The bathtub water is for the the toilet needs if we lose power to the well pump. I'm on town water, so I know from past experience that I could be on my own for a bit if no one can get through the ice storm to restart the pump if it goes out for a while. I'd just rather be able to flush and wash my hands. Ah, these make sense, but the people I know don't have pumps. I thought I was missing some major thing about water being somehow powered by electricity, but we've never lost water when we've lost power so I was confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Do you have a thermos? You could keep it filled with hot water and replace the hot water often as long as you have power. Hard-boiled eggs are something you can prepare in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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