Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

I agree.

Wish they would put either a gas stove or fireplace in apartments, but seems electric is the norm for apartments.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

we have a gas stove , not convinced how well it would work in a power outage, i suspect that there may be electricity involved in the pumping or distribution

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

Are there not rules about high high gas lines may be run (ie in apartment blocks?).

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

I have found/find propane useful, as I've never lived (in Canada) in an area with mains gas supply.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

Our gas stove works by gaseousness or gasiotity or something; gas appears in the jets even when there's no electric power. The igniters are electric but a match also works.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

deep cycle battery pair with an inverter is the way to go, however the cost of the batteries + a 1kw - 2kw inveter is big money, upwards to $3000

For those in the country or at home a quick fix is a 'clip to the car battery (while the car is running) a 1kw inverter [Canadian tire has them) with a long extension cord to the house/apartment applicances.

This will run the small stuff & sump pump.

Best alternate portable whisper quiet generator is the Honda e 2000 (~$1200 Cdn) 2kw as big as a small suitcase & easy to carry & move around.

Honda EU2000i Model Info | Super Quiet 2000 Watt Inverter Generator | Honda Generators

Will run a furnace (gas or oil furnace do cycle on & off)....[110v furnace connection needs a plug & socket adaption] , this little baby will run the cycled furnace, sump pump, lights, even a microwave, computer etc

In fact for the power it closely matches the all in cost of electricity from the utility

Again its about cost & conveinence

jsmith, one of these will not be an issue for you to put on your balcony. The noise level is so low (at 59db) that the street noise (70+db) will be louder.

As another suggestion, there is the available at Canadian, the environment friendly 'kerosene heater' (kero-world brand) rated 10,000btu, also available at Lowes & I'm guessing Costco

My neighbour has one that he has used in his house.

My pick is the Honda generator - do not go with the cheaper unreliable noisy Hyundai version from walmart canada



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Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

How would that work if it became sufficiently cold for the liquid gas in the tank to cease being volatile (ie gassy)?

My missus keeps moaning that our lighters don't work. I keep trying to explain that, if you leave a butane lighter in a freezing garage, the liquid butane won't reach the gas state.

I am wasting my time.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

dunno but people on the 45 floor also have gas stoves as far as I know

the 45th probably being the 38th or something , once you account for the missing 4, 13, 14th and so on floors

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

I don't know but the tanks are outside and I've seen -36 on the car thermometer and it all still works at that point. I suspect the will to live would give out before the gas froze.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

We have a woodstove but I'm not convinced it would be enough. The room it's in is the biggest and the front door opens from it. There's also an open doorway to the kitchen which, in turn, has an open doorway to a second room.

It used to be our main living room but in the winter we found it never got particularly warm with the heating from the heat pump and the wood stove so we moved temporarily into the other room...and never moved back.

If it wasn't warm with heating and the woodstove, it may not be warm enough with just the latter. Although I suppose there's a difference between comfort and survival.

There is the stove's hot plate as well, so it may provide hot water for coffee or soup. I have the whistling kettle ready but hope never to have to try it.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

You abide in rural SW Ontario. You have already lost the will to live.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

Yes. Our backup heat sources are Tim Horton's and Wendy's. Though we'd have to sneak the hamster in.

Oddly enough, I had to leave work early tonight due to another power outage that took all the computers down. We haven't had one in our house for quite a while, but I'll probably be replacing some hard drives again when I get in to the office tomorrow.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

No is the simple answer, they just don't have the total stored energy capacity required so would be ruined in not many cycles if you tried. Even deep cycle batteries are much happier if they are never fully discharged and these would be even worse.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

I can second how good and quiet the Honda generator is as we have one. (they are also very economical on fuel) However and it is a big but, they certainly used to be at least twice the price of competing models.

Re: Do you have backup heat source?
 

Yes, someone else said that but I didn't see an answer to my next question.

The blurb says it will run "small to medium appliances" so what are these small to medium appliances that are smaller than kettles and toasters?

Or is it highly misleading advertising?