Heat with no electricity?

[ilovetoads2]

Well I sure am glad I invested in thermostats and heat mats...with them being so dependable and all. : p

we have a power cut...any ideas how I can keep them warm in case it is not back on before daybreak?

Hot water bottles?

[Ron Magpie]

Oh crap- that is the worst! Bubblewrap, blankets, poystyrene, manure-based hotbed (joking!), body warmth (not joking as much!) If you have any kind of non-electricity-based heater put them all in the same room- but watch out for parafine fumes etc... Oh crap, basically!

[ilovetoads2]

They should be okay for at least 24 hours. Lucky I keep the house so warm and it is a new build (one of those energy effecient ones that holds heat good) so it is just in case it is off for longer.

Hot water bottles are about the only thing I have access too, and maybe polystyrene...

Will just need to keep an eye on them. Kids finished school on Friday so I dont have to go out anywhere. Will be gutted when laptop runs low on battery

[Ron Magpie]

Oh, good luck darlin, 'all our best laid plans' (misquoted) and so on- as you said, it will take a while for things to get critical- insulate them now, and when the power comes on they should be fine. This situation is not normally fed into the caresheets, for some reason. Anyway, getting it in while I can, happy crimbo! xx

[ilovetoads2]

Thanks. Hubby reminded me that we have storage heating so really should be okay till tomorrow night with any luck it will be on by then,

Merry Christmas to you, too. Off to bed now.

[Ian M]

Oh crap, my worst nightmare!.

Other than park the car in the living room with the heater on, my only other suggestion would be (if you have gas still working or indeed have accrued some immersion / storaget heater capacity) to get hold of loads of empty bottles (5 litre type like these




are good, but even old milk ones will do), and fill them with warm / hot water and place in or near the vivs (works well in reverse with cold water in hot weather as well). The larger the volume of water the longer the duration.

I also invested in small prtable solar panels for other purposes, but they will power a small heatpad though depends on the sunshine available (though the problem there would be choosing who deserves to get the heatpad).

Hope it gets sorted soon.

[ilovetoads2]

Thanks guys. Luckily we were only off for a few hours, but on long enough at night to get the storage heaters sorted.

I have ordered hubby to get hold of a small emergency generator. He just kinda looked at me like I was mad, but we live in the sticks, and this kind of thing happens a few times a year...luckily we have never been of for more than a few hours, but Chirnside has been cut of for over a week before...fingers crossed that never happens!

[Ron Magpie]

Originally Posted by ilovetoads2

luckily we have never been of for more than a few hours, but Chirnside has been cut of for over a week before...fingers crossed that never happens!

Bigtime!

[ilovetoads2]

It gets better !!! We are snowed in. Cant even get out the drive, and we live on a hill, on a road that is not yet adopted by the council...dont you just love the winter!!!

I am loving it! (now the heating is sorted)

[Ron Magpie]

Fg hate it! I live in town, and even here, all but the major roads are covered in ice. It's a hilly town, and literally the only way to get down some footpaths is to hold onto the railings and slide. My best friend came and picked me up for some last-minute crimble shopping today- and even she wouldn't drive down my road.

EDIT: It's like living in 'The Day After Tomorrow' -only without the feral dogs. Or the tidal waves. Or the daddy in a helicopter.