Housely
There is no heat in your home. Your furnace, boiler, or heat pump is broken. What can you do? You do not have to be miserable. This is not a hopeless situation. Some people plan ahead for this problem and even have a secondary source of heat. If you do not have a secondary heat source, there are already sources of heat in your home that you can use. Also, there are a few fairly inexpensive options that you can hurry out and purchase.
There are five safe ways to heat your house until a repairman restores your heat.
Cook
Think about your kitchen. There is a wealth of sources for heat: ovens, stove tops, crock pots, roasters, grills, and griddles. Cooking generates enough heat to warm a room or possibly two small rooms. Get everyone involved, and you will have a toasty room and a feast. This provides a perfect time for baking a ham or turkey. Also, you can steam vegetables on the cooktop. Throw some steaks on your indoor grill. Maybe cook some pancakes on a griddle. Crockpots and roasters are sources of heat that you can use all day long. After all of the cooking, your dishwasher comes in handy. It is not just for cleaning dishes, but for a heat source. The kitchen in your home provides many sources of heat.
Use the Fireplace or a Wood Pellet Stove
Fireplaces are one of the most popular sources of back-up heat in many homes. They can give off a lot of heat and provide warmth to a room. Due to the popularity of fireplaces, you find them in bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms. There are different types of fireplaces, such as the traditional wood-burning model and fireplaces that use gas logs. Be sure to have enough wood or gas that lasts for a couple of days. The electric fireplace is one of the newest products. These fireplaces add warmth, and you do not have to “keep the fire burning”.
A pellet stove is an alternative to a fireplace. Wood pellet stoves are usually small. The pellets are made from recycled materials and are heavily compressed. This reduces the moisture content. Dry fuel creates more heat; therefore, the pellets burn hotter and cleaner than wood. The pellets are inexpensive, and you can purchase them in small quantities. The bags of pellets are about the size of a mulch bag. Wood pellet stoves are easy to operate.
You onÂly need to load the pellets and ignite the flame. The size of the hopper on the stove determines how many times it needs to be loaded during the day. Some models only need to be filled once a day. Since the fire is contained in a heat box, there is a minimum amount of smoke. This lessens the smell in your home, and it keeps the outside of the unit from heating up. Fireplaces and wood stoves are options for heating your house. They provide an ambiance that helps to lighten your mood while you wait for repairs to your main heating system.
Use Sources of Light
Remember the science fact that light produces heat energy. Think of all of the sources of light in your home: lamps, lanterns, candles, and sunlight. One of these alone may not produce much heat, but when combined and used in multiple groups, the heat energy increases.
- Lamps are the safest ones to use indoors, especially if they are electric. Oil or kerosene lamps are other types of lamps to consider. Set the kerosene lamp to burn with a blue flame to reduce carbon monoxide. Also, you need some ventilation with kerosene lamps.
- Lanterns produce a small amount of heat. There are different types of lanterns to consider. Some still use candles or oil for fuel. Electronic lanterns use bulbs.
- Candles in large amounts can actually bump up the temperature a few degrees.
- Sunlight shining through a window produces warmth. Open the drapes and let the light in. Place dark colored blankets on the floor where the sunlight can warm them. Then wrap up in the blankets. This helps you to feel snug and warm. Close the drapes when the sunlight is no longer shining in that window.
Heat from Electricity
A large variety of electric space heaters are among the most efficient heating methods. Electric heaters are precise due to their thermostats. Electric heat is a cleaner heating source. It does not present the potential hazard of carbon monoxide poisoning. Electric heaters are able to add warmth and comfort to your home.
There are two basic types of electric heaters:
- Convection Heaters.
Convection heaters blow or pull air over a heated surface. These heaters are designed to heat an entire room. Convection heaters are either fan-assistant or fan-less. Ceramic heaters are the newest convection heaters. These heaters have ceramic plates and aluminum baffles. When electricity passes through the ceramic, it is heated. The heat is then absorbed by the aluminum. A fan blows out the hot air. Ceramic heaters are quite portable. They give off a great deal of heat, and their plastic casings stay cool. These heaters tend to be more energy efficient and safer than many other heaters.
- Radiant Heaters.
Radiant heaters are one of the most common types of space heaters. They direct heat at an object. Most of these heaters use a glowing quartz or a metal element and reflector to project heat to a specific area. Radiant heaters quickly provide heat to those closest to the heater. These heaters are updated with more features and temperature controls.
Oil-filled radiators look like old-fashioned radiators. Radiant electric heaters are permanently filled with oil. Many of the available models come with wheels. They are easily moved around your home. This type of heater provides a steady source of heat for an entire room.
Use Hot Water
Water has a high heat capacity. This means that it takes a lot to change its temperature. The steam from hot water warms a room. A steam vaporizer is not just for relieving cold symptoms. A vaporizer can be a source of heat. You can use it for hours. Filling a bathtub with hot water increases the warmth of a bathroom.When the water cools to a comfortable temperature, you are able to take a bath in a warm bathroom. It is possible for adjoining bedrooms to warm-up from the hot tub. Also, use hot water in the kitchen for heat. Fill a large stock pot with water. Let it boil and simmer on the stove. Any room in your home that has hot water can be used for warmth.
Final Thoughts
Having to deal with a broken heat source is very frustrating. Use a little ingenuity, and you can stay warm. Do not forget common sense ideas, such as wearing more layers for comfort. There is not a possible way with any heat source, including your main system, that is 100% safe. With any heat source, be sure to have working smoke and carbon monoxide monitors. Use heat sources with programmable thermostats and automatic shut-offs for added protection. Also, read any guides that come with a heat source.
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