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Post by liriodendron on Feb 1, 2011 15:50:02 GMT -5
O.K. We have hot water baseboard heat in our house, supplied by a boiler that runs on oil. If we lose electricity, will we also lose our heat? (Our winter storm warning has been changed to an ice storm warning.) You'd think I'd know this by now - we've lived here 16 years - but I don't. The times I can recall losing our heat, the issue was a clog in the pipe bringing the oil from the tank to the boiler. The times I can recall losing electricity, it was summertime, and I was more concerned about the food in the fridge.
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Post by gailkate on Feb 1, 2011 17:24:09 GMT -5
I think the issue is your thermostat and fan. Something has to make the oil burn and then blow warm air into the house. Our gas furnace is sadly dependent on electricity, so we pretend the fireplace is a help (very little) and pile every comforter on the bed - even rugs! It's amazing how cold a house can get without central heating. How the hell did the human race survive this long?
Good luck to you! I sure hope your stove is gas.
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 1, 2011 19:00:44 GMT -5
I second gail's opinion, lirio. Thoughts and prayers are with you. Let us know when things are clear and you're OK.
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Post by liriodendron on Feb 1, 2011 20:16:20 GMT -5
Hmmmmm. We have no forced air, so no blowers, but we do have a thermostat. Also, I suppose, something lights the pilot light on the oil burner. Rats! Our stove is electric - no gas lines here, although some folks have a propane tank for cooking. No sewers, either, although we do have city water. The folks on the next street over have wells.
I'm pretty sure we won't be firing up the charcoal grill if we lose power, but if worse comes to worse, we could put the food out in the garage and it probably wouldn't spoil. Thankfully we have a big jar of peanut butter in the pantry and plenty of cans of tuna fish! (Um, but not on the same sandwich.)
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Post by joew on Feb 1, 2011 21:58:36 GMT -5
Your main problem with the heat is that something electric needs to start the flame. A secondary problem is that something electric has to move the hot water through the baseboard pipes.
So here's hoping that you don't lose power. And that I don't when it gets to the east coast.
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Post by gailkate on Feb 2, 2011 0:50:54 GMT -5
So when is it supposed to get there? I've been hearing such grim predictions, but so far no one I know is getting tons of snow - icy fog, light snow, but no big snow dumps.
I wonder how long water will stay hot in your tank - you could make tea for awhile. Do you have a chafing dish with lots of sterno?
Wait a sec - I've got it! - go to a motel that has its own generator.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 2, 2011 1:13:40 GMT -5
I'm with gk! If you aren't warm, get where it's warm!
Sorry! Who am I to give advice?
;D
Stay safe.
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Post by rogesgallery on Feb 4, 2011 12:29:18 GMT -5
Joe gave you the short answer. The technical details are that the fire in the burner needs air. This air is created by a small fan that pushes air into a constricted channel therefore pressurizing the airstream and creating a hotter flame to heat the liquid as fast as it flows through the heat exchanger. The burner is an element, basically a small version of your oven element. Once the flame is created the igniter can de-energize and fire is maintained as long as there is a supply of fuel and air. The thermostat controls this process and it works on 24 volts DC. This 24 volt system controls the zone valves for the different parts of the house. Steam systems and are not dependent upon pumps since they are pressurized by the expanding steam itself and it is possible to have a system designed to work by thermal siphon but the basebord systems that became popular in the 30s require a pump to move the low temp liquid (Glycol or oil not water) effectively to them zone heaters
Your best backup would be a small generator and a crossover box that would run the furnace a couple of lights and the fridge and microwave on a rotating basis. Honda makes nice little gas Inverters that are quiet and compact.
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 5, 2011 16:57:33 GMT -5
Is "The Mall" becoming increasingly Dorky and Slutty, or am I becoming increasingly Senior and Flatulent?
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Post by liriodendron on Feb 5, 2011 17:18:19 GMT -5
Um, all of the above?
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 5, 2011 17:54:27 GMT -5
Is "The Mall" becoming increasingly Dorky and Slutty, or am I becoming increasingly Senior and Flatulent? "Mall?" Are you asking about "The Mall?" Honestly, when I first read this I thought you said "The Mail," another testament to needing new glasses and the cleanliness of my computer screen.Having JUST mastered the technique of driving to, and actually getting out of my car and walking into, The Mall, I have nothing to compare. I've only done it twice since My Dahhlink left 7 months ago. It caused great heart palpitations, the need for a known path to the one store I wanted, and great relief when I dashed outside. And what are those people doing sitting in those chairs like they are in their front room camping out for the day?!?
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 5, 2011 19:11:01 GMT -5
Is "The Mall" becoming increasingly Dorky and Slutty, or am I becoming increasingly Senior and Flatulent? "Mall?" Are you asking about "The Mall?" Honestly, when I first read this I thought you said "The Mail," another testament to needing new glasses and the cleanliness of my computer screen.Having JUST mastered the technique of driving to, and actually getting out of my car and walking into, The Mall, I have nothing to compare. I've only done it twice since My Dahhlink left 7 months ago. It caused great heart palpitations, the need for a known path to the one store I wanted, and great relief when I dashed outside. And what are those people doing sitting in those chairs like they are in their front room camping out for the day?!? Are those chairs demonstrating "Magic Fingers"? Some people just want a place to hang out and watch the Dorkiness and Sluttiness, I suppose. Too cold for the Liar's Bench in front of the Barbershop. Of course there's no place to whittle and spit.
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Post by joew on Feb 5, 2011 19:22:29 GMT -5
I thought it said "The Mail," too. Some newspapers are lowering their standards.
Or else it might have been a reference to all the advertising that the Post Office delivers.
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Post by jspnrvr on Feb 5, 2011 19:51:56 GMT -5
Nope, I was at our local Mall this afternoon. It just struck me as especially Dorky and Slutty.
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Post by BoatBabe on Feb 5, 2011 20:07:04 GMT -5
I'm hoping that the Flatulent part is not true, Jay. The Senior part . . . beats the alternative . . . or so we are led to believe.
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Post by rogesgallery on Feb 5, 2011 21:19:53 GMT -5
Has any one mentioned Discipline on this thread? Well mfar be it from me to adhere to a Discipline I have no affection for.
Have you ever seen those twins on Lawrence Welk? This week one has red hair and the other is a Brunette but both are dressed in orange. Larry was the 1962 grand marshal at the Rose Bowl.
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