I would like to have a back-up heat source, but don't really know what is optimal, as relating to costs and practicality.
Wood burning stove comes to my mind first. Something medium to smallish that could double as a cooking surface seems like a good idea. Perceived limitations would be that it would only heat the room it was located in... but in a severe situation I guess sustaining life is the main concern, not whole house comfort. Storage of fuel presents a space problem also - where would i keep a cord of wood, and how much wood (probably soft pine/fir) is needed for a day/week/month of heating?
I've also seen external furnaces that burn corn or wood pellets that look attractive. I have no idea what these systems cost though. I imagine the cost would be much higher than a wood stove.
A dream of mine would be active solar heat collection -- but again, the cost of such a system is prohibitive. One big plus would be that there would be no fuel storage issues, but there would be space issues for the water storage tank, pumps, etc. Also, in the event of some cataclysmic vocanic event -- solar radiation may be cut to the point that a system like this would be rendered useless.
Every system has its pros and cons... I understand that. But beyond my own musings and limited research, I'm stuck.
We don't have a "system" but wood burning is our main emergency fall-back plan at the moment. Wood keeps well if you stack it and throw a tarp over it. It can stay outside. It doesn't blow-up if you keep it too long. You can heat and cook with it. Plus there's the whole marshmallow roasting benefit .
And if your willing to pick it up and split it, you can usually get it for free.
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Details please... what brand/size is your stove. Where did you get it, how much did you pay... how much wood do you burn for a day's worth of heating, etc?
I am a mere babe in this area. I need to be spoon fed.
Currently I have a fireplace insert which is basically a word burning stove but it fits in the standard fireplace hole and chimney. It does heat more than one room and we noticed it recently when we didn't have it burning with our super freeze. You can cook on it because it has a flat top. You can pick up some used units. I picked mine up used and had some extra metal added by a metal shop and saved several hundred dollars. Be sure to check the air restrictions in your area. In some places wood stoves are now illegal to be installed. In our area, you are grandfathered in if you already had one but they are illegal to install now in your home. Pellet and gas are ok but it kind of defeats the purpose of being able to burn what's available in an emergency.
It's not enough by itself, but you may consider a heat sink. A 55 gallon drum of water will help maintain the heat in a room very well.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Growing up in Utah valley we had a fireplace insert and it warmed almost the entire first floor of our home.
We kept our wood in a pile under a tarp. Also we would go to Price and bring back a trailer full of coal... we'd put in a couple of small pieces of coal before going to bed so that the fire wouldn't go out at night.
Or, you could move to AZ we always stay warm.
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