I'm looking for ways to keep my home warm during winter power outages, especially since I rely on an electric heat pump and don't have natural gas. I do have a wood-burning fireplace in the basement and plan to get an insert to make it more efficient. However, a generator will only run the heat pump for a few hours, whether on propane or gas, and a battery backup will last about two hours. What are some good options or strategies to heat my whole house effectively during an outage without natural gas?
3 Answers
Consider investing in a few portable propane indoor heaters. They were a lifesaver for me in my all-electric house during outages. Just make sure you have proper ventilation and don’t run them without a carbon monoxide detector nearby!
You could consider hooking up a generator to a large propane tank—like 500 gallons or more. This setup can power your heat pump, and you should be able to run your fireplace along with it if needed.
How long are you expecting the power to be out? For short outages, you might not even need extra heating. However, if you're looking at multiple days, a larger backup option is worth thinking about. If you have an electric vehicle, those can be used as a backup battery with vehicle-to-load capability. It's a bit of a pricey investment, but it could be a game changer if you regularly have outages!
That sounds great until you run out of EV battery and then what? You'd be stuck without heat!
I'm surprised I'm the first on my block to get a standby generator! I've had enough power losses in the winter to know I need it!