Is that just to save money, or does the electronic ignition leave something to be desired?

I ask because my wife likes lighting candles, and not much else that requires matches, so she would want electronic ignition.

-- Craig

Not in townhouse development. The occupants are not allowed to alter the interior configurations.

Otherwise, I agree with you one hundred percent. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Boy, in that case, the only thing I can think of is drain everything that holds water and then go 'visit' some friends! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Craig, would you ever consider something like this...?

Alpaca stove

It's a kerosene stove/heater.

"Alpaca Kerosene Cook Stove (Item # TS909)

This Kerosene cook stove utilizes innovative heating technology to provide operating costs that are 1/3 the cost of conventional gas camp stoves. Easily capable of boiling several gallons of water in minutes, this stove will provide you with additional canning capacity and the comfort of knowing you will have cooking means should an emergency situation arise. Also Great for camping!

* .9 gallon fuel tank
* 18 hours of cooking time / tank
* 8,500 BTU heat output
* Blue Flame adjustable fiberglass wick
* Easily boils gallons of water in minutes
* 13" diameter x 13" tall
* Replacement wick available

Operating cost is one-third the cost of conventional camp stoves.

Camping, Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Picnicking"

Yeah, it was to save money. I'd rather use a match or a lighter to light the Black Cat up... Use the rest of the money to buy a small knife, or another survival whistle perhaps? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'd consider it, but our power usually isn't out for that long when it has gone out. If it went out long enough to think about cooking meals, we'd probably bug out to my sister's place, 20 minutes down the road.

She also is safely outside the Red Zone (AKA the Dead Zone) for our local nuclear power plant. We're right in the center of the Red Zone.

-- Craig

Being a SAK collector, I'm well supplied with those. Have several Spydercos around, too.

Note the the Mr Heater Buddy is designed for indoor use and has a low O2 cutoff. The cheaper catyltic heaters are not designed to be used indoors. CO is colorless, oderless, tastless and deadly. Whatever your choice, please be careful.

Be Safe,

JimJr

Indeed I shall be careful. My quest to be immortal would come to a crashing halt if I did something stupid and got myself killed. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

Hmmm...I have this compulsion regarding redundancy on certain safety items.

Even though we live in Fla. (and often gripe about how hot it gets) we do have a few days (every few years) that find us using heat of some sort, generally the electric strip heaters in the air conditioning system.

That said, we also have a kerosene heater that is a back up.

As others have indicated, flow through ventilation is good for the life expectancy.

Not to be content with the existing smoke detectors, I also installed two carbon monoxide detectors. The batteries are changed 1-2X per year and recycled in other 9V appliances as they still have some life left in them. This unit does not have a low O2 cutoff, but even if it did, I still would install the carbon monoxide detectors. Hey, in your case Craig, you could take them with you when you leave the current domicile.

And yes, watching the soft glow of the kero heater reminds me of visiting my grandmother and being intrigued with her kero heater (more years back than I care to think about).

Regards,
Comanche7