Try "Tom Brown's guide to city and urban survival". It has plenty of good info for staying warm in the city.

Be aware there are two types of kerosene heaters, convection and radiant. The convection heaters are designed to heat air and are ideal for small to modest sized enclosed areas (house, garage). The other type is radiant and is most efficient at producing infra red heat. These heaters heat objects and people that are in front of the reflector. These are optimized for outdoors or areas so large that heating the air is impractical (such as a large warehouse). You will see radiant style heaters above the cashiers at Home Depot in winter. Portable electric and propane heaters also fit these same categories. As a general rule, radiant heaters have polished reflectors in the rear.

I learned these lessons the hard way. When I was going to school I lived in a small travel trailer. I had a portable electric radiant heater that ran at all times I was in the trailer in winter. I froze unless I was sitting directly in front of the bloody thing all the time.

Later as an adult, I bought a radiant kerosene heater for my garage to make it more comfortable to work in during winter. Again, I had the heater running for hours, but never really did much good unless I was standing in front of it.

I finally did a bit of research and figured out I was using the wrong tool. I dumped the kerosene radiant heater and purchased a kerosene convection heater. Amazing! The garage was toasty warm in 20-30 minutes. I dislike the smell of burning kerosene, so I later picked up a convection propane heater. Fifteen minutes and I am sweating. No more odor either. I typically end up turning the heater off now so I don't overheat.

I will say that it typically takes a bit more leg work to find convection heaters, but the difference is profound for indoor use. For outdoors, the typical solution is a radiant heater. Everyone just huddles in front of it and gets warm on one side. On a winter Cub Scout hike last year I drug along my propane convection heater. It is quite small, only about 1 square foot. I fired it up on low and allowed the cubs to warm their hands on the warm air rising above it. I performed this job superbly.

Make sure you use the right tool for the job.

Cheers, TR

Wool blanket + cat = warm.

Heh, someone had to say it.

Something to consider is a battery backup for valve and ignition control circuits. Typical 24 volt DC control voltage doesn't take hardly any current. Thus, a small battery supply would be sufficient. Likewise with electrical ignition sources. Of course, forced air (fans) furnace or inserts require significantly more power, so battery backup for those systems may be impractical.

As someone else alluded to, a couple good dogs to snuggle with can be pretty handy, provided you can get them to lay still long enough. The colder it gets, the more willing they are to huddle up.

One thing about the Mr Heater heaters. If you decide to use one with a refillable propane bottle (like the ones you have on your BBQ's outside), BE SURE to get one of their little in-line fuel filters before you do it, or you will RUIN the heater. You don't want to know how I learned this. They are hard to find, but can be ordered from the company, or sometimes on e-bay, for about $10 each. GET ONE!!!

Thanks for the tip. The directions are not clear; It seems to imply that when you buy the connector hose the filter is built in. Is this not the case?

Jon Davis

Thanks again; I have ordered the filters from Mr. Heater and also called their corporate office. Perhaps what I learned will be useful to others.
Lowe's does not carry the filter although they do carry the hose to attach the heater to a bar-b-que type propane tank. According to the company; fuel is left in the connector hose when you turn the heater off before you turn off the tank. The next time you start the heater after opening the hose a dose of oil can be squirted into the heater from the previous left over fuel in the hose. When you ignite the pilot light..... Well you can imagine. I did not know this and am grateful to the earlier poster for warning me. I have ordered the parts but it takes a minimum of 6 days to receive them.
In the interim, Anyone who has this type of setup can be ok if they just turn off the propane tank first and let the heater run out of fuel.

Thanks again for the tip.

Jon

And if you have to evacuate quickly because of a terriorist attack, etc. the warm clothes & good sleeping bag are very portable. Plus you don't have to worry about your fuel running out. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Couple years ago for Xmas the wife & I both asked for a good pair of ski pants as gifts with this thought in mind. Unless you are out in the wind a pair of boots, ski pants, coat, hat & gloves will keep you warm indefinitely. Only real concern is getting too hot & sweating.

The heaters would be good for short term situations though.

I'm not sure, since I bought my hose from a RV supply place, not from Mr Heater. But I assume, from their manual, that you always have to buy the filter separate. And I have NEVER seen a filter in a store, so I guess you have to order them from the company, or from a supplier on e-bay (where they seem to be a bit cheaper). I ruined a Big Buddy by not using a filter (didn't think abuot the turning the tank off first thing)...

I didn't think of turning the tank off either. Was told by the company.
I was also told that I would void my warranty if I used the hose they sold at Lowe's without a filter I had to order from the company. It all sounds like a scam to me. I suspect they discovered the problem after they started selling connector hoses, and came out with the filter afterwards to correct it.
At any rate; I am pleased with the heater.
Thanks again for the heads up. Jon

Keep warm the easy way. KEEP MOVING. walk around, take advantage of this opportunity to do that house keepping you have been putting off. Dust, sweep, go thru old stuff and decide what to throw out or donate to goodwill.

It will keep you warm, keep your mind occupied and the time will seem to pass quicker than sitting in the corner wondering when the power is coming back on.