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As we wrote in our Why Prepare for a Blackout article, a blackout is most likely to occur during the cold winter months. The solar systems produce significantly less electricity during these months due to the season, and the electricity requirement increases in winter, not least due to the conversion of many oil and gas heating systems to electric heat pumps. Ultimately, however, all modern heating systems require electricity.
With electric heaters, it is immediately clear to everyone that the heater will not work if there is a power failure. But even oil and gas heating systems do not work without electricity. Although oil and gas burn without electricity, the entire control system is electronically regulated, and the feed pumps for the heating circuit also work electrically. With these systems, without electricity, the heating stays cold and the hot water supply.
Guide: heating without electricity. All modern heating systems require electricity and therefore do not work in the event of a power failure.
In well-insulated houses, a brief power outage isn't a big problem since the apartment doesn't cool down as quickly. In the case of a blackout lasting several days, as the power outage in Texas showed, this is quite problematic, especially when the temperature falls well below zero. Another example is the power outage in Isparta, Turkey, in which one person even froze to death in his home
For everyone who does not have an open fireplace, tiled stove or traditional stove heating that works without electricity, we want to go into this article about how you can heat without electricity in an emergency.
Heating with gas
Without electricity, you can heat with a gas bottle and a corresponding heating attachment. If you often use gas for a grill, you can get a simple heating attachment. These heaters are extremely efficient. Ensure that the gas bottle always contains enough fuel to last several days without electricity.
Heating with gas is also possible without a bulky gas bottle. There are gas heaters from the camping area that work with more compact gas cartridges. The same gas cartridges can often be used in corresponding camping gas cookers.
All these devices can also be used for camping or in the garden. Make sure that you always have enough gas cartridges ready to bridge a few days without electricity.
ATTENTION: When using these heaters in the apartment, an adequate supply of fresh air must be ensured. We recommend using a CO² detector. In any case, pay attention to the information provided by the manufacturer for each individual device!
Heating with petroleum heaters
Petroleum heaters are also suitable as an alternative to gas heaters. These are available in different sizes and different heating power. The advantage lies in the unproblematic storage of the fuel.
Would you like to create an emergency box that is only needed in a disaster? Then it comes down to space and efficiency. Small paraffin heaters are suitable for this. These are mainly used in greenhouses.
Caution: Petroleum heaters require electricity to regulate the system. There are models with batteries and a normal power connection (plug). The devices consume very little electricity but have a very high heat output.
The following heater is battery operated. The temperature cannot be regulated, but the device is self-sufficient from an external power supply:
ATTENTION: When using these heaters in the apartment, an adequate supply of fresh air must be ensured. We recommend using a CO² detector.
Heating with a mobile power generator
Another alternative is to make electricity yourself with a mobile generator. This can be used to operate fan heaters, mobile radiator heaters or modern infrared heaters.
The big advantage of electrical devices is their easy handling. Plug into the socket of the power generator and switch it on. You have to ensure that the generator has enough power to operate the connected device. With an extension cable, you can also operate the generator outside and heat inside.
Operate the heating with a mobile power generator
With a mobile power generator, you can theoretically produce electricity yourself in the event of a power failure to operate the electronics of an oil or gas heating system. However, the problem lies in detail. These power generators work with a so-called protective separation and have no real neutral conductor and no voltage potential to earth. However, in the vast majority of heating systems, this is a basic requirement for safe operation.
Even if you keep finding suggestions for connecting a heater in various forums on the Internet, we strongly advise against connecting the heater control to a mobile power generator without first clarifying with the manufacturer of your heater whether a safe operation with a mobile power generator is possible. This is not possible with many models and there is a risk of death because important safety functions do not work.
Advisor: Heating without electricity – conclusion
Whichever method you choose, make sure you have enough fuel available for your device. We reported how much of it you can store and how long it can be kept in the article “Storage of fuels and combustibles”.
And finally, a little advice: For all devices that do not have an integrated ignition device, you also need matches or a working lighter, and you should also have a sufficient supply of these.
We are continuing our series of guides with the guide: heating without electricity. So far, the following guides in this series are already online on our website: