We’ve been out of power since 1 AM. House is pretty well insulated so we’re still in the 60s but I’m seeing reports it won’t be on until tomorrow.

In February 2007 180K Iowans lost power because of a Ice Storm.
I remember because all my extended family stayed with me, under candlelight and home heated by wood for about a week.
It was a zoo and all my food quickly disappeared.
At least we didn't need a freezer.
My kids still call our house the Apocalypse House.

I think Breda Iowa did not have power for 2 weeks. Dad was on REC board in Calhoun County. Some lines had 20 breaks per mile. They replaced a lot of lines. Dad put in a line switch and bought an 8000 watt generator. So he can stay warm and watch cowboy movies. He used it once or twice. It had 80 hours on it when I took it.

Reading your stories it makes me happy knowing we have a gas furnace that will run without juice.

How does the fan and pilot light work? Sounds like the thing to have where I live lol

What about the blower or electronic igniter?
Just curious, because it has been so long since I have had a furnace. My backup heat is a electric mini split system and I only use it to cool my place, rarely for heat.

-6 at home right now with drifting snow unfortunately I am in Nashville at my daughters looks like bout 1/2” of sleet on the ground.

It is an old floor furnace that only radiates heat.



We have mini-splits for A/C, and they have heat pumps but we never use them. The floor furnace is a monster.

Floor furnace......Coleman? Looks like a grate.
We had one in a house- ran on LP. It was awesome.

It's old-school.

I light the pilot with a stick lighter or blowtorch through the basement. It can be set to run continuous if the electricity goes out and the thermostat/solenoid doesn't have juice to activate the gas flow valve.

Similar to this, only larger.

https://www.allstateplumbingheatingc...ir-experts.jpg

Almost every house built before 1950 has them out here.

https://media.improvenet.craftjack.i...%20Furnace.jpg ?????

Genius!

Genius is developed through survival. The tough settlers out here had to go through some rough shit so they figured it out. :D

YEP!