What do ya do.......................

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WoodMann

WoodMann

Minister of Fire
Feb 9, 2008
670
New Mexico
I'm really interested to know what all you pellet folk do during a power outtage. When looking for a home I came across all varieties, pellet in the first one, gas fired in anotehr and finally,- where I'm at a wood stove. I really wanted that first house with the pellet stove primarily because I saw it geting built when I was in High School and it's on my old stomping grounds, but also because thepellet stove could be set on the timer for prolunged burns. As it turns out where I am has been the best as I have free access to virtuall limitless firewood. But I still do wonder what the pllet people do when the power goes out.....................
 
Freeze. :p
 
I think a couple marine batterys and an inverter would get you by for a while.
 
If you don't have a wood burner you do the same as anybody else who loses power; you panic, you build small fires, you open the door to the LP fired oven, or you fire up the generator.
 
1) Start generator

2) Throw transfer switch

3) Start pellet stove

10 minutes and done. Did it just last week. Big bonus to utilizing a generator is that it also keeps your refrigerator and freezer running if you size it appropriately.

It's the same process that many people who want heat during power outages utilize -- most heating systems require electricity in order to run. Anyone with an oil burner, forced air type system, or electric heat would have to do the above in a power outage if they want heat.

If being without heat for 10 - 20 minutes during power outages is a big deal, compressed gas or a woodburner is the way to go.
 
Liter of Cola said:
1) Start generator
2) Throw transfer switch
3) Start pellet stove or run furnace

...
Click to expand...

Same here...

UPS on pellet stove gives me enough time to get to the generator
 
Liter of Cola said:
1) Start generator

2) Throw transfer switch

3) Start pellet stove
Click to expand...

That's good to be proactive, but how many people have that kind of forethought? Prolly when they needed it, the generator feul would be all gummed up................
 
WoodMann said:
Liter of Cola said:
1) Start generator

2) Throw transfer switch

3) Start pellet stove
Click to expand...

That's good to be proactive, but how many people have that kind of forethought? Prolly when they needed it, the generator feul would be all gummed up................
Click to expand...

Generators should be started and run often enough as well as having fresh fuel or *stabil* added to it.
This is called being prepared. Of course experiencing a gummed up fuel system is a good lesson that one doesn`t readily forget.
 
Gio said:
WoodMann said:
Liter of Cola said:
1) Start generator

2) Throw transfer switch

3) Start pellet stove
Click to expand...

That's good to be proactive, but how many people have that kind of forethought? Prolly when they needed it, the generator feul would be all gummed up................
Click to expand...

Generators should be started and run often enough as well as having fresh fuel or *stabil* added to it.
This is called being prepared. Of course experiencing a gummed up fuel system is a good lesson that one doesn`t readily forget.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, they joys of learning "How to disassemble, clean, and reassemble a carburetor".....believe me, you'll only forget to add Stabil to your gas ONCE! :lol:

As for starting the genny once in a while, once a month is good for most portable models. My Generac starts & runs once a week.
 
Hmmm- don't see my sister or BIL taking the time to fire up their generator regularly. But then they don't have a pellet stove either so no love lost.....................
 
That's good to be proactive, but how many people have that kind of forethought? Prolly when they needed it, the generator feul would be all gummed up................
Click to expand...

Forethought is the result of one or more bad experiences, and anybody with experience most certainly knows to have fresh fuel at the start of the season. :coolsmile: Unless, of course, your generator is LP/NG powered.
 
ORiley said:
That's good to be proactive, but how many people have that kind of forethought? Prolly when they needed it, the generator feul would be all gummed up................
Click to expand...

Forethought is the result of one or more bad experiences, and anybody with experience most certainly knows to have fresh fuel at the start of the season. :coolsmile: Unless, of course, your generator is LP/NG powered.
Click to expand...

Just in case anybody is interested, gasoline in a plastic fuel jug (without something like Stabil added), under the BEST of conditions lasts for about 3 months....after that, the engine will start running poorly.
 
macman said:
Just in case anybody is interested, gasoline in a plastic fuel jug (without something like Stabil added), under the BEST of conditions lasts for about 3 months....after that, the engine will start running poorly.
Click to expand...


Never had a problem here. I leave gas in the generator, boat, lawnmower,
and motorcycle over a 6 month period. I mix Seafoam in gas tanks of all of the above
as well as plastic 3 gallon gas cans. My stuff fires right up no problem after the winter.
 
zeta said:
.... I mix Seafoam in gas tanks of all of the above
as well as plastic 3 gallon gas cans. My stuff fires right up no problem after the winter.
Click to expand...
The Seafoam might have something to do with that. I use it too in my gas and you can even put it in the oil.
 
I don't do anything while my stove seamlessly transfers to the 12V battery connected to it (and kept charged by it).

Since I don't have to worry about keeping warm, I might then amble out to the shed and turn on the inverter that powers a light, laptops and cell phone chargers. That battery is kept charged by a solar array as long as the sun shines a bit.

After a couple of hours, I might need to start the generator to run the fridge, freezer and well pump.
 
We still have a Pacific Energy Super 27 and maybe 4 months supply of wood in a 16' x 20' carport plus 90 acres of land needing to have the dead stuff p/u and dried. We heated with wood from 2001 till last burn season. I still know how to rub two sticks together or use an LP torch to start a fire. And yes the chimney has been cleaned prior to the snow flying.

Not to mention the diesel generator and the house wired for it. As long as the fuel does not gel. I think the semi has 60 gallons in the tanks.

We are not "Hillbillys" but Appalachian Americans.

Eric
 
This is coming from a Connecticut Yankee but...

it gets cold in New Mexico? I thought everyone live in an adobe house. Thats what we learned in school anyway.

Here I've got oil, wood and pellet. Pellet is the default b/c it is is easier than wood, (was) cheaper than oil, and the wife can run it (sort of). Wood supplements the pellets when I'm home or replaces them when the power is out. Oil heats the water and would be a last resort if I had a generator. Rather that buy a generator I take the time to maintain some friends who would take in my family in a pinch. I don't like people so it is an effort - but so is splitting wood.
 
I take the time to maintain some friends who would take in my family in a pinch. I don’t like people so it is an effort
Click to expand...

Holy Crap ! Are we related ? I couldn't have said it better myself ;-)
 
staplebox said:
This is coming from a Connecticut Yankee but...
it gets cold in New Mexico? I thought everyone live in an adobe house. Thats what we learned in school anyway.
Click to expand...

The climate here is mild, for the most part, but we do get a good snow from time to time and the occasional surprise cold shock.............
 
WoodMann said:
I'm really interested to know
what all you pellet folk do during a power outtage.
Click to expand...

Have never had a winter time power outage in the four years of running the stove
but do have a 3k continuous watt portable generator for peace of mind.
 
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