Chimney Fire and expensive solution

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armanidog

Feeling the Heat
Jan 8, 2017
471
Northeast Georgia
I suggest if you get a heat pump to also get a generator for back-up power. I read that the electrical supply for California may be threatened with the severe weather. Hydropower is kaput due to the droughts. Transmission lines are threatened by stronger winds and forest fires.
Propane may be a good backup in the winter even if it is expensive. Maybe use it if the water pipes are facing freezing weather with the electricity out.
 

VintageGal

Member
Mar 25, 2022
243
NorCal
I suggest if you get a heat pump to also get a generator for back-up power. I read that the electrical supply for California may be threatened with the severe weather. Hydropower is kaput due to the droughts. Transmission lines are threatened by stronger winds and forest fires.
Propane may be a good backup in the winter even if it is expensive. Maybe use it if the water pipes are facing freezing weather with the electricity out.
Power outages are the norm and I have learned to live with them. That's why I have a wood stove ✌️
 

stoveliker

Minister of Fire
Nov 17, 2019
7,261
Long Island NY
A wood stove will prevent freezing of water pipes even if it is small for keeping a home comfortable.
 
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ericm979

Feeling the Heat
Nov 2, 2018
340
California
At your propane and firewood prices, propane is over 2x more expensive per BTU delivered to your living area. (assuming a 95% efficient propane furnace and a 75% efficient wood stove). If you have suitable wood on your land or available on nearby USFS or BLM land or through scrounging, it's "free" (not counting your time and whatever fuel and equipment you need to process it).

When I was living up on the north coast with little money I scrounged wood from the waste pile from the local mill.
 
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begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
99,745
South Puget Sound, WA
Power outages are the norm and I have learned to live with them. That's why I have a wood stove ✌️
You've done well. I can appreciate the challenge of getting this done. Some parts of Northern California are pretty remote. Are you at a high altitude, like up on the Siskyou plateau? It gets chilly up there.
 
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VintageGal

Member
Mar 25, 2022
243
NorCal
A wood stove will prevent freezing of water pipes even if it is small for keeping a home comfortable.
My little wood burner is toasty warm today with a few oak splits thrown in every few hours. I have a smile on my face and even took a nap today. 😁
You've done well. I can appreciate the challenge of getting this done. Some parts of Northern California are pretty remote. Are you at a high altitude, like up on the Siskyou plateau? It gets chilly up there.
I'm in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills. My elevation is 1400 ft. We are rural and my small property is zoned agricultural. It doesn't get very cold for a very long. But when it does....