Life off the grid in the SW Texas desert. An experiment in sustainable living. NUMBERS AT THE END OF EACH BLOG POST: temp at 8PM,high temp,low temp,rainfall,wind conditions(CalmBreezyWindyGusty). YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/TheFieldLab
Daily live streams at https://www.youtube.com/thefieldlab/live
Saturday, December 16, 2017
fuel
All stocked up to make it through 2 months of "winter".
RE: the propane heater visible behind Chupa on Monday- if you leave it on all night you might want to check yourself in the morning before doing anything complicated, like driving. Those unvented heaters put out carbon monoxide, and in a small house like yours it could seriously build up unless you leave a door or window cracked open. On the other hand, you've probably been using the heater a long time and you're still writing your blog, so maybe not.
I was thinking about asking you how much propane you used per winter...as I am going through your blog, figured I just hadn't ran across it yet. Thanks for the answer before the question was asked :D
I've already made 4 trips to tractor supply for fireblocks at about 30 bucks a trip, I just get 8 at a time and keep them inside next to my stove. It's cheaper than firewood(it's mostly green from the suppliers around here/won't burn), less mess, I don't let out heat but once a week carrying them in vs every day with firewood, more efficient. I can't wait to get land there and get everything else in order, to move. Sold part of the land here a few days ago, awaiting paper signing and payment, enough to pay part of my debts, need to sell the rest of it. But it is all in God's hands, according to His will, as it should be and as I asked Him.
I did not know that about inverted propane heaters. I used to heat my house with big propane heater in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The place was big and did not seem very warm. One time I had wet mittens on top of heater to dry and we went ice skating. But we turned back and took mittens off heater. Remaining places in MI were newer and had electric.
Just to be clear...I normally use a total of six 20 lb tanks per year for heating. These three will get me though till spring. As for asphyxiating myself...I never run the heater over night. Even the low setting gets way too hot after a couple of hours. I also run a small vent fan when the heater is on that constantly circulates a small amount of fresh air through my hut.
Building for others is always something I can fall back on if I need to, but I'm not really interested in going into the construction business. Not really a money maker since there is a Derksen Buildings distributor out here now that sells little pre-fab buildings far cheaper than I would charge to build one.
Hi john I am very interested in your set up. I am a repurposing fool and love what you have done with what you have to work with. Saw this by chance and would love to talk more about what you are doing at the lab. please feel free to email me at repurposingrosie@gmail.com
RE: the propane heater visible behind Chupa on Monday- if you leave it on all night you might want to check yourself in the morning before doing anything complicated, like driving. Those unvented heaters put out carbon monoxide, and in a small house like yours it could seriously build up unless you leave a door or window cracked open.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you've probably been using the heater a long time and you're still writing your blog, so maybe not.
I was thinking about asking you how much propane you used per winter...as I am going through your blog, figured I just hadn't ran across it yet. Thanks for the answer before the question was asked :D
ReplyDeleteA cord of wood in a bottle. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've already made 4 trips to tractor supply for fireblocks at about 30 bucks a trip, I just get 8 at a time and keep them inside next to my stove. It's cheaper than firewood(it's mostly green from the suppliers around here/won't burn), less mess, I don't let out heat but once a week carrying them in vs every day with firewood, more efficient.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get land there and get everything else in order, to move. Sold part of the land here a few days ago, awaiting paper signing and payment, enough to pay part of my debts, need to sell the rest of it. But it is all in God's hands, according to His will, as it should be and as I asked Him.
Sam, that would be 3 cords for me!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about inverted propane heaters. I used to heat my house with big propane heater in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The place was big and did not seem very warm. One time I had wet mittens on top of heater to dry and we went ice skating. But we turned back and took mittens off heater. Remaining places in MI were newer and had electric.
ReplyDeleteJohn, couldn't you make some money by building some basic small homes for people out there?
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear...I normally use a total of six 20 lb tanks per year for heating. These three will get me though till spring. As for asphyxiating myself...I never run the heater over night. Even the low setting gets way too hot after a couple of hours. I also run a small vent fan when the heater is on that constantly circulates a small amount of fresh air through my hut.
ReplyDeleteBuilding for others is always something I can fall back on if I need to, but I'm not really interested in going into the construction business. Not really a money maker since there is a Derksen Buildings distributor out here now that sells little pre-fab buildings far cheaper than I would charge to build one.
ReplyDeleteTY for the information, John.
ReplyDeleteHi john I am very interested in your set up. I am a repurposing fool and love what you have done with what you have to work with. Saw this by chance and would love to talk more about what you are doing at the lab. please feel free to email me at repurposingrosie@gmail.com
ReplyDelete