What to do for heat during power outtages

Zelg · 02-12-15, 06:20 PM

As the title states, my question is about those instances where your power goes out. For those that live in colder climates (especially those of a snowy variety), do you have house generators or local power supplies? How do you deal with this. Do you rush home and wrap everything in blankets the best you can or something?

Basically I'm in search of a low cost, reliable backup that can last for more than an hour (can last a reasonable amount of time I guess).

I ask this, mostly for anyone else thats new and might be wondering but also because PG&E are scheduling a power outage next week for some work they're doing in my neighborhood. It'll be out from approx. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I live on the central coast in california and of course right now its 80 degrees but it can drop a lot at night. I dont expect it to be problematic as I'm sure my house wont cool down that much but it definitely got me wonder. I'm also wanting to move to a colder climate so this certainly has piqued my interest a little more now.

wrecker45 · 02-12-15, 06:51 PM

I'm in northern Ontario Canada. I have a generator. Lasts 8 hrs. on a tank of gas.

pet_snake_78 · 02-12-15, 07:02 PM

I have not had my generator hooked up to the house yet because the one I purchased is not sufficient in size. I believe the company that's local to me charges 300$ to do all the electrical work for the hookup but I haven't shopped around to see average prices yet, I'll probably just pay that unless it sounds high. The one I have now can run a space heater and heat tape though if I needed it to. By next winter I hope to be able to run my heat for the house, heat tape, and fridge. I have not had to use it yet. I also have a wood stove I could use as a backup if my furnace went out. Finally, I have a few styrofoam lined boxes, snake bags, and a large number of 40 hour heat packs on hand just in case I get really desperate.

For anyone who keeps reptiles in the North, I would definitely get a wood stove and/or generator for when the power goes out. Have the number for a few furnace repairmen who are recommended written down. If you have a wood stove with a blower and duct work into the snake room, I imagine you could get away with a less expensive generator.

jjhill001 · 02-12-15, 07:05 PM

Sleep naked with them like every other survival movie has taught me.

All joking aside I would just place extra insulation. IE towel over it or something.

Luthien · 02-12-15, 11:56 PM

I'm in Central Saskatchewan, Canada and we usually don't loose power long enough in the winter to effect anything but if we did I would take my corn out and let her hang in my sweater to get my body heat. Can't let me baby go cold!

Zelg · 02-13-15, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luthien

I'm in Central Saskatchewan, Canada and we usually don't loose power long enough in the winter to effect anything but if we did I would take my corn out and let her hang in my sweater to get my body heat. Can't let me baby go cold!

Yea thats awesome when you're home but if you're stuck at school or work or whatever, you either wont know your power is out at home or if you do, you may not be able to go home and it may be some time before you can get home to snuggle.

I'm thinking worst case scenarios....no power, no way of being home. what do? (also your neighbors and friends ALL hate snakes and will NOT enter your home)

reptiledude987 · 02-14-15, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luthien

I'm in Central Saskatchewan, Canada and we usually don't loose power long enough in the winter to effect anything but if we did I would take my corn out and let her hang in my sweater to get my body heat. Can't let me baby go cold!

That works for those of you with only 1 snake. I cant do the same with 3 kings a milk half dozed carpets ect ect ect. im not physically capable of holding my entire collection at once and it would be a very bad idea to try. As well thats not an option for keepers of hots lol. I wouldnt be cuddling a diamondback or gaboon to keep them warm. Ive wondered this same thing before. In my case Id have to be wrapping everything in blankets and dropping hot water bottles in.

wrecker45 · 02-13-15, 02:58 AM

My generator runs everything. If i'm away I have a couple of friends who can start it.

shaunyboy · 02-13-15, 06:53 AM

if the weathers really really cold,i drape blankets over my vivariums to keep the heat in

that said, i don't worry too much as Carpet Pythons are a hardy species and would handle a day or two without heat

i know people who keep heat packs for emergency's,ive also heard of people filling hot water bottles,then wrapping them in a small towel to create a heated area for the snake,i supppose you could also check and set the temperature of your hot water bottles,using an infrared lazer temp gun

luckily if the power goes out it's usually a matter of hours before it's back on,we don't get very long power cut's in the UK and they're not common either

cheers shaun

SSSSnakes · 02-13-15, 07:15 AM

I have gas fire places that do not require electric and heats the house if needed. I also could bag up the snakes and put them in one of my cars with the heat running.

jjhill001 · 02-13-15, 06:22 PM

Heat in the summer kills more pets than cold in the winter I think.n

Cmwells90 · 02-13-15, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhill001

Heat in the summer kills more pets than cold in the winter I think.n

Agreed, I lost power in the summer, in las vegas NV. It was 115 in my house and I thought I'd lose my whole collection. Thankfully I saw something on facebook where you hook up a fan to a bucket and put dry ice in the bucket. Kept my snake room at a solid 87, plus an additional fan lowered it to about 82. I used portable fans in the absensce of power.

Zelg · 02-15-15, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmwells90

Agreed, I lost power in the summer, in las vegas NV. It was 115 in my house and I thought I'd lose my whole collection. Thankfully I saw something on facebook where you hook up a fan to a bucket and put dry ice in the bucket. Kept my snake room at a solid 87, plus an additional fan lowered it to about 82. I used portable fans in the absensce of power.

I honestly hadnt given the heat much thought as I live in a fairly cool climate (san luis obispo) so my summers arent bad. Literally only a couple days over 100. Even with that, I have fans and a portable AC that I use to keep my house cool. I imagine I'll have little issue keeping my small snake room cool.

Its definitely a great thought for those of you who live in hell though lol. My house can get warm (not warm enough to kill the snake) but warm none the less and I can imagine how hot it could get with nothing but 100+ summer temps.

mistersprinkles · 02-14-15, 02:27 PM

I live in Canada where it's usually cold and only rarely hot. Last summer we only got up to about 77 ferenheit. Usually it goes up to 85 a couple of days a year but it didn't last year. When I had reptiles (I'm on sabatical from things with scales) if it was a cold day and my power died I'd put my snakes in snake bags and keep the bags on my person until the power came back. That way I acted like a heating pad that never ran out of power. Never had a problem. Usually blackouts around here only last 1-4 hours. Although in December of 2013 we did have an ice storm that took out power for over a day for me. Some people were out of power for five days.

dshin963 · 02-14-15, 10:03 PM

We had a power outage last winter for 5 days... I honestly stayed in bed with them under a stupid amount of blankets and used my body heat to keep them warm until the power came back at a family members place.. It was not pleasant but you do what you have to... (Also just so you know it was a city wide outage... Ice storm took out powerless everywhere)