HEATING (31)
Coal stores well if kept in a dark place and away from moving air. Air speeds
deterioration and break down, causing it to burn more rapidly. Coal may be
stored in a plastic-lined pit or in sheds, bags, boxes, or barrels and should be
kept away from circulating air, light, and moisture. Cover it to lend protection from weather and sun.
Wood.
Hardwoods such as apple, cherry, and other fruit woods are slow burning and sustain coals.
Hardwoods are more difficult to burn than softer woods, thus requiring a supply of kindling.
Soft woods such as pine and cedar are light in weight and burn very rapidly, leaving ash
and few coals for cooking. If you have a fireplace or a wood/ coal burning stove,
you will want to store several cords of firewood.
Propane
is another excellent fuel for indoor use. Like kerosene, it produces carbon dioxide
as it burns and is therefore not poisonous. It does consume oxygen so be sure to
crack a window when burning propane. Propane stores indefinitely, having no known shelf life.
Propane stoves and small portable heaters are very economical, simple to use,
and come the closest to approximating the type of convenience most of us are
accustomed to using on a daily basis. The storage of propane is governed by strict local laws.
In this area you may store up to 1 gallon inside a building and up to 60 gallons stored outside.
If you store more than these amounts, you will need a special permit from the fire marshal.
White gas
(Coleman fuel). Many families have camp stoves which burn Coleman Fuel or white gasoline.
These stoves are fairly easy to use and produce a great amount of heat. However, they,
like charcoal, produce vast amounts of carbon monoxide.
NEVER use a Coleman Fuel stove indoors. It could be a fatal mistake to your entire family.
Never store fuels in the house or near a heater. Use a metal store cabinet which is vented
on top and bottom and can be locked.
Kerosene
(also known as Range Oil No. 1) is the cheapest of all the storage fuels and is also very
forgiving if you make a mistake. Kerosene is not as explosive as gasoline and Coleman fuel.
Kerosene stores well for long periods of time and by introducing some fuel additives it can
be made to store even longer. However, do not store it in metal containers for extended time
periods unless they are porcelain lined because the moisture in the kerosene will rust
through the container causing the kerosene to leak out. Most hardware stores and
home improvement centers sell kerosene in five gallon plastic containers which store
for many years. A 55 gallon drum stores in the back yard, or ten 5 gallon plastic
containers will provide fuel enough to last an entire winter if used sparingly.
Caution:
To burn kerosene you will need a kerosene heater. There are many models and
sizes to choose from but remember that you are not trying to heat your entire home.
The larger the heater the more fuel you will have to store. Most families should be
able to get by on a heater that produces about 9,600 BTUs of heat, though
kerosene heaters are made that will produce up to 25,000 to 30,000 BTUs.