How long can I run a gas cooktop for heat?

[drnickriviera]

Stupid ice storms took out the power lines. All I have for heat is the gas cooktop. Is it ok to leave it running all the time or am I going to die of CO?

 

[F1N3ST]

If you feel nauseous, shut it off :awe:

But usually CO2 gives you a headache first then you pass out then you die if you're still present in the CO2 infested air.

 

[bobdole369]

You are going to die of CO or CO2. Big difference in how it works. CO2 gives you symptoms. CO makes you pass out first, then kills you. Please have a window open and stay near it. The window shoudl extend to the ground as CO usually creeps along the ground.

Seriously bad idea. People die from that.

 

[vshah]

how do you have internets? phone?

call a hooker to snuggle with

 

[mshan]

Put layers of clothes on.

Start to drip your facuets and open cabinets where pipes may enter house, so pipes hopefully don't burst if water in pipes freezes then leaks when it warms up to liquid state again.

If you still feel cold, just boil a big pot of water, but turn off gas burner after it is boiling.

 

[n yusef]

you are going to die

ftfy.

 

[nerp]

Get an electric space heater or go to a friend's house. Seriously.

 

[Soundmanred]

how do you have internet?

Please answer this.

 

[sjwaste]

Uh. Maybe he has a cell phone with a browser on it, or its tethered to his laptop?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Blankets and layers. Flannel and down are your friend...seriously.

 

[waffleironhead]

Get an electric space heater or go to a friend's house. Seriously.

Since he has no power, that is going to work great. :biggrin:

 

[Imp]

Until your house burns down... Honestly, CO and CO2 are going to kill you or fuxxorz your brain.

 

[DrPizza]

If the flame is completely blue, you'd probably be fine. Just make sure you're getting fresh air into the house. They sell ventless gas heaters for houses; the only difference between them and the stovetop is the shape & that they have a carbon monoxide detector built in.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Try to open a very low window and you might be ok. CO and CO2 are heavy, and heat rises, so if you open a high up window you're just going to loose all the heat anyway.

I would try to borrow a generator or even buy one so you can run your furnace though, that will be more efficient as the furnace has it's own air intake/exhaust for the combustion chamber. I don't think you even need that big of a generator either. Has to run the gas valve and blower, so maybe a couple amps?

If you end up having to bail out of the house make sure to leave the water running on all faucets. You could maybe get away with shutting it off and flushing the lines but I'd be scared that the main itself goes.

 

[F1N3ST]

Try to open a very low window and you might be ok. CO and CO2 are heavy, and heat rises, so if you open a high up window you're just going to loose all the heat anyway.

I would try to borrow a generator or even buy one so you can run your furnace though, that will be more efficient as the furnace has it's own air intake/exhaust for the combustion chamber. I don't think you even need that big of a generator either. Has to run the gas valve and blower, so maybe a couple amps?

If you end up having to bail out of the house make sure to leave the water running on all faucets. You could maybe get away with shutting it off and flushing the lines but I'd be scared that the main itself goes.

Or a power converter and some car battery

 

[Red Squirrel]

Or a power converter and some car battery

That could work too, I'm pretty sure a 1000w inverter would do the trick, though you'd probably need a decent array of batteries to keep going. I would guess a furnace does not pull more then like 500w though so it should last even with one. I remember at camp we used to play video games at night off a single car battery and it went on for hours with a CRT and game console.

Getting an inverter for the fridge is not a bad idea either. In fact, this gives me an idea, I should invest in a few of them for emergency situations.

 

[lxskllr]

Just crack a window to supply oxygen to the fire. I've done that before, and it works fine. By crack I mean 4"-6", or even more if it isn't letting in too much cold air.

 

[bobdole369]

Getting an inverter for the fridge is not a bad idea either. In fact, this gives me an idea, I should invest in a few of them for emergency situations.

I live in FL - we have inverters, generators, and deep-discharge batteries every couple feet here. Land of the power-grid wiping hurricane.

 

[drnickriviera]

I'm alive. I had an inverter, but it made the furnace act crazy. guess the electronics didn't like it. I used the stove for about 6hours. Couldn't see how that would hurt.

 

[Double Trouble]

More importantly, did you move your armies as planned in ikariam??

I've been in a similar spot with the heat being out when I was in an apartment. I boiled a big pot of water, then turned off the burners when it was boiling. Repeat as needed.

 

[Rubycon]

I'm alive. I had an inverter, but it made the furnace act crazy. guess the electronics didn't like it. I used the stove for about 6hours. Couldn't see how that would hurt.

As long as you don't see any yellow tips on your flames and leave a window partially open for fresh air you will be fine.

Most inexpensive inverters do NOT put out true sinewave power and induction motors don't like this. Additionally the starting current required by the motor may overload the inverter further distorting its output. The telltale sign of this is strange noises, clicking or singing of components. The inverter should be shut down immediately if this happens to prevent damage to it or the connected loads.

There are commercially available true sine wave inverters in the multiple kW range. These are expensive and require large banks of batteries. Most require a minimum of a 24 volt input. Some require inputs over 100V DC! It's easy to figure out why using Ohm's law. Good inverters are very efficient - in the mid 90% range.

 

[BUTCH1]

As long as you don't see any yellow tips on your flames and leave a window partially open for fresh air you will be fine.

Most inexpensive inverters do NOT put out true sinewave power and induction motors don't like this. Additionally the starting current required by the motor may overload the inverter further distorting its output. The telltale sign of this is strange noises, clicking or singing of components. The inverter should be shut down immediately if this happens to prevent damage to it or the connected loads.

There are commercially available true sine wave inverters in the multiple kW range. These are expensive and require large banks of batteries. Most require a minimum of a 24 volt input. Some require inputs over 100V DC! It's easy to figure out why using Ohm's law. Good inverters are very efficient - in the mid 90% range.

Some good points, even with a 90% range efficiency a single car battery won't last long powering a full sized fridge. Better to just buy a 3K-5K generator and be done with it. How would one recharge multiple batteries during a power outage anyways?.

 

[mizzou]

put on a sweatshirt

 

[waffleironhead]

I'm alive. I had an inverter, but it made the furnace act crazy. guess the electronics didn't like it. I used the stove for about 6hours. Couldn't see how that would hurt.

People keeps ovens running all day on holidays, especially thanksgiving.

I dont think you had too much to worry about.

 

[Rubycon]

People keeps ovens running all day on holidays, especially thanksgiving.

I dont think you had too much to worry about.

It does elevate indoor CO2 levels though.
Oxygen levels can drop as well. If insufficient make up air is available CO emissions can creep up! This is why it's mandated on all indoor unvented gas heaters to have an oxygen depletion sensor that closes the gas valve when oxygen levels inside drop below approximately 15%. Stove/ranges don't have such safeguards IIRC so if this goes unchecked a potentially hazardous condition can develop fairly quickly especially at night when people are sleeping. It's better to turn OFF the burners when you retire to bed and either find a partner to snuggle with or get under lots of blankets.