Fireplace Insert or Generator

I'd go with the fireplace first then try to find a good deal on a generator. The fireplace insert saves money (ie. pays for itself). The generator doesn't.
 
Wood stove first.

If you need both, get a very basic generator or inverter.

Being without electricity sucks. Being without heat can be deadly.
 
Get the insert. You can scrounge wood also, in addition to cutting your own. I burn wood every day on the winter. Can't remember my last power outage.

Good point.

I have my wood burning stove on right now. It's also 12* outside. [wink]

Got home and the first level was 62*. Upstairs was 60* so the propane-powered FHW heaters were powered on. Started a fire shortly thereafter and it's 75* downstairs and 65* upstairs. I use my wood stove nearly every day between the end of October and the end of March.

I used my Honda generator twice, once for about 24 hours and another for about 48 hours since we moved to NH.

Personally, get both, but I would prioritize the heat. Again, no heat, you die. Plus with a generator, in a real deal SHTF event, like multi-month, or multi-year event, you ain't powering a generator unless you get all crafty with wood-based gasoline or something.

You'll be using your wood stove every day though to cook and heat water and stay warm.
 
If your priority is convenience - then get the generator.
If your priority is survival - then get the wood stove insert.

Frozen pipes are bad in your body and your home. Both humans and buildings need heat more than they need electricity.

And , seriously : get both.
 
Two of these will heat your home if your home's heating system goes down. You can also get a few oil filled electric heaters.

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on sale for 99 each at northern tool.

But if your electric goes down a generator will run your homes heating system, recharge flashlights, keep your refrigerated or frozen food from going bad, keep the kids entertained and provide light to do any task you can think of inside or out.
 
Thanks everybody. As I read all this, I am looking at it this way:

In a short term situation (power outage of a day to two weeks), the generator provides water (well), heat (boiler), light, food (fridge/freezer), communication (internet, TV, radio, cell phone). It can't do that for very long however. So for most SHTF situations that we've ever experienced in this country, it covers them. In a long term SHTF situation, or TEOTWAWKI, its usefulness will be limited, and the fireplace insert would be much more useful (and a wood stove even more so).

Since we have a place in the Vermont mountains that is easier to heat and defend, with well water, better local game hunting, and walking distance to the White River (fish and water), I think my best bet is the generator in MA, and a wood stove in VT. Then the VT place becomes the bug out location for long term events, assuming we can get to it. Wood supply is endless. There are also some well prepared folks up there that we are friends with. Maybe I'll get a Texas fire grate for MA.
 
Get a Propane Generator, propane can be stored without having to worry about it degrading quickly like Gas or Diesel. There are some dual fuel propane/gas generators out there as well which gives you options.
 
Get a Propane Generator, propane can be stored without having to worry about it degrading quickly like Gas or Diesel. There are some dual fuel propane/gas generators out there as well which gives you options.

Uhhhhhh what diesel have you seen breaking down quickly? Try obtaining a decent resupply of propane too especially if power is out.
 
Gas is easier to get than propane when it's 2am and elec goes out. I know this. Get yourself a Tri-Fuel kit by U.S Carb. around 300-350 and anyone can hook it up. Takes 30 min. You can run Natural, Propane and reg gas with it.
 
I heard very good things about Pri-G. Supposed to keep gas fresh for a year or more. Better than Sta-bil. Propane doesn't last much, longer and has a lower energy content by volume.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
 
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