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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!digi-g!dan
From: dan@digi-g.UUCP (Dan Messinger)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Heat without electricity
Message-ID: <480@digi-g.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Feb-85 10:06:17 EST
Article-I.D.: digi-g.480
Posted: Tue Feb  5 10:06:17 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Feb-85 03:16:10 EST
References: <7946@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Reply-To: dan@digi-g.UUCP (dan)
Distribution: net
Organization: Digigraphic Systems Corp., Mpls, MN
Lines: 47
Summary: 

In article <7946@brl-tgr.ARPA> wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) writes:
...
> However, for gas-fueled hot water or steam systems
>which do not use a pump, the ONLY function of electricity is to run the
>thermostat. This is a trivial usage, yet the system will not work if
>there is no electricity. I would think that there should be a method
>of "working around" the loss of electricity for these heating systems.
...
>What I would think would be a better backup system would be a completely
>mechanical one. It would not have any thermostat, but operate on a time
>basis.
...
>If this is infeasible, how about a method of bypassing the electrically-
>controlled portion of the heating system in emergencies? Is there a way
>to force open an electrically-controlled valve without damaging it,
>in the abscence of electricity?

My house is heated by a gravity feed gas furnace.  One of those old coal
burners with a gas conversion unit stuck into it.  (commonly known as
the "octopus")  Sticking out of the side of the control unit is a small
knob, which when turned opens the gas valve, and low and behold, I have
a warm house.  Its not quite as safe as what Will suggests... Once turned
on manually, it stays on.  Its only safety feature is that the manual
control will not stay in the 'on' position if the electricity is on.

So yes, Will, such things do exist.  Although I must admit that I have
only seen such controls on OLD OLD furnaces.  During several blizzards
I have been thankfull for having an old furnace and a warm house (while
my neighbors huddled around their fireplaces, or came to my house).
(You say there are hot water and steam heaters that don't use a pump?
Give me a brand, Will.  I want to get rid of that octopus in my basement!)

Forcing the valve open is no problem.  For most furnaces, the valve is
held closed by a spring, and the solenoid pulls against the spring to
open the valve.  The solenoid is not actively holding the valve closed.
(It doesn't actively do anything without power :-) )  The big problem
is moving the heat.

It seems to me that the modern furnaces have a few inconveniences.
As much as I would like to get rid of the octupos that occupies half
my basement, I also rather like to stay warm.  And it is not uncommon to
lose power during a heavy snow in my neighborhood. So I would be interested
in hearing recommendations on new home furnaces that can be manually
controlled during loss of power.

Dan Messinger
ihnp4!umn-cs!digi-g!dan