Are you all prepping for power cuts?

[User112]

BBC reported the other day about possible power cuts this winter due to gas shortage. Other than having a few torch light and candles, are you all prepping with anything else?

Nope. It's like 2 or 3 hours. We'll cope.

I agree that the government don’t give a f*ck about the people of the UK, however if it threatens them I think they will do all they can to avoid it. I really don’t think it will come to any of that but I do think it’s likely there will be rolling blackouts at some point unless things change drastically in the next couple of months.

Current size of the military (not just the army) is about 160,000 but that doesn't tell you how many would be available to deploy to assist the civilian authorities in an emergency

I was just wondering…

If I light my gas fire before the power goes out would the fire stay on?
I know I need electricity for the spark but wondered once it is alight would it stay on without electricity?

Yes it should stay on. You could perhaps proof test in advance by lighting your fire and then simulate a power outage by turning off your fuse board. All fuse boards have a "main switch" which isolates the whole thing. Light the fire and flick the main switch off and see what happens.

now I am wondering though there is a fan or something that pushes the heat into the room or carbon monoxide out the flue? Will have to investigate further before I test.zz

Get a carbon monoxide alarm anyway they’re not expensive.

@NameNumber2 - second carbon monoxide alarm. Also, you don't need electricity to light it. A echargeable hob lighter will do it. I have one for our gas hob. Or even a match - that's what we used in the 1970s.

Our gas fire is a sealed unit so I do need electricity to light it. We already have carbon monoxide alarms. I have asked the retailer for advice.

My sister and I have been preparing entertainment during power cuts for the littles, we have gathered a box with playing cards, books, sweet treats, torches and this week we added cheap mp3 players with audio books on them.

Excellent stuff @1Dandelion1 . I remember as a kid in the 1970s power cuts having stuff like that which Mum pulled together. You might be able to download a couple of films onto a device that has a full battery but not everyone has access to that.

I recommend one of these for power cuts. This is a jar of chafing gel - came in a pack of 2 for around £7. Each one burns for up to 6 hours. We used it last night to roast marshmallows for DC in the dark - it was a lovely warm treat!

They are safe to use indoors, and surprisingly you can boil water on them!

@BlackeyedSusan was it you who was nervous like me about using a Kelly kettle? These are a fab alternative - slower, but I used one with a camping kettle, and it took 13 minutes to boil a pint of water, so enough for 2 warm drinks. So might be a good cheap alternative for anyone who doesn’t have a safe place for a camping stove.

Where did you buy it @EveLe looks useful

You can buy packs of 12 cans of chafing gel on Ebay and Amazon for under £15.

@IncessantNameChanger Mine are from Amazon (third party seller) - I bought ones with a wick, so they can be blown out and reused. I'm not sure if you can reuse the ones without a wick.

These are the ones I bought - you may be able to get them cheaper elsewhere, or if you buy bigger packs, I only bought a pack of 2. We've used one to test if we can boil water with it (I put it inside a mini metal colander from b+m with a cooling rack over the top to put the kettle on) and now we are using it as a marshmallow toaster, and we're keeping the second for emergency use.

Reusable Chafing Dish Fuel

You can often reuse the ones that don't have a wick; you need to smother the flame with a lid and leave it well alone until its completely gone out. There are chafing gel containers you can use that have a lid and a handle, I think they are a bit safer than just using the can.

@Thelnebriati What sort of container are you using? I looked for ways to boil water, and I couldn't find any dishes suitable? They all seemed too large? I thought a kettle would be the quickest way.

I've tried it 2 ways - using a wood stove, and placing the gel can on the shelf where the wood would normally go, with the kettle on top. And inside a colander with a cooling rack on the top with the kettle on.

Both ways seem fairly stable to me, and I'd be comfortable using them, but if there's a container that you think would be safer I'd be interested in any suggestions you have.

Hi - wondered if anyone had noticed the diesel shortage in the us and boats heading for uk diverted to the us? Don’t believe it would impact the uk unless anyone knows differently?

Do you have a link please @snowballupahill

@EveLe I'm using ours in a portable barbeque a bit like this one
www.amazon.co.uk/Charcoal-Barbecue-Folding-Portable-45x29x24/dp/B096GT95Y4/ref=sr_1_3?crid=36DRM8AB7MQI&keywords=portable+barbeque&qid=1667999848&sprefix=portable+kettle+barbeque%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-3

You can buy chafing dish sets on ebay/amazon for around £30;
www.amazon.co.uk/STAINLESS-STEEL-CHAFING-SERVING-OCCASION/dp/B01E703ZCS/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=chafing+dishes&qid=1667999640&sr=8-6

If you have a stable way to hold the pan above the gel, the fuel holders are about £14 for two;
www.amazon.co.uk/Luxshiny-Stainless-Chafing-Buffets-Catering/dp/B09BQ25KCS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3U3498EXO8EZA&keywords=chafing+dish+fuel+holder&qid=1667999681&sprefix=chafing+dish+fuel+holder%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A3HTFCFUMQGO70

I am trying a fondue stand for this

@Thelnebriati Thanks - The portable bbq looks a good option - I hadn’t thought of that! Looks like it would be wide enough to fit both a camping kettle and a small pan, so I might get one. The fuel holders make me nervous about balancing hot water, so id rather try the bbq idea.

This is what I’ve been using so far - mini colander and cooling rack above, it works ok.

Further to my post about power cuts I have had the following response from our installer:

If there is a power cut and the fire is on – it is safe to used. (I have confirmed that this is the case with Gazco Technical)

I now have extra emergency lightbulbs and so most rooms now have one in a lamp. I’ve also bought extras for elderly PIL. It’s one less thing to worry about and they’re not cheap but neither are they too expensive at about a tenner each.

I just won some skiing salopettes on ebay, they are fantastically warm. I got the type that covers your torso as well. The kids think I've lost the plot, but I really feel the cold these days.