Emergency #CandleHeater: Building a Single Candle #ClayPotRadiator

Off The Grid Alternative Energy, 2014

"With cold weather fast approaching, I wanted to share a cool little project that I did over the weekend that can provide some extra heat during a grid-down emergency situation. With the heat from a single candle, it is possible to heat a small area during an emergency ­– if you can capture that heat.

Step One: Build a Small Emergency Shelter inside your home.

If you live in an apartment, or a house that doesn’t have a fireplace or wood burning stove, winter power outages can quickly turn into life-threatening emergencies. When the temperatures start to plummet, you need to take action.

The first step you should take is to build an emergency shelter, or warm room, within your home. It’s a lot easier to heat a small walk-in closet or pantry than it is to heat an entire home. So the first thing you want to do is find a small room or closet, and then start insulating.

- Line the walls with couch cushions, blankets, or anything else you can find that can trap heat inside the room. Think about when you were a child and built forts in your bedroom; we’re going for a similar concept here.
- If you have an emergency reflective blanket, putting one up can help reflect heat back into the room.
- Depending how many people are in the room, body heat alone can be enough to keep the room at a tolerable temperature.

Step Two: Build a Single Candle Terracotta Pot Emergency Heater

Once you have your shelter built, a single candle can be used to help heat the room. Building a small Terracotta Clay Pot Radiator allows you to capture the heat generated from a candle, heat that is normally wasted, and slowly build it up inside a makeshift radiator.

Building the Clay Pot Candle Heater

The heater is actually pretty simple to make. One long bolt, a dozen washers or so, about 7-8 nuts, and a couple small terracotta pots is all you need.

- Place the Long Bolt through the Terracotta pot, separating each pot with a couple washers and a nut.
- The Center bolt, washers, and nuts will all conduct the heat from the candle. The metal core will get extremely hot, trapping the heat and radiating it out to each clay pot.
- The heat will slowly build up inside the pots, and then will begin radiating heat around the clay pots."

Learn more:
https://offgridsurvival.com/candleheaterradiator/

#KeepingWarm #DIY #TerraCottaHeaters #SolarPunkSunday

So, as someone with Autism, being comfy, especially at bed-time, is a priority for me. I came across this method myself, though I do things a bit differently. While I do have layers of sheets on my bed, I also have layers of comforters -- one thin, one thick -- on the bottom. And a lighter comforter and two blankets (one thin, one thick) on top. I've never liked the feeling of sleeping on sheets, and prefer being sandwiched in between puffy softness. When it's cold, I add more layers. When it's warm, I take them off.

I Tried This Chic 'Hotel Method' Bedding Trick and It's Perfectly Cozy on Chilly, Long Winter Nights – It Looks Effortlessly Stylish, Too

By Chiana Dickson, November 7, 2025

Excerpt: "It is a similar principle to insulating your home, creating layers for pockets of air to be trapped within, keeping heat inside and cold air out. I've been using this trick for years to keep my heating cost down, and the cozy factor up, as long winter nights and the accompanying chill seep into every corner of my drafty Victorian home."

Read more:
https://www.homesandgardens.com/solved/hotel-method-bedding-layering-trick?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarPunkSunday #Layering #KeepingWarm #Coziness

I have so many layers on this morning I feel like a stuffed teddy bear

It's too cold to work in the writing hut and there is no sun for solar for electricity for the heater so, here I am, talking to you while I have another mug of coffee

Have a lovely morning. Keep warm or cool as appropriate

#autumn2025 #ItsAlmostOctober #KeepingWarm

Another freezing day in River Town warmed with our love

I’m on the train from Elm Street, fares have gone up, so the train ticket to visit you is even more expensive now.

I’m feeling very run down from the anxiety of what your mum might have in store and the agro she might give at the end our day together.

You’ll be on holiday next week, I won’t see you for 2 weeks almost. 5 weeks off, 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off… This isn’t good enough, our cuddles and kisses need to be more frequent.

Arrival to River Town

Lots of people were hobbling around wearing medals. It was River Town Half Marathon day. I wanted to also run it as part of my marathon training, but given your mum’s relentless hostility, I thought it would be best not to add it to the already difficult conversations taking place. She makes it very difficult to speak about anything beyond what she wants to.

It would’ve been so lovely to run the half and then get lunch together. I could have told you all about it and inspire good sporting habits.

Fortunately, as the race had started much earlier, there wasn’t big impact to the trains, but restaurants were very busy.

Our day

We had a tasty meal at Wagamama. A return visit. The staff are very friendly and accommodate so well for little ones. I’ll try other spots next time when it’s not as busy.

After our lunch, I took you for a walk super wrapped up, to protect against the cold outside. I also had lots of layers on in preparation for wandering the backstreets of River Town, to help you doze off through the bumpy paths.

We joined other kids at the playground where your sense of adventure is building. The slides are a little scary but exhilarating and swings are exciting but you get caught out with the mini g-force on the way back down.

To keep a balance of outside and inside, I made use of the shopping centre to browse for a while to keep us from freezing.

I try not to go to the shops too much and keep it in my back pocket for a rainy or cold day, of which there may be many!

Once I’d given you some snacks and changed you, we headed back to the station, a numb walk physically and emotionally.

It’s hard not finishing the day as I would love to, some warm hugs and letting you know I’ll see you soon. Instead your mum imposes this setup where she becomes the respite from the cold and I’m the one forcing you out for the day during the winter.

Even missing saying goodbye

So often I don’t even get the chance to say goodbye. As we make our way through the groups of tourists, you rest your eyes and wake up with your mum the next time you open them.

At the least today, your mum’s dig at me was minor. She just complained that you were asleep. I barely react.

She knows why you choose to rest while travelling from the centre in the cold. I wish she would think about her hostile behaviour. Not agreeing on a more reasonable meeting point in the centre isn’t in your interest. It’s not worth spiting me if it makes you at all uncomfortable.

Not being together next week

I hope you have a nice holiday and remember me when you’re back.

I’m not allowed to be with you, but you’re always in my thoughts.

Listen through the podcast

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nqA9ZiPGLCS9V4w3gvW24?si=1ayYAcG7Q1m-7Hr3zp75Ow

#abusiveMother #coldWeather #dad #dadLife #daughter #family #familyCourt #fatherSRights #fatherhood #hostileMother #keepingWarm #kids #lunchTogether #missingYou #parenting #playground #thinkingOfYou #toddler #toddlerLife #trainRides #travellingToSeeYou #winter

Our situation continues to suck twice as much money from our accounts as we ever seem able to put in. Any help avoiding deeper trouble is much appreciated and needed, whether you pick a goal or just throw it in for keeping debt collectors away.

Even if you can't send a dime, you are very lovely beans and should know that you are loved. <3

https://ko-fi.com/athakitsune
Other ways to send available, please ask.

If you want me to go over what's happening in more detail, let me know.

#Mutualaid #homeless #transinneed #lgbtqia #lgbtq #skoolie #survivalfund #survival #DIY #donations #winter #cold #insulation #debts #money #help #helprequest #keepingwarm #furries #otherkin #neurodivergent #plural #basicincome #FuckCapitalism #yesweareaskingformoneywhilehatingthesystemthatmakesitnecessary
#tryingtogetstuffdone #tryingtogetajob #getfedihired