I'm pretty well set up with stuff to maintain my comfort during power outages --propane stove and grill, flashlights, battery lanterns, extra food and coffee and powdered as well as canned milk. Ammo and water, of course.
Not exactly your total SHTF package, but enough to get by before a total SHTF is officially declared and the Denver zombies start heading this way on foraging expeditions.
One thing that bothered me was how to stay reasonably warm (that's not a mere "comfort" issue with me) during winter power outages. (I don't like those cat heaters, or anything that requires a "well-ventilated area.")
So I bought a little 2-cycle Chicago 800/900 Watt generator on coupon-sale for $90 from Harbor Freight and figured I could run it outside on the balcony and feed about 400W of lamps and a small hot plate (another 400 W) with a fan to blow warm air around. Not much, but enough to keep the place reasonably above absolute zero.
Problem: gas vapors.
I can't store it in the apartment and if I keep it out on the balcony covered up, it gets to be about 120dF out there in summer*, which is near the boiling point of winter gasoline, and at this altitude, even closer.
OK, so I can run the float bowl dry and drain the gas, but there's always that couple of ounces that stay in the tank.
Any idea as to how to thoroughly dry out that tank without using rags and such so the fuel tank will not emit vapors for a month?
I was thinking of ordering another gas cap and sealing up the tiny vent hole, just for storage, but if anyone has a better solution, I'd like to hear it.
Terry, 230RN
*Just a trick of the way the building is laid out and the angle of the afternoon summer sun.
