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A lot of you in Portland don't have a fireplace but weirdly like all of you have a rock collection and hopefully some tea light candles.
So strap in.
So strap in.
You're losing most of your candle heat. It's just going up. Nothing is really absorbing it other than your ceiling and that doesn't help you.
So we're going to make a low tech water radiator.
Get your rocks.
So we're going to make a low tech water radiator.
Get your rocks.
All of you have some sort of larger pot for pasta and soup (for your family)
What you don't have is electricity.
So get a cookie sheet and prop your pot up on rocks. You need a few inches of space so get the big ones.
What you don't have is electricity.
So get a cookie sheet and prop your pot up on rocks. You need a few inches of space so get the big ones.
No rocks? Anything heat resistant will do fine.
Avoid plastics, glass, and wood.
Put some water in the pot.
You don't need much. A good inch will do well.
Under the pot I want you to put a tea light candle and light it.
Avoid plastics, glass, and wood.
Put some water in the pot.
You don't need much. A good inch will do well.
Under the pot I want you to put a tea light candle and light it.
This is going to look like it's burning the metal.
It is and it isn't.
All flame burns metal a little.
But the smoke and soot is sediment from the flame. It's not gas. That flame is fueled by solids. Those solids go somewhere. Right onto the bottom of your pot in this case.
It is and it isn't.
All flame burns metal a little.
But the smoke and soot is sediment from the flame. It's not gas. That flame is fueled by solids. Those solids go somewhere. Right onto the bottom of your pot in this case.
The water will not boil but don't leave candles unattended.
This is trapping heat in the metal and water which will radiate slowly outwards.
This doesn't sound warm but it's warmer than you think. It keeps the heat at your level for longer.
This is trapping heat in the metal and water which will radiate slowly outwards.
This doesn't sound warm but it's warmer than you think. It keeps the heat at your level for longer.
Why water?
You can do this with just a pot but the water is also for this other things.
Get a few water bottles and but them on their sides in the pot.
When you're ready for bed, take them out, dry them off, and put them under your covers at the foot of your bed.
You can do this with just a pot but the water is also for this other things.
Get a few water bottles and but them on their sides in the pot.
When you're ready for bed, take them out, dry them off, and put them under your covers at the foot of your bed.
This should help you warm your bed enough to fall right to sleep without shivering until you get warm.
Always blow out your candles before you sleep.
Always blow out your candles before you sleep.
The sediment is a bitch to scrub off the bottom of the pot but toothpaste helps.
The metal will discolor a little from uneven heating.
But it's the bottom of the pot and it's cold so.
The metal will discolor a little from uneven heating.
But it's the bottom of the pot and it's cold so.
Make sure the flame isn't touching the pot directly.
Make sure there's water in the pot at all times if you put a plastic water bottle inside it.
Use more than one tea light candle if you have them. (Don't over do it. You'll end up boiling the water and humid cold sucks.)
Make sure there's water in the pot at all times if you put a plastic water bottle inside it.
Use more than one tea light candle if you have them. (Don't over do it. You'll end up boiling the water and humid cold sucks.)
Oh and make sure your pot is steady on the rocks.
You don't want it falling over and making a mess.
You don't want it falling over and making a mess.
