Using Your Fireplace During A Power Outage

Few things can make you appreciate the convenience of modern living like losing power. With the severe winter weather expected to hit much of the East coast this week, losing power – and subsequently, heat -- may be a very real concern.

If you or a loved one is dealing with heat loss, know that you're likely in good shape to generate heat during a power outage if you have a wood-burning stove or insert and plenty of cord wood on hand. If that's not the case, consider a battery backup for your pellet stove or insert to ensure that your family stays safe and warm this winter.

Pellet stoves and inserts require electricity to light the flame. The exception to this is the Mt. Vernon AE stove and insert using Advanced Energy Technology. This stove and insert can be outfitted with an optional 12 volt power cord that will hook up to a deep cycle marine battery to operate you stove. Consult the owner's manual for further requirements. Also, keep in mind that power outages can cause power surges that can damage circuit boards and motors. For this reason, it's a good idea to unplug your pellet stove during a storm when it's not in use, or plug it into a surge protector. Another option for lighting your stove is to plug it into a steady-state generator, if one is available.