Emergency House Heating Plan — VEVOR Diesel Heater for Whole-House Backup
Purpose: Use one of the two VEVOR 8 kW diesel air heaters as emergency whole-house heat when natural gas service is disrupted. This plan covers heat load analysis, equipment setup, fuel logistics, safety, and a validation test procedure.
Why this matters: Natural gas infrastructure is most likely to fail during extreme cold events — exactly when you need heat most. A diesel/kerosene heater is fuel-independent from the gas grid, draws minimal electricity (runnable from a battery), and is already on hand from the garage build.
Fuel choice: K-1 kerosene over diesel. It burns cleaner (less soot, less smell), has a longer shelf life (2+ years with stabilizer vs. 6-12 months for diesel), performs better in extreme cold, and the cost premium is negligible at emergency-reserve quantities.
Heat Load Analysis — 1500 sq ft House
Deriving Heat Loss From the Gas Bill
Annual gas bill: ~1.00-1.20/therm, that’s approximately 415-500 therms/year.
| Appliance | Est. Annual Therms |
|---|---|
| Gas furnace | ~350-400 |
| Gas stove | ~40-60 |
| Gas dryer | ~20-40 |
| Total | ~415-500 |
Using ~375 therms for heating, assuming 90% furnace efficiency, and Detroit’s ~6,200 heating degree days:
- Useful heat delivered: 375 x 100,000 x 0.90 = 33.75 million BTU/year
- Heat loss coefficient: 33,750,000 / (6,200 x 24) = ~227 BTU/hr per degree F of delta-T
This is a low heat loss rate — a typical 1500 sq ft house runs 350-450 BTU/(hr-°F). The low number confirms excellent insulation.
Single VEVOR 8 kW Performance vs. House Heat Loss
VEVOR rated output: 27,296 BTU/hr (8 kW) at full power.
| Outside Temp | Target Inside | Delta-T | Heat Needed (BTU/hr) | VEVOR Surplus | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20°F | 65°F | 45°F | ~10,200 | +17,000 | Easily maintained, heater on medium |
| 0°F | 60°F | 60°F | ~13,600 | +13,700 | Comfortable, heater at moderate output |
| -10°F | 55°F | 65°F | ~14,800 | +12,500 | Livable, heater running steady |
| -20°F | 55°F | 75°F | ~17,000 | +10,300 | Livable with margin |
| -20°F | 65°F | 85°F | ~19,300 | +8,000 | Achievable at full output |
Bottom line: A single VEVOR 8 kW can maintain 55-65°F in the house at -20°F outside, with BTU capacity to spare. The house’s thermal mass (furniture, walls, flooring) and excellent insulation work strongly in favor of this approach.
Force Multipliers
These improve performance further without additional equipment:
- Close off unused rooms — Heating 800 sq ft of active living space instead of 1500 drops the load proportionally
- Interior doors as zone barriers — Close bedrooms, bathrooms, and utility rooms; concentrate heat in kitchen/living area
- Thermal mass — Furniture, interior walls, and flooring absorb and re-radiate heat, smoothing temperature swings
- South-facing windows — Solar gain during daytime provides free supplemental heat even in winter
- Cooking and body heat — A gas stove won’t be available, but even electric cooking and human occupancy add measurable BTUs to a tight envelope
Equipment
Primary: VEVOR 8 kW Diesel Air Heater (All-in-One)
Already owned — one of two units purchased for garage temporary heating.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated output | 8 kW / 27,296 BTU/hr |
| Running power draw | 10-15 W |
| Startup power draw | ~120 W |
| Fuel consumption (full output) | ~0.2-0.3 L/hr (~0.07 gal/hr) |
| Fuel type | K-1 kerosene (preferred) — also compatible with 2 diesel |
| Exhaust temp | 200-300°C (390-570°F) typical, spikes to 400-500°C |
| Combustion air | Sealed — draws outside air through dedicated intake |
| Heated air | Recirculates indoor air through heat exchanger |
Power Options (Gas + Electric Outage Scenario)
The heater’s low power draw makes it viable even in a combined gas and electric outage:
| Power Source | Runtime | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grid power (120V outlet) | Indefinite | Normal operation via included 12V power supply |
| 12V car battery (direct) | 40-80 hours | At 1.25A running draw; jumper cables to battery |
| Small UPS (600VA+) | 8-24 hours | Bridge power for short outages |
| Portable generator | Indefinite | Any generator handles 15W continuous easily |
| 12V battery + solar trickle charger | Indefinite | True off-grid — 20W panel keeps battery topped |
House Venting Setup
CO Safety
The VEVOR is a sealed-combustion heater — exhaust gases never mix with room air IF the venting is intact. A failed exhaust connection means CO in the living space. Proper venting and working CO alarms are non-negotiable.
Window Insert for House (Same Concept as Garage)
Build a dedicated window insert for one house window, following the same design used in the garage. See Window Insert Construction for detailed construction steps.
Key differences from garage insert:
- Sized to a house window — Measure the operable window opening where the heater will be deployed. Casement, slider, and double-hung windows all work; you just need a panel that fits the opening.
- Single heater — Only one exhaust and one intake pass-through needed (vs. two in the garage).
- Storage — Label the insert clearly (“EMERGENCY HEAT — VEVOR WINDOW INSERT”) and store it where it’s accessible in an emergency (garage wall, basement, utility closet).
Insert Construction Summary
| Component | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Panel | 1/4”-1/2” fiber-cement board (HardieBacker or Durock) | Noncombustible, ASTM E136 rated |
| Frame | Scrap wood or aluminum | Sized to press-fit into window opening |
| Seal | Foam weatherstripping on all edges | Airtight fit against window jamb |
| Exhaust pass-through | VTurboWay 316 SS thru-hull fitting (24mm) | Already proven in garage setup |
| Intake pass-through | Rubber grommet or weatherstripped hole | Ambient temp only, no special fitting needed |
| Securing | Screws or cam locks | Removable but secure |
Exhaust routing:
VEVOR exhaust port → pipe (~1 ft) → muffler → pipe (~1-2 ft) → thru-hull fitting → outside
- Maintain slight downward slope toward outside for condensation drainage
- Clamp every connection — each joint is a potential CO leak point
- Extend pipe 2-3” past thru-hull on exterior so exhaust drafts away from the building
- Use the muffler — the heater will be running inside the house and noise matters more here than in the garage
Intake routing:
VEVOR intake port → pipe → grommet → outside
- Space intake and exhaust openings apart on the exterior
- Keep intake upwind of exhaust if possible
Placement in the House
Ideal location: A central room (living room or main hallway) with an exterior window for venting.
Considerations:
- Place the heater where warm air can circulate naturally to the most-used rooms
- Avoid bedrooms — noise and proximity to exhaust routing make common areas better
- If the house has an open floor plan, one central location covers most of the living space
- Set the heater on a fire-safe surface (cement board scrap, metal tray, or tile) to protect flooring
Fuel Storage & Logistics
Consumption Rates
| Output Level | Consumption | 5 Gal Lasts | 10 Gal Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full (8 kW) | ~0.07 gal/hr | ~3 days | ~6 days |
| Medium (~5 kW) | ~0.04-0.05 gal/hr | ~4-5 days | ~8-10 days |
| Low (~2-3 kW) | ~0.02-0.03 gal/hr | ~7-10 days | ~14-20 days |
In practice, the heater will throttle between medium and full output as the house reaches target temperature, so real-world consumption will be lower than the full-output numbers.
Recommended Fuel Reserve
| Scenario | Fuel Needed | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day emergency | 5 gallons | 1 jerry can |
| 7-day extended outage | 10-15 gallons | 2-3 jerry cans |
| 14-day worst case | 20-25 gallons | 4-5 jerry cans |
Recommendation: Keep 10-15 gallons of K-1 kerosene with fuel stabilizer on hand during heating season (November-March). This covers a full week of continuous operation with margin.
Fuel Storage Guidelines
- Store in approved containers (metal jerry cans or DOT-rated plastic kerosene cans — use blue containers to distinguish from gasoline/diesel)
- Store in the garage, not inside the house — fumes are unpleasant and fuel should be away from living space ignition sources
- K-1 kerosene has a 2+ year shelf life with stabilizer (significantly longer than diesel)
- Add fuel stabilizer (e.g., Sta-Bil) if fuel will sit more than 6 months as extra insurance
- See Fuel Rotation Strategy for annual rotation schedule
Fuel Rotation Strategy
K-1 kerosene’s longer shelf life (2+ years with stabilizer) makes rotation less critical than diesel, but stale fuel still causes soot buildup and glow plug fouling. A simple annual rotation keeps fuel fresh with zero waste.
Annual Rotation Schedule:
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| October (start of heating season) | Buy 10-15 gallons of fresh K-1 kerosene, add stabilizer |
| Winter months | Use VEVOR heaters for occasional garage workshop heating — this naturally burns through the reserve |
| April (end of heating season) | Top off if reserve is low; fuel purchased in October is only 6 months old and fine for another year |
| Following October | Burn remaining old fuel through garage heater sessions, refill with fresh |
Natural consumption that keeps fuel rotating:
- Garage workshop heating — Run a VEVOR on cold days when working in the garage. Even occasional weekend use burns a few gallons per month during winter. This is the primary rotation mechanism.
- Monthly maintenance runs — Already planned per garage heating docs. Running both heaters at full output for 30 minutes monthly prevents soot buildup and turns over a small amount of fuel.
- Validation test — The winter 2026-27 practice run (see Validation Test Plan — Winter 2026-27) will consume several gallons over 12-24 hours.
If fuel goes unused for a full season:
- K-1 with stabilizer is still fine at 18-24 months. Don’t throw it away.
- Burn it through the garage heaters at the start of the next season, then refill with fresh.
- Worst case, old kerosene can be used in kerosene lanterns, taken to a fuel recycler, or given to anyone with a kerosene heater.
Why Rotation Is Easy Here
The VEVOR heaters serve double duty — garage workshop heat in winter and emergency house backup. Normal garage use naturally cycles through the fuel reserve. You’re not maintaining a stockpile that just sits there; you’re maintaining a working fuel supply that also happens to be your emergency reserve.
Safety Requirements
CO Detection
| Location | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Room with heater | Battery-backup CO alarm | Primary safety device — nearest to potential leak source |
| Hallway outside bedrooms | Battery-backup CO alarm | Protects sleeping areas |
| Existing house CO alarms | Verify battery/function | Should already be installed per code |
Before Every Use
Verify all CO alarms are functional with fresh batteries. In a power outage, battery-backup or battery-only CO alarms are the only protection.
Fire Safety
- Place heater on noncombustible surface (cement board, metal tray, or tile)
- Maintain 3 ft clearance from combustibles (curtains, furniture, paper)
- Keep a Class B/C fire extinguisher accessible in the same room
- Muffler gets hot — route it away from walls, curtains, and furniture; use a metal bracket if needed
- Never refuel a hot heater — shut down, let cool 10+ minutes, then refuel outside or in the garage
Ventilation Integrity Checks
Before every deployment:
- All exhaust hose clamps tight
- Thru-hull fitting secure in window insert
- No visible cracks or damage to exhaust pipe
- Window insert sealed — no gaps around edges
- Exhaust exiting cleanly outside (visible on startup)
- Intake not recirculating exhaust (check spacing on exterior)
- CO alarm(s) functional and positioned
Validation Test Plan — Winter 2026-27
Purpose
Perform a controlled test with the gas furnace available as immediate backup to validate the emergency heating plan, identify issues, and collect real-world performance data.
Test Conditions
- When: Wait for a cold night — target single digits (°F) or below for meaningful data. A 30°F night won’t stress the system enough.
- Duration: 12-24 hours minimum (overnight into the next day).
- Safety net: Gas furnace thermostat set to 45°F as a failsafe. If the VEVOR can’t keep up, the furnace kicks in automatically and the test is over with no risk to pipes or occupants.
Pre-Test Setup
- Build house window insert (follow House Venting Setup above)
- Test-fit insert in selected window — verify seal and fit
- Position heater centrally with exhaust and intake routed through insert
- Place heater on fire-safe pad
- Verify CO alarms in heater room and hallway
- Fill fuel tank (built-in 5L tank or connect to external jerry can)
- Place thermometers in 3-4 rooms (living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom)
- Set furnace thermostat to 45°F failsafe
- Note starting fuel level
- Record outdoor temperature at start
During Test — Data Collection
Log every 1-2 hours:
| Time | Outside Temp | Room 1 (Heater) | Room 2 | Room 3 | Room 4 | Heater Setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Also note:
- Which interior doors are open vs. closed
- Heater cycling behavior (steady run vs. thermostat cycling)
- Noise level — is it tolerable for overnight use?
- Any drafts, cold spots, or comfort issues
- Fuel level checks (mark at start, midpoint, end)
Post-Test Analysis
- Calculate actual fuel consumption rate
- Map temperature distribution — which rooms stayed warm, which were cold?
- Evaluate door-open vs. door-closed strategy
- Assess noise tolerance for sleeping
- Identify any venting issues (smell, seal gaps, condensation)
- Document lessons learned and adjustments needed
- Update this document with real-world data
Success Criteria
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Living area temperature | 55°F+ maintained throughout test |
| CO alarms | No activations |
| Fuel consumption | Within expected range (~0.05-0.07 gal/hr) |
| Venting | No exhaust smell detected inside |
| Furnace failsafe | Did NOT activate (VEVOR handled the load) |
| Comfort | Livable — occupants not miserable |
Emergency Deployment Procedure
When natural gas service is lost during cold weather:
Quick-Start Checklist
- Assess the situation — Confirm gas is out (check stove ignition, furnace status, contact utility)
- Retrieve equipment from garage:
- VEVOR heater unit
- Window insert (labeled “EMERGENCY HEAT”)
- Exhaust and intake pipe assemblies
- Fire-safe pad
- Fuel (jerry can from garage)
- Set up venting — Install window insert, connect exhaust and intake pipes, clamp all joints
- Position heater — Central room, on fire-safe pad, 3 ft clearance from combustibles
- Verify CO alarms — Test button on all units, confirm batteries
- Start heater — Run on high for 30-60 minutes to build heat, then reduce to maintain
- Zone the house — Close off unused rooms to concentrate heat
- Monitor — Check exhaust venting and CO alarms periodically for the first few hours
Estimated Setup Time
- First deployment (practice run): 30-45 minutes
- Subsequent deployments (practiced, labeled components): 15-20 minutes
Materials Needed (House-Specific)
Items needed beyond what’s already owned for the garage setup:
| Item | Status | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1x fiber-cement board panel (sized to house window) | Needed | ~$10-15 |
| 1x VTurboWay 316 SS thru-hull fitting (24mm) | Needed | ~$15-20 |
| 1x rubber grommet (intake pass-through) | Needed | ~$3-5 |
| Scrap wood/aluminum for insert frame | Check scrap pile | Free |
| Foam weatherstripping | Needed | ~$5 |
| Fire-safe pad (cement board scrap or metal tray) | Check scrap pile | Free-$10 |
| 2-3 kerosene jerry cans (5 gal, blue) | Needed | ~$25-40 each |
| K-1 kerosene (10-15 gal) | Seasonal purchase | ~$50-75 |
| Fuel stabilizer (Sta-Bil) | Needed | ~$10 |
| Extra CO alarm (battery-backup) | Verify existing | ~$25-35 |
| Thermometers for test (3-4 cheap indoor units) | Needed for test | ~$15-25 |
| Total estimated | ~$150-225 |
Related Documentation
- Garage VEVOR Setup: Temporary Heating (Winter 2025-26) — Window insert construction details, exhaust routing, and safety procedures
- HVAC Strategy: HVAC Strategy — Permanent heating system (radiant floor + mini-splits)
- Fire Safety: Fire Extinguisher Plan — Extinguisher placement and ratings
- Insulation: Insulation Strategy — Garage insulation specs (house insulation is separate but relevant for heat loss context)
Last updated: February 2026 Author: Dan Gahagan — Garage Project Notes