The first way is to use a propane heater. I’ve had my Mr. Heater Big Buddy heater for many years, though I rarely use it anymore, mostly because I dislike buying the one-pound propane canister it uses. But I do have the hose and regulator to use larger tanks, which is far more economical. Regarding his advice on removing the cover and flipping it such that you can cook food: I recommend NOT doing that! It’s a safety cover, and there for a reason. Find another way to heat up a cup of coffee or cook.
The second way is to use a Vesta heater, which I’ve posted about in the past. It’s another interesting way to both heat and cook food, though it’s probably not the most economical use of gel fuel. But I do really like the dual use idea, which it’s meant for unlike the Mr. Heater hack. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be for sale on Amazon any longer, though maybe there are alternatives if this interests you.
The last way is what I’m most interested in, and that’s adding a generator switch to your HVAC system. This is something I recently purchased but have yet to install. The idea works such that when you flip the switch, power can only come from the provided inlet, which you would then power using a solar generator or something similar. When flipped the other way, the HVAC system will only use house or AC power. Just make sure you’re buying a truly legitimate, UL-listed device! I’d hate for something bad to happen, like a house fire, because you bought a sub-par product.
Last, he also discusses using an inverter powered by your vehicle, which I’ve discussed elsewhere many times, including as far back as 2013, lol. Enjoy!
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