Heating off the road cabin while youre away. (Fairbanks, Wasilla: house, purchase)

[carlsdriveins]

Hey there folks,

I have lived in Alaska for a few years now, and I'm looking to possibly purchase a small cabin in the Willow area that's not connected to electricity, and I was curious if there were any inexpensive, safe ways to heat the place while I'm not there. I work 3/3 on the slope, so I'll be gone for half of the year at least, and I need something to keep my pets and electronics from freezing while I'm away. I've heard a bit about direct vent propane and oil drip heaters, does anyone have any more information on those? Thanks!

[Yakscsd]

I don't have an answer, but wondered about how you would deal with the pets and what type?

[NomadicBear]

Pets?????

[Dakster]

Can't answer the how to keep it warm and really to answer the how to take care of pets for 3 days the type of pets would be nice to have. Are we talking dogs, cats, hamsters?

[mitgreb]

You get a roomate or a house sitter.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by mitgreb

You get a roomate or a house sitter.

You beat me to it. If the OP is going to be several months away from the cabin, he would need somebody to house-sit the house and take care of the pets.

For heating a small cabin a Toyo stove is hard to beat, since they are very fuel efficient. If the electricity goes out for an extended period of time, a house sitter could burn some wood if there is a stove in the cabin for such emergencies. The problem is figuring what type of fuel is cheaper around Willow. The Toyo stoves used around Fairbanks burn #1 heating fuel, which is expensive, other than such stoves being fuel efficient.

I have a Honda generator to use when the power goes out for a long time, but during the winter I have a large aluminum box to cover the generator so that the motor survives the cold air. The box has an opening for the muffler, and another to allow for fresh air to get inside and reach the carburetor (the hot motor slightly warms the air inside the box before it reaches the carburetor). The generator powers the boiler and the well pump, plus a couple of lights).

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Dakster

Can't answer the how to keep it warm and really to answer the how to take care of pets for 3 days the type of pets would be nice to have. Are we talking dogs, cats, hamsters?

3/3 in slope talk is three weeks on and three weeks off.

You can't possibly be serious about leaving your pets alone in a cabin for three weeks at a time.

[Dakster]

Sorry I thought 3 days on/3 days off... MY bad- 3 weeks is too long without a house sitter.

I am still taking care of things in South Florida and I am gone for about a month at a time, no need to "heat" and my cat is outdoor, yet I still have someone come over everyday to check on him and feed him. Now, they don't need to come over for the cat everyday, but they do. They could skip a few days, since the neighbors also feed him.

[ericathynes]

Give Crowley's a call in Wasilla to price it out fuel. They sell Toyos, and deliver both propane and oil. As someone else said, Toyos are extremely efficient. Please tell us you aren't leaving your animals without care for 3 weeks.

[carlsdriveins]

Sorry for the delay. I guess I should have specified but I would have someone to come in and check on the pets and household every other day or so while I'm away.