Shutting off the water at the main valve will not prevent pipe bursts unless all of the water is drained from the pipes and the hot water heater is turned off. Burn only dry clean firewood, fire logs, and use black and white newspaper to start the fire. Never burn trash. If you are unsure about the condition of your wood burning appliance, have it checked and cleaned by a professional. A wood stove or insert can be used to heat portions of some homes, but most homes require additional sources of heat to provide even heat distribution.
Most fireplaces look nice but are net heat losers.
Dampers must be kept open for a minimum of 12 hours after a fire is out. Hot soup can help keep you warming body and spirit, and enables you to use up some of the food which may go bad in a prolonged power outage. If you use cocoa powder to make the hot chocolate, you can prevent lumps by mixing the cocoa powder with the dry sugar before you add it to the warming milk. Inc. All Rights Reserved.