According to a report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in 2020, the number of homeless people in the United States rose for the fourth year in a row. That number — even excluding the coronavirus pandemic — has increased by 2% since 2019.
Of all the problems that homeless people face, one of the biggest problems during cold winters is simply keeping warm. To warm these vulnerable communities, the Portland-based Warmer Group shared a free guide on how to make a tent-safe copper-coiled alcohol heater for just $7.
To make a simple heater, you will need 1/4″ copper tubing, glass jar or glass jar, JB two-part epoxy, cotton tee for wick material, wire mesh to create a safety fence, terracotta. pot, and the bottom is a plate in which isopropyl alcohol or ethanol is burned.
The Heater Group explains: “Alcohol vapors or liquid fuel vapors in glass jars are collected in copper tubes, and when the tubes are heated, the vapors expand and are forced out through a small hole at the bottom of the copper circuit. as these fumes escape, AND it will burn when exposed to an open flame, then heat the top of the copper circuit. This creates a constant cycle of evaporating smoke that is expelled from the hole and then burned.
Alcohol heaters are great for indoor spaces like tents or small rooms. The design is also safe because burning alcohol does not create a significant carbon monoxide hazard, and if the heater turns over or runs out of fuel, the flame will go out. Of course, the Heater Group asks users to continue to be careful when using open flames and not to leave them unattended.
The Heater Group shares their detailed guide here, and the group regularly tweets design updates with their community.
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