I must be missing something
. Guess I’m not living “off-grid” for the same reason the other 99.99932% of Americans who don’t live off-grid aren’t.
I use my gas log fireplace to heat throughout the winter with a space heater in the bedroom and one in the master bath. My front bedrooms are kept closed since I dont use them. I put a thermostat on it and that works out well.
closing those bedrooms is good unless they have an exterior wall that has an outside faucet. Those faucets would need some room heat for protection in these kind of temps.
These little gems really do work and can save tons off the electric bill, and though this is a specific BRAND, there are several other brands, types, and sizes available.
skaats.com
Correct but mine do not have any water going to them. My front bathroom has 1 external wall but the faucet is on the other end of that room.
Yes every hvac manufacturer have dual fuel systems. Basically a heat pump for heating and cooling and the natural gas/propane furnace for whatever temperature you lock out the heat pump, the furnace also kicks in when the heat pump is defrosting. These systems are pretty efficient depending on which seer and afue rating you choose. The higher the numbers are means more savings on your bills. The upfront cost can be expensive though. Yes they still make floor furnaces but I have never had anyone request one to be installed, we just remove them.
Very true, but they will still try to keep running unless you be sure to flip your thermostat to "Emergency Heat Only." No need in running your heat pump below 30' or so to load up your generator. Like me, electric is my only option. My fire place does not have an outside air intake. I have some portable box heaters I can put on my 6500W generator with cords strung through the house with doors taped up if needed. I had to do that several years ago. Afterward I made a good list for the future. Your electric hot water tank will still do a hot shower, something to think about if it might be the last one for a few days. Refrigerators and freezers ran a couple hours each day will usually be OK, stuff like that. Good Luck to you.
The units are in the walk-in attics on the 3rd story and gas is only plumbed to the range top (Kitchen) that has a common wall with the fireplace in the Living Room, and the fireplace in the Family Room (both second story). Difficult to make those kind of changes after the fact. If only I’d been born rich instead of being so good lookin’ 
