My son's furnace went out last winter, and they used the electric heaters for the rest of the winter. He even bought a furnace to replace it (he can do that kind of work) but didn't put it in. Yes, I wonder about him, lol. Of course, since the ac is connected, dil had a few things to say. They ran a room ac and closed the door to the bedroom.
My children are primitive, lol. And nuts. It gets mighty cold in St. Louis. Well, I am guessing that this is being done this year, but maybe I should ask? But it's not my butt that will freeze, down here in Sunny Florida, lol. I strongly suspect my dil will not play this game another winter.
I don't like those heaters....think they are dangerous. I have a small heater, about the size of a boombox, that I used to heat up the bathroom before I shower in the winter. Yes, it does get cold in there in the winter here, but I am not turning on the furnace and over heating the whole house to warm up the chill off the bathroom for a quick shower. But I keep it away from the shower curtain, and lock the pups out of the bedroom before and during it's use.
Thanks to some real luck with yard sales, and all my crocheted afghans, we will be cozy this winter. I hope your parents get the heat back on soon....tho it certainly doesn't mean they can't keep cuddling, lol.