Question to those expecting sub zero temperatures - Page 3

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

I installed gas in my fireplace...everything else is electric.

My home is over 100 years old and there wasn't a lot of insulation back then. Two years ago our pipes froze and the thawing out process took over a day.

The plumber said to keep a little "drip" going in all the faucets. This keeps water moving and cuts down on freezing pipes.

We have followed his advice and no problems since then.

We are expecting minus 30 wind chill Monday night-Tuesday here in WNY, so I will be using the drip method.

MikafromTopeka · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/5/2014 Brinklii said:
No backup plan, but this weather isn't much out of the ordinary for us this time of the year. It's supposed to be 31 below zero tonight with windchills about 55 below.

Our power has never gone out in the winter either. If it did, we would hop in the car and head for a hotel.

I hate to say this in advance of a cold spell in fear of jinxing ourselves but since you said it first.....Same here!

Dh has been in the generator industry for 42 years and has never felt the need to get one for the house and he's lived here his whole life.

We have hydronic heat so ALL the pipes in our house stay warm as long as it's working. We had to have it serviced a few weeks ago so hopefully it will be up and running for awhile.

If the power did go out we could always hop in the car and go to my mother's senior building. It's owned by the city and first priority during power outtages.

ETA: I have to admit that I'm constantly watching the thermostat and checking the registers when we have a bad snap like this......my plumber's number is taped up on my PC monitor.

deepwaterdotter · ‎03-09-2010

Generator and wood-burning fireplace.

gazelle77 · ‎03-01-2013

I heard a steady slow stream of water from spigots that piping is on an outside wall.... probably better than a drip of water just to be safe!

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

We aren't expecting any power outages and we have plenty of food in the house to last us. We have a wood burning fireplace and plenty of dry wood, but no generator. If we lose power (needed to flush our toilets), we'll bring snow in and melt it down to pour in the bowl to manually flush.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

We have a generator large enough to run our entire house, and also have a woodburning stove in our basement. One of the first lessons we learned as newlyweds is ALWAYS have a back up plan. We are also on public water, so no longer have water issues when there are power outages.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

No back up plan. We just make sure our cars are full of gas. Closed up all our drapes and have pulled out the electric blanket. Wind chills in WI could be -50 but they are saying by next weekend we will almost hit 30 so this won't be a long cold spell.

nun ya · ‎03-09-2010

We have a natural gas heater in the basement that will run without the blower.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/5/2014 gazelle77 said:
I heard a steady slow stream of water from spigots that piping is on an outside wall.... probably better than a drip of water just to be safe!

Good point...I just open the faucets enough to keep the water moving in the pipes.

I just realized, ALL of my faucets are on outside walls! We don't have a basement to run water lines.

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

On 1/4/2014 ShowMe said:
No, do not have any back up plans......and hoping we don't lose our power. I live in an apartment. We have gas heat, gas stove, and water heater, but they are all electric ignited. So, if the power goes out, we are sunk. There are heating centers that will be open, and one not too far from here, but with the kind of weather we are supposed to be getting in a very short time from now, it will be hard to get to.......

I am in the St. Louis area.

If your stove and hot water heater have an electronic ignition they should still work in a power outage. There are different types of pilots for gas fired appliances.

My gas water tank and gas stove still light when the electric goes out. Use your stove with caution and make sure your place is well ventilated. Even if your ignition goes out you may be able to light your gas stove the old fashioned way. With a match.