primitives discuss heating and cooling company in Indiana

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024277093

Oh my.

Original post paragraphized by franksolich for ease of reading.

elleng (44,192 posts)    Sat Jan 4, 2014, 03:44 PM

THIS IS FROM A HEATING AND COOLING CO. in INDIANA

We are expecting the coldest weather we have faced in over 20 years Sunday night through Tuesday night with wind chill temperatures of up to -40 degrees. Please read the information below to assist you in preparing your heating and plumbing for this extreme weather.

Set your thermostat a few degrees higher to build up some warmth BEFORE the extreme temperature arrives. You can expect your furnace to run constantly until the outside temperature returns to a seasonal average. Your furnace is designed to keep your home comfortably warm for average weather conditions.

The extreme weather that we are expecting will cause your furnace to work its hardest. It may not keep your inside temperature to the set-point because of the huge temperature difference between indoors and outdoors.

You may need to put on a few more layers until the extreme weather is over. (Layering covers on your bed will keep you warmer at night also.)

For Heat Pumps: Please do NOT switch your thermostat to the Emergency Heat setting. It will turn off the outdoor unit and provide less heat. Shut the registers in unused rooms only if they do not have plumbing. Close the doors to those rooms also. Close the dampers on your fireplace only if it is NOT in use. Use towels at the base of your outside doors to lessen the entry of cold air. Keep your garage door closed. If you have plumbing in the garage, provide heat to that area if possible. Close your crawlspace vents and access holes.

Open cabinet doors for all plumbing fixtures located on the outside wall. Leave the water running in a small stream when plumbing fixtures are located on an outside wall. NOTE: If you are leaving for an extended period of time, turn the water off to your home and shut off the power supply to the water heater.

If your washer is located on an outside wall, add a small amount of anti-freeze to the trap and monitor it while in use during this extreme cold. Locate your water shut-off valve now in case you experience a burst pipe. PASS IT ON!

NYC_SKP (56,621 posts)    Sat Jan 4, 2014, 03:47 PM

1. Recommended. Pass it on!!!

Anti-freeze in the plumbing drain traps, that's brilliant!

[NHSparky]

Unless you have a septic system, numbnuts.

[SarasotaRepub]

Heat pumps are generally worthless when the outside air temp goes below 32
or so I've been told...

[NHSparky]

Heat pumps are generally worthless when the outside air temp goes below 32
or so I've been told...

I've noticed there aren't that many of them up here, if that tells you anything.

[franksolich]

Unless you have a septic system, numbnuts.

How serious, really, is this problem of frozen pipes?

I'm not being silly; I've just never encountered frozen pipes before.

I spent my childhood in a great big huge old house larger than a barn, my adolescence in a somewhat smaller house of brand-new construction, and my college years and afterwards in rented places, both apartments and houses.  In Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The plumbing of course was different in all places.

However, I never had to deal with frozen pipes, and I don't recall that when I was younger, adults had to deal with them either.

Have I just been lucky, or is this, really, an exaggerated problem?

[SarasotaRepub]

I've noticed there aren't that many of them up here, if that tells you anything.

Yep.

Now this is just false...

For Heat Pumps: Please do NOT switch your thermostat to the Emergency Heat setting. It will turn off the outdoor unit and provide less heat.

The Emergency Heat setting will turn on a Heat Strip that while costing you $$$, will provide heat.

[Carl]

People that live in cold areas have to be told these things?

Oh yeah,they are DUmbasses.

[NHSparky]

Let's put it this way--I was out of state for nearly a month a few years back.

I put the heater down at 50 degrees, unplugged the water heater, and turned off all the appliances I wouldn't be needing.

Not only was my electric bill for that month under $40 (unheard of in winter in NH) but there was NO issue with frozen pipes or anything else, even when it got to -10 while I was gone.

It also helps that I live in a new construction home, and the walls are well insulated, but even were it not, putting anti-freeze in the drains is just plain stupid.

[Carl]

How serious, really, is this problem of frozen pipes?

I'm not being silly; I've just never encountered frozen pipes before.

I spent my childhood in a great big huge old house larger than a barn, my adolescence in a somewhat smaller house of brand-new construction, and my college years and afterwards in rented places, both apartments and houses.  In Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The plumbing of course was different in all places.

However, I never had to deal with frozen pipes, and I don't recall that when I was younger, adults had to deal with them either.

Have I just been lucky, or is this, really, an exaggerated problem?

In a normal set up the only thing I have found that can freeze easily is the very small line that runs to the pressure switch.
It will keep a pump from coming on but also an easy thaw.

[CollectivismMustDie]

How serious, really, is this problem of frozen pipes?

I'm not being silly; I've just never encountered frozen pipes before.

I spent my childhood in a great big huge old house larger than a barn, my adolescence in a somewhat smaller house of brand-new construction, and my college years and afterwards in rented places, both apartments and houses.  In Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The plumbing of course was different in all places.

However, I never had to deal with frozen pipes, and I don't recall that when I was younger, adults had to deal with them either.

Have I just been lucky, or is this, really, an exaggerated problem?

That depends, on how "frozen" they are. Frozen solid can equal burst. Semi frozen where you can still get a trickle out of the tap, is recoverable. The concept of leaving your water run a a trickle out of both sides of the tap works to prevent it for the most part.

We used to get the semi frozen pipes when it got really cold. The previous owner had heat tape wrapped around both lines, which still functioned after we bought the place, and we used that the first year it got real cold here. After that, we just leave the water run a trickle from both taps. It works.

Its something serious to watch out for, no question. Newer homes, I would venture a guess, are less likely to run into trouble of this nature, than older homes.

CMD

[franksolich]

In a normal set up the only thing I have found that can freeze easily is the very small line that runs to the pressure switch.
It will keep a pump from coming on but also an easy thaw.

I'm trying to think here; I'm no graduate of Cooper Union, after all.

Both houses in which I grew up had heated basements.  The plumbing seemed to emanate from the center, the core, of both houses, rather than off to a side.  Would that have made a difference?

And this place where I currently live, the same situation.

[CollectivismMustDie]

Yep.

Now this is just false...
 

The Emergency Heat setting will turn on a Heat Strip that while costing you $$$, will provide heat.

Exactly. Our heatpump kicks off around 20 degrees f and kicks on the heating coil. The heating coil in the air handler definitely costs extra jing to run, but the upside is you will never get a warmer "heat" from your heatpump than when it is on.

The scary part is a power outage for those who don't have a generator or some form of woodburning or propane heating as a backup.

One learns in a very short time, to have a backup plan, lest you have some real troubles that go well beyond simply being cold.

CMD

[Bad Dog]

How serious, really, is this problem of frozen pipes?

Depends on the location and construction standards.  I was raised in Michigan and never saw the problem.  While living in Houston in 1982 we had a severe attack of glow ball warming over Christmas.  The neighborhood I lived in was newer ranch homes and pipes were bursting all over the place (mostly uninsulated pipes over garages).  Coupled with many folks being away from home for the holidays it made for some impressive glaciers coming down several driveways.  That said, they probably wont have a similar event for another hundred years.

[CollectivismMustDie]

I'm trying to think here; I'm no graduate of Cooper Union, after all.

Both houses in which I grew up had heated basements.  The plumbing seemed to emanate from the center, the core, of both houses, rather than off to a side.  Would that have made a difference?

And this place where I currently live, the same situation.

I would think plumbing being away from the walls would make a difference, particularly if you lose power.

CMD

[NHSparky]

That depends, on how "frozen" they are. Frozen solid can equal burst. Semi frozen where you can still get a trickle out of the tap, is recoverable. The concept of leaving your water run a a trickle out of both sides of the tap works to prevent it for the most part.

We used to get the semi frozen pipes when it got really cold. The previous owner had heat tape wrapped around both lines, which still functioned after we bought the place, and we used that the first year it got real cold here. After that, we just leave the water run a trickle from both taps. It works.

Its something serious to watch out for, no question. Newer homes, I would venture a guess, are less likely to run into trouble of this nature, than older homes.

CMD

The only time I ever worried about it was in Idaho when it hit -20 or lower, and we were running a wood/coal burning stove in the house for heat.  Even then, yes, the trickle was more than adequate, even in the old house we lived in.

And on new(er) construction homes, the well head might stick up out of the ground, but the water line is buried and insulated below the frost line, and all the interior lines are PEX vice copper, which is more resistant to freezing and bursting than copper piping.

[franksolich]

I would think plumbing being away from the walls would make a difference, particularly if you lose power.

My bigger concern--although it doesn't bother me (it seems to bother others, though)--is that this place is a tad bit more than half windows, many extending from about 10" from the floor to about 10" from the ceiling (and the ceilings are high; one has to use a step-ladder to replace light-bulbs in the ceiling fixtures).  This is on all four sides, although the "window" serving the bathroom is made out of those heavy thick frosted glass "blocks," not sheet-glass.

Even though all windows are covered triple layers of thick transparent plastic during the winter, one's talking about a pretty big "heat loss."

That seems to bother others, but it bothers me not at all.  I couldn't live in a windowless, or near-windowless, place.  I have a suspicion that's why my aversion to bars around here; their really tiny windows and dark interiors.  I like the see the wide world outside.  When I get around to winning the Powerball lottery, I plan to have constructed a Tudor mansion in the midst of the Sandhills, that's 75% windows.

[Bad Dog]

My bigger concern--although it doesn't bother me (it seems to bother others, though)--is that this place is a tad bit more than half windows, many extending from about 10" from the floor to about 10" from the ceiling (and the ceilings are high; one has to use a step-ladder to replace light-bulbs in the ceiling fixtures).  This is on all four sides, although the "window" serving the bathroom is made out of those heavy thick frosted glass "blocks," not sheet-glass.

Even though all windows are covered triple layers of thick transparent plastic during the winter, one's talking about a pretty big "heat loss."

That seems to bother others, but it bothers me not at all.  I couldn't live in a windowless, or near-windowless, place.  I have a suspicion that's why my aversion to bars around here; their really tiny windows and dark interiors.  I like the see the wide world outside.  When I get around to winning the Powerball lottery, I plan to have constructed a Tudor mansion in the midst of the Sandhills, that's 75% windows.

I'm with you on windows in one's home but bars are a different matter.  I like them dark and dank with the smells of cheap perfume, stale beer and crushed dreams.  It makes me think of.....Amber.

[EagleKeeper]

How serious, really, is this problem of frozen pipes?

I'm not being silly; I've just never encountered frozen pipes before.

I spent my childhood in a great big huge old house larger than a barn, my adolescence in a somewhat smaller house of brand-new construction, and my college years and afterwards in rented places, both apartments and houses.  In Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The plumbing of course was different in all places.

However, I never had to deal with frozen pipes, and I don't recall that when I was younger, adults had to deal with them either.

Have I just been lucky, or is this, really, an exaggerated problem?

It's a concern, in my case I use heat tape. The big problem comes when a pipe bursts and you have no way to cut off the water.

I was a little concerned earlier this week because there was evidence of water running across the road in front of my place but it was close enough to the billing cycle to wait for the water bill to get an idea of what was going on.

As it turns out, I think it was probably a combination of snow melt and a particularly industrious mole (the furry ones that run around underground) that I would like to kill, but that story remains to be written.

[CollectivismMustDie]

My bigger concern--although it doesn't bother me (it seems to bother others, though)--is that this place is a tad bit more than half windows, many extending from about 10" from the floor to about 10" from the ceiling (and the ceilings are high; one has to use a step-ladder to replace light-bulbs in the ceiling fixtures).  This is on all four sides, although the "window" serving the bathroom is made out of those heavy thick frosted glass "blocks," not sheet-glass.

Even though all windows are covered triple layers of thick transparent plastic during the winter, one's talking about a pretty big "heat loss."

That seems to bother others, but it bothers me not at all.  I couldn't live in a windowless, or near-windowless, place.  I have a suspicion that's why my aversion to bars around here; their really tiny windows and dark interiors.  I like the see the wide world outside.  When I get around to winning the Powerball lottery, I plan to have constructed a Tudor mansion in the midst of the Sandhills, that's 75% windows.

Yeah you'll get some heat loss there, but if you have them layered as you describe, that should go a long ways in mitigating it. Sounds like a neat plan you have there, for a windowed home. Living where you do, I can totally understand it. I haven't traveled the sandhills area alot, but from what I have seen, its pretty country up there, and lots of wildlife to see.  The closest we usually get to that area, is the junk jaunt, which isn't all that close.

CMD

[franksolich]

I'm with you on windows in one's home but bars are a different matter.  I like them dark and dank with the smells of cheap perfume, stale beer and crushed dreams.  It makes me think of.....Amber.

It must be a northeastern Nebraska phenomenon, bars with tiny or no windows; although I've seen them too in northeastern Pennsylvania and urban northern New Jersey.....and the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants.

The bars in the Sandhills, at least those I remember, were wide open, with department-store-sized show windows.

The local VFW Club, and the VFW and American Legion Clubs in the big city, have no windows.  That's why I take carry-out, rather than dine in any of them.

[NHSparky]

Bars with no windows means wives and girlfriends can't look in and see their husbands or boyfriends.

[Bad Dog]

The local VFW Club, and the VFW and American Legion Clubs in the big city, have no windows.  That's why I take carry-out, rather than dine in any of them.

You should also never eat at any place called Mom's.

[Carl]

I'm trying to think here; I'm no graduate of Cooper Union, after all.

Both houses in which I grew up had heated basements.  The plumbing seemed to emanate from the center, the core, of both houses, rather than off to a side.  Would that have made a difference?

And this place where I currently live, the same situation.

With a heated basement it should never be an issue unless the tank was near a cold spot/draft.
In an unheated crawl space it can be an issue although even then for the main pipes away from the tank to freeze would be difficult.
I suspect most pipes are covered with split insulation tubing now so again that leaves the small 1/8 line signaling the pressure switch as a problem.

[franksolich]

Bars with no windows means wives and girlfriends can't look in and see their husbands or boyfriends.

One of my late great-aunts (by marriage; her husband was an electrical engineer) owned a bar in northeastern Pennsylvania, in the town that's the highest town in the commonwealth, atop a mountain.  It was long and narrow, about as wide as a railway passenger-car.  Its clientele was mostly blue-collar; the honest sturdy hardworking men who built and maintained this nation.

But ew.....there were jars full of pickled pig's feet and discolored hard-boiled eggs and other stuff on the ledge, only one tiny window at the entrance, the place was always a mess, and I'm sure that illicit gambling took place in the back room.

Because this great-aunt was of Hungarian derivation, and a notorious gossip to boot, my mother's people didn't have a whole lot to do with her; as far as I know, I was the only one from my side of the family to go there.  I went there only for genealogical purposes, as she was crammed full of family lore.

The place was a wretched mess, but man, it was always packed.

[Mary Ann]

The house in which I grew up in central Wisconsin had no basement. Our pipes went from our unheated garage to our kitchen, and occasionally froze. I remember my dad having to borrow a heat gun--which looked a lot like a blow dryer, but which would fry your hair if you used it as such--in order to thaw the pipes.

The threat of frozen pipes was a constant worry to my parents when the temps dipped to where they are supposed to be in the next few days.