How do you guard your house against freezing temps if power's out?

[Modular]

Seeing as how this massive storm coming through has the potential to leave many people without power, I was wondering how you would guard against things like pipes freezing, etc. if there was no power for an extended period of time?

Would you just leave the faucets dripping a little?

 

[Homerboy]

I have no defense at all except for dripping faucets.
I dont even have a fireplace.

 

[highland145]

Live in the south, fireplace and faucets.

 

[TwiceOver]

Dripping faucets, that's all I got. My fireplace is gas. If it is a localized outage I could probably get a generator and heater from friends.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

You could use RV grade antifreeze and introduce it to your water system. Put some in the toilets as well. Don't use water from the taps during this time (duh) and when all is said and done just run it out of your system. This would help protect any lines you have as well as holding tanks/pressure tanks/etc.

Please let me reiterate that you would want to use RV antifreeze as it is safe to drink (although a little gross tasting) should someone forget that there is antifreeze in the system.

 

[CycloWizard]

Keep a bit of water flowing to keep the pipes from freezing. The colder it gets, the higher the flowrate you will need. Unless it gets very cold (below zero), a drip will be enough.

 

[D1gger]

Our gas fireplaces work, even if the power is out.

 

[vi edit]

I'd be hella screwed. I'm on a pump system for water so no flushing pots, no running water, couldn't even let the faucets trickle because the pump wouldn't bring fresh water in.

Heat wise I could probably get the gas oven to fire up with a match and then crack it open to keep the kitchen warm enough we could huddle in there for warmth.

I'd also be somewhat saved by having an uber insulated home. Even my garage never got below 45 degrees when it was sub zero outside.

 

[SunnyD]

Fapping. Lots of vigorous fapping.

 

[ShawnD1]

Seeing as how this massive storm coming through has the potential to leave many people without power, I was wondering how you would guard against things like pipes freezing, etc. if there was no power for an extended period of time?

Would you just leave the faucets dripping a little?

Um... buy a generator? Home Depot sells them for $300.

Option B is to buy an inverter and run it off your car. Sucks and idling a car is hella expensive, but that's what it takes.

 

[spidey07]

You could use RV grade antifreeze and introduce it to your water system. Put some in the toilets as well. Don't use water from the taps during this time (duh) and when all is said and done just run it out of your system. This would help protect any lines you have as well as holding tanks/pressure tanks/etc.

Please let me reiterate that you would want to use RV antifreeze as it is safe to drink (although a little gross tasting) should someone forget that there is antifreeze in the system.

Yep. Dripping faucets or anti-freeze specifically designed for this purpose. You could also turn off the water main and drain everything. But it's more fool proof to just keep the water moving some. Also there's pipe insulation you can use.

 

[Analog]

uhh, generator...

 

[nageov3t]

I have oil heat so I wouldn't particularly worry about it, but in the event that it happened, yeah... I'd just leave a faucet dripping.

 

[Joemonkey]

water trickle + fireplace

 

[yh125d]

Have gas heat



/thread




but seriously, pre-emptively shut off as much of the house as you can. extra bedrooms, all but one bathroom, utility rooms, etc. Heavy drapes/blankets for windows.


And crank the furnace before it really starts to pick up. Don't keep it at 70 while you wait for power to go out, crank it up to 77-78 and put up with being a bit warm for awhile


And everyone with elec only heat should at very least have one of the small space heaters that just screw on top of a 20lb propane tank. They're cheap, as is the propane, and can be run indoors.

 

[ShawnD1]

uhh, generator...

Some of the stuff at Home Depot is awesome. When I searched for a generator, it automatically sorted the results by price starting with the most expensive (wtf?)

GeneracGenerac 60 kW Liquid Propane Liquid Cooled Standby Generator
Model: QT06024AVSX | Internet/Cat # 921053 -
Store SKU # 1000119804
$16498.00

I think you should buy this. 60000W / 240V = 250 amp service. That's better than you'll find in most older houses!

Have gas heat



/thread

You need electricity to run the blower.

 

[Triumph]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but gas furnaces and gas fireplaces require electric blowers to actually push the heat throughout the house?

 

[highland145]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but gas furnaces and gas fireplaces require electric blowers to actually push the heat throughout the house?

No on this. But will be hard to heat the whole house.

Edit: Meant that the gas fireplace will work without electricity.

 

[vi edit]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but gas furnaces and gas fireplaces require electric blowers to actually push the heat throughout the house?

Yup.

 

[Train]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but gas furnaces and gas fireplaces require electric blowers to actually push the heat throughout the house?

true, but it's a small amount of electricity.

Last January, power was out for 2 days, Ran an extension cord out to my car and plugged in my 120V converter that I used for charging lappys on the road. Luckily my furnace is actually plugged in and not hard wired right into the house power so ti was easy to just plug it into the cord. Let the car idle just long enough to heat the house up (2 hours from cold as hell)

Did it again in the morning. Total of 4 hours of idling my car wasnt bad at all on the gas it used up.

 

[Modular]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but gas furnaces and gas fireplaces require electric blowers to actually push the heat throughout the house?

That and to run the igniter, unless you have an old school pilot light type of unit.

Running the stove top would be the best option I guess. When I was young we had this massive ice storm that crippled the power company and we were 80-something hours with no power. My parents had a fire going non-stop in the fireplace. Those were good times...

 

[yh125d]

You need electricity to run the blower.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332735_200332735

you were saying...?

 

[sandorski]

Open all doors and windows and quietly accept the inevitable.

 

[ShawnD1]

true, but it's a small amount of electricity.

Last January, power was out for 2 days, Ran an extension cord out to my car and plugged in my 120V converter that I used for charging lappys on the road. Luckily my furnace is actually plugged in and not hard wired right into the house power so ti was easy to just plug it into the cord. Let the car idle just long enough to heat the house up (2 hours from cold as hell)

I'm amazed that actually worked. The $20 inverter I used for my laptop was only rated for 120W, and 120W is also the rating of the cigarette lighter slot. So that's about 1 amp or so. A blower for a furnace is more like 10 amps.

 

[KB]

I have a kerosene heater and had to run it for 2 days while my power was out Thursday and Friday. Despite its small size it can keep the house warm. They are inexpensive, especially after winter and kerosene lasts for a long time when stored.