Massive Pile Up In Fort Worth

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Nov 8, 2012
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You have put up some pretty "controversial" let us say posts in P and N, but this one is probably a new level of absurdity.

The general advice is to steer into the direction of a skid (i.e. when the back end of the car is coming around, steer into the direction in which the car is starting to rotate). This is the correct response, but once the car starts to skid, it is very difficult to enter the proper amount of counter steering without overcorrecting and spinning the opposite direction. Modern cars with VDC will also try to apply brakes (to selective wheels) and modulate throttle to prevent a skid.

It's absurd to drive in freezing climates? Okay budday.
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
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It's absurd to drive in freezing climates? Okay budday.
Its bad to drive on ice, but some people have no or little choice.
Ideally they will drive slower and keep distance between each other. The average American is too dumb and selfish for that.
 

njdevilsfan87

Platinum Member
Apr 19, 2007
2,331
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I wonder how many people involved in that were commuting to/from a job they could have done remotely...
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
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An enormous amount of new housing that's never seen a cold spell like this is about to be put to the test in Texas. I expect full pocketbooks and wide smiles from recovery services and contractors.

Wrapped my exterior faucets last night and weatherstripped up a shitload of leaky door/window seals. Felt a big draft coming through a switch plate for a patio light and when I pulled off the sconce discovered a 1 inch gap on one side of the mounting plate just letting air pour into the wall. House is 12 years old...
 
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Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
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An enormous amount of new housing that's never seen a cold spell like this is about to be put to the test in Texas. I expect full pocketbooks and wide smiles from recovery services and contractors.

Wrapped my exterior faucets last night and weatherstripped up a shitload of leaky door/window seals. Felt a big draft coming through a switch plate for a patio light and when I pulled off the sconce discovered a 1 inch gap on one side of the mounting plate just letting air pour into the wall. House is 12 years old...
I never really considered that issue. Here in MI that tends to not be an issue because any problems like that will be caught real fast. The builder would need to cover repairs since the house would still be under warranty so they tend to do a decent job on insulation and plumbing
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
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I never really considered that issue. Here in MI that tends to not be an issue because any problems like that will be caught real fast. The builder would need to cover repairs since the house would still be under warranty so they tend to do a decent job on insulation and plumbing

Yeah given the climate I sort of doubt builders were as careful around here.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,479
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Yeah given the climate I sort of doubt builders were as careful around here.
I mean it's not surprising when you think about it I just hadn't actually done that. I'm just imagining me as a northerner moving down there and feeling smugly confident about cold weather. Which then backfires as my pipes burst and glaciers form on all my windows
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Yeah given the climate I sort of doubt builders were as careful around here.
So they don't care about insulation and proper sealing to keep air conditioning in? Just throw oversized systems and electricity at the problem in the summer?
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
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So they don't care about insulation and proper sealing to keep air conditioning in? Just throw oversized systems and electricity at the problem in the summer?

I think it is probably more that heat isn't going to damage a home like cold can so those deficiencies aren't going to be as apparent. But also yes just throwing tonnage at the heat is done from what I've seen.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
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Lol what makes you think builders care about operating cost?

Truer words were never spoken. Even our in house construction guys at work will skimp on things if it cuts a few bucks off the budget but be an operating nightmare for years or decades.
 
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ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
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Plumbers make bank every time cold freeze passes through the South. The pipes are not built and installed with freezing temps in mind so you get pipes bursting everywhere. It's like roofers getting paid after hurricane/tornado or heavy rain. It's like Christmas for these guys. I wrap and cover all my outdoor faucets during winter. I do not want to call a plumber during cold freeze.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,156
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Plumbers make bank every time cold freeze passes through the South. The pipes are not built and installed with freezing temps in mind so you get pipes bursting everywhere. It's like roofers getting paid after hurricane/tornado or heavy rain. It's like Christmas for these guys. I wrap and cover all my outdoor faucets during winter. I do not want to call a plumber during cold freeze.

Do you have vacuum release valves to empty outdoor pipes during winter? Might not be the technical term for it...
 
Nov 8, 2012
20,828
4,777
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An enormous amount of new housing that's never seen a cold spell like this is about to be put to the test in Texas. I expect full pocketbooks and wide smiles from recovery services and contractors.

Wrapped my exterior faucets last night and weatherstripped up a shitload of leaky door/window seals. Felt a big draft coming through a switch plate for a patio light and when I pulled off the sconce discovered a 1 inch gap on one side of the mounting plate just letting air pour into the wall. House is 12 years old...

I've had those tests where it calculates how much leakage your home has via the garage door or the front-door I think (forget what the exact term is) and ours was pretty tight.

Most I did was make sure pipes were insulated - emptied out our irrigation (sprinkler) pipes on the side, covered a few of the plants that we liked and thats about it. I'll run sink water around the house just in case to keep water moving since we have an outdoor water softener system.

We have PEX piping in our home, so I'm really not too worried.
 
Last edited:
Nov 8, 2012
20,828
4,777
146
Plumbers make bank every time cold freeze passes through the South. The pipes are not built and installed with freezing temps in mind so you get pipes bursting everywhere. It's like roofers getting paid after hurricane/tornado or heavy rain. It's like Christmas for these guys. I wrap and cover all my outdoor faucets during winter. I do not want to call a plumber during cold freeze.

We had a few minutes (10?) of less than golfball-sized hail - which admittedly isn't often - but regardless, that didn't stop 12 roofers from being at my door the next day to give me their "free inspection". I'm not even exaggerating the number there.

Roofs are built to last 30 years, but of course idiots fearmonger folks into believing a little bit of tiny hail is going to warrant their roof replacing.
 
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Nov 8, 2012
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Try reading the bolded next time.

I did. Your bolded was where I said "Wasn't that difficult". Hence my question back was - are you seriously suggesting that driving in freezing weather is something difficult? Because half of the US does it daily.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
37,161
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I've had those tests where it calculates how much leakage your home has via the garage door or the front-door I think (forget what the exact term is) and ours was pretty tight.

Most I did was make sure pipes were insulated - emptied out our irrigation (sprinkler) pipes on the side, covered a few of the plants that we liked and thats about it. I'll run sink water around the house just in case to keep water moving since we have an outdoor water softener system.

We have PEX piping in our home, so I'm really not too worried.

Eventually I'm going to rent an IR camera to get a look for myself what's going on in the walls because I have some suspicions from feel. Doors and windows are easy to find and fix (installed some new sweeps, replaced weatherstrip, etc). Outdoor faucets are wrapped and farthest faucet is set to drip.
 

FelixDeCat

Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
29,592
2,257
126
We have about an inch of snow right now. I went out around the neighborhood. I live near some steep hills so they were not going to be able to be traveled on. I had to take the back roads that gradually went down hill.

Once I got to the main road, there were cars stuck here and there. The nearby Walmart is also at the bottom of some steep roads. When I drove by I could see the exit was blocked with cars that got stuck trying to leave. Nobody was going to get out of Walmart now, at least not going that way.

I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if they know to put the transmission in D-2?" Sometimes that keeps the wheels from slipping because less torque is put on them.
 
Nov 8, 2012
20,828
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Eventually I'm going to rent an IR camera to get a look for myself what's going on in the walls because I have some suspicions from feel. Doors and windows are easy to find and fix (installed some new sweeps, replaced weatherstrip, etc). Outdoor faucets are wrapped and farthest faucet is set to drip.

You can do it yourself - sure, definitely not a bad idea.

I went with a Home Energy Audit - and would definitely recommend it. I think I paid... $450 ? They brought with them a temperature gun - and built us out a report with pics of where to fix things and such.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
47,990
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You can do it yourself - sure, definitely not a bad idea.

I went with a Home Energy Audit - and would definitely recommend it. I think I paid... $450 ? They brought with them a temperature gun - and built us out a report with pics of where to fix things and such.

Yeah I can manage it and call a contractor in to fix what I know needs to be fixed but can't (or won't) do myself.
 

Ferrari355

Golden Member
Jul 29, 2000
1,584
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The part of town I live in is a microclimate and the weather is always worse than downtown where I work. There could be 1-2 inches of snow every where else but 10+ at my place and the roads around me aren't plowed or salted so it can be dangerous trying to drive. Luckily I have a nice manager who let's me have the day off when it's like that.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,316
10,814
136
We have about an inch of snow right now. I went out around the neighborhood. I live near some steep hills so they were not going to be able to be traveled on. I had to take the back roads that gradually went down hill.

Once I got to the main road, there were cars stuck here and there. The nearby Walmart is also at the bottom of some steep roads. When I drove by I could see the exit was blocked with cars that got stuck trying to leave. Nobody was going to get out of Walmart now, at least not going that way.

I was thinking to myself, "I wonder if they know to put the transmission in D-2?" Sometimes that keeps the wheels from slipping because less torque is put on them.


Oddly sometimes the key to getting un-stuck in snow or ice IS spinning the tires enough so they heat up. Note this must be done with care ... getting rpms too high can destroy your tires or worse.

Problem is nearly every newer car comes with some kind of traction control which will prevent 99% of wheel-spin and MANY people are apparently so clueless they have no idea it can be turned off in most vehicles.
 
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Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
11,878
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Lol what makes you think builders care about operating cost?
Construction fellas are part of the "sociopathic class"; if there's a buck to be saved, they'll know where to cut those corners. The reason they do good work is because they don't want to come back and do "warranty" which devours time, which is money for them.

If irreversible damage can be caused, they'll do it because "things have to be fixed". Inlet pipes on a faucet, for example, are the one non-serviceable item on them. Destroy that, and you "stimulate demand".

I know of one instance where drywall nails were used for housing in the 70s and the ceiling comes tumbling down. Given how much time has passed, the original builder is long gone and the repair costs are borne by the homeowner.

Their expertise can make them problematic tenants, as items that should not break with most residents start failing rapidly and unexpectedly.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,413
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www.anyf.ca
Seems so odd to me to not build stuff to be more efficient. Whether it's naturally colder or hotter out, you want to keep the climate inside comfortable. Heard of some places that even put water heaters outside, that just seems so odd. With climate change the weather is getting more and more messed up, seems to me it's best to build for all type of weather no matter where you are. Building things such as making sure plumbing can't freeze is a fairly basic thing to do, you'd think they would do it everywhere just as a matter of cause. Even Florida can get snow sometimes.

I guess this is the difference between a "builder grade" home (ex: a house that was only built for purpose of selling) vs someone that bought land and had a house built. The builder grade one will cut as many corners as possible to save money but someone that builds their own house will actually want to put time and effort in making it good.
 
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