We turn off outdoor faucets and cover them with these thinggies. (We're in ATL, but H's family in CT uses them too.)
So um DH and I typically don’t do this. Where did you get the cover? Home Depot?
We've gotten stuff like that from Home Depot. You can also wrap a towel or something around it and duct tape it on. Just something to keep it a little warmer.
Yikes. The snow isn't bothering me so much as the extreme cold and the power outage warnings.
I have to gas up my car on my lunch break. I'm glad I don't need groceries (although @@@ I should pick up another can of formula) as I'm sure the supermarkets are going to be packed today.
Hugs to you, raangoli, and to anyone else who's feeling uneasy right now.
Post by cattledogkisses on Jan 3, 2018 9:56:01 GMT -5
BIL is living in and taking care of our New England house right now, and the only thing that's worrying me is that we didn't have the chimney cleaned this year if he needs to use the woodstoves for heat. I'm always paranoid about a fire, even more so since my aunt and uncle almost lost their home to a chimney fire last year.
So um DH and I typically don’t do this. Where did you get the cover? Home Depot?
We've gotten stuff like that from Home Depot. You can also wrap a towel or something around it and duct tape it on. Just something to keep it a little warmer.
This. cubed Our house has terrible insulation, especially right where our front hose is--which is connected to the main line into our house. So that's mainly why we do it for that one.
We literally moved from Mississippi to update New York yesterday. We have awesome timing.
Coldest week of the year! My parents are upstate and my dad said it was -33, real temp, at his house last Wednesday night.
A few years ago we were visiting for Christmas and lost power for 2+ days in single-digit temps. Thankfully, my mom's neighbor had a generator and she was able to hook her furnace and fridge up to it. It was still miserable, though.
My DH and a co-worker cancelled an overnight trip down to the Langley area because of the forecasts. We're far enough inland that we're only supposed to get the cold and wind at home, but I'm waiting for some of the updated forecasts later today in regards to snow.
It's already been so frigid this week. There were at least two waterline breaks in DC being reported yesterday because they were snarling traffic (more than usual). It's downright painful to think of it being even colder.
2 friends had water pipe breaks cause they didn't unhook their outside hoses. So, warm climate people now in the deep freeze, go unhook your hoses!
Yes! I was one of these cautionary tales during one of the first years that we owned our house. H was deployed and I'd never handled any of the outside winterization before. I had a business trip in October, and left without turning off the outside water. I came home a week later to find that the spigot had frozen and burst, and had been pouring out water that all ran right into the cellar and flooded it. I don't know how many days the water was running, but I'm amazed that the well pump didn't burn out.
Moral of the story: Turn off and drain your outside water in the fall/winter.
I just got back from Costco, which was packed. Luckily I got in and out really quickly with my one item.
The line for Costco gas was so long that I didn't even bother waiting. I went to the Exxon nearby with higher prices.
I passed by Target on the way back to work and pulled into the parking lot, thinking that I'd pick up some chicken broth I wanted to use with dinner and maybe some ice cream (because, yeah, I'll eat ice cream when it's 12 degrees out), but when I couldn't find a spot right away I just pulled right out and went back to the office.
Post by aliciabella on Jan 3, 2018 14:01:10 GMT -5
I guess I am the only one thinking "okay, a snow storm with not that large of a snow fall is nothing; not a big deal." But quite possibly I am misinterpreting the news.
I mean, most areas in the tri-state areas are looking at a coating to 6 inches. I get the wind and such but I seriously am perplexed by this. It seems we have all seen far, far, worse.
Post by 5kcandlesinthewind on Jan 3, 2018 14:02:45 GMT -5
I am so glad I did all our grocery shopping when they were still thinking this would be 3-5 inches, and I hope to god we don't lose power.
My ILs left last week to spend January & February in Florida (they live in NH), and they texted my husband last night to tell him they're still getting snow. They were so pissed.
I guess I am the only one thinking "okay, a snow storm with not that large of a snow fall is nothing; not a big deal." But quite possibly I am misinterpreting the news.
I mean, most areas in the tri-state areas are looking at a coating to 6 inches. I get the wind and such but I seriously am perplexed by this. It seems we have all seen far, far, worse.
I think it's less the snow, and more the prospect of an extended power outage in subzero temperatures that's making people nervous.
We're just a few days into the new year, and a winter storm of historic strength is already churning up the East Coast. As The Washington Post reports, the weather event has the potential to be the most severe storm in decades to form over the waters east of New England at this time of year.
The storm is being described as a "winter hurricane" and a "bomb cyclone"—terms that rival "snowpocalypse." But it's more than just dramatic weather lingo. Unlike blizzards that form over land, this one is powered by the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to drop to Hurricane Sandy-level atmospheric pressure within 24 hours. As pressure decreases more rapidly, the storm grows more intense in a process called bombogeneis (hence the "bomb" part of "bomb cyclone"). If it follows current projections, the storm will blanket the coast in dense, fast-falling sheets of snow.
The storm is already blasting southeastern states with rare ice and snow, prompting winter storm warnings in northern Florida for the first time in years. As it makes its way up the coast, the system will continue to strengthen. By the time it reaches New England Thursday, it's expected to hit the region with 40 to 60 mph winds and up to a foot of snow.
While the exact trajectory remains unclear, everyone living near the northeast coast should be prepared to hunker down from late Wednesday to Thursday night. A winter storm warning has been launched for the New Jersey shore, parts of Long Island, and parts of Connecticut, and a winter storm watch is currently in effect in New York City. Major cities farther south and farther inland, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., could make it through the storm with little to no snow accumulation.
The bomb cyclone follows a wicked cold snap across the U.S. that's already claimed the lives of 11 people. Temperatures in the northeast have remained below freezing since Christmas, and the impending storm will bring even more frigid weather this week.
I guess I am the only one thinking "okay, a snow storm with not that large of a snow fall is nothing; not a big deal." But quite possibly I am misinterpreting the news.
I mean, most areas in the tri-state areas are looking at a coating to 6 inches. I get the wind and such but I seriously am perplexed by this. It seems we have all seen far, far, worse.
Our forecast just went from 3-5 inches to 8-12 inches. I live in the South where we aren’t as prepared for this stuff. We are at least lucky to have salt trucks and snowplows here, many places do not. We’re also going to have 40 mph winds and power outages are already happening with equipment failures.
2 friends had water pipe breaks cause they didn't unhook their outside hoses. So, warm climate people now in the deep freeze, go unhook your hoses!
Even if the water is off??
If there is any water in the hose it will expand when freezing, possibly cracking pipes even inside. Turning the water off will limit the damage to the amount of water in the pipe/hose, but as soon as you turn the water on again you can get a big leak.
If there is any water in the hose it will expand when freezing, possibly cracking pipes even inside. Turning the water off will limit the damage to the amount of water in the pipe/hose, but as soon as you turn the water on again you can get a big leak.
Yup, my husband insisted this was some sort of foolishness when we moved down here because he grew up with some sorry of frost proof taps.
Post by seeyalater52 on Jan 3, 2018 17:35:19 GMT -5
Wellllll a state of emergency was just declared for the state where I work so that’s fun. Office will be closed tomorrow obviously but I think I have to work from home as long as we have power. I have meetings with folks in DC, Kansas, Idaho and Montana tomorrow so their lives are (mostly) going on as normal despite the “snow bomb.”
I need to thank everyone who recommended that outside hoses be disconnected because H finally went out and did it tonight when I showed him this thread.
Post by seeyalater52 on Jan 3, 2018 19:09:45 GMT -5
So I have my own stupid new homeowner question.... if the power goes out, will my gas boiler go out too and we’ll ha e no heat? Or does that work even without power?
We had power out for 3 days due to winds much less strong than are projected tomorrow a couple of months ago, but it was during the time when our boiler was broken so I couldn’t tell.