Good ideas to share with all the DU'er stuck in the freeze zone

group hug.

have been there and done that in Iowa and Minnesota.. its a miserable miserable feeling when the power goes out.. and that bone crushing cold starts seeping in around the doors and windows..

We used that ever since I was a kid and it never failed.

I do remember taking a hair dryer outside to heat the water pipes once when we forgot to do let the water drip, but that assumes you have electricity.

Please stay safe and warm, all.

the drain in my tub was frozen, and we pour a good amount of salt down the drain and within 14 or 16 hours it always opens up..

But I seem to recall some people removing garden hoses from outdoor spigots and cover the spigot with a towel or some kind of styrofoam cover. I'm not sure you have to do that if you let the water drip.

air to come in if you think about it. makes good sense

so any homemade covering should help a lot. we've used those here in colorado when the temps dip below zero. anything secured over that should help some.

pool noodles at the bottom of exterior doors help. my front door is such a sieve so i plop one down on the inside and secure it in place with something heavy like a stack of books.

Preface: My Senior parents live in the DFW area. Dad heard a news report yesterday where they were talking about freeze protection for outer faucets and hose bibs. This is his re-telling as best as I can remember:

According to him, if your house was built 2000 and after, it should have the Freeze Protected hose bib required by code (freeze resistant faucet). Protecting that bib with a Dolly Parton style outer insulation cover for the hose bib is (according to them) adequate. If you have older style bib which needs additional protection, make sure that whatever insulation you use to protect the bib cannot become wet and turn into a ball of ice. They suggested first using plastic to seal the faucet from moisture. Next wrap insulation material or towels, small blanket, old jackets, etc. into a protective package around the faucet and associated pipe. Make sure the wrap covers snug at the wall and out beyond the end of the faucet. Finish with an outer layer of plastic to keep it all dry and protected from moisture. (I would add that insulating is not about wrapping the towel or blanket "super tightly" but about "layering" to leave entrapped air inside. These layers of air are what actually do the "insulating".

They give off enough carbon monoxide to kill. I know most people know this, but maybe not all.

If you have any panty hose, put them on and then socks. Extra warmth. Put on a couple of pair!

Breaks in frozen pipes will flood your house when they thaw.

If you can shut off your water intake before the pipes thaw - do it.

Don't use propane torches to thaw pipes (obvious)

I just heated the pipe with my hair dryer and it would quickly thaw enough to flow

I say this as mine is open now...

its an issue if the oven is not burning correctly..

I just closed it.

let us know HWNN when you are back up and running..

and then shut it off and open the door to let the heat out.

... pots of water. Takes a little longer to heat but lasts a lot longer.

Also, skins or pelts if you are not against harvesting animal skins. Amazingly, a deerskin or sheepskin will provide incredible warmth even if it's very, very cold.

❤ lmsp

Sterno stoves are OK but use them on a metal counter next to the kitchen sink.

I am making up a list for myself also for our next outage..

Shorter term: keep to 2 or 3 rooms and close off the rest. Get out all the blankets, comforters, sleeping bags you can get your hands on. Wear layers of clothes, even indoors. Gloves and hats indoors may look silly, but your hands and head will appreciate them. Encourage any large dogs you may have to be extra friendly. If you're using candles for light be extra vigilant, especially if you have animals or small children. And it bears repeating - don't use a charcoal grill indoors!

If you're worried about outdoor plants and the freeze isn't expected to last too long, you can cover plants with spare sheets to protect them from the worst of the freeze: it's common around here when temperatures dip below freezing at night, but may not work as a long-term solution or for more extreme temps.

Medium term: when the current freeze has passed, check your insulation and upgrade if you can. If not, weatherproof any gaps (this will help in very hot weather as well if you're running an air conditioner). Lay in an "earthquake supply": several days of drinkable water, foods that can be eaten as is, battery-powered light sources, extra batteries, and whatever you think you need to survive a week - and include an old-fashioned can opener.

Long term: Don't put climate change deniers in charge! After the current emergency is over, work to elect responsible people to local and state governments, including ones who can start to do something about Texas's power grid. And prepare for something similar to happen more frequently in the future.

Major sources of heat loss.

Keep your feet warm too.

along with a couple of scented candles in the bathroom. The provide light and heat. My mobile home is rather drafty, so no worries about ventilation/carbon monoxide. Of course, I burn them only when I'm awake. When it's time to sleep, I pile on the down comforter, a fleece throw (synthetic), flannel sheets and a large kitteh on top of a memory foam mattress topper. Fleece jammies and a knitted, lined wool hat, a gift from my friends from Nepal. When the power comes back on in the middle of the night, it becomes too warm to sleep, so I get up and remove the comforter and the hat. This has worked for me so far.

Each puts out 1400 BTU - heats and lights the entire (small well-insulated) house.

They also have a feature that snuffs the wick if it tips over (never tried this yet!).

I stopped using them after I put in a monitor propane heater that doesn't need electricity to start or operate ($1400 installed). I can heat the entire house with it alone for a month.

I have 4 big solar lanterns, a solar phone charger w/internal Li battery, and a solar shower that I can fill with hot water using an outside camping stove in the winter. Nothing like a hot shower!

And a rechargeable jumper battery with a USB port, 12 volt car lighter socket and a bright light. Charges the cell phone if the solar charger runs out.

... and it's amazing how much HEAT is generated when you have several in the same room.

Let it melt at room temp - even if the room temp is 45 degrees.

Believe it or not, you can "burn" snow on a hot camping stove. It tastes like burnt shite! I know this from winter camping experience.

Just heat the melted water.

I have heard of people who used generators without regards to their exhaust being in closed spaces or too close to unknown air return sources. It was advised to insure any generators are well away from any domicile. Just be careful. Don't want anyone to get Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

I looked on the CDC website and found some information about avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poising. I posted this in another related thread and thought it be helpful here:
More at link: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/copoisoning/index.html

CO poisoning is entirely preventable. Protect yourself and your family by learning the symptoms of CO poisoning and how to prevent it.

“Never run a motor vehicle, generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine less than 20 feet from an open window, door, or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area.”

“Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.”

“Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open.”

Another link at the CDC to their "Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Website" with more information.
https://www.cdc.gov/co/default.htm