serious cold front coming

[dcg9381]

Most of Texas will evacuate to Mexico.

We'd have to scale the wall that Mexico built for us... Wait, we can just walk around.


Texas homes do fine if they are heated inside (IE, people are home).

There is a probably a run on everything, but just drip faucet bibs. If you want to insulate, even wrapping a rag around a pipe and adding duct tape will work.

 

[bradpac]

It's supposed to get in the single digits for lows Monday night here in Austin. There will be quite a few underground pipes bursting I am sure. They don't build stuff to handle cold like that here. But then again we only see temperatures that low every 20 years or so. And by Wednesday it's supposed to be in the 40s again....

I'm just going to drip my faucets for a couple of days and try to find where I stored my big jacket at.

 

[Los_Control]

I just checked my hose bibs, one out back is frozen, will need to heat it up to thaw it out and get it running again. It is only 20 degree right now, should be fairly easy to get it going now.
But if just leave it, will be down in the teens and 0 next few days and get worse, most likely break.

 

[Don1357]

Stores are sold out of them around here.

Check the auto parts stores. They have these glue-on heaters for the oil pan in the cars to keep them warm at night. Up here in Alaska you could say most cars are hybrids, just about all of them have a household plug sticking through the front grill

 

[Steve from Socal]

I use small space heaters to heat a couple of water hoses that are too short to tape. Here in central Kansas it has been in the teens for highs/0's for lows for the last week. It is going to get even colder for the next week.

I have a hot water pressure washer in the cold, it has anti-freeze in it. As mentioned, use anti-freeze in anything with water that could freeze.

This is not the coldest it has been here but, it is the longest period of zero or near zero temps I can recall.

Steve

 

[Jagmandave]

KC is supposed to be -12* Sat night, not looking forward to that for sure.....it'll be a 3 dog night but we only have 2, and they're small!

 

[ARFLY]

Below freezing all week in here NW AR. Same for next week. Monday a high of 6 and low of -8.

 

[Joemctag]

Are the things you don’t want to freeze the spigots and your latex paint? Well there are two kinds of people. One doesn’t want the damage and makes sure it doesn’t happen and the other hopes everything will be ok. What kind are you?

 

[bctexas]

We are about 15 miles north of Dallas, and the forecast now says 3 Sunday night, and -2 Monday night. We won't see above freezing until Friday. I am able to shut off water to the shop separate from the house. While my shop is heated, my concern is for a power outage. So I have prepared. My shop has two hose bibs, a toilet, a bar sink and a laundry sink. I cobbled up an adapter that lets me put compressed air into the laundry sink faucet. I shut off the water to the shop, opened all the faucets and, using a regulator, put compressed air into the system. Blew all the water out of the faucets and flushed the toilet to blow the water out of the flush valve. I picked up some RV antifreeze and dumped that into the toilet, toilet tank and drains. So if the worst happens and we lose power, I should be ok. I grew up in Milwaukee, and -2 wasn't a big deal. In the Dallas area, it is a big deal.....

 

[p00p]

Insurance up to date?

 

[Gigem]

They are calling for a low of 3F here in Austin on Monday. Three? WTF...

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

I was just browsing the lows for Tuesday AM.,.. Omaha, at -29,.... static temp, not windchill... the central plains are going to take this on the chin.

Ive been in single digit highs all week, and Im built for this BS ( spelled acclimated ), so literally Im running around town in a sweatshirt with the a T-shirt under it,... but I do know -20F and colder, not my friend... got to get out the boots, hats, gloves, all that BS. Hate it. That has not happened in several years.

Really cool weather site, if you've had it with the one you use...

https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp?temp,38.411,-96.108,5

If you click on the linky, hit the play button on the bottom left corner and it will show you a temp " forecast " for the nation.. you can zoom in.

 

[Los_Control]

I was able to identify my problem areas and fixed them today.
I understand why some people are being cute and suggest is no issue.

Busted knuckles giving us reports on Nebraska .... Are you really that bored you want to pick on the misery of others? ... Who gives a **** about Nebraska.

We are talking about a wide spread cold front coming across the south, the area is not made for it.
6 days ago it was 75 degrees outside.
If I lived in kneebraska, I would be prepared for it .... I do not live in kneebraska I live in Texas.

Just ***** others try to show how manly they are in the cold weather while we here dealing with first time weather issues do not care about their manhood.

I got my pipes unfrozen today and dripping, ready for the next colder wave to hit ... I hope.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Busted knuckles giving us reports on Nebraska .... Are you really that bored you want to pick on the misery of others? ... Who gives a **** about Nebraska.

.

LOL, ya know, I was going to mention at 6:30 on a Friday night,.. its all I got going on ! Thinking about heading into town and watching some paint dry,..

I used to ********* hobby farm and deal with these temps... that's allot of work, when it gets that cold and you got a thousand souls to look after,. keeping all hydrated and alive... I feel for allot of you guys that are out working in those temps.

Now all I have to do is walk firewood 10' into the house,... and pick on the misery of others !!!

 

[swampdog1950]

Don`t forget to close your foundation vents on your house. May help with water pipes. Easy to forget with everything else to do. Good luck to everyone.

 

[p00p]

Great time to make chili, soups, roasts, and enjoy more cups of coffee.

 

[PWC Repair]

Heat pump.........let it run. You're not trying to keep the shop 72*, just keep it from freezing. Yes, it will run a lot, but they really don't use lots of power. Just turn the thermostat down to 45 or 50* and you'll be fine. Leave the faucets in the house at a fast drip constantly. Mine froze up 20" underground a couple years back after only about 3 days of these temps.....it happens. The closer the water line to the ground surface, the more likely for this to happen. A good fast drip, not quite a trickle, is all it you need to keep it from freezing. On the outside bibs...wrap it up good with old towels or shirts, then tape a plastic bag around it. That's all I've ever done with my outdoor spigot and it has never froze and busted.

 

[Hopey]

Be prepared for a run on Fabco sprinkler back flow preventer valves...when they freeze they blow their tops off...always fun shutting off the icy water fountain that follows...

 

[crasher98]

If there's nothing else left at the box stores don't underestimate the heat you can get from a trouble light - might just be enough to save something from freezing over one long cold night:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-75-...Work-Light-with-6-ft-Cord-HD-408PDQ/204222074

Caveats: Offer not valid in canadaland (or anywhere north of Little Rock AR for that matter). Void where prohibited by law or if attempted with an LED or fluorescent bulb - old skool incandescent only.

 

[rburke65]

Sounds like...’do you feel lucky’.....

 

[southalabama]

Northern guys don’t get the panic that sits in when temps get below freezing and the deep south gets a hard freeze. Buildings and structures here just aren’t made for it. Until I started duck hunting I never knew about wool and layering of clothes. We normally throw on a coat in morning and roll up sleeves hot by afternoon.

 

[930dreamer]

I guess I'll see if my frostfree hydrant works, four days from now.

 

[Bsimster]

How big of a garage are we talking here? Not sure what types of hardware stores you have around you but Amazon is also your friend. Get yourself a Duraglo or MrHeat propane heater. Get a tank or two of propane and run them for 2 hours on and 5 off. I know it's a scary thought but also cant over think it.

Also - with your water. If you're going to turn it off, run the line open as you shut the valve. This will maintain flowing pressure as you cut the line, you'll drain more out that way instead of just shutting and then opening the line - you'll only get a trickle that way.

If you have the water feed lines exposed in the garage, as previously stated, just throw a drop light on them for a few minutes. Although the trickle method does work, depending how things go for you it could also not work. I've seen lines trickle however the copper got cold enough where it started to crystallize on the inside from the top side. That then slowly got larger over time as the water was flowing past, eventually blowing the line anyway. Not to mention the pool of ice on the exterior of your building / foundation

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[niget2002]

How big of a garage are we talking here? Not sure what types of hardware stores you have around you but Amazon is also your friend. Get yourself a Duraglo or MrHeat propane heater. Get a tank or two of propane and run them for 2 hours on and 5 off. I know it's a scary thought but also cant over think it.

Also - with your water. If you're going to turn it off, run the line open as you shut the valve. This will maintain flowing pressure as you cut the line, you'll drain more out that way instead of just shutting and then opening the line - you'll only get a trickle that way.

If you have the water feed lines exposed in the garage, as previously stated, just throw a drop light on them for a few minutes. Although the trickle method does work, depending how things go for you it could also not work. I've seen lines trickle however the copper got cold enough where it started to crystallize on the inside from the top side. That then slowly got larger over time as the water was flowing past, eventually blowing the line anyway. Not to mention the pool of ice on the exterior of your building / foundation

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26x50 steel shop.

Heater is on and set to 40.

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[OldracerJones]

I'm in North Texas too and have a 30 x 50 steel building with water throughout. I place a oil filled heater (safest) in the water room where my pressure tank and pump are and one in the office which has a water line running to the spigot. The bathroom is sandwiched in between the two. I maintained a 49 deg temp this morning when it was 17 deg outside. The main bay with no heaters but insulated with 4 inches of fiberglass on the walls, doors and ceiling stayed at 40 deg. I also use them in my Wife's greenhouse made of lumber and clear poly sheets for roof and walls, two on high last night kept the inside at 41 deg. You can get them at Walmart or similar for about $40.

 

[DenisG]

In the future, you might want to install "stop & waste" valves protect plumbing from freezing and to isolate any sections of concern . When plumbing, it also helps watching the slope on water lines.
https://millcreekplumbinginc.com/outdoor-plumber/stop-waste-valves/

 

[orangeblood]

I am in DFW also. Not looking forward to the cold snap.

Sometime late in the afternoon, I plan to run the cars up to temp (outside) and then move them into the garage. Hope the heat of the cars helps keep the garage at least above 25.

Am I kidding myself?

 

[crasher98]

I am in DFW also. Not looking forward to the cold snap.

Sometime late in the afternoon, I plan to run the cars up to temp (outside) and then move them into the garage. Hope the heat of the cars helps keep the garage at least above 25.

Am I kidding myself?

Based on my memories of getting into a very cold car in a very cold garage on many very cold mornings in northern IL, I'm afraid so. The only thing an unheated garage does overnight is save you from the misery of scraping your windshield and (worst of all) shoveling your car out of its parking place when you don't have a garage. In northwest Louisiana now, don't miss that **** one bit!

PS: Don't mean to be a naysayer or buzzkiller tho - don't worry, we'll make it thru this! And looks like it's supposed to be in the 60s here in less than two weeks, so just think about that and ignore the cold. That's how I always survived until spring up north!

 

[Los_Control]

Am I kidding myself? Probably
Tomorrow will be 1 degree for low and 17 for high about the same for Monday, then slowly warming up again and 60's by next Saturday.
Was 75 degrees last week ... people really are not prepared for this weather in this area.
Happens but very seldom and usually not for this length of time.

I have a space in my office where I have moved all my paint. Things I do not want to freeze.
My water system is very simple, have the hose bibs dripping.
We have a floor furnace, ductwork leaks just enough to heat the pipes under the house.
I am prepared like many others are.

I feel for those who are not prepared. I know a guy has a couple acres and lives in a motor home on a well using a small electric heater. Heaters are all sold out. He had to move into bedroom block off the rest and just heat it.
He is a double amputee, lost both arms.

There will be many that will need help to get through this & afterwards to repair.

 

[niget2002]

It's 32f outside but the sun is out. The sun baking on the shop has warmed it up to 47f.

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[Tracs]

We were in the top 10 coldest places on Earth. No big deal. lol.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My cousin in far north Minnesota (about 15 miles from the Canada border) said it was -44F/-42C at her house this morning.

 

[dfiler2]

We are about 20 miles south of the border and we had -42 this morning, every time I went outside today it made my face hurt, thankfully there was no wind at all.

 

[Jagmandave]

Here in KC, Monday is our worst day - supposed to hit -16F Monday night, and be mid 40's by next weekend.....just have to hold out till then

 

[My Old Tools]

MrCool is running occasionally and keeping my shop at 46 degrees in FP mode.

 

[4 FN 27]

It will be balmy here outside the metro. -6° for a high.

I think I will wash my truck today. I'll be sire to dry out the Door Jambs completely.

 

[niget2002]

17f outside. I can't feel my toes.

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[Sunset_Z28]

Too cold for me.

 

[niget2002]

Checked on the shop. Heater is doing its job.

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[dfiler2]

Up here we are used to protecting everything from freezing, I feel bad for you folks that are not used to it. There is a lot to think about. Don't forget your boat motors that might have lake water.in them.

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