Record Freeze

[Spcwolf]

I've got one hose bibb off my unheated garage wall I'm worried about.
I'm placing a 75watt light bulb inside a small styrofoam ice chest and placing it around the bibb.
Obviously I'll keep the bulb from melting the ice chest.

this is a damn good idea. I will see what I can rig up. Considering I am an electrician I think I can make this work.

 

[candcallen]

Yep a single lightbulb will make it toasty in a cooler

 

[Spcwolf]

this is a damn good idea. I will see what I can rig up. Considering I am an electrician I think I can make this work.

I may go buy a string light I have A outlet not far from that spot. Putting one inside of a cooler won’t be a big deal, and string lights (construction style) has a plastic cage that Keeps them from touching anything.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

A string of Christmas lights might work as well.

Definitely going to have some redundancy for next winter ready. Solar power with AGM batteries 200ah and an inverter with 2000w available. Gas inverter wouldn't be as able to cycle (sitting running idle) with a home furnace. It would run say the full 12hr with an outage as where the battery setup would be less effected on stand by.

 

[Spcwolf]

A string of Christmas lights might work as well.

Not enough watts
The heat comes from the wasted energy from the light.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

Don't forget to locate water main and drive a foot tall stake to easily find it in the snow, also tools for shut off, flashlight at the ready.

 

[SA_Steve]

I've got a 5x5x5 plant protector house out in the yard with some good plants in it (thick plastic wrap all around). Since we are below freezing for days on end and with some 10 deg in the forecast I added a 100 watt bulb to the one already in there.

My in-ground hybiscus had three big blooms on it before the cold rolled in. No heat for him, just some cover, doubt he makes it.

 

[Vaquero]

Heh.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

Was just outside, didn't feel all that cold. 2 a.m. is the snow party.

 

[Vaquero]

We've been here before.
We made preparations.

 

[Texas_Lone_Ranger]

We've been here before.
We made preparations.

Coldest I've ever been in. I've been prepping mostly household goods and food. I had to start mostly from scratch here 8 months ago so learning as I go. Either way a 2k gas inverter or solar setup is coming quickly.

 

[Riksors]

Been keeping an eye on the cold flow from San Antonio. Seems to have broken off on the approach towards our area. Be sleeping earlier tonight. Tomorrow and the day after will be long days.

 

[mitchntx]

Demand ain’t the problem. Ice on tree limbs add weight the tree can’t support. Just a bit of wind and the limbs snap, taking with them power lines in the fall zone. The photo below was shot in Cedar Park today; luckily this place had underground utilities.

Yup ...

Weather could certainly create outages. That's different than rolling brown outs.

 

[Wolfwood]

just in case!

NWR Stations

 

[CrazyCobraManTim]

And.... The Snow is here! Yard and sideway, driveway - all covered and the front door fountain is about frozen solid.

Prepping tests begin now - pick up your pencils

 

[candcallen]

Well, tested the generator, got 10 gallons of gas. All exposed pipe bibs are coverd including the water heater in the garage. Got the tub dripping for insc. We should be fine as long as the power doesn't go out long. I can keep indoor freezers and fridges ok and run a space heater on my generator but it's a crap shoot on the pipes if there is no heat. Then I will have to crack out door taps to run and indoor hot water lines.

 

[dsgrey]

Son called yesterday and one of his two heat pumps died so he borrowed two of my space heaters. Techs are backed up, space heaters sold out in stores around Wednesday and Amazon can't deliver until Thu at the earliest.

The road/yard are mostly covered outside so waiting to see how much more we get and if Ercot introduces rolling blackouts Mon and Tue.

 

[Spcwolf]

For all of you using space heaters, don’t burn you own house down.

And don’t overload that circuit with the space heater, I can’t tell you how many circuits I have replaced because all the women bring space heaters to work.

 

[oldag]

Demand ain’t the problem. Ice on tree limbs add weight the tree can’t support. Just a bit of wind and the limbs snap, taking with them power lines in the fall zone. The photo below was shot in Cedar Park today; luckily this place had underground utilities.

Our neighborhood is underground, but out neighbors behind us are not and while the power lines are mostly in open areas, they are susceptible to tree falls.

Actually, demand may well be a big problem. ERCOT and the energy managers are forecasting that demand could exceed that of the hottest August day.

Downed lines will be an issue as well, of course.

 

[oldag]

I am worried about my outside water hose spiket. I can’t seem to spell it.

I bought pipe insulation, gorilla tape that is water sealer, wrapped it, put a old cooler around it to trap heat from the house and shield it from the rain/slow and windchill.

is wrapping it in that tape a issue? The stuff can stop a water leak apparently. I just don’t want it to crack and back feed into my house.

this is what I used.

Gorilla 10 ft. Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape White 101895 - The Home Depot

Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape instantly seals out water, air and moisture. With an extra thick adhesive layer and UV resistant backing this tape conforms to form a permanent bond indoors and out. At 4 in. W use it to patch holes, cracks, gaps and tears, even underwater.

www.homedepot.com

I put this insulation under it

Frost King 2 in. x 15 ft. Foam and Foil Pipe Wrap Insulation Tape FV15H - The Home Depot

The Thermwell Products Co., Inc. 2 in. x 15 ft. Foam and Foil Pipe Wrap Insulation Tape features a one-step installation and can be used to insulate both hot and cold pipes. This insulation tape dampens

www.homedepot.com

I wrapped the exposed pipe with the insulation and then water proofed it with the gorilla tape, then put my cooler over it.
Anyone think this will be a problem? I am running my indoor heater at 72 degrees, my home built in 2014.

You've done about all you can do, short of building a box and putting a heat lamp in it.