Winter's here...

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by caseydog, Dec 17, 2016.

  1. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    Soooo, it's the coldest day of the year, so what just has to happen? Any guesses?

    It has something to do with a home HVAC system. :mad2:

    Parts have been ordered. The furnace should be running like a champ by Tuesday... when the forecast calls for a high of 73 degrees. :incazzato:

    At least my house has two HVAC systems. Looks like I'm sleeping upstairs tonight.

    CD
     
  2. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, when the furnace breaks here, real problems happen like pipes freezing, let alone people freezing! :D

    Going to -4 tonight, +5 right now, but it will be in the 60's next week they say!
     
  3. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    I set up space heaters in the downstairs bathrooms, and the kitchen pipes are in the center of the house. The pipes should be okay.

    My second floor is toasty warm.

    CD
     
  4. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    I have back-up for furnace failure (has never happened) and power outages.

    A wood stove, a pellet stove and a diesel generator that will run the whole house.

    I live out in the sticks, it takes 20 minutes to get to the nearest shopping. We are the last ones who get power restored after an outage and it happens every year. Sometimes for as long as a week.
     
  5. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    14 this morning! 14 this is the south!
     
  6. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Whenever I have a power outage I just shut off the furnace electrical disconnect switch and connect my portable gasoline generator to run the furnace blower motor. I can fill the gas tank and I'll have power to run through the night. Keeps the house toasty until the utilities can be restored. It could never run all of the electrical needs for the house, but my only concern is frozen pipes... For lighting.... candles work just fine... I also cook with gas so any extended outage isn't an issue... The generator is a cheap Lowe's model I got for $350.... It doesn't put out clean power, but it's just fine for the blower motor...
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Currently 19 and snowing .
     
  8. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Woohoo!! We're into double digits.

    Was a cold cold cold walk to the coffee shop this morning.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpp11sMXgcA"]Little Feat - Cold, Cold, Cold - YouTube[/ame]
     
  9. minirab

    minirab Well-Known Member

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    Little Feat was pretty much my favorite back in the day. Saw them in DC in 73, Lowell George was the man on the slide. Some little known
    info on him, Zappa had to kick him out of the Mothers for "excessive drug use", Zappa did not partake in anything that I know of.
     
  10. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    I have a genset that will power the entire house except for the main A/C, it will handle 2 window units tho with no problems....along with anything else we want to run. So far I've only needed it when a summer T-Storm took out the power in the 'hood.

    But if we lose it in the winter, I'm ready for it.

    Just don't forget to isolate your house from the grid by opening the main breaker!
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    76 @ the Warner Theater for me. Balcony upper left side.

    Zappa was as clean as they get, would not tolerate drug use in the band either.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Vi1zusI3s"]Frank Zappa - On Drugs 1971 - YouTube[/ame]
     
  12. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    I had a circuit breaker box installed with a transfer/interlock switch, You can't power the house and be connected to the electrical grid a the same time.
     
  13. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    I'm not sure what to think of the "like" I received on my furnace failure post. :confused5:

    I slept fine in my upstairs office, on my Thermarest camping mattress.

    It got up to 40 today. 45 tomorrow, 60 on Monday, and 73 on Tuesday.

    CD
     
  14. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    You'll be wanting the A/C on by the weekend! :D

    I don't have an interconnect switch Dave, so I just open the main breaker....I made up a cable that plugs into a 220V A/C connection when I need to use the genset.
     
  15. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    Nathan (and other Zappa fans), you need to check out "Zappa Plays Zappa." Frank's son Dweezil put together a band to tour and introduce Frank's music to younger generations.

    They're good. Really good.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwFkP8hjk8k"]Zappa Plays Zappa ft Steve Vai Zomby Woof Live - YouTube[/ame]

    CD
     
  16. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    Actually, it is supposed to get cold again next weekend, but only 40s cold, not teens cold. Rainy, too. 40-degrees and rainy kinda' sucks in it's own way.

    In my fantasy world, the temperature never goes below 60 or above 80. I also drive a Ferrari and I'm married to a super-model.

    CD
     
  17. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    12 Degrees here.
    When our power goes out, I use computer UPS batteries to run the furnace.
    It's a steam boiler, so it only has to power the solenoids for the gas and
    water inlets and sensors, so it takes almost no power to run.
    Only problem is I have to take the units to the hospital doctor's lounge
    1/2 mile away to recharge them (they ALWAYS have power there).
     
  18. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    As for electricity, I live in one of the half-dozen places in Texas with an electric-co-op, AKA commie electric. So, my power goes off almost once a year, and sometimes stays off for 15 whole minutes.

    I hate to admit that I pay less than my dad, who lives in the free-market, where he pays more, and his power goes off every time it rains hard. He keeps a generator in the garage for when his power goes off for days at a time, so he can power his fridge and freezer so his food doesn't go bad.

    Oh, look, I just got another dividend check from the co-op. It doesn't make up for that time four years ago that my power was out for almost an hour, but it is something, I guess. It was only 60 bucks, but it does offset my outrageous 80-dollar-a-month electric bill.

    I feel so un-Texan when I pay so little for electricity, and drive a MINI.

    CD
     
  19. NikiMae31

    NikiMae31 New Member

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    Hope you got your furnace fixed. A couple years ago I had the same thing happen when it was like -20. Thankfully we have a fire place! Hope you're staying warm! Worst case sit in the Mini for a bit!
     
  20. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    Parts had to be ordered. But, I do have separate HVAC systems for the first and second floors. The temperatures are high enough to keep the first floor in the upper 50s, and the second floor heating is working as normal.

    I have a fireplace, but it is in a room with a 24-foot ceiling, so it doesn't help a whole lot.

    CD
     

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