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hosmosis t1_j6mdl1z wrote

Heating fuel is expensive, but this is the weekend your thermostats should be set to 72 degrees for fri-sat. Don’t have an an expensive emergency in the name of saving money.

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GoldenLeftovers t1_j6n3v2q wrote

This is absurdly wasteful and expensive advice...

If you live in a well insulated house from the last couple decades, you're good with a reasonable room temp (not 72).

If you live in a drafty old house like myself, allowing the taps to drip is going to keep them from freezing up.

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Jesus_Was_A_Fungi t1_j6nrcyy wrote

Absurdly wasteful and expensive?!? Turning the heat up 2-4 degrees for two days? You must be fun to know.

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keanenottheband t1_j6p8f4x wrote

We are normally set at 62, I wonder how much more expensive it would cost to be at 72? Only my 5th winter here so I still have zero idea on how much fuel we are burning

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ecco-domenica t1_j6njqdh wrote

>If you live in a drafty old house like myself, allowing the taps to drip is going to keep them from freezing up.

Maybe. Hopefully. Sometimes. In some houses. Not if your furnace or boiler goes out.

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AnythingToAvoidWork t1_j6pasn7 wrote

I drip my faucets just to be safe even though I'm well insulated. Seems only prudent.

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teambeattie t1_j6n1ck0 wrote

My husband prefers a cold house, so we keep it at 60 all winter. Is there an advantage to turning it up in the super cold?

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Epb7304 t1_j6n2yls wrote

Its to help prevent your pipes from freezing, if your heating pipes are inactive for too long they could freeze and stop flow, or worse: burst

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ecco-domenica t1_j6niziu wrote

If you should have a problem with your furnace, a warmer house will give you more time to react to solve the problem before pipes freeze. Furnace techs all over the state will be busy doing emergency repairs & may not be able to get to yours immediately. When I used to do property checks, furnaces always seemed to go out on the coldest day of the year.

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mervmonster t1_j6oj25g wrote

This is why we turn our heat in the basement up before leaving for vacation. The couple bucks worth of heating is worth it. If your basement is nice and warm your house can stay above freezing for awhile should the power go out.

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Connect_Dust_1946 t1_j6pbts9 wrote

Any comment on propane heating systems fed by and outside tank? I’ve been keeping mine around 50, should I be worried about pipes bursting? I’m thinking more of the water system than the heating system

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MrMediocreMan t1_j6pfgho wrote

The frozen pipes are a 2 part concern.

  1. Some homes use hydronic baseboards (aka hotwater baseboards) and have high amounts of insulation. If they set a low temperature the heat may not cycle often. Their baseboards are on exterior walls and may pass through unheated cavities. These can freeze quickly with -30f temps.

  2. If your house has regular plumbing it may be in areas that freeze quickly, like the pipes under the kitchen sink. You can open the cupboard to fix this issue, but often there are pipes in closets or wall cavities that share space with vents that exit the roof. These get really cold too.

Having a higher ambient temperature will prevent a lot of issues in these areas.

I don't think the propane would freeze unless you're trying to use a small propane tank for the application. Like a grill tank for your fireplace could be an issue this weekend when it isn't in seasonal temps.

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Connect_Dust_1946 t1_j6pg1i7 wrote

Hey thanks for the reply! I’m not worried about the propane freezing, moreso the plumbing. I plan to be out of town on Friday and Saturday, when it looks to be coldest, and I’m concerned keep the temp on Low (~50 degrees) might not be enough to keep the plumbing safe while I’m out of town.

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costabius t1_j6nzfzt wrote

In addition to what the others have said, your thermostat is likely at the center of your house, while your water and heat pipes are on the outside walls. When it gets to "stupid cold" levels, it can drop below freezing at the walls before the air around your thermostat knows what happened.

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ecco-domenica t1_j6o860a wrote

This is a very good point. Your thermostat doesn't tell you what temperature the pipes in the outside walls are. I keep cheapo thermometers in the coldest corners of my house. They're not super accurate but if they're suddenly 10 or 20 degrees below what they normally read, I know something's going on and it ain't good.

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The_Maine_Sam t1_j6njj2n wrote

Yep, just for two or three days. The only time I'll ever advise my tenants to bump their heat up! Thermostat is going up to 72 on Thursday and the setback is being turned off.

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SunBlindFool t1_j6lpjnw wrote

I feel like we'll finally get our winter late and then last until april.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j6lmbcg wrote

Guys, I'm really sorry, let me explain...see, I'm getting a cavity filled in a couple days and the winter weather often gets skewed so that it snows or it gets super chilly around the time that I have to go out, because the world hates me that much and it wants to drag everyone down with it.

My deepest apologies if any of your pipes burst during this cold weather. I just really need this cavity filled and I haven't had time to send an appeal to Mother Nature yet.

(and just in case it wasn't obvious, /j)

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Way2L8AND1 t1_j6lmop0 wrote

DUDE !! W T A F ?!?!? So... Just so I am clear... Today I bought 10 gallons of K1 $63.59. AND 20 bags of premium wood pellets. $138.40, All because you HAD to get a damn filling ?!?!?!?

Alexa, set a reminder that if my pipes freeze that u/DidDunMegasploded is to blame

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DidDunMegasploded t1_j6n7zh8 wrote

Well, at least you'll be well-prepared. There's a plus!

...

Maybe I shouldn't bring up that the procedure's gonna take less than an hou- awwwwww poop.

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BracedRhombus t1_j6mh88p wrote

It's my fault. Back in December, when we were having warmish weather, I tossed a nickel at the sky and yelled, "Send me some cold winter weather!"

If I'd have known how cheap it was, I wouldn't have ordered so much.

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MosskeepForest t1_j6lwgqg wrote

Wheww, that is going to be chilly. I'm going to be hiding inside survivinggg.

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Way2L8AND1 t1_j6lm7wt wrote

No problem with Oil, Electricity, Gas, AND wood all at all time high prices.

🥶

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KenDurf t1_j6myghq wrote

Don’t worry, everything else is cheap! /s

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jcwhorewrath t1_j6pe6bl wrote

There is free wood just lying around on the ground where I live.

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squints81 t1_j6ng9xm wrote

Looks like I might have to actually pull the fan out of the window in the bedroom.

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indyaj t1_j6p0kln wrote

LOL. You're the one who wears shorts outside when it's below 15F, aren't you?

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squints81 t1_j6pde9k wrote

No just until the first snowfall. But usually October 1 is when I stop wearing shorts

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ReallyFineWhine t1_j6mvpcc wrote

Test out those new heat pumps I just got installed.

(Boiler is still operational.)

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PvtPug t1_j6n7uvl wrote

Ive actually heard anything under 10° it's more economical to burn oil as the heat pumps have a drop off of efficiency.

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ReallyFineWhine t1_j6n8ktc wrote

The latest heat pumps are rated down to -13F; they'll put out some heat but as you say they're not very efficient at that temperature. They're extracting heat from the air, and at colder temperatures there's less heat to extract.

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Fabulous-Opposite838 t1_j6nf5dh wrote

Thank you for this post. I am concerned about our basement( really a half-basement, with exposed side north facing) which is not heated. We do have the furnace and boiler down there and that does kick out some heat. Our radon mitigation system (water and air) is nowhere near the heat source, so we are brainstorming how to keep it from freezing. So, far I’ve gleaned keeping the furnace at 72 for those two days. Any other ideas?

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John_Yossarian t1_j6od5s5 wrote

Small electric space heater and a cheap wireless thermometer so you can keep an eye on it from upstairs?

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theora55 t1_j6ojucv wrote

> cheap wireless thermometer

Tell me more.

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BloobityBloobity t1_j6olyxs wrote

I got something similar to this at Lowe's and it works great. Batteries have lasted over six months.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ThermoPro/5013585047

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John_Yossarian t1_j6onhv7 wrote

I was thinking of the ones with the wireless sensor you place outside for indoor/outdoor readings, and I guess they cost more like $20-25, so not exactly cheap, but useful nonetheless.

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BloobityBloobity t1_j6ovri3 wrote

That's what this one is, and the one I got. If it says wireless thermometer, then it has a sensor outside.

And $11 for that technology is pretty cheap if you ask me.

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theora55 t1_j6ojq6c wrote

Some towns will have Warming Locations.

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ProfessorMandark t1_j6p0b9x wrote

As someone from away who now resides here and has never been in temperatures like that, can I even go outside? I'm being serious lol.

ETA: downvoting me won't make me move out of the state and go back to where I came from, sorry!

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thenoweeknder t1_j6mpkq8 wrote

New Yorker (city) here. What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees????? When it hits 10 degrees here, it feels like death. What is -44f suppose to be? How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear? Does the car even start?

Ps would love to visit when it’s actually warmer lol

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Antnee83 t1_j6mq13o wrote

It's the type of cold that when you inhale, your boogers freeze all the way up to your brain

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thenoweeknder t1_j6mu80i wrote

Haha damnnn

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BantamBasher135 t1_j6mwfh7 wrote

No that's for real. I mean the brain part is a small exaggeration but legit if you don't have face covering you are getting ice crystals all the way up your nose.

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thenoweeknder t1_j6mwnu9 wrote

Oh I believe you. Like I said, when its in the teens here on the rare occasion it’s like death. I can only imagine dropping a few degrees and then into the low low low -40s must be exponentially worse. Thanks for the heads up!

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indyaj t1_j6p6wj9 wrote

It's true. "Booger-freezing cold" has been a temperature description since I was a kid. Doesn't matter what the thermometer says. If your boogers are freezing, it's cold.

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MaineSoxGuy93 t1_j6msg1v wrote

>What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees?????

To me, I feel like I can't breathe, it becomes somewhat difficult to walk, and the world hates me. It's like you want to gasp for air and vomit at the same time.

>What is -44f suppose to be?

Hell.

>How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear?

You wear as many layers as you can and refuse to go outside as much as possible.

>Does the car even start

When it wants to.

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Artistic_Fly7811 t1_j6ohs0t wrote

I moved from northern Minnesota to Maine 5 years ago, the winters there are brutal, with frequent and consecutive below 0 temps such as these. It hurts to smile, talk and breathe. Sometimes you'll choke on the cold, you'll stop feeling your nose in a few minutes and snotcicles will form. If you have a beard you'll get condensation frost around you nose and mouth. You can toss boiling water in the air and it will Instantly turn to fog. I love Maine winters, but will always and forever hate this depth of cold. Stay warm friend.

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thenoweeknder t1_j6mtt3k wrote

Gentleman and a scholar right here. Thanks for the info haha - I’m going up to Montreal Canada and it’s definitely not -44 but it’s going to be pretty cold and when I saw this, I figured if you guys can do it, I could probably get some information from the more extreme location that can translate to a lesser extreme location.

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Blue_Eyed_ME t1_j6ni84a wrote

Coldest I've been in is -52 degrees (actual temp, not wind chill) while living in Alaska. To be honest, I didn't feel much difference between -20 and -50. It was all just f#cking cold. One cool thing was that if you tried to spit, it would freeze mid air with a popping sound.

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thenoweeknder t1_j6nlfa5 wrote

Haha thats crazy. I’m glad where I’m going it wont be -52. I don’t know how it’s possible we survive these types of weather but people do!

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biglymonies t1_j6o38f8 wrote

> What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees?

The air hurts your face and any other exposed skin (ears especially), boogers freeze, cheap gloves/mittens don't work, eyes can sometimes sting a little, and everything that is wet becomes ice. Having a beard that's completely iced over is a lot of fun, though! I always liked walking around indoors looking like Santa lol.

> How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear?

Layers and a good hat, gloves, socks, boots, etc.

My personal outfit for extended recreational outdoor time was usually: Wool socks, waterproof/windproof boots, regular underwear + long/thermal underwear, winter pants, long winter jacket with a fur hood, ski mittens (mittens are better than gloves for warmth), ski mask, and sometimes goggles.

When I worked manual labor, it was mostly the same minus the jacket and goggles, and dual gloves/mitten combo because I needed a bit of fine motor control. Had to wear the company Carhartt jacket, too.

> Does the car even start?

Depends on the vehicle, but most will so long as the battery is good. When it gets really cold, diesel vehicles have issues so they usually need to be plugged in overnight. There's this helpful mechanism called a Glow Plug that helps the startup process. Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax that gels up when it gets super cold.

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indyaj t1_j6p5exs wrote

As long as the wind isn't blowing, -44F feels the same as -5F or 0F. It's just fucking cold. Your boogers freeze. It's hard to breathe. Your skin feels like it's being pinched (until it doesn't and then you're in trouble and need to get inside). If the wind is blowing, it's a completely different game.

I generally don't go outside unless I have to when it's below -5F which isn't that bad for a short cold spell like the one coming up. A longer cold spell has a whole checklist of things to do before it hits and behavior changes while it's here.

"Fashion" winter wear generally doesn't work in cold weather. You have to wear brands that build clothing for cold weather and then layer up.

My car has a built-in engine block heater that I just need to plug in for a few hours if I think I need to go somewhere. But why would I want to go out when it's that cold? It'll warm up eventually.

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thenoweeknder t1_j6p8ioa wrote

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up. I’m looking forward to the experience but also I’m not haha. Going to definitely layer up with my cool weather gear and pick up some cold weather stuff as well.

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indyaj t1_j6p9pwn wrote

Cold is a temporary state and easily remedied if you have access to indoors with heat. If you do, getting from Point A to Point B in extreme cold is a short, uncomfortable experience but it will end. It's also optional. You can always not go out.

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theora55 t1_j6okbty wrote

temps shown are with wind chill, but subzero temps are just miserable. Frostbite can happen So Fast. Car doesn't care about wind, but I'm not going anywhere.

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Minute_Map_6444 t1_j6ozd2o wrote

Ah fuck. Thought it was too good to be true that we haven’t had a day yet this winter that made me rue the day I decided working outdoors was a good idea.

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ram1176 t1_j6nmkwd wrote

Oh dear. I'll have to put down pee pads for my little dogs. They don't like the cold.

And set up and electric blanket for the cats.

Yes, they are all spoiled and they know it.

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indyaj t1_j6p0eob wrote

That's not spoiled. That's caring. I got a puffy jacket for my elderly german shepherd to go out and do her biz. She's had skin issues recently and lost some of her double coat that normally protects her. It hasn't re-grown yet so she gets a puffy. We do what we can to protect the ones we love. Give yours a skritch for me.

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AnythingToAvoidWork t1_j6p9mud wrote

Coldest I've ever been in my life was bar harbor in February.

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