Who all is in the artic blast?

You up there in the north are used to this stuff, I understand, but down here in VA, zero degrees just happens every once in a while, couple that with the fact that we haven't had a real winter in 15 years... and well... our homes and wardrobes just kind of grew out of it.

I have found weaknesses in my homes windows.

Out commeth the duct tape!

Electric furnace runs a lot. Expecting a $400 light bill next month. Appalacian Power is grinning ear to ear!

The daytime high is getting back up in the 30's tomorrow. Still no snow though. Hasn't really snowed in years. Only one snow last year (about an inch), and none so far this year.

If it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow.

But that just don't happen anymore. So it will be another dry summer.

In the west, Earthquakes and flooding are the big disasters.

Up north, it's the blizzards...

Down south it's the hurricanes...

Over here where I'm at we don't get any of that, we just get drier and drier every year. Drought, the silent killer. It doesn't carry the fan fare and news coverage that other major disasters carry, but it wreaks havoc on the water supply, and causes all kinds of problems.

All because it doesn't snow anymore.

It may be cold, but make no mistake, there is something wrong with our climate. It's not like it used to be.

Hi, andrewc24301!

Up around where I am, it was -27 last night. It was a record! Hasn't been near to being that cold around here since the mid-1980's.

Thanks!

Thanks for the update from Southwest Virginia. The weather has been really weird this year. We had drought conditions from lack of snowfall a few years ago. Now we have flooding.

Our gas and electric bills reflect a 30% increase (from the company!) So, we ordered some new windows. My front room has two huge windows, one is over 11 feet wide. I hope the window replacement helps with the heating bill.

I asked someone who knows if the unusual weather patterns are part of global warming. He said, "partly."

Dad says that when he was a kid in the 60's, it would start snowing in October and you wouldn't see the ground again until April.

Yet this stout die hard republican completely denies global warming.

When ask why we haven't seen six inches of snow in 15 years...

"It's just a pattern" is the answer I get.

And -27 is very cold.

I think if it ever got that cold down here, we would just stop heating every room in the house except for the living room.

Hell 27 degrees is cold or a daytime high, -27 is a 54 degree drop from that. I can't imagine, I have never expirenced that kind of cold.

And can't say that I want to.

As far as my windows goes, some of them are drafty, and I taped them up. Others are not drafty, but it seems that cold air just pushes through the glass. In other words, you put your hand down by the window sill and you can just feel the cool air falling on your hand. (cool air drops, warm air rises)

I don't know what to do about this. It works like a deep freezer, where the sides of the box get cold thus the cool air falls and cools the inside of the box.

Glass may be a good insulator from high voltage, but my windows don't seem to be a good insulator of heat.

After some consideration of this problem. And also considering my tightening budget, I may have come up with a simple solution to this cold window problem.

It only seems to effect windows along the back side of the house that overlooks the hill. My home sits on a hill, the rear of the house overlooks the hill and the front of the house is facing the hill, as such, the hill in the front greatly reduces wind current on the front windows. The rear of the house also faces west, the direction all of our weather comes from including wind.

So I decided that I will round up some afgan blankets and drape them over the windows in the rear of the house for the season. I will begin working on this tomorrow.

It will look a little tacky, but so does duct tape. And when it gets down to heating bills, to hell with tacky.

Weather has been a bit brisk here in NW Indiana the past few days. Woke up Friday morning to -17 and with the wind chill it ranged from -30 to -50 and I work outside a lot :p.

Weather has been a bit brisk here in NW Indiana the past few days. Woke up Friday morning to -17 and with the wind chill it ranged from -30 to -50 and I work outside a lot :p.


Well, we don't have anything on you. Never really felt below zero temps. However the temp we are expirencing now, down in the teens and single digits is pushing the limit of what some of our older houses are built to heat and still be efficient. A more average daytime high is in the upper 30's to 40's.

In my job, whether I work outside or not is a crap shoot. I may get a service call indoors, or I might be outside working on the roof of a school freezer condensing unit.

Friday I was fortunate to be in a university dining hall all day working, good steam heat in those buildings. Very warm.

Just a side story, working outside, reminds me of the time I had to go to Applebees one time to work on a walk in freezer that had went down. Friday evening, it was a warm day. But a tropical system was working its way up the valley. Wind gust of 60 MPH. Sideways rain.

Crawled up on the roof, wind took the panel right out of my hand and slung it across the parking lot. Almost lost the ladder. Pressure switch with bad on it. I was up there for about and hour in the wind and rain. Got so wet that I recall water soaking right though my underwear to where it was dripping off my... well, lets just say I was wet to the core.

Felt good getting home that day. To bad I was an hour away from home.

I had something similar about 2 summers ago. I was on a roof of a restaurant diagnosing a ad compressor. The weather was bright and sunny when I climbed up there. Just as I was packing it up we were hit with hurricane like winds, pouring rain and lightning. I was literally pinned down on that roof with nowhere nonmetallic to hide! I had to ride it out.

Hum... are we in the same field? What do you do for a living?

I guess it's obvious, I repair commercial kitchen equipment and refrigeration.

I am an HVAC/R technician. I specialize in commercial refrigeration, kitchen equipment, heating, A/C.

I am an HVAC/R technician. I specialize in commercial refrigeration, kitchen equipment, heating, A/C.

Right on... Good to see someone else on here does something similar.

Only we don't do heating and AC, we are stictly cooking equipment and refrigeration, including small reach ins and walkins. In addition to meat rooms, grinders, scales, fryers, mixers, dishwashers... etc..

To bad they don't have a "commercial maintenance" board or something, then we could be bonafide "experts" :)

cooking equipment and refrigeration, including small reach ins and walkins. In addition to meat rooms, grinders, scales, fryers, mixers, dishwashers... etc..


All that and then some. Ice machines are another. It's kind of funny. I went through HVAC/R school and never once was any kitchen equipment mentioned. I've had to learn it all out in the field lol.

HA, for me it was opposite!

They sent me to dishwasher school, mixer school, grinder school, scale school, but aside from the EPA test they gave me, I had no formal refrigeration training, it was all out in the field.

I've been to a few ice machine seminars, but I hardly count that as a "school".

Ice machines are easy after the first 50 or so :p

Yea, steamers always suck though...

I've been on call this weekend, got a call this morning to a fryer that shorted out.

They had cleaned the vat so it was nice and cool and clean, sitting in the back room, however the box that had shorted was on the underside. Where they sprayed it down, it made all of the caked up grease under the fryer cold and wet...

Nothing like trying to find a screw in what looks like a big box of cold snot.

I grew up in NW Indiana, now live in Texas, haven't had a real coat since I left. No longjohns either. But the summers are a beeyatch!

Imagine 50 degrees in freakin January!

Yea, steamers always suck though...


Yup. Nothing like chipping years of accumulated calcium and sediment out of the element chamber. I'm on call this weekend myself. Had one truck stop with multiple units down and then a gas station with a serious design problem lol.




I grew up in NW Indiana,
Really? What part?

I grew up in NW Indiana, now live in Texas, havent had a real coat since I left. No longjohns either. But the summers are a beeyatch!

Imagine 50 degrees in freakin January!

Thing is, two weeks ago is was in the mid 60's here! And the way our weather is here, two weeks from now it may be 80! Then a cold front comes through and drops it down to 30.

Crazy stuff...

Honestly I love it here, cold weather and all. I moved down to Florida for a while and couldn't stand it.

I like an area of 4 seasons.

I guess VA is a good fit for me.

I would like to see more snow though.

Normally by the end of summer I'm ready for fall, and by the end of winter I'm ready for summer again.

We have plenty of snow right now! You're welcome to as much as you want.

Really? What part?
Miller beach right next to Portage, and I have seen a lot of lake effect snow. Where are you from Mark?


Thing is, two weeks ago is was in the mid 60's here! And the way our weather is here, two weeks from now it may be 80! Then a cold front comes through and drops it down to 30.

Crazy stuff...
I'm not use to wearing shorts in January, but what's weird is no matter the daytime temps, when the sun goes down, its cold!

So far I've only seen winters, and summers as fall, and spring are to fast, but I don't miss the snow. If there is any snow whatsoever the whole darned county closes down here, and in Indiana nothing ever closes for the weather, unless you get snowed in, in the boonies.

Huh... don't come to VA schools then, they close on the THREAT of a flurry the day before! They have already missed like 10 days and we haven't even gotten enough snow to cover the ground yet!

Miller beach right next to Portage, and I have seen a lot of lake effect snow. Where are you from Mark?

Right next door! Gary, Indiana born and raised. Black Oak section to be exact.

Andrew, afgans are effective! I use quilts too. We went with Penguin windows. They wanted to do the whole house and have us make payments... at 9.99%. I said, no way to the financing, how much can you do of the house for x amount? Their windows are really good. Now we can buy one per year from them until all are done. Less costly windows usually have argon gas in them. If the gas leaks out (and it does) you're SOL for the insulating qualities of the gas. If you do get windows, read the fine print.

Andrew, afgans are effective! I use quilts too. We went with Penguin windows. They wanted to do the whole house and have us make payments...at 9.99%. I said, no way to the financing, how much can you do of the house for x amount? Their windows are really good. Now we can buy one per year from them until all are done. Less costly windows usually have argon gas in them. If the gas leaks out (and it does) you're SOL for the insulating qualities of the gas. If you do get windows, read the fine print.

I think that may have happened with my windows. As they are replacement windows, but they still look old. Some of the windows are drafty, others, not drafty but just feel cold when you are next to them.

I figured at fifteen bucks a pop, afgans should help quite a bit if I pin them up to the windows before the heating season.

We use to seal the windows from the outside with weather stripping, and heavy plastic, to keep the drafts out, and hang heavy drapes inside, for the winter which was from the end of September to late April. Don't forget the draft from doors also.

We use to seal the windows from the outside with weather stripping, and heavy plastic, to keep the drafts out, and hang heavy drapes inside, for the winter which was from the end of September to late April. Don't forget the draft from doors also.

I've got my doors sealed up pretty good. My kitchen door leading outside has a busted storm door window, and that makes it hard for the wooden door to hold heat. Not drafty, just cold to the touch all the time.

I purchased a new storm door about a year ago. It's still sitting in my basement... :p

Hey - it's on my to-do list! (this spring)

LOL, you must be single. Or your wife is very different than mine, Hmmmm, she actually lets you wait till spring??

In Indiana we have what is called "wind chill", and believe me that goes through anything. Better fix that door.

Ha, I'm laughing right now. I'm in Canada and today it was 4 degrees celsius, wait, I'll convert that, give me a minute, okay apparently that's 39 degrees fahrenheit.

I won't be laughing for long though, tomorrow it's supposed to go down to -30 celsius, wait, another conversion, that's -22 fahrenheit.

You boys feeling bad yet? ;)

Here in atl...

I was wearing a t-shirt on christmas. Went out wearing a long sleeved shirt for new year's.

... about a few days ago, it went from 65 degrees one night... to 30 degrees next night, and 12 degrees the next.

... we... had... hail!

Of course, being georgians, the MINUTE we heard "freeze warning," we all headed to the local grocery store in a panic buying up surplus of water, ready to eat meals, rice, and bags of salt by the pound.

... silly georgians...

Sneezy, did you go to the local store too? ;)

A little hail and you freak out? We have so much snow that I could lose my daughter in it.

You big baby, suck it up! :D

At the local CostCo (Another Sam's club type deals), they were selling "emergency survival kits" for $50 a pop. It included blankets, 160 ready-to-eat meals, heating apparatus, flashlight, the works.

... they sold out within a weekend.

Wow, Georgians are sad.:rolleyes:

At the local CostCo (Another Sam's club type deals), they were selling "emergency survival kits" for $50 a pop. It included blankets, 160 ready-to-eat meals, heating apparatus, flashlight, the works.

...they sold out within a weekend.

BAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAA


12+ inches... I might buy an extra milk so I don't have to go as soon. But really its only if we get more than a few feet in 24hrs when things get messy here in western NY

:)

LOL, you must be single. Or your wife is very different than mine, Hmmmm, she actually lets you wait till spring???

In Indiana we have what is called "wind chill", and believe me that goes thru anything. Better fix that door.


I am married, but I don't think she realizes the new door is down there, or maybe she has fogotten about it. Lol

And at this point, I see no need to bring it to her attention... :D

I didn't realize there were more comments on this, they were hidden on the next page!

Virginia is ridiculous about incliment weather. Schools close over almost anything. They have already missed about two weeks worth of school, yet it has yet to snow an inch.

The only reason I can figure for the auto accidents when it flurries, as that Virginians are so mesmorized by the snow flakes that they just veer into the guard rail.

I've never been a panicer about weather, sometimes I will just happen to need a gallon of milk or something the day before a massive snowstorm dropping a whopping "possible accumulation of 2 inches", only to find that the only brands of milk left is the expensive ones.

I had a friend that lives in Texas. All I herd was how tough Texans are and how they can handle anything and blah blah blah. I worked the midnight shift at a diesel repair shop and during the winter drivers from the southern states would come in and complain about the weather, the ones that whined the most were Texans. :p
That's why I say that those of us in the upper 48 are better off. We can handle the cold and the heat isn't that big of a deal either. Here in Indiana our summers are, on average, above 100. No wonder the south lost :D

Well, it's like I've always wanted to see a white christmas at my home when I wake up.

Never had one in the 28 years I've graced this land.

We did wake up to a "white Easter" 2 years ago though. A freak midnight squawl came through the night before, the snow was all melted by lunch, but it dropped about 2 inches on the ground. Daytime high, almost 60 degrees.

Easter... a holiday normally associated with spring!

Again I say, crazy stuff...

One of the many reasons I moved back here from Florida was that it was getting really close to the holiday season and I just couldn't stomach the wrongness of Christmas lights on palm trees and what I consider warm temps on Christmas.

60 degrees Christmas day, we BBQ'd a brisket, while the grandkids played. Speaking of BBQ, you can't buy rib tips here in Texas, nobody knows what they are, talk about weird??

That whole state I kind of whacky! On a some what related note, best BBQ I have ever had was in Argentina. The stuff I had in Texas was good but after the Argentinian BBQ nothing compares.

Bah.. Try asking for a White Hot or a Garbage Plate anywhere outside western NY. Lol

I grilled out some nice Sausages and Hot dogs over the weekend. It was only 18 out lol. Took a little bit for the grill to heat up.

OMGosh! 70 for the next 3 days!! That's why I left the North.

It was 37 this morning! And, I'm in Florida!

Doesn't sound cold, but when you're used to the warmer temps, it's freezing! I heard that we could get a... wait for it... a FROST!!

YAY!!

Last time I saw snow, I changed channels.

LOL! Nice, Tal!

I adore snow; of course, I'm a Yankee, born and bred, so it's in my blood!

I was born in a blizzard, and raised in the snow, give me sunshine, and some shorts now.

I do remember getting in trouble back in the day, for sliding down the slopes of a hill on an old ironing board, instead of taking our butts to school, but it was so much fun in the winter when you were a kid. Didn't need gloves, and hats and stuff like that.

It's 25 degrees here in Northern Illinois. Talk about a major heat wave compared to last week, about a 50 degree difference. I debated wearing shorts to work. LOL

Well, I'm trying to figure out where the hell this warm snap the weather man keeps claiming is coming.

I thought it was supposed to be in the upper 30's yesterday, and today it was slighty warmer, but not warm enough for me.

Supposed to be in the 40's and mid 50's this weekend. But alas, it will probably come with rain, still can't get nothing done.

Ummm... tonight pulled out my old kerosene heater for some radiant heat this evening to watch TV by. Hasn't been operated in about two years. I wiped it off as best I could, but it still has that "burning dust" smell on it.

But it's very warm and keeping the blasted furnace from cutting on..

Don't remind me of the nightmare of winter heating bills. I still get chills when I think of all the loot it cost to be warm.

Even with a kerosene heater going, the heat wasn't even through the whole house. But it was like camping out in the living room, all of us, so I guess it wasn't so bad. Body heat bonds you I guess. Argh!!

Bah.. Try asking for a White Hot or a Garbage Plate anywhere outside western NY. lol
Probably as frustrating as desperately wanting White Castle or even Chicago style pizza in Florida. :mad:

Funny you said that because I love 'em both, and just found them here in Texas. The White Castles are frozen, and they sell them by the eight two packs to a box. Love them sliders.

Omigosh Mark, your opening the floodgates... LINCOLN SUBMARINES, send me some please.

The frozen sliders just aren't the same as walking into a White Castle at 3AM, still slightly buzzed, going home and watching SportsCenter while you devour those little pieces of perfection before finally passing out. You pay for it the next day but damn is it worth it!

10-4 that one. Frozen is the only way WC come down here. Just found a place that makes the Chicago style pizza. 2 weeks ago we had our first REAL Gyro on pita bread in 7 years. There is hope! 77 degrees today, and sunshine, that's sandal weather.

36!! It was 36 on my way to work this morning! 27 last night! In FLORIDA!! :)

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.

Its 36 now, but the sun is bright, and the sky is clear, and beautiful.

Isn't it gorgeous!! I love it! :)

We were at about 35-36 here today. It was the first day in a couple of months when I didn't have to wear my insulated coveralls when going up on a roof.

Going to be 59 degrees tomorrow!

Light jacket here I come!

Good way to end the work week.

Well, the results are in.

From December 18 2008 to January 21 2009 I have used 3436 kilowatt hours for my heat. For a grand total bill of $302.00 even. That's $0.08789 cents per kilowatt hour.

The cost of running an electric furnace has finally caught up to the cost of running an oil furnace 4 years ago when it was about $1.50 per gallon. A tank out oil would last about two months, and cost about $400 to fill the tank. (I'm not counting the first $100 for the electric bill as that's just normal everyday electric use, on a non heating month, we use about 1200 kilowatt hours)

What sucks is that I see in my history, that back in March of 06 I used 3695 kilowatt hours at a cost of $195.41. I see it has went up by almost $100 in 2 1/2 years. And the economist are trying to figure out why people aren't spending money at the mall or on new cars anymore!!!

However now it still cost more to heat with oil. I don't have access to nat gas.

I think it has gotten to the point where it is slightly cheaper to run the propane fire place in the living room. As an expirement, I ran that heater for two months solid last winter, day and night. It kept the whole house warm, and one tank would last about two weeks using this method. Last time I got my tank filled back in December it cost around $80.

There are a few downsides to this source of heat however:

1) It's not a central heat, meaning the living room is the warmest, about 80 degrees, while the rooms farthest from the heater (the bedrooms) are about 65-70 degrees. Also, you can't shut doors otherwise the heat won't circulate. It also tends to be colder in the bathroom for some reason.

2) The obvious safety issues associated with running a ventless heater with an open flame unattended. Granted, it's safer than a kerosene heater, not as likely to tip over, etc but it's still an open flame, and still has the potential to emit dangerous fumes.

3) Changing the tanks every two weeks, and having them filled. Not as labor intensive as chopping wood, but lugging 175 lb tanks around the yard, and switching them out on cold windy nights can be a taxing.

Still when I get paid, I think we are going to purchase a few more afgan blankets for the windows. I think that may help a great deal.

77 yesterday, 35 today, looking for the wool hat to walk the dog.

77 yesterday, 35 today, looking for the wool hat to walk the dog.

Tal, your dog wears a hat? :p

Tal, your dog wears a hat? :p

Doesn't yours? How else can they keep their ears warm when the walk us in the evening? Come on, you know something I don't? If you know so much, how do I get this croc off my a$$?

Doesn't yours?? How else can they keep their ears warm when the walk us in the evening? Come on, you know something I don't? If you know so much, how do I get this croc off my a$$??

A baseball bat of course. Jeesh, Men! ;)

Two of my dogs love the cold, no problemo, the beagle won't go outside if it's colder than -10 celsius. He needs a jacket, booties, the whole nine yards, and even then he wines and wants to be picked up. I never thought I'd have a dog that needed a jacket. :(

A baseball bat of course. Jeesh, Men! ;)


Eureka! You're a genius, it worked so well my wife used the bat to get this bag off my head, that worked great too, and didn't hurt as much as I thought.

The dog is a female and all females love hates don't they?

Eureka!! Your a genius, it worked so well my wife used the bat to get this bag off my head, that worked great too, and didn't hurt as much as I thought.

The dog is a female and all females love hates don't they??

I hate hats, can't stand them, they give me hat head! :eek:

You knocked the bag off? But, I made that for you. It was so pretty. You looked
So cute in it. I'm hurt, deeply hurt. I may just have to sic another croc after you! :cool:

Give me that bat, my turn! :D

Er, you have to take it from the dog. She wants to play fetch now.

Er, you have to take it from the dog. She wants to play fetch now.

What kind of dog is it, a rottweiler? Surely you can get the bat away from a wee dog. :rolleyes:

Of course I can, I'm fetching it now.

Of course I can, I'm fetching it now.

I see, so you're the one doing the fetching. Interesting. :cool:

Females are smart, even if their a dog, and I'm easy, one lick in the face, and I follow her anywhere.

Females are smart, even if their a dog, and I'm easy, one lick in the face, and I follow her anywhere.

Good to know. ;)

It's still cold here today, but, good news, it's supposed to get warmer by Thursday. Snow melting warm. Spring jacket warm. Go outside and play warm. Warm, warm, warm. Ahhhhh! :D

It was cold last night about 36, but as the sun rises, so does the temperature. Mid 50's expected for the next few days. Not quite shorts and sandals, yet, but I'll take it.

Wow, 50! You lucky dog, I'd kill for that.

Right now it's -26 celsius, apparently that's -14 fahrenheit, or so the online calculator says. ;)

Oh you wacky Canadians and your Celsius :p

Oh you wacky Canadians and your Celsius :p

I was thinking the same thing. You wacky Americans and your fahrenheit. ;)

Ah. Touché!

Warning, Warning!! Winter storm featuring freezing rain to sweep across the middle of America. Hope Andrew got those Afghans, and put up that back door!!

Not a great time to be working on the roof either, Mark!

Not a great time to be working on the roof either, Mark! Thanks Tal and good looking out. As much as I would LOVE to be on ground level, if not inside, it's just not usually an option. Although I do remember seeing a few jobs on the schedule that might make it a possibility :D

Ha, ha, Canada is looking warmer by the minute. Even the polar bears are heading out, it's too warm for them. ;)

I'll be in the garage all week, working on my end tables. Maybe next week I can open the garage door, so I don't get too hot. :D

Are you boys jealous yet? :cool:

Er, you have to take it from the dog. She wants to play fetch now.

Count your blessings that your dog is a girl Tal! You know what happens to boy dogs when it's this cold? :eek: I've heard of Ball Gloves, but not necessarily that kind!. can you imagine if you were a weiner dog? Gives a whole new meaning to freezing your assets doesn't it?

It's a nice balmy -41 Celsius here right now kids! If you want me to translate that?. -42 Fahrenheit! Not much room for error there is there? Take that you wusses! :p

... and Niki went outside and played in the snow for about half an hr! Silly dog! Oh and FYI... no booties, no sweater, no hat! LOL!