Canadian Help
- Thread starter Opa1
- Start date
Well it hasn't been quite so cold here, single and lower double digits, but the snow and ice keeps coming.
Well it hasn't been quite so cold here, single and lower double digits, but the snow and ice keeps coming. The ice this morning covered the snow on the solar panels so electricity production is way down. Luckily I'm grid tied and have a generator if needed.
My main winter rig is a Super Duty and for some reason my block heater went out again after having it replaced a couple months ago. Diesels do not like the cold much for starting. Five year old battery in the tractor took a dump so had to buy a new one yesterday. That poor thing hates starting in the cold as it has no block heater. At least it is up to 25 now and warm enough to go install the battery.
Eh, that's grilling weather!
Woke up to -24° this morning, wind chill -37°. My car was not happy with the idea of leaving the driveway!
Well it hasn't been quite so cold here, single and lower double digits, but the snow and ice keeps coming. The ice this morning covered the snow on the solar panels so electricity production is way down. Luckily I'm grid tied and have a generator if needed.
My main winter rig is a Super Duty and for some reason my block heater went out again after having it replaced a couple months ago. Diesels do not like the cold much for starting. Five year old battery in the tractor took a dump so had to buy a new one yesterday. That poor thing hates starting in the cold as it has no block heater. At least it is up to 25 now and warm enough to go install the battery.
The struggle is real.
We've been below zero for a decent stretch and it's starting to test the limits of our house's systems. Our furnace exhaust freezes in sub zero temps and creates frost that restricts the intake and shuts the furnace down. I've had to clear it multiple times a day to keep it going, so far so good. This morning I rigged up some cardboard to block some of the exhaust frost. Seems to be working.
My current challenge is one of our septic vents is completely frozen over and the other is close. When I flush, I hear other drains gurgle as air gets pulled through. I'm coming up with a plan before it becomes a much bigger issue. Just part of life as a plains dweller. Looks like a few more days of this extreme cold. Once it warms to the 20s, we'll be wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts.
We've been below zero for a decent stretch and it's starting to test the limits of our house's systems. Our furnace exhaust freezes in sub zero temps and creates frost that restricts the intake and shuts the furnace down. I've had to clear it multiple times a day to keep it going, so far so good. This morning I rigged up some cardboard to block some of the exhaust frost. Seems to be working.
My current challenge is one of our septic vents is completely frozen over and the other is close. When I flush, I hear other drains gurgle as air gets pulled through. I'm coming up with a plan before it becomes a much bigger issue. Just part of life as a plains dweller. Looks like a few more days of this extreme cold. Once it warms to the 20s, we'll be wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts.
This pic was taken a few days ago over in BC at Okanagan Lake. The cold air moved in and as the steam rose from the lake it created.......
The Steam Devil.
The Steam Devil.
I'll be outdoors with the power washer to clean up the winter car when it gets into the 40s here.
No fans on the gas fireplace ? We avoid using ours here - it will heat the main floor and upstairs quite nicely but the basement will get way too cold.
No fans, here most of them in home here are decorations... with a cheap burner , nothing efficient because of the climate.
My last two homes I built so I specified good fireplaces with fans, though not used a lot, when needed did te job.
Sorry to hear that. My best suggestion would be to keep all the indoor doors closed and heat up as small an area as possible. That is what I do with our gas stove when the power goes out. Doesn't exactly get warm, but it keeps us from shivering. Our power usually isn't off that long. If it is expected to be long term I will hook the generator up. It is small to me (6.5kW), but big enough to power the mini-split, refrigerator, freezer a couple burners on the stove and TV/stereo. I can also kill a few breakers and just heat the water tank if necessary.
We're -12C ! 
(the bar is set pretty low after a cold snap)
(the bar is set pretty low after a cold snap)
Yay! Glad to hear that!
Thanks, sound like you are having your own struggles.
Hope you stay warm.
Thanks, we made it through the night with no known problems. Yesterday, I had to go up on the roof with a thermos full of hot water to thaw the vent and did the same for our neighbors. It’s -20 right now so I’m hoping I don’t have to do the same thing today. I feel fortunate that I work from home, in case there are any issues. This should be the worst of it before a gradual warm-up.
It certainly is tube amp weather. I hope you still have power and are warm.
JoeThePop
Known member
You should winter in Michigan. Warmer here.
Yeesh! That's pretty awful. Bundle up and hang in there, bud. Sending warm thoughts from frozen MN!
Our furnace pooped out briefly Saturday morning. It turns out there was something (debris?) in the impellers of the inducer motor. I rotated it by hand and cleared it up, but need to get it apart so I can vacuum it out and make sure the impellers aren't damaged. I might have to buy a new motor as the bearings have been noisy for a few years now. Luckily I am not too far away from RepairClinic who stocks both the OEM motor and a universal-fit motor.
I had the blower motor quit two summers ago--it froze up from age. OEM vs. universal fit motor--the universal was less than half the cost, but was the exact same motor (same manufacturer, same ratings and frame size). The only difference was that the motor shaft and wires were longer. The shaft only extends into the middle of the squirrel cage so there was not even a reason to cut it down. The inducer motor has less of a price differential.
4:00am this morning:
I had the blower motor quit two summers ago--it froze up from age. OEM vs. universal fit motor--the universal was less than half the cost, but was the exact same motor (same manufacturer, same ratings and frame size). The only difference was that the motor shaft and wires were longer. The shaft only extends into the middle of the squirrel cage so there was not even a reason to cut it down. The inducer motor has less of a price differential.
4:00am this morning:
