What non automotive projects and repairs are you doing?

[volvolugnut]

Google " hose bib cover ". I see them used around here quite a bit on older homes. Only cost a couple of $$. You can also have frost free bibs installed in some cases. That's what I have in my house. But probably not able to retro fit them in most cases.

I used to have some of these covers, but over the years they blew away or got lost. I did not want to go shopping for them last week. I think what I did will work as well as store bought ones.

volvolugnut

[RickHaleParker]

I covered with a trash bag to waterproof and tied it all to the faucet with a wire poked through to the front of the box.

Hum ... wonder how much current through the wire would be enough to keep the water above freezing.

[Sveedy]

Well no doubt that your getting some freakish weather there. I see that they're doing rolling black-outs in Texas. I hope you have alternative sources of heat. I well remember power lines freezing and poles falling when I was a kid back east. To think that we still run power by stringing wires from pole to pole, which was the cutting edge mid 19th century..... Damn near criminal.

[volvolugnut]

Texas seems to have their own power generation grid system and do not connect to other states. I have read that some large wind turbines in Texas were freezing and are off line reducing power available. Locally, some of the power companies have said they have rolling black outs, but details are unclear. My small city has three power companies that may supply power, sometimes two in the same block. I do not have a backup power or heat source. I am not too worried. If we had ice and wind, I would be worried.
volvolugnut

[volvolugnut]

The weather in southern Oklahoma has improved greatly. Today is sunny and high temperature in the 50's F. The improvised water hose bib cover worked and there were no leaks or frozen pipes. Most of the snow is melted except where shaded or drifted.
volvolugnut

[RickHaleParker]

I do not have a backup power or heat source. I am not too worried. If we had ice and wind, I would be worried.

Take a spare engine and Genhead and build a CHP (Combined Heat and Power) .

[volvolugnut]

Interesting idea.

volvolugnut

[abscate]

The windmill story turned out to be people trying to blame the Green Agenda for their problems.

Combination of gas supply going off line, damage to delivery infrasturcture, and unprecendented low temperatures/high demand.

If you do put in frost free bibs, make sure you angle them down a bit so they drain.

[volvolugnut]

The windmill story turned out to be people trying to blame the Green Agenda for their problems.

Combination of gas supply going off line, damage to delivery infrasturcture, and unprecendented low temperatures/high demand.

If you do put in frost free bibs, make sure you angle them down a bit so they drain.

Yes, the original story about wind turbines may have had a grain of truth, but the real story for this was in gas supply reduced about 30% to gas powered electric plants and coal power plants having frozen pipes and instrumentation.

I have a brother in central Texas. He reports many houses there have water lines in the ceiling and newer, large houses have sprinkler systems. When these water pipes froze, water damage is extensive.

A city near my home reported double normal water use because of all the leaks in the city and private water pipes.

volvolugnut

[volvolugnut]

I have restarted roof trim board replacement on my house. The hardest part is hammering the claws of the pry bar under the old nail heads and then removing the old nails. I also fight the drip rail angle which is sometimes nailed to the roof sheathing under the asphalt shingles. I am finding some sloppy work from the last roofers. I have prepainted all of the cedar boards with primer and the gray topcoat. I prepaint to make it easy to get all surfaces painted and not have to us a ladder and edge paint tape. I will still touchup the nail heads, but that will be fast and easy.
volvolugnut