Last day before the big freeze.

I've got extension cords strung out to my greenhouse and my cactus all boxed up, hopefully I can keep them above freezing. Added more antifreeze to my tractor and the old truck I'm not driving now, everything else should be ok. My hot water heather is on my back porch, I've wrapped it in a sheet of cardboard to keep the wind off the pipes. The cats usually sleep on top of it bit I'm thinking I'll fix them a box big enough for them all to pile up in. The dogs will probably sleep in the shop. I should sweep all the shavings up into a pile for them. I installed a new shower last year and I'm thinking I need to crawl under the house and be sure I got those pipes wrapped. I'll spend part of the day rounding up firewood. Maybe I can get a little work done in the shop before it gets too cold because I suspect I won't be out of the house much before Monday or Tuesday.

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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

You drive a vehicle without antifreeze? I plugged in my truck last night because it was 23 below F and an hour and a half later it fired right up. By the time I got out to it a few minutes after I started it it was putting out heat. In short order it was nice an warm when I drove to the store for some Christmas shopping.

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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

@robb65 A number of years ago I rescued a young fellow on a frozen highway. It was about 20 below and his radiator froze as he drove. When he noticed the temperature in the vehicle was going up he sped up thinking the extra cold air would cool it down. Long story short - he took the engine out. If he had pulled over and put a blanket over the radiator it may have thawed out. An expensive lesson.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@hippyjoe1955 I had that happen once. My '54 chevy froze up back around '84. Best I can remember I caught it before it got out of the yard, or at least was close enough to make it back home. I think it dropped down to around 5 that year. I was in trade school then and they canceled school because they were having problems with the gas supply.

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

@robb65 I had an old 63 chevy pickup that froze its rad. It was about 40 below at the time. I knew what it was right away and shut it down. I found an old news paper in the cab and covered the bottom half of the rad. Once it thawed out I drove it home without issue. I added some more antifreeze that night. It tested good to 45 below when I was done.

smileylovesgaming · 31-35, F

Like 6 degrees here but it feels like -12 and it is getting colder by noon

nacnud · 36-40, M

I take it you are in the US and preparing for the weather bomb. Given how cold it is due to get I'd have some bottled water available in case the mains freeze. Stay safe.

ChampagneOnIce · 51-55, F

I hope you bring your pets inside with you to keep warm!

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robb65 · 56-60, M

@Stereoguy I'm thinking I have a piece of Styrofoam that will be just about right to insulate the bottom.

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therighttothink50 · 56-60, M

oh my, cold temperatures in the winter..

SW-User

Hope your cactus stays safe.

robb65 · 56-60, M

@SW-User I think they will be ok. I've brought them through two or three winters by putting them in a wooden box with light bulbs but it hasn't been this cold in years. This year I had to lay some of the taller ones down in order to close the box up and I added some insulation to the box. I may try to check it late tonight and if I need to I can find some blankets or something to add on top of everything. One thing that had me worried earlier is this winter a few of them were almost twice as tall as the box but I solve that one by rearranging things so I could lay them down.

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robb65 · 56-60, M

@Stereoguy There's insulation on the pipes, mostly. The cats sometimes climb the pipes so the insulation is shredded in places. There's also a blanket over it.

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robb65 · 56-60, M

@Stereoguy I'm gonna leave everything running, I'll even rig the toilets just to be sure. A piece of pine straw under the flap is just about right.

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