what to do w/o power in winter storm?

Parent Cafe
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<p>A major snow/ice storm hit our area today. In teh morning, our power went out for a couple of hours. As of right now, ther are still families, per TV reports, without power.</p>

<p>I know we could get into a car and use the in car heater to keep everyone warm. Of course, we will have the garare door open first. </p>

<p>What about the water pipes in the house? Do you: 1) let the water drip to keep the flow; 2) shut the whole house valve; or 3) go outside to shut the inlet from the meter? </p>

<p>What about re-heating up the house after the power comes back? Do you: 1) let the heater go as long as it takes; 2) let the heater rest a while every 30 minutes; or 3) keep the hot water running to help the heater?</p>

<p>Does the gas water heater need power to function? We could lite the gas cooking stove with matches. Could we keep the stove going to keep at least the kitchen warm?</p>

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Don’t do that. When the car’s not moving some exhaust gases could get inside the vehicle and you could all die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Seriously.</p>

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<p>Yes. If you are too cold, go somewhere else. Do not use the car. You’d run it out of gas anyway (if you lived to tell the tale).</p>

<p>I don’t know what kind of furnace/boiler you have. But we never let our furnace “rest” when heat comes back on after power outage, nor run hot water to “help” it (We have forced hot water heat).</p>

<p>Yes, you can keep the gas stove going in the kitchen. However, “they” always warn against leaving the stove on with door open to heat the house. I was never sure why. Maybe a fear of gas leak?</p>

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<p>How cold is it out?</p>

<p>In the past, we have just spent a lot of time under the covers (house got down to about 50 degrees), gone out to eat, etc. Some people find a hotel to check into overnight.</p>

<p>If it is below freezing, the power could be out for a day or two, and the pipes are thus in danger of freezing, you should consider going out to buy a generator in order to get the furnace going. (If pipes freeze, they can burst = big plumbing problems)</p>

<p>[cross-posted with JustAMom, see below]</p>

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<p>Although we live in a warm climate, we chose to have a direct-vent gas fireplace put in our house. It’s rated as a furnace, and doesn’t use any inside air; it vents outside while all the heat stays inside. We have a non-electric switch (not a remote control) and it has a pilot light - so it works beautifully even if there is no power to the house. Which I know, does not answer your questions, but I wanted to put in a plug for direct-vent fireplaces…</p>

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<p>about running the car - agreed. very very dangerous.
If you have a gas stove - do NOT light it and attempt to heat the house.</p>

<p>You put on lots and lots of clothes. Light candles safely if you have them. Have to have everyone sleep in the same bed - or at least double up. Three can fit in a queen bed.
If your whole area is out then stay put.
If the outage is spotty you might be able to find a hotel. When we lost power for several days a few years back - the hotels gave good rate to the locals and allowed pets to come as well.</p>

<p>You shouldn’t have to worry about pipes if your house is fairly new and the temperature doesn’t fall below freezing too far. If it gets below 10 deg then definitely leave the water dripping. </p>

<p>Sounds like you have a boiler. You should contact your heating contractor if the power is out for an extended period of time.
Hopefully, it will be back on soon.</p>

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<p>Dad II, where you located? I know Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have quite few people without power. SEMO is out for Thursday for the 3rd day in a row…</p>

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<p>Do not do this. Use it for cooking and to get some hot tea going, but not as a source of heat. If you do not have ventialtion, it could be dangerous. There is a reason gas fireplaces are vented outside. If you have one of those direct-vent gas fireplaces, see if you can flip the switch and get it going. Our fireplaces do not need electricity or matches to get them started if the pilot lights are on.</p>

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<p>3Q for the tips. We have power now and was just wondering “what if”. The temperature outside has been and will be staying near or below 32 F for quite a few days.</p>

<p>So far I have not seen any good idea about preventing pipes from busting.</p>

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<p>To prevent frozen pipes - keep the water dripping! We had two pipes burst last week - one we didn’t even know existed in an outside wall, and the other that was actually inside the house but had an outdoor draft through the wall. When we bought our house 21 years ago, there were some pipes running up inside an outside wall. After having them burst twice, we brought them inside the house where we could and installed a shutoff where they disappeared into the walls (they were only going to a sink in a closet). And it still burst! Why the other one took 21 years to finally go we’ll never know. At least we’ll get new carpeting downstairs (no basement so no other damage).</p>

<p>But both the plumber and the insurance company contracter said, just keep a drip going. Seems too simple but there you have it!</p>

<p>In the meantime we planned a March trip to San Diego…</p>

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<p>Sure you have. Two people have mentioned letting the water drip from the tap. As long as water is moving, it will take temperatures much, much lower and for longer periods to allow the pipes to freeze. </p>

<p>I would third the idea (or fourth, now).</p>

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<p>Do you have any shut off valves for the water? When I close up my cabin I shut off the main water valve that enters the house. Then I flush all the toilets and run the faucets to empty them of water that could sit in them and freeze.</p>

<p>If I were to loose power here at home for a couple days of 25 degrees or so, I might shut off the water to toilets and sinks in each individual bathroom, leaving the one in the basement operational. The earth around it does help to maintain a constant temperature. If any of the plumbing was on an outside wall I would also open the cupboard to keep colder air from being trapped there.</p>

<p>Colder than that or longer than that, I don’t know what my next step would be. I dealt with frozen pipes once out at the cabin and it was a nightmare.</p>

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<p>I live in a part of the world where we lose power a few times a year for several hours and occasionally several days.</p>

<p>Many communities will have shelters (i.e. high school gym) when the power, and therefore the heat is out. Our local YMCA offers hot showers for all community residents, no just members.</p>

<p>Plan to have candles and matches on hand, and preplan where you will put them. In my house, candles only go on the dining room table and the kitchen island. At bedtime, candles may be placed on the bathroom vanity. They may not be carried around and may not be used anywhere near anything flammable. You should also have flashlights and plenty of batteries.</p>

<p>Handwarmers from the sporting goods store will help you stay warm, and everyone wears winter clothes in the house. Including hats and socks, sweaters, and scarves. Retain the heat!</p>

<p>My pet shop offers emergency boarding for reptiles and birds at our regular reserved rates – bring your own cage and lights/heaters. We also sell microwave heating discs … nuke for 5 minutes, stays warm for 12 hours. We offer to heat them up as often as necessary for our customers. They’ll keep your cat or bunny or piggie or bird or iguana warm.</p>

<p>Use the gas grill <em>only outside</em> to heat up water or to cook. Having warm food is a major help. We also have disposable plates and eating utensils. We will lose our water when the power is out, and having dirty dishes piling up in the sink is annoying. This is also why you fill the bathtub – so you have water to refill the toilet tank so it can flush.</p>

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<p>for your pipes…turn both HOT and cold water on just a little in each sink…just enough for it to trickle out. Also…open the cabinets under your sinks if they abut outside walls. This will keep the air under your sink (where some of the pipes come out of the walls) at the same temp as your rooms. </p>

<p>Re: the house…don’t open doors to outside unless absolutely necessary. </p>

<p>Re: the heat…when the power comes back on…just leave the thermostat set at the temp you want. Don’t turn it on and off.</p>

<p>We were without power for four days a few years ago. It got chilly but we were fine. We also have a direct vent gas fireplace and we used that. In addition, we have a Kerosene heater that we CAREFULLY used when we were awake (placed next to a sliding glass door). Never leave anything like that unattended. We actually cooked on top of it as well (like a SLOW cooker). The temps in the house never got below 50 and it was both windy AND cold outside. Our house is very well insulated.</p>

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<p>I don’t get concerned with water pipes unless temps are mid 20’s for several days. Toilets yes because the expanding ice cracks the clay. A little auto antifreeze, a wooden stick, or auto windshield cleaner (alcohol) in the bowl and tank and sink drain traps.</p>

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<p>I would go to a hotel, that’s what I would do if we were to lose power. For 12 years I have lived in this town, we probably have lost power 2 times, and both times we got the power back in a few hours.</p>

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<p>Just curious Dad II…is this the first time in your life you have lost power in the winter? If so, you are VERY lucky. This happens here at least once each winter…but most of us New Englanders are prepared for it…lots of candles, batteries, paper plates, gallons of water, etc.</p>

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<p>The other thing many New Englanders have is a wood stove. Our power hasn’t gone out this year, but if it did we would all sleep in the family room where the wood stove is located. We can warm soup and water on the top of the wood stove, so with that and candles we would be fine.</p>

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<p>This is where camping gear comes in REALLY handy. Sleeping bags, battery-operated lanterns, a corded phone (i.e., not cordless) – if the electricity goes out, so do the cordless phones! – a propane table top stove (used outside), and we use our grill. In the winter, the basement stays at 55-60 degrees because it is below ground. We have five gallon jugs of drinking water, too.</p>

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<p>For those used to it, it’s not an issue. Keeping the pipes from freezing by leaving taps open a bit is the prescribed method. Make sure the drain is open. If it’s an extended period, and you have a bathroom over an unheated area, the drain elbows are also susceptible to freezing. Pour a bit of RV non toxic antifreeze (or use regular automotive antifreeze if you have to) in the toilet and tub. If the water is left running in the sink, don’t bother. The movement will keep the drain trap from freezing.</p>

<p>A fireplace (properly inspected and cleaned) will easily heat a room. If you must, everyone curls up there in blankets and sleeping bags. Tropical fish, reptiles, small mammals kept as pets with in tank heaters need to be covered with a couple of blankets to maintain existing temperatures as long as possible, but be aware you may well lose them over an extended outage. </p>

<p>Used judiciously and in conjunction with an battery operated CO2 detector a propane camping lantern will throw out a good amount of radiant heat. I am NOT advocating the use of a propane or catalytic camping heater in an enclosed environment, but IF you must, place it in the fireplace firebox, with the flue 1/2 open, and use only in conjunction with a battery operated CO2 detector.</p>

<p>Refrain from opening and closing the fridge or freezer maintaining the cold as long as possible. With luck, all you’ll lose is some ice cream. If it’s really cold, stick the frozen food outside in a cooler or two.</p>

<p>Those with well pumps are out of luck. There always should be a supply of drinking water on hand or prepared prior if the power is expected to go. For flushing, you’ll have one flush in each toilet tank, and that’s it. Again, a full bathtub and a bucket can be used to flush as required. </p>

<p>Existing hot water in the holding tank will last a while, depending on your system. Use it judiciously. </p>

<p>We have a generator, firewood/fireplace and below zero sleeping bags. We’re talking Dante’s ninth circle before we ever hit a hotel. :D</p>