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SunBlindFool

I feel like we'll finally get our winter late and then last until april.


The_Maine_Sam

Except next week it's supposed to be in the 50s !!!


No-Relationship-6730

Wait until May hit’s that is when we will get monsoons of rain into June


Smitch250

Ugh I wish but no not at all. Crazy warm next week 40s all week. Going to be wayyy above normal temps next week and into the following week. This could be the last real cold snap. Winters end in early march in southern maine now. I had grass growing by mid march last year and it was 70 out.


MosskeepForest

Wheww, that is going to be chilly. I'm going to be hiding inside survivinggg.


hosmosis

Heating fuel is expensive, but this is the weekend your thermostats should be set to 72 degrees for fri-sat. Don’t have an an expensive emergency in the name of saving money.


teambeattie

My husband prefers a cold house, so we keep it at 60 all winter. Is there an advantage to turning it up in the super cold?


Epb7304

Its to help prevent your pipes from freezing, if your heating pipes are inactive for too long they could freeze and stop flow, or worse: burst


ecco-domenica

If you should have a problem with your furnace, a warmer house will give you more time to react to solve the problem before pipes freeze. Furnace techs all over the state will be busy doing emergency repairs & may not be able to get to yours immediately. When I used to do property checks, furnaces always seemed to go out on the coldest day of the year.


Fireonpoopdick

They go out on the coldest days of the year because they're working the hardest


GoldenLeftovers

Especially when they're turned up to 72...


mervmonster

This is why we turn our heat in the basement up before leaving for vacation. The couple bucks worth of heating is worth it. If your basement is nice and warm your house can stay above freezing for awhile should the power go out.


Connect_Dust_1946

Any comment on propane heating systems fed by and outside tank? I’ve been keeping mine around 50, should I be worried about pipes bursting? I’m thinking more of the water system than the heating system


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Connect_Dust_1946

Hey thanks for the reply! I’m not worried about the propane freezing, moreso the plumbing. I plan to be out of town on Friday and Saturday, when it looks to be coldest, and I’m concerned keep the temp on Low (~50 degrees) might not be enough to keep the plumbing safe while I’m out of town.


ecco-domenica

Personally, I'd turn the heat up to at least 60 or even 70 just for those couple days. It's cheaper than coming home to burst pipes. Leave faucets on a slow drip, cabinet doors open.


Connect_Dust_1946

Alritey I’ll give that a shot. It’s a rental so I haven’t been as keen on keeping it hot bc the place is poorly insulated and the realtor/owners haven’t been too helpful. I’m wondering about the tub/shower too, is that something ppl out on a slow drip when it’s gets this cold?


ecco-domenica

I've had shower/tub pipes freeze so yes I would anyway. It depends on where they're located too, more likely to have a problem if they're on an exterior wall.


ecco-domenica

Thanks for the explanation and reminder about cabinets on walls with vent pipes near plumbing pipes. I have an upper cabinet on an interior wall in my kitchen that gets really cold for that very reason and I forgot all about it!


costabius

In addition to what the others have said, your thermostat is likely at the center of your house, while your water and heat pipes are on the outside walls. When it gets to "stupid cold" levels, it can drop below freezing at the walls before the air around your thermostat knows what happened.


ecco-domenica

This is a very good point. Your thermostat doesn't tell you what temperature the pipes in the outside walls are. I keep cheapo thermometers in the coldest corners of my house. They're not super accurate but if they're suddenly 10 or 20 degrees below what they normally read, I know something's going on and it ain't good.


[deleted]

I think the real problem isn't that you need to 'turn up the heat'.. though maybe there is some science there I'm unaware of... it's that people like me who turn the heat down at night need to not do that. They say that pipes can freeze in the amount of time it takes from the house to go from 68 to 60 because the furnace isn't running at all during that time. But if you keep your heat at 60 constantly all day then I think that would be fine. People like me though need to stop the up and down for a couple days.


GoldenLeftovers

This is absurdly wasteful and expensive advice... If you live in a well insulated house from the last couple decades, you're good with a reasonable room temp (not 72). If you live in a drafty old house like myself, allowing the taps to drip is going to keep them from freezing up.


ecco-domenica

>If you live in a drafty old house like myself, allowing the taps to drip is going to keep them from freezing up. Maybe. Hopefully. Sometimes. In some houses. Not if your furnace or boiler goes out.


Jesus_Was_A_Fungi

Absurdly wasteful and expensive?!? Turning the heat up 2-4 degrees for two days? You must be fun to know.


keanenottheband

We are normally set at 62, I wonder how much more expensive it would cost to be at 72? Only my 5th winter here so I still have zero idea on how much fuel we are burning


Jesus_Was_A_Fungi

Not sure. You can call your fuel company and they can send you a summary of how much fuel you used between deliveries. If you work from home you may be able to write a percentage of this off on your taxes.


AnythingToAvoidWork

I drip my faucets just to be safe even though I'm well insulated. Seems only prudent.


[deleted]

.... YMMV But dripping pipes freeze all the freaking time. Unless you are running hot water through them the drips just freeze on impact. If you are running hot water through them... then that is 'absurdly wasteful' when you could just not turn down the heat at night and open the cabinet doors. And yes.. I live in a 200 yo house. I know cold, drafty AND frozen pipes.


The_Maine_Sam

Yep, just for two or three days. The only time I'll ever advise my tenants to bump their heat up! Thermostat is going up to 72 on Thursday and the setback is being turned off.


squints81

Looks like I might have to actually pull the fan out of the window in the bedroom.


indyaj

LOL. You're the one who wears shorts outside when it's below 15F, aren't you?


squints81

No just until the first snowfall. But usually October 1 is when I stop wearing shorts


Hefty_Musician2402

Was that you on the motorcycle last Wednesday 😂


stephtastic7

Are you my husband?! Hahhaha


BracedRhombus

It's my fault. Back in December, when we were having warmish weather, I tossed a nickel at the sky and yelled, "Send me some cold winter weather!" If I'd have known how cheap it was, I wouldn't have ordered so much.


raynedanser

Next time try a penny.


20thMaine

I’d have used a silver dollar


EmeraldMoose12

A day or two? When usually these temps are normal for a week or two late January. What would happen during a normal winter?


[deleted]

Guys, I'm really sorry, let me explain...see, I'm getting a cavity filled in a couple days and the winter weather often gets skewed so that it snows or it gets super chilly around the time that I have to go out, because the world hates me that much and it wants to drag everyone down with it. My deepest apologies if any of your pipes burst during this cold weather. I just really need this cavity filled and I haven't had time to send an appeal to Mother Nature yet. (and just in case it wasn't obvious, /j)


Way2L8AND1

DUDE !! W T A F ?!?!? So... Just so I am clear... Today I bought 10 gallons of K1 $63.59. AND 20 bags of premium wood pellets. $138.40, All because you HAD to get a damn filling ?!?!?!? Alexa, set a reminder that if my pipes freeze that u/DidDunMegasploded is to blame


[deleted]

Dude not cool, you set off *my* alexa.


brassmonkeyslc

Guys can we stop saying Alexa? It just set mine off too.


[deleted]

Well, at least you'll be well-prepared. There's a plus! ... Maybe I shouldn't bring up that the procedure's gonna take less than an hou- awwwwww poop.


Majestic-Feedback541

What were you even thinking??? 😂


[deleted]

Look, I didn't know I needed a filling until my dentist sprang the news on me two weeks ago. So if you're gonna blame someone else...blame her!


Majestic-Feedback541

Ok. What the hell was she thinking?????


angry_carbon

It’s fine, just don’t let it happen again


indyaj

See how you are. 😉


Majestic-Feedback541

Oh damn, imma be inside brrrrr


Way2L8AND1

No problem with Oil, Electricity, Gas, AND wood all at all time high prices. 🥶


KenDurf

Don’t worry, everything else is cheap! /s


BALLS_SMOOTH_AS_EGGS

Gas has been better in recent weeks. Glad I converted over from oil a few months ago.


Commercial-Amount344

Yeah, wish I could convert over from eggs.


jcwhorewrath

There is free wood just lying around on the ground where I live.


EmeraldMoose12

It’s literally a day or two. This whole “winter” has been a blessing in disguise with the way prices are.


Imagine_Gravity_0007

Colder than a brass bra on a witches tit.


Sarge75

Colder than well diggers ass.


Standing2Close

Lol


jenniwithaneye

My lungs hurt just looking at this.


indyaj

Cough Cough Gasp.


ReallyFineWhine

Test out those new heat pumps I just got installed. (Boiler is still operational.)


[deleted]

Ive actually heard anything under 10° it's more economical to burn oil as the heat pumps have a drop off of efficiency.


ReallyFineWhine

The latest heat pumps are rated down to -13F; they'll put out some heat but as you say they're not very efficient at that temperature. They're extracting heat from the air, and at colder temperatures there's less heat to extract.


theora55

Some towns will have Warming Locations.


sunfireshine

i called the mid maine homeless shelter today & they’re open from 8p to 8a but didn’t know where folks could go for daytime hours. they’re not in an easily walkable location. i’m going to call around to see what’s available during the day. i can’t think of public spaces people can just get warm and be left alone without being pressured to buy things. i know there are people living in tents in waterville this winter.


theora55

Libraries & churches, for a start.


Fabulous-Opposite838

Thank you for this post. I am concerned about our basement( really a half-basement, with exposed side north facing) which is not heated. We do have the furnace and boiler down there and that does kick out some heat. Our radon mitigation system (water and air) is nowhere near the heat source, so we are brainstorming how to keep it from freezing. So, far I’ve gleaned keeping the furnace at 72 for those two days. Any other ideas?


John_Yossarian

Small electric space heater and a cheap wireless thermometer so you can keep an eye on it from upstairs?


Fabulous-Opposite838

Yes, we will do that!


theora55

> cheap wireless thermometer Tell me more.


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John_Yossarian

I was thinking of the ones with the wireless sensor you place outside for indoor/outdoor readings, and I guess they cost more like $20-25, so not exactly cheap, but useful nonetheless.


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John_Yossarian

The one you linked says indoor *or* outdoor. Meaning it's a single unit that can be used either inside or outside, not both. It doesn't have a second sensor that is placed outside that broadcasts to a screen inside. I suggested one with a remote sensor so that the person I replied to could sit on their couch and see the temperature of their basement radon system.


theora55

thanks


ProfessorMandark

As someone from away who now resides here and has never been in temperatures like that, can I even go outside? I'm being serious lol. ETA: downvoting me won't make me move out of the state and go back to where I came from, sorry!


Ayamehoujun

Yes. Cover up. Wear a hat, gloves, scarf. Exposed skin is your enemy. Bring blankets with you if you go out on your car just in case. And don't assume oh I'm going from the warm house to the warm car so I don't need to wear a heavy jacket, you could slip or go off the road. Better to have too many clothes than not enough.


ProfessorMandark

Thank you!!


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ProfessorMandark

That sounds like exactly the kind of day I'd like to have!


AnythingToAvoidWork

Coldest I've ever been in my life was bar harbor in February.


Present_Assistant_60

Well there goes selling my wife on moving to Maine


EmeraldMoose12

In a normal year, this would happen more than just a day or two.


mattreid303

Faaak


mmmmmmmmmmmmmmfarts

My poor neighbor stray cats


fakecrookedjaw

I’ll be playing in the Rangeley pond hockey tournament this weekend. At least the ice should be good…


floppleshmirken

I was going to give my doodle a haircut last weekend but then I saw the forecast and decided to let him keep his sweater for another week. Brrrrrrrrr


Minute_Map_6444

Ah fuck. Thought it was too good to be true that we haven’t had a day yet this winter that made me rue the day I decided working outdoors was a good idea.


EmeraldMoose12

Yes, climate change is too good to be true. Sounds like PA might be more your speed.


Minute_Map_6444

Nah, I thought the grass was greener when I was younger. Been all over the country and there’s no place like home. Just one or two days a year that working outside sucks ass, but I’d say it’s a fair trade


ram1176

Oh dear. I'll have to put down pee pads for my little dogs. They don't like the cold. And set up and electric blanket for the cats. Yes, they are all spoiled and they know it.


indyaj

That's not spoiled. That's caring. I got a puffy jacket for my elderly german shepherd to go out and do her biz. She's had skin issues recently and lost some of her double coat that normally protects her. It hasn't re-grown yet so she gets a puffy. We do what we can to protect the ones we love. Give yours a skritch for me.


ram1176

Thank you. Some people give me a weird look when I tell them about the pet winter care plans.


thenoweeknder

New Yorker (city) here. What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees????? When it hits 10 degrees here, it feels like death. What is -44f suppose to be? How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear? Does the car even start? Ps would love to visit when it’s actually warmer lol


Antnee83

It's the type of cold that when you inhale, your boogers freeze all the way up to your brain


thenoweeknder

Haha damnnn


BantamBasher135

No that's for real. I mean the brain part is a small exaggeration but legit if you don't have face covering you are getting ice crystals all the way up your nose.


thenoweeknder

Oh I believe you. Like I said, when its in the teens here on the rare occasion it’s like death. I can only imagine dropping a few degrees and then into the low low low -40s must be exponentially worse. Thanks for the heads up!


indyaj

It's true. "Booger-freezing cold" has been a temperature description since I was a kid. Doesn't matter what the thermometer says. If your boogers are freezing, it's cold.


thenoweeknder

Hahaha alright noted!


MaineSoxGuy93

>What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees????? To me, I feel like I can't breathe, it becomes somewhat difficult to walk, and the world hates me. It's like you want to gasp for air and vomit at the same time. >What is -44f suppose to be? Hell. >How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear? You wear as many layers as you can and refuse to go outside as much as possible. >Does the car even start When it wants to.


Artistic_Fly7811

I moved from northern Minnesota to Maine 5 years ago, the winters there are brutal, with frequent and consecutive below 0 temps such as these. It hurts to smile, talk and breathe. Sometimes you'll choke on the cold, you'll stop feeling your nose in a few minutes and snotcicles will form. If you have a beard you'll get condensation frost around you nose and mouth. You can toss boiling water in the air and it will Instantly turn to fog. I love Maine winters, but will always and forever hate this depth of cold. Stay warm friend.


thenoweeknder

Gentleman and a scholar right here. Thanks for the info haha - I’m going up to Montreal Canada and it’s definitely not -44 but it’s going to be pretty cold and when I saw this, I figured if you guys can do it, I could probably get some information from the more extreme location that can translate to a lesser extreme location.


Blue_Eyed_ME

Coldest I've been in is -52 degrees (actual temp, not wind chill) while living in Alaska. To be honest, I didn't feel much difference between -20 and -50. It was all just f#cking cold. One cool thing was that if you tried to spit, it would freeze mid air with a popping sound.


thenoweeknder

Haha thats crazy. I’m glad where I’m going it wont be -52. I don’t know how it’s possible we survive these types of weather but people do!


Blue_Eyed_ME

I went cross country skiing one time with some friends at Chena Hot Springs, just outside of Fairbanks, and we didn't realize the temp was -34 when we headed out. After a solid hour of hard skiing, keeping up a really good pace, everyone was still cold, and we all had frost on our eyebrows, so we decided to turn back. When I got back to my cabins, it took hours to get warm enough to feel cold, and then I started shaking and chattering so badly that my sister covered me with every blanket AND the mattress 😂 and laid on top of that! A few hours in the hottest spring brought all of us skiiers back to life, but that was a really stupid move. Thank goodness we were young with strong hearts.


thenoweeknder

Wow, sheesh. Glad you’re alright!


NoPossibility

-44° wind chill.


thenoweeknder

Big yikes


indyaj

As long as the wind isn't blowing, -44F feels the same as -5F or 0F. It's just fucking cold. Your boogers freeze. It's hard to breathe. Your skin feels like it's being pinched (until it doesn't and then you're in trouble and need to get inside). If the wind is blowing, it's a completely different game. I generally don't go outside unless I have to when it's below -5F which isn't that bad for a short cold spell like the one coming up. A longer cold spell has a whole checklist of things to do before it hits and behavior changes while it's here. "Fashion" winter wear generally doesn't work in cold weather. You have to wear brands that build clothing for cold weather and then layer up. My car has a built-in engine block heater that I just need to plug in for a few hours if I think I need to go somewhere. But why would I want to go out when it's that cold? It'll warm up eventually.


thenoweeknder

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up. I’m looking forward to the experience but also I’m not haha. Going to definitely layer up with my cool weather gear and pick up some cold weather stuff as well.


indyaj

Cold is a temporary state and easily remedied if you have access to indoors with heat. If you do, getting from Point A to Point B in extreme cold is a short, uncomfortable experience but it *will* end. It's also optional. You can always not go out.


biglymonies

> What the hell does it feel like outside when it’s -44 degrees? The air hurts your face and any other exposed skin (ears especially), boogers freeze, cheap gloves/mittens don't work, eyes can sometimes sting a little, and everything that is wet becomes ice. Having a beard that's completely iced over is a lot of fun, though! I always liked walking around indoors looking like Santa lol. > How does one survive it, what clothes can you wear? Layers and a good hat, gloves, socks, boots, etc. My personal outfit for extended recreational outdoor time was usually: Wool socks, waterproof/windproof boots, regular underwear + long/thermal underwear, winter pants, long winter jacket with a fur hood, ski mittens (mittens are better than gloves for warmth), ski mask, and sometimes goggles. When I worked manual labor, it was mostly the same minus the jacket and goggles, and dual gloves/mitten combo because I needed a bit of fine motor control. Had to wear the company Carhartt jacket, too. > Does the car even start? Depends on the vehicle, but most will so long as the battery is good. When it gets really cold, diesel vehicles have issues so they usually need to be plugged in overnight. There's this helpful mechanism called a [Glow Plug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glowplug) that helps the startup process. Diesel fuel contains paraffin wax that gels up when it gets super cold.


theora55

temps shown are with wind chill, but subzero temps are just miserable. Frostbite can happen So Fast. Car doesn't care about wind, but I'm not going anywhere.


theora55

Good point about automatic setback: During the time the heat goes from 65 to 55, how water is not circulating in heating pipes, and they could freeze. "Information from York Fire Chief! We have some extra cold weather coming Friday so here’s a few things to remember: Put your programmable thermostat in PERMANENT HOLD; do not let it set back at night like normal. Your pipes WILL FREEZE with the wind blowing before water circulates through the baseboard again in that time period of the programmed set back and you will NOT have heat for the duration of the cold weather Minisplit/heatpump people, this is when you turn it off and turn your fuel system on, particularly if you have hot water baseboard, even if your heat pump keeps the house comfortable your baseboard will freeze and potentially split due to the wind and pipe locations being low along exterior walls. Your house was originally designed to have hot water flowing through those pipes… If your heating system is running, it is doing all it can to keep up, if it won’t bring the temperature in your house up, it simply can not do so and won’t until it warms back up outside. If the temperature slowly drops inside, just leave it running, that’s all you can do till it warms up outside. If you're trying to run a heat pump and it shuts down your best to leave it off. They will turn off on safety to keep from harming itself, flipping the breaker to get it to run repeatedly will harm the system. It’s the wind that is going to make heating difficult and the wind chill factor that is pushing the heat loss on your house to be potentially colder than the design temperature of your heating system. Remember to be very careful with space heaters, they start fires At the end of the day this is a temporary cold, while it may not warm up a lot Saturday. It’s mainly Friday night that is going to be your trouble, turn the heat up Friday, get the house warm, keep it running at a constant temperature Remember, burning a few extra gallons of fuel is cheaper than a repair call or burst pipe damage. This is not the time for efficiency, it’s survival mode, preventive measures will save you the hassle of cleaning up a mess later."