pennwalk
Veteran Member
I have never tried it but I have heard that if it gets cold enough you can use your pressure washer to make snow. Now THAT would be Christmas decoration.
Chris
Chris
Good morning!!!!
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Popgadget
Elite Member
Good Morning.
It’s 30 with a high of 40 for today under clear skies and breezy. Yesterday was grey and damp with a little over 1/2” of rain. The ground is getting pretty squishy.
Yesterday’s breakfast was followed by a trip to Costco, then the rest of the day was in the shop puttering around doing things like changing the batteries in the outside temperature sensors and cleaning up. Never got to the tractor.
I was awakened at about 4am this morning by a text message from the generator telling me that there was a power outage and it was running. Got another one in about 45 minutes letting me know that the power was restored and it shut down.
Today is a quick trip to Newport News early this afternoon. Want to get to the grocery this morning to get ingredients for a pot roast that I’ll put in the crockpot in the shop for tomorrow night’s band get together. A good christening for my new “kitchen” countertop.
When I built this place almost 40 years ago, I made the decision to be able to exist without outside utilities for an extended period, but my strategy was unconventional at the time. I built it to be as tight as possible with sprayed Urethane insulation, triple pane casement windows, etc and a lot of attention to detail in sealing it up, reducing the amount of energy required to heat and cool it. I am entirely dependent on electricity, using it for pumping water, making heat with a ground source heat pump, lighting, cooking, pretty much everything. So I included robust backup systems with multiple layers. In the last four decades we have weathered hurricanes and ice storms with power outages lasting over a week at a time without a hiccup. To make it as efficient as possible, there is no provision to burn wood (or anything else) for heat, as I viewed a chimney as a draft that I could eliminate.
I sometimes miss having a fireplace, I have plenty of wood that I end up giving to my neighbors, but I can’t deny how well everything has worked without one.
It’s 30 with a high of 40 for today under clear skies and breezy. Yesterday was grey and damp with a little over 1/2” of rain. The ground is getting pretty squishy.
Yesterday’s breakfast was followed by a trip to Costco, then the rest of the day was in the shop puttering around doing things like changing the batteries in the outside temperature sensors and cleaning up. Never got to the tractor.
I was awakened at about 4am this morning by a text message from the generator telling me that there was a power outage and it was running. Got another one in about 45 minutes letting me know that the power was restored and it shut down.
Today is a quick trip to Newport News early this afternoon. Want to get to the grocery this morning to get ingredients for a pot roast that I’ll put in the crockpot in the shop for tomorrow night’s band get together. A good christening for my new “kitchen” countertop.
When I built this place almost 40 years ago, I made the decision to be able to exist without outside utilities for an extended period, but my strategy was unconventional at the time. I built it to be as tight as possible with sprayed Urethane insulation, triple pane casement windows, etc and a lot of attention to detail in sealing it up, reducing the amount of energy required to heat and cool it. I am entirely dependent on electricity, using it for pumping water, making heat with a ground source heat pump, lighting, cooking, pretty much everything. So I included robust backup systems with multiple layers. In the last four decades we have weathered hurricanes and ice storms with power outages lasting over a week at a time without a hiccup. To make it as efficient as possible, there is no provision to burn wood (or anything else) for heat, as I viewed a chimney as a draft that I could eliminate.
I sometimes miss having a fireplace, I have plenty of wood that I end up giving to my neighbors, but I can’t deny how well everything has worked without one.
pennwalk
Veteran Member
PJ, Why are there so many crooks in the world? Why is it so hard to make an honest buck?
Chris
Chris
m7040
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 3,722
- Location
- Frederick maryland
- Tractor
- Kubota M7040, MF 203 industrial, ZD331, RTV 1100 , Kubota Minix excavator, Unimog 404
You were very forward looking 40 years ago when you built the house and that is paying off in the long run both in energy cost and the ability to keep going during outages. Living in a 200 year old house we have limited options but fortunately power outages are pretty rare. If they last more than a few hours we will hook up the inverter Honda to keep fridges and freezers going but it will not run the AC or the well water pump. The wood stoves work without power so we can always stay warm and the propane Vulcan allows us to continue cooking just fine. One time living in Texas we had to move into the motorhome for a week following a hurricane. Houses there were set up for AC and the windows were fixed and could not be opened. Talk about cramped living conditions with 9 kids and 4 of them in diapers
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txdon
Super Star Member
Good morning! 32˚F frosty, heading to the mid 50s.
Wngsprd, I have the same insurance co. as my brother but it will be several months before my policies need to be renewed. If they go up 50% I will be looking also.
Mostly the 8 minute fitness burn is harder than I thought, my legs start to burn on the stationary bike and I can sustain my heart rate at 115 but they expect you to reach your max heart rate, mine is calculated at 140. I will have to slowly work up.
Drew, Mom had her propane tank filled at $2.99 a ?, don't know if it is sold per pound or gallon. The gauge only shows % still in tank and they never fill it past 80%.
With all underground electrical and natural gas for heating, the only time our electricity was interrupted was during the 2020 February when 2 hour rolling blackouts that lasted for a day and a half.
Wngsprd, I have the same insurance co. as my brother but it will be several months before my policies need to be renewed. If they go up 50% I will be looking also.
Mostly the 8 minute fitness burn is harder than I thought, my legs start to burn on the stationary bike and I can sustain my heart rate at 115 but they expect you to reach your max heart rate, mine is calculated at 140. I will have to slowly work up.
Drew, Mom had her propane tank filled at $2.99 a ?, don't know if it is sold per pound or gallon. The gauge only shows % still in tank and they never fill it past 80%.
With all underground electrical and natural gas for heating, the only time our electricity was interrupted was during the 2020 February when 2 hour rolling blackouts that lasted for a day and a half.
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txdon
Super Star Member
Yikes, that's the week the "farm" will be open every day for the kids on Christmas break and I am subject to work. Now during the week the petting zoo people give a short tractor trailer ride every 30 minutes so the older, retired tractor drivers are just scheduled for continuous trailer rides only on weekends, until December 16th - 24th. Thanks for the warning so I can prepare.
RedNeckGeek
Super Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2011
- Messages
- 8,754
- Location
- Butte County & Orcutt, California
- Tractor
- Kubota M62, Kubota L3240D HST (SOLD!), Kubota RTV900
Good Morning!!!! 45F @ 5:15AM.
A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 50F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The rain seemed late, not starting here until 2AM. The winds did deliver on the forecast promises, though. Had to bring the hummer feeders in on the south side of the house because they were being slammed into the sliding glass doors. Got pretty wet doing so. The wind just pushed the propane BBQ off the back porch and turned it over. Not going any further, so it can ride the rest of the storm out just where it is.
Hope the winds hold and your skies remain blue, David.
I've been using UPS units from APC for many years now. The batteries seem to be a weak link, as they seldom last more than a few years. My plan is to replace the current crop of batteries with deep cycle marine batteries from WalMart as they fail. Cheaper than what the manufacturer offers, and triple the capacity/run time. When shopping for a UPS, make sure to get one that produces "sine wave" power. Computers and other sensitive electronics will thank you for it.
That's pretty shocking news on the job front, Paul. Anything you can do documentation wise to insure your reputation remains unsullied?
Glad your generator is holding up, Drew, but hope you don't have to use it much longer.
Got new tires for the truck while I was in town yesterday. I was happy to find them in stock, but I sure didn't like the price. Also got some large patches to try and fix the flat on the side-by-side, but had to go to another store to find the right glue.
Hang in there, gang, Friday's comin'!
A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 50F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The rain seemed late, not starting here until 2AM. The winds did deliver on the forecast promises, though. Had to bring the hummer feeders in on the south side of the house because they were being slammed into the sliding glass doors. Got pretty wet doing so. The wind just pushed the propane BBQ off the back porch and turned it over. Not going any further, so it can ride the rest of the storm out just where it is.
Hope the winds hold and your skies remain blue, David.
I've been using UPS units from APC for many years now. The batteries seem to be a weak link, as they seldom last more than a few years. My plan is to replace the current crop of batteries with deep cycle marine batteries from WalMart as they fail. Cheaper than what the manufacturer offers, and triple the capacity/run time. When shopping for a UPS, make sure to get one that produces "sine wave" power. Computers and other sensitive electronics will thank you for it.
That's pretty shocking news on the job front, Paul. Anything you can do documentation wise to insure your reputation remains unsullied?
Glad your generator is holding up, Drew, but hope you don't have to use it much longer.
Got new tires for the truck while I was in town yesterday. I was happy to find them in stock, but I sure didn't like the price. Also got some large patches to try and fix the flat on the side-by-side, but had to go to another store to find the right glue.
Hang in there, gang, Friday's comin'!
daugen
Epic Contributor
Don, 3.99 at TSC this morning here, much better deal where you are
txdon
Super Star Member
Is it sold by the pound or gallon?
Some noise reducing ideas for your generator/home.
3 ways to soundproof your generator - Property24
Avoid getting slapped with a fine and keep the peace by blocking out generator noise using these soundproofing solutions.
www.property24.com
Mark P.
Silver Member
Good Morning Everybody, currently 42° going to 52°
PJ - you are the kind of man we need running this country..with Popg as your second....
Daugen - hope electricity comes soon.. If you walk down the lane and see what happened take a pic..
Hope everyone has a great day..
PJ - you are the kind of man we need running this country..with Popg as your second....
Daugen - hope electricity comes soon.. If you walk down the lane and see what happened take a pic..
Hope everyone has a great day..
