Well. We're heading toward the coldest part of the current massive freeze. It's about to start snowing and the temperatures are starting to head down to a predicted 9°. Swimming got cancelled this morning, not because the pool isn't functional but because there is slick ice on most of the roads in Austin and it would have been unsafe for the coaches to get there.
That's all okay. We're having a fine time settling in after a day of trying to find everywhere cold might get into the house and studio and then fixing it. I've made a few discoveries that seem to be working for me.
The house stays nice and warm. The gas furnace seems to do a great job keeping the house at 70° with lots of umph in reserve. We have the fridge and pantries well stocked and the faucets dripping away with both hot and cold water.
The office/studio is a bit different. I only have a small, oil filled, radiator style, electric space heater in there and while it's great for our usual 40-50° winter weather, and serviceable for an occasional romp into the 30's, it seems to be overwhelmed by the 20's and teens. The space (about 650 square feet with high ceilings) is very well sealed and insulated, and all the windows are double-paned but without a big enough heat source it gets uncomfortably cold and I'm not yet resigned to working on my computer in a parka with mittens on my hands. The mittens, as you northerners probably know, make it hard to hit just the right keys on the keyboard.
I thought I'd sit for a while, give the situation some thought and conjure up some temporary fixes, and a few things that came to me under duress seem to be panning out well.
At some point, when LEDs became reasonably attractive light sources for domestic lighting I went through and replaced all of the lighting fixtures in the office with them. I put all the older, incandescent bulbs in a box. Today, I went through and changed them all back. Even though there aren't that many they seem to be helping to maintain a more livable temperature even as the cold blows in from the north.
With success on that front I ate some dark chocolate with almonds and sea salt and meditated about heating some more.
The next thing that came to me was the realization that I have four monolights which each take a 150 watt, tungsten modeling lamp. I pulled out one fixture and aimed it under my desk. Now my feet are happy and warm. The glass desktop keeps the heat from rushing toward the high ceiling too quickly and seems to be sufficient to keep my fingers flying across the keyboard. My toes inside my hiking boots are toasty warm.
With success on that front I pulled out another monolight and stuck it into the equipment closet where, incidentally, the water pipes run through the south wall. I've got the monolight about four feet from the back wall and it's doing a good job keeping that small space acceptably warm. I have two more monolights but I think I'll take one into the house because the one space I like to sit and read in is the furthest corner of the living room from a heater vent and closest to a row of double French doors which, no matter how well weather stripped they are, seem to be less sealed than say, a sheet rocked wall.
I think I'll put one of those monolights on a shorty stand and aim it at my feet for that little touch of....ahhhh. Should make some evening novel reading a bit more comfy.
One choke point for me, while coming and going between house and studio, is that the 15 feet of walkway is totally exposed to the ravages of the north and quickly gets icy. The one thing I forgot to stock in yesterday was a bag of rock salt or a bag of sand that I could use to treat the stone expanse. I thought about it in a panic this afternoon when I almost slipped and spilled my hot tea on the way back into the office. Then I looked over on the floor near the studio door and saw five film/photography sandbags. Four of them are 30 pound bags that are permanently sealed by one is a Tenba bag that's about 20 years old and has two compartments which seal with zippers. The bag is refillable. I originally bought it for travel. You could dump all the sand out, stick the bag in the luggage for plane travel and the refill it on arrival.
I filled the bag once, years ago, and never did put it on a plane. But today I unzipped it and found 20 pounds of beautiful, dry sand, just ripe for the spreading. I used the sand from one of the two compartments and now have both a safe passage way between domicile and work and also a reserve supply of emergency sand in the other compartment. Nice.
One more equipment note. You might not know this but if you park your car outside during an ice storm the windshield and back window tend to get covered with ice. I've already been cautioned a few times NEVER to pour boiling water on the iced windshield unless I want to drive in the bracing fresh air without the protection of an intact front barrier, but we've never had to buy a "windshield scraper." I wouldn't even know where to get one... and one day deliveries from Amazon aren't happening in Austin right now so I could not order one.
Not to worry. I have found that plastic lens hoods are marvelous for the task. I try to keep that big, rigid plastic one I have for a 82mm filter size lens that's long since gone on to a different home in the car now in case I need a quick scrape. And it did dawn on me that it might have been a mistake to skip the heated front seats in my new car..... But since I have no talent for driving on icy, slippery roads it's more or less a moot point since I won't leave the property for the next 24-48 hours unless there is an emergency or a half price sale on Leica SL lenses....
The chocolate is keeping me alert, the monolights are keeping me warm, the "professional photographer" sand is keeping me safe, and the lens hoods are keeping my windshield clear. Any other multi-use photo tips for my cold weather edification? They'll be happily accepted.
Ben, who is temporarily housing with us these days, is cooking his famous (and insanely good!) Pasta Carbonara for dinner tonight, along with a fresh green salad. Belinda and I are making lava cakes for dessert. There's a nice Cabernet Sauvignon for the main course and a bottle of Prosecco for the desserts. Seems like we've been able to engineer a fun Valentine's Day after all. And the howling wind outside adds just a touch of danger and excitement to the evening.
Hope you are staying warm, happy and engaged in your own homes. I know the weather is worser and worser (I know that's not correct!) the norther and norther you go so my best wishes go out to all of you north of us. In a week it's forecast to be back in the 70's here. For once I can hardly wait.
Kirk out. (No longer shivering at the keyboard. Oh the sacrifices I make....).
28 comments:
Your car will be fine -- and it probably has an ice-melting setting for the windshield (blasts hot air directly onto the inside of the windshield.) You don't have to melt all the ice, just the first couple of millimeters, then you can more or less push it off.
Try not to use rock salt on your sidewalk. It doesn't do the grass any good, and (if used too much, which shouldn't be a problem you have in Austin) can damage the concrete. You can get a couple of different non-salt alternatives that work better and are safer for you and the environment. Although, truth to tell, a couple applications of salt probably won't hurt anything.
Pro-tip from Minnesota: If you have to go outside for a while, any kind of a scarf around your neck will make a huge difference in your comfort level. And be sure to wear a hat.
An additional totally unwarranted and unnecessary comment. When I was working as a reporter at the St. Paul Pioneer Press, we had an informal winter storm rating, called the M*therf*cker Scale. A 1MF was hardly worth discussing -- maybe a storm that was in the process of delivering a couple inches of snow with temps in the lower 30s to upper 20s. Actually kinda nice, fresh snow for the cross-country ski trails. A 2MF was maybe 2-6 inches of snow with colder temps, solidly in the 20s, reaching down to the upper teens at night. Not too bad. A 3MF was serious. More than six inches followed by deep cold in the single digits (it often wasn't all that cold even with lots of snow, but lots of snow was usually followed by a big drop in temps and clearing skies.) A 4MF was a dangerous storm -- schools all closed, streets a mess, snow plows pulled off the street, airport temporarily closed, often high winds coupled with single-digit temps both above and below zero. A 5MF was an out-and-out blizzard. All of the 4MF closings plus maybe 15+ inches of snow, bitter, below-zero temps, high winds dropping the wind chills to double digits below zero. I think the MF scale has to be adjusted regionally; what would be a 1MF in St. Paul is probably a 3MF in Austin. Provided as a public service.
I live in Canada, which has on occasion been cold. Growing up I lived in a place where it regularly got down to -60°F, but also to 110°F in the summer. Early on I came to the conclusion that that was an unreasonable place to live, and now live in Vancouver or on Vancouver Island. Some years we don't get snow, but it gets down to freezing every year. Yesterday and today was our first real snowfall of the year, and it's beautiful, but since it's now over a foot deep, I don't think I need to be anywhere else even though I have hundreds of thousands of kilometres of driving experience on snowy and icy roads and have a 4wd with snow tires. In two or three days it will start raining, maybe for weeks and the snow will vanish rapidly and things won't be as pretty anymore.
As far as your situation, I think you're good to go. Having hot lights at hand might not help your photo business much, but they're amazing at putting out heat. I also have a number of lights up to 1000W that can be very useful in some spaces. Just watch the total loads on each circuit. If you've taken care of your water lines, the rest should be no problem. Reading near a window with an extra sweater on is just fine, or putting an extra blanket on the bed. If you don't have actual winter snow tires, don't try driving; it's just too risky, and think of all the other people out there with 'all season' or summer tires, hurtling your way!
As for scraping the windshield with a credit card; maybe only one you won't need for a bit. I've broken one when it got cold enough. If you're careful something like a putty knife works well, just don't damage the seals around the window. You can't hurt the glass. Water is a bad idea even if it's not really hot as it will readily run into places that need to move, freezing them up.
On windshields and outside car mirrors. Plastic bags over the mirrors work. Rubber bands on them to hold in place.
Plastic sheeting over the windshield and closed in the car doors will give you an easy take off ice protector.
If you don't protect the windshield fold the wipers up, off the glass. This will prevent their icing and sticking to the glass.
You live too warm for winter specific tires but Nokian WR-G4's are "All Weather", not all season and do well in rain and mud and wet grass as well. If you do drive in snowy areas they have the Mountain Snowflake symbol that shows Highway Patrol and safety stops that you don't need to chain up. We are cold with long winters. WR-G4's on one pickup and top of the line Nokian winter tires on the other. Winter tires are better on snow and ice but I can go through the winter with the G4's and be comfortable in all but the worst ice and snow.
Isn't it nice to get double use out of your Hot Lights? LowelLights are really good for this.
I hope the coolant in your car is rated for the temps you're getting.
Brian in (-30c) Alberta
My final know-it-all tip: get some of that fireplace wood inside. Build the first fire even if you don’t light it and have ready access to wood for a refill. Every gas furnace we’ve had in recent decades was useless in a power failure (think ice and snow bringing trees down). No electricity, no fan to clear the chamber before ignition. No heat. The external vent fan may also protect against carbon monoxide. I dunno. But in each case, the fan ran for several seconds before the furnace ignited. No fan, no ignition. Cold.
The TV is talking -15 F in Amarillo tonight. Not bragging, just thought it might make you feel better.
Semi-totally off topic, but...you mentioned reading a novel. Ever read Mick Herron's series? As you're the author of "The Lisbon Portfolio", the series might be right up your alley. It starts with "Slow Horses". Good way to while away a cold snap.
Blogger Gato said...
The TV is talking -15 F in Amarillo tonight. Not bragging, just thought it might make you feel better.
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Want to bet that is Wind Chill and not actual air temperature?
I'm hoping it's wind chill. I saw some numbers here that said we're going to have 35 mph wind gusts here and the wind chill temps would be minus 5 to minus 10 range. Ouch. That's just dangerous for all us Texans with thin blood. Doesn't affect those Canadians whose blood is thicker than Ketchup. Stay safe everyone!!!
Lens hood scraper - brilliant! I think McGyver has a lot to learn from you :)
If you haven't done so already set up a small fan in the studio and aim it slightly upwards and against a wall. This will aid the convection process by circulating the heat from up high downward towards your stored equipment. Now, as long as the power stays on....
good thought Ronman, I have just the thing. Studio is now warming up. I found a lot of cracks and breezy intrusions and spent part of the day weather sealing. It sure makes a difference.
From above:
Anonymous said...
Blogger Gato said...
The TV is talking -15 F in Amarillo tonight. Not bragging, just thought it might make you feel better.
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Want to bet that is Wind Chill and not actual air temperature?"
Nope. That's temp. Wind chill is supposed to be somewhere around -25 depending on whose forecast you read.
Record low for Amarillo is -16 in 1899. Record low for the Panhandle is -23 in Tulia, also in 1899. That ties with Seminole for record low in Texas.
Regarding ice on the windshield and mirrors: during arctic outbreaks I would start the car, crank up the defroster and blast it on the windshield. Then go make some coffee. Since the air was cold at first it gradually warms the windshield. Blowing already hot air on a cold windshield can crack it -- I know from experience.
You have a Subaru -- and most models have heated mirrors. Check your owners manual.
DavidB
Sitting here in New Hampshire, the newscast says rolling blackouts in Texas because the wind farms are frozen. Wow ! Didn't
see that coming !
Tom Foster
To get rid of frost on my vehicle’s Windows, I warm up the vehicle for a few minutes, high heat, full defrost/defog. This loosens up the frost. I then remove the melting crystals with a squeegee. One suggestion I read about is to spray some 70% alcohol solution on the vehicle windows before frost forms on it, to lessen the amount of frost, and make it less sticky on the glass.
It's eight o'clock, the sun is super bright, and we've got two to three feet of snow everywhere (but only outside). It's still 9°
We've got one more day and night of super dangerous (to us) lows and then it warms up a bit.
All good here so far. Thanks for all the good tips. Coffee tastes even better when it's ice cold outside.
Many gas hot water heaters continue to operate in the absence of electricity. If you lose power you can fill the bathtub with hot water and huddle around the tub. I found this out some years ago here in NY during a five day outage due to an ice storm. Wife and kids went to the mother-in-law but she would not allow our dog in her house, so I camped out indoors for the duration. (She and I were like oil and water, but that is a very different story).
Update: Up around Amarillo we woke up to temps around -9 to -12 F with about 3 to 6 inches of snow. For whatever that's worth.
I've had several Subaru's - all have had a setting that directs heat to the windshield so as to unstick the wipers. I'm in NW Connecticut where we have over two feet of old snow on the ground and snow/freezing rain/rain coming on. Best advice is not to drive. Driving on ice is bad enough and folks in your parts typically don't have winter driving experience. Couple that with the attitude that a 4WD vehicle can speed through anything (we see them upside down in a ditch more often than not)makes driving pretty dangerous. I've been driving in winter conditions (started in Syracuse, NY - a real winter horror show)for over fifty years and my best advice advice is to stay home until it all melts.
Peter, thanks. I won't be able to leave the driveway unless I buy a snow plow. Even the trucks that treat the streets are sidelined today. Always best to stay home but there are always Yahoos that decide to fire up the pick up truck and go out to find beer or something. We see the trucks dotting the streets; usually stopped via the courtesy of a fat phone pole or a retaining wall.
When I lived in Toronto and parked outdoors, we had frequent freezing rain. I got into the habit of keeping windshield wiper fluid in a spray bottle on the front porch. I would never scrape ice, just start the engine and turn on all the windshield defrosters, then walk around the car spraying the cold windshield washer fluid on the windshield ice. Then sit in the car listen to the radio for a while. Eventually, go back outside and gently tap the windshield with the brush side of your scraper/brush. The ice starts to break off in chunks and simply slides off the car. Lots of people choose to scrape, but it's no faster. Many people choose more difficult ways to do things, it's some leftover Puritan thing.
Outside mirrors are slightly more difficult if they are not heated, but I've noticed that heated mirrors are more and more part of the standard equipment package for even the least expensive models.
I park inside now but few of my neighbours do because their garages are packed with stuff. I throw old stuff out. Pays not to be a hoarder.
My brother once tried to tan using flood lamps from our 8 mm movie camera, but all he succeeded in doing was to ruin the finish on his dresser. The hot bulb was too close to the wood.
It was 50 below in Ely, Minnesota yesterday, wherever that is. Some Elyites may be wintering in Texas now.
The news coverage makes life in Texas sound like Guderian's retreat from Moscow. I've been paying particular attention to the Financial Times, of all papers - today's headline is "Texas starts blackouts as frigid weather sends power prices surging." They also have a handy graphic that shows the temperature in Austin reaching 32F...next weekend. Be very careful of frostbite if you go outside; the damage can be kind of permanent, as the toes on my right foot like to remind me whenever we have a cold snap, like the past weekend.
Chuck, we've NEVER had wind chills in Austin as low as -15°. Never. Even wrapped pipes are freezing. Millions are living through this without power at all. We're still getting power here and we have gas water heater and stove if the power goes out but three of our four outside faucets that were insulated and wrapped have frozen over and I have a sneaking suspicion that we're going to have a real mess on our hands when the weather warms back up. I count us as lucky since we're currently warm, have water, food, etc. I'm also calm about potential plumbing and tree damage because we can afford it but my heart goes out to million of Texans who will miss work, paychecks, etc. and who will be financially devastated by this cold weather. I just hope everyone stays safe and warm and that we've done (collectively) a good job of pulling the homeless off the streets and into shelters in time.
Don't drive until this passes. Without winter tires, driving in snow and ice is suicide, especially if you've never done it before. We have a big storm coming tonight, lots of snow expected to hit in the next 24 hrs. I'll be digging out the driveway after work tomorrow. I have a truck, four-wheel drive, and winter tires. I've been driving in this stuff all my life so it's no big deal for me. Ice scrapers and snow shovels and rock salt is just part of everyday life that I don't even think about. The buildings and heating systems up here in Canada are built for long winters the way buildings in California are earthquake proof or homes in Florida are hurricane proof. We're plenty warm at home in the winter months, my truck has heated seats and steering wheel, lots of winter apparel in the closets. While our summers are hot they don't reach into triple digits so I imagine a week of 110 degrees would be a problem for our power grid. Think of it as an adventure. You'll be back in short sleeve shirts in no time.
One more reason to own one of the oft-lambasted overheating "handwarmer" cameras!
Hang in there Kirk. We've a foot of snow on the ground at 750' in western Washington, which is as deep as we've seen since moving here in 2014. Beats being 50 miles south though, where ice is taking over and breaking things.
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