Editor’s Note: I live in Wyoming in an “all electric” apartment with no fireplace. Although we are not experiencing bitter cold yet, I have decided to invest in a Mr. Buddy heater running from a 25 gallon propane tank ( the kind you use for your BBQ grill).

I purchased these from the local Wal-Mart for around $110.00 which is mighty cheap considering being that cold! If not used, these items will be returned and refunded.

Consider you plan of action when heating fails, make preparations so that you can stay…

InJoy!

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It’s not much fun living in a “winter wonderland” if it’s too cold to go out and enjoy it. Add power failures into the mix and you have a recipe for emergency situations.

The Grand Solar Minimum is being blamed for this “polar vortex”, but regardless of what is causing it, we have to live with it.

This video discusses the issue, which could be considered a crisis if folks are not able to deal with it safely.

The note below addresses heating your home in plummeting temperatures folks may find helpful. (comes from an East Coast company) I would imagine HVAC companies will be overtaxed dealing with furnaces that have a mal, and there could be pipes that burst, cars that won’t start, school closures, burgeoning homeless shelters, all kinds of interesting scenarios many have never had to deal with before. Being Canadian I’ve been there… done that. Don’t miss it—except at Christmas.

This record-breaking system isn’t strictly a North America problem; it’s widespread and everyone needs to be prepared to deal with all sorts of “new” challenges.

I won’t tell you how nice it is here in Arizona.

Good luck, stay safe everyone, and remember to check in on the elderly and disadvantaged.  ~ BP

Helpful Hints

January 28 at 7:04 AM

I own a heating company and wanted to share this for all.

Monday night through Thursday we all will experience temperatures and wind chills that our homes’ heating systems are NOT designed for. -20 to -30-degree temperatures with wind chills into -40 and up to -50+.

Newer homes will struggle to maintain temperature and older homes will NOT maintain temperature and the temperature WILL drop while the heating system is working at full capacity.

1. Please raise the temperature in your home on Monday, 2 to 4 degrees above your normal setting.
2. Take all programmable thermostats out of setback mode and set on a permanent HOLD.
3. If you have a furnace; replace the filter. 
4. Keep garage doors closed.  
5. Limit opening exterior doors.
6. Make sure air vents and radiators are not blocked or obstructed.
7. If you have a 90%+ furnace and boiler: You must keep the intake and exhaust clear of ice and snow. During these cold temperatures, ice can build up. A 90%+ furnace and boiler have 2 white PVC pipes; an exhaust pipe and an intake pipe that are generally on the side or back of your home. In some instances, they are on your roof, do NOT go on your roof to clear the pipe.

If the temperature in your home is dropping and your radiators are HOT with boiler systems or you have HOT air coming out of your vents with furnaces DO NOT PANIC. Please make sure that your heating system continues to operate.

If the temperatures drop in your home, it will not be able to recover until temperatures rise and the windchill diminishes. Our heating systems cannot overcome temperatures -20 to -30 with wind chill up to -50+. They are sized to operate at 0 degrees outdoors. Put your thermostat on hold 70 degrees or higher.

To help minimize temperature loss you can boil water, make soup, or stews; they help introduce humidity and warmer temperatures into your home. DO NOT USE YOUR OVEN or a GRILL TO HEAT YOUR HOME. Please check on neighbors and elderly residents during these extreme temperatures. Stay warm and safe this week and share this email with any of your family and friends.