Fifty below zero in Fairbanks? (North Pole, Nenana: houses, construction, schools)

[Lovetheoutdoors]

I read that it's supposed to be fifty below zero in Fairbanks for about a week or so. Quick question - do you guys in Fairbanks have problems with freezing of water pipes or car not starting? I've been in cold before but never 50 below zero.

[icarian]

Not really...houses/water pipes/wells are built with this in mind. Now as some on here can attest to, if there is not enough snow pack for insulation, freezing of septic/well pumps/etc can and DOES occur. Decent snowfall this year, so hopefully is not a problem for anyone (or very few).

Cars...very superficial discussion on my part, but generally no (already had alot of -20 temps that have already weeded out most mechanical issues. Cars winterized (engine/tranny/oil/battery heaters galore). Flat spots on tires (for the first several miles), power steering lines broke (from cranking that steering wheel over before the fluid has had a chance to get its viscosity back), transmission leaks from thick viscosity (not so much an issue if you have a heating pad), and broke metal (hit a "big" bump and the springs/coils may/may not respond correctly) are the common issues I see when temps go beyond -35/-30.

Some of the others have been in AK a heck of a lot longer than me, but I imagine we have some common insights.

[Metlakatla]

What Icarian said...

I recall -50 being the temp. at which they would close the schools in the Su Valley.

Never had a problem starting the truck up there and I never plugged in; though a lot of people do. My well froze one year.

[michael11747]

Originally Posted by Lovetheoutdoors

I read that it's supposed to be fifty below zero in Fairbanks for about a week or so. Quick question - do you guys in Fairbanks have problems with freezing of water pipes or car not starting? I've been in cold before but never 50 below zero.

i know the deisel trucks which they use in mining and timber need to run constantly when it gets the coldest. this is common practice in the north.

[NatureCoastFL]

7-Day Zone Forecast for Middle Tanana Valley

forecast to be -50 possible tonight, and thursday night.

Right now its 113 degrees warmer here than fairbanks.....

[Glitch]

Only -50°F? Gee, that is short-sleeve weather.

[Barkingowl]

Fifty below sounds like great hot tub and sauna weather.

[RayinAK]

In reality, when the temperature drops below 20 there is the possibility of frozen pipes and such, but usually if there is a problem with the insulation around the pipe. For example, the water pipe from the well coming into the house usually is deep enough to stay thawed. In addition most have an electric heat tape running along the bottom of the pipe to avoid freezing. Even so, a coworker of mine had problems with this pipe freezing a couple of years ago, but this problems was caused by poor construction,as the pipe ran too close to the surface just before entering the house's foundation.

If the electricity goes out for a long period of time, the boiler can't keep the house's zones warm, which can in turn allow for all the pipes to freeze. One can always run a mixture of glycol/water through the boiler and heat pipes to keep if from freezing to around -20 or so. Since I burn wood in a wood stove for a few hours each evening, my boiler has such a mixture, since the zones on the second floor (split-level home) stay off from 6 to maybe 10 hours each day.

It has been around -40 in North Pole for the past few days, and this is how some areas around the town look:

Street by Pizza Hut

Santa's House (notice the fog by the right end of the photo. The ice fog is all around, wherever one goes).

Santa can handle the weather just fine
I apologize for writing my name right in the middle of those two photos. I did so because both are parts of a private business. If it was my own place, then I could post them without the logo in the middle.

[fairbanks101]

its currently -40 at my cabin and dropping. i forgot to plug in my truck last night and NO, it wouldnt start today for that reason, clutch or shifter wouldnt even budge.

But i dont have running water, all I have to worry about is keeping the frost chipped off the seat in the outhouse

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Lovetheoutdoors

I read that it's supposed to be fifty below zero in Fairbanks for about a week or so. Quick question - do you guys in Fairbanks have problems with freezing of water pipes or car not starting? I've been in cold before but never 50 below zero.

Currently here south of Fairbanks in the Tanana Valley flats, it is about -52 below.

If you don't pay attention to the weather just like anywhere else, it will bite you. Here the cars/trucks that sit outside that are going to be driven, are plugged in and have heat to the engines. The pipes are buried deep that need to be, the septic tanks have foam insulation on the tanks and piping to keep the frost from freezing them. House has triple pane windows and so forth.

School in Nenana is Optional at -50, closed at -51, for whatever that means... Kinda of the difference between being pushed off a tall building and Jumping....

You don't do a whole lot outside at those temp's, except dress really warm when you do go out for any extended time. You carry emergency gear in the car/truck if you break down, extra clothes and such is number one.

Splitting firewood is really easy though, one hit and the logs blow apart from the cold...