Deadly Cold (dryer, phone, winter)

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by chaosX5

This is a really good idea! I've got too many people in the house now to make that work but it could work for many people without too much inconvience........I wonder if it could be set on a timer?

possibly.. but ours only gets turned on every other day for a few hours at most...

[boonelsewhere]

hey that sound like a good idea to save energy, i am here by myself, the only time during the day i use warm water for is to wash hands.
the hot water tank have a vacation mode, i will put it on vacation and turn it back on normal on the day i take a shower. the washing machine when i set it to mixed load (too lazy to seperate) it set to use clod water anyway.

Originally Posted by starwalker

I am a cheapskate. I cut my electric bill in HALF in NC when I started turning the water heater off when I didn't need it. Water stays warm enough to wash hands and dishes for a day -- more in the summer -- so I did an experiment for a month, turning it off and when it got too cool -- or when it was time for a bath (not a daily thing, as I don't do physical labor for my job) I'd turn it on.

Just kept it up here in ME, as electric rates are MUCH higher here and I need the savings.

If we need a LITTLE hot water, there is a teakettle and the stove. When we get a wood stove, that will help too!

I raised my kids "beyond the sidewalks" in a primitive cabin, so this is no big deal for me. There I only had cold running water, at the best of times, or hot showers in the summer when the solar water heater worked outside. Bath day meant heating up kettles on the wood stove and filling the tub (like in the old days).

Admittedly it would be a stretch for most folks, but I am a strange one...

[BacktoNE]

Our actual temp is -18* this morning. Wind chill -42*. This is one of those days when I am so happy to be able to stay home and not have to worry about going to a job or taking kids places. Brrrrrrrrr

Molly is right. There is nothing wimpy about friendly reminders to stay safe.


Ranger, I don't know how you stand having it so warm in your house. Anything over 67* is too hot for both of us. I don't know how old your wife is, but hopefully as she approaches menopause, her metabolism will change and she will want the house a lot cooler.

[boonelsewhere]

i am in training for Maine climate, set the thermometer to 58 degree to acclimate my body to colder temperature.

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

i dont no about you but i hate it .if i had my way id keep the house at 60 or 65.i hate the heat the cold dont bother me.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by boonelsewhere

i am in training for Maine climate, set the thermometer to 58 degree to acclimate my body to colder temperature.

I'm training my body for summer! I have the heat cranked up to 78 today! (Mostly to try to thaw out the water to the dishwasher).

[mollysmiles]

I'm not a heat lover either--ick. I like it right around 66-68....

You can have your hot water heater put on a timer--it's a great idea! Program the times you'll need hot water, and if something unexpected comes up you can just override the timer

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

i dont no about you but i hate it .if i had my way id keep the house at 60 or 65.i hate the heat the cold dont bother me.

We were talking about this at the smelt shack last night. My buddy smokes these smelly little cigars and was courteous enough to smoke them outside of the shack. I joined him outside so he wouldn't have to stand there alone and marveled at the fact that even though it was below zero we were not cold standing there in just our sweat shirts. There was no wind so that helped . I have always said that I feel colder at 30 degrees than I do when it's below zero. It must have to do with the dryness to the air when it's very cold. We caught three dozen smelts.

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I'm training my body for summer! I have the heat cranked up to 78 today! (Mostly to try to thaw out the water to the dishwasher).

oh no! THAT would not be good in my house! Well, it might be ok for me, but not for the teens!

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by boonelsewhere

i am in training for Maine climate, set the thermometer to 58 degree to acclimate my body to colder temperature.

Funny! Me, too. I set the thermostat back to 68 last week from the 70-71 we usually keep it on after Molly and I discussed saving on heating oil by NOT having it smoldering in the house. We've had a nice cool spell with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 20s and 30s for the last week. It's been a good experiment.

We've all done just fine. I have taken the advice of putting on a sweater when I got chilled, and over night has even been very comfortable. I like the cool air to breathe and the warmth under the covers overnight. The kids have been wearing warmer jammies and staying covered, and they've done well, too. I think we're all set!

I've been watching the frigid temps up there, too! I KNOW we don't have warm enough clothes to keep warm on the really cold days, so I'm guessing for the few days that we're waiting on the moving truck to arrive, we'll be going shopping!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

oh no! THAT would not be good in my house! Well, it might be ok for me, but not for the teens!

It won't be that high too long(I hope). The feed to the dishwasher runs by the bulkhead door in the cellar which is the coldest place in the house. It always "catches" when it dips below zero. Even plastic over the cellar door doesn't help much. I have to heat up the house and blow warm air under the dishwasher until it thaws out. Usually I keep the furnace at 62 and run the woodstove to heat the livingroom and most of the first floor but it's pretty "tropical" in the house right now!