Do you prefer lack of power during cold or hot weather? (Howe: cost, safe)

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by AlGreen

....see how that works?

A lot of my family live in a place where the temperature goes up to the upper 90s everyday and most people don't have A/C.

Believe me, a cold shower can do some magic.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by Dopo

Believe me, a cold shower can do some magic.

Poof! Something just disappeared!

[OzzyRules]

WATER is another reason I would prefer summer blackouts. (1) There is more possibility of losing water altogether in the winter, and (2) having no hot water would be a lot easier to handle in the summer, because a cold shower feels a lot better in warm weather.

[L210]

People are comparing San Antonio to cities up north where it gets much colder. It was only 20 degrees outside which is very tolerable. We aren't suffering through a blizzard or sub-zero temperatures, but we do get above 100 degrees regularly during the summer and your body lacks the ability to cool itself down at that point. Taking a shower doesn't do much good unless you're going to hop in the shower several times a day in order to stay cool.

[AlGreen]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

WATER is another reason I would prefer summer blackouts. (1) There is more possibility of losing water altogether in the winter, and (2) having no hot water would be a lot easier to handle in the summer, because a cold shower feels a lot better in warm weather.

How about being without water in the summer? I'm sure everyone can agree that's far more dangerous than going without water in the winter.

Anyway, this thread could go on forever. Everyone will keep going back and forth, and there really is no right answer.

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by AlGreen

How about being without water in the summer?

That's not likely to happen from a power outage in the summer. Power outage is the only issue being discussed here.

[GlorifiedMalcontent]

Originally Posted by L210

People are comparing San Antonio to cities up north where it gets much colder. It was only 20 degrees outside which is very tolerable. We aren't suffering through a blizzard or sub-zero temperatures, but we do get above 100 degrees regularly during the summer and your body lacks the ability to cool itself down at that point. Taking a shower doesn't do much good unless you're going to hop in the shower several times a day in order to stay cool.

agreeing here. it seems like it's a lot harder to maintain a safe temperature in 100 degree heat, than it is in 20 degree (without power). can't say either are all that comfortable, but i have enough layers to keep me out of a danger zone in colder weather for long durations.

of course, this is referring to san antonio weather, which i assumed what the thread was about. i wouldn't be so savvy on the idea of losing power in pheonix in august, or chicago in february.

[OzzyRules]

It's more natural to live without A/C which has only existed for about the last 100 years of man's history. It seems like it's turning people into complainers whenever they don't have it. You think these people wouldn't have been able to manage in the past, before there was A/C.

At least the cold-heaters have the excuse that many modern houses and apartments don't even have a fireplace.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

It's more natural to live without A/C which has only existed for about the last 100 years of man's history. It seems like it's turning people into complainers whenever they don't have it. You think these people wouldn't have been able to manage in the past, before there was A/C.

At least the cold-heaters have the excuse that many modern houses and apartments don't even have a fireplace.

Fireplaces here aren't that useful. I have one in my mid-century house and I have yet to use it. In fact, the previous owner who built the house new told me that she never used it the entire time she owned the house. It is pretty to look at but that is about all I can say about it really.

I think most new homes being built here are without fireplaces, most people don't want to spend the extra money for that option and I don't blame them.

I think it makes more sense to have an outdoor fireplace.

[doss1]

Matt, it takes about 6-10k to have a fireplace installed into a house these days. And, they are not that effective depending on how big your house is and the size of the fireplace. Like you said, they are mostly built because it's pretty to look at and it increases the value of the house.

However, something much more effective than a heater and fireplace is a traditional wood stove. They cost about 1k and can be put almost anywhere in your house. You will have to stack a a little chimney (very easy!) out for the smoke. Let me tell you..a wood stove is AMAZING. The heat is phenomenal and it's much more safe than a fireplace. My friends that have one in the hill country do not have a heater, but they have a wood stove and they spend NADA for heating. The wood stoves can be purchased at places like NORTHING TOOL, etc.

I can't wait to go with this approach when I build my new house. We pay more for heating than A/C, so it's a no brainer to do this, imho. It's also very nostalgic looking.