Winter Storm

[topgun2]

Probably most members and readers of the Forum are aware of the "brewing" winter storm that is forecast to hit the southern states this weekend. 

But, for those that are not - it is forecast to start Friday over in the mid to northern Texas area and move through Oklahoma and Arkansas.  Then on Saturday morning it moves over Tennessee, the northern part of South Carolina, and North Carolina.  Continuing through Saturday and well into Sunday the storm then moves slightly north before exiting off the coast in the mid Atlantic region.

While totals of snow are as high as 18 inches, it is the ice that will cause many problems - downed power lines and roads that are very difficult to clear.  For those not familiar with the southern States - many simply do not have the equipment to deal with either the ice nor the amount of snow that is forecast. 

If anyone and or their Ollie is in this area of the country, NOW is the time to prepare for this storm.

Be careful and best of luck to everyone in dealing with all that is to come from a winter wonderland.

Bill

p.s.  HERE is one forecaster's take on the storm

[routlaw]

Excellent warning Bill. We are used to this sort of thing in our neck of the woods but people in that area certainly are not. Saw the pattern for the storm late last night thought oh boy buckle up down there, looks like a doozy. 

[Steph and Dud B]

Good luck to all in the path of this storm from your friends up north.

[topgun2]

Yep - 

Just heard from a friend in State College, PA that they are expecting 11 to 12 inches.

But -11 to 12 inches is much different in PA as compared to VA, TN, SC, NC who (for the most part) do not have the equipment, personnel or infrastructure to deal with these things.

Be careful out there.

Bill

[Steph and Dud B]

The warmup band just started playing in CT and the plows are running. Expecting the main act Sunday.

[topgun2]

Good news (at least for the more southern states) it appears as though the storm track has moved a bit further to the north.

Bad news (at least for the southern states) this could mean more ice down there.😮‍💨

Bill

[Patriot]

Just checked our forecast here and it appears freezing rain and a chance of a wintery mix forecasted with no significant snow fall accumulation. Certainly all subject to change.  3 years ago when we had our 24KW Generac installed, I still remember a few neighbors thinking it was sorta crazy to spend money on something we hope we never have to use. 🤔 The power does not go out that often which is true however, when it does it sure is nice to have a backup/contingency plan. The freezing temps are predicted to be diving down into the lower teens for the next week or so at night here in Western NC.

Suffice to say, during extended power outages with no heat it does not take long for a home to cool down and pipes to freeze. Eventually food in freezers with no ⚡️will expire. For times such as these we are really glad we got our LNG fueled Generac installed. 

Stay Prepped, Stay Safe and Stay Warm!

 

Edited Thursday at 01:55 PM by Patriot

[srthomsen]

1 hour ago, Patriot said:

Just checked our forecast here and it appears freezing rain and a chance of a wintery mix forecasted with no significant snow fall accumulation. Certainly all subject to change.  3 years ago when we had our 24KW Generac installed, I still remember a few neighbors thinking it was sorta crazy to spend money on something we hope we never have to use. 🤔 The power does not go out that often which is true however, when it does it sure is nice to have a backup/contingency plan. The freezing temps are predicted to be diving down into the lower teens for the next week or so at night here in Western NC.

Suffice to say, during extended power outages with no heat it does not take long for a home to cool down and pipes to freeze. Eventually food in freezers with no ⚡️will expire. For times such as these we are really glad we got our LNG fueled Generac installed. 

Stay Prepped, Stay Safe and Stay Warm!

 

On my wish list!

[rideandfly]

We have a heat pump here in southern NC and have a question, has anyone here experienced damage to their heat pump or familiar with damage to a heat pump from excessive freezing rain/sleet/snow build up on the unit's fan and exposed components?

 I'm thinking about installing a temporary 4'X4' tarp about 2' or 3' above the unit during the storm to keep excessive amounts of ice out of the unit. Since we've lived here winter storms have not been as bad as local news stations are forecasting this storm to be. 

Thanks,

 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:11 PM by rideandfly

[CRM]

Can't hurt as long as you don't restrict airflow.

[rideandfly]

11 minutes ago, CRM said:

Can't hurt as long as you don't restrict airflow.

Agree, planning to have 3/12 pitch (new at this) and making it easy to set up/take down along with compact storage.  Will see!  🙂

Thanks,

[Patriot]

3 hours ago, srthomsen said:

On my wish list!

No regrets here! 👍🏻

Edited Thursday at 06:26 PM by Patriot

[topgun2]

rideandfly - 

Given the temps that are forecast, when we had a heat pump we would have been on "emergency/backup heat" which didn't use the external heat pump unit.  However, with one of those newer "fancy" units, they work at lower temps than ours did.  If that is what you have and the forecast for sleet/ice is correct then I'd also do what you are thinking.  Obviously, you should give the "tarp" or whatever you use on the top good enough support - sleet/ice is heavy, particularly in the amounts that is forecast.

Bill

[Steve Morris]

3 hours ago, rideandfly said:

has anyone here experienced damage to their heat pump or familiar with damage to a heat pump from excessive freezing rain/sleet/snow build up on the unit's fan and exposed components?

We have a 15 year old heat pump in northern Ohio w/5000W heat strip auxiliary. I don’t remember the SEER number, but it was an average unit when installed, not a high efficiency model. 
 

We’ve had snow piled on and around it, coated with freezing rain, ice, etc., and have never had an issue. Ours has a reversing valve that sends heated coolant back through the heat exchanger to help with ice buildup, but it’s not a complete solution. Very rarely do I need to go out and break ice off, more for my own satisfaction than a real need. It just keeps on chugging. 

[rideandfly]

@topgun2 @CRM & @Steve Morris, Appreciate the replies! 

We have a newer heat pump installed and it does a good job heating with our winter temps in southern NC. 

Thanks,

 

[Steve Morris]

Actually, thinking back to when we had the heat pump installed, it could not be under any structure. The original heat pump was installed on the edge of a patio, and then some time later the owners added an aluminum awning. When we replaced the heat pump, we couldn’t put in in the original location because code said it couldn’t be under the awning several feet overhead, even though it was right at the edge of the awning. So we had to pour a pad to the side for installation. 

Edited Thursday at 07:54 PM by Steve Morris

[Steve Morris]

Here’s the usage chart this week. Orange is heating and red is emergency/auxillary electric heat strips. Temp has been single digits to the 20s, with wind chill as low as -10. The thermostat is set at 63 degrees. 
 

It’s a comfortable 71 degrees here in the Florida panhandle. 😁
 

Edited Thursday at 08:01 PM by Steve Morris

[rideandfly]

1 hour ago, Steve Morris said:

Here’s the usage chart this week. Orange is heating and red is emergency/auxillary electric heat strips. Temp has been single digits to the 20s, with wind chill as low as -10. The thermostat is set at 63 degrees. 
 

It’s a comfortable 71 degrees here in the Florida panhandle. 😁
 

That's interesting about the location of the heat pump & code. That's a neat graph, too!  

Hope the forecast improves, will have a better idea tomorrow.

[Patriot]

A recent update on the weather. I wonder if this guy providing the forecast actually breathes? 😄🤷‍♂️😄

Be Safe! 

 

Edited Thursday at 10:09 PM by Patriot

[John Dorrer]

Indianapolis is now looking at 7"-8" of the fluffy stuff, though the forecast is for single digits and below zero wind-chill. That may keep the amount down. We shall see. Guess it is what it is🙃

[Steph and Dud B]

Our state (CT) emergency management office just advised us that southern states could have a major ice storm (1"+) that could pull linemen out of our area for a couple of weeks to help restore power down there. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Meanwhile, we're expecting to to 20" of snow up here.

[Steve Morris]

6 hours ago, rideandfly said:

That's a neat graph, too! 

It’s an old Emerson basic WiFi thermostat with the Sensi app.

Edited Friday at 03:46 AM by Steve Morris

[topgun2]

8 hours ago, Steve Morris said:

t’s an old Emerson basic WiFi thermostat with the Sensi app.

I have no clue to what you're saying but it really sounds neat!😅

Bill

[Patriot]

After having more than my fill of the latest “state of the art” weather forecasters, here is what we know so far. 🙄 😂

 

Edited Friday at 12:35 PM by Patriot

[John Dorrer]

Been through 3 barn burner storms. January 27, 1967, 23"+ and 50 mile winds with 20' snow drifts.

 

January 1978, 36"+ with over 50 mph winds and drifts reaching 20', and 1979, 23"+ and drifting.

 

Looking like 8"-10". Hoping they are wrong.