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by zdragnar 665 days ago
I think I prefer 100+ degree heat to -40. Where I live we often get both in the same year (though we didn't hit 100 this particular summer).

At least with the heat, you aren't worrying that your plumbing might freeze and burst a pipe in your walls if the power goes out.
1 comments
reaperman 664 days ago
Everywhere I’ve lived where it actually does get to -40, none of the pipes burst if you lose power for extended periods. First, they’re buried well below the frost line, and secondly, there’s usually an pressurized air inlet nozzle somewhere so you can open a faucet and blow all the water out if you’ll be gone for a long time.

Fun fact, -40 is the same in F and C so it’s fine to omit the units for once!

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zdragnar 662 days ago
It's not the pipes underground that you worry about, it's the ones in your walls. You don't really have the option of draining the water if you happen to be on a short vacation at the time. If it's overnight, you get to stay up all night wondering if you should do it or hold out hope that the power will come back on soon, since pipes in exterior walls (typically for the kitchen sink) don't have nearly as much insulation around them as do the rest of the house.
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reaperman 662 days ago
> You don't really have the option of draining the water if you happen to be on a short vacation at the time.

I know this sounds like I’m just arguing for the sake of arguing, and maybe I am … but everywhere i’ve lived that gets to -40 there’s been an incredible neighborly energy. This is a situation where I would 100% just call a neighbor to flush my pipes, even if I don’t typically get along with that neighbor.

There’s something about places where you have to shovel 1 foot of snow twice a day just to park your car in the driveway that leads to people just giving a helping hand whenever it might make a difference.

Idk, YMMV but the only place I’ve seen people pipes freeze and burst was in Texas. And that includes living places where school doesn’t shut down during a blizzard and -40 temps.

And yes, these places definitely can be very noticeably racist but even then people would still absolutely do this for a neighbor.

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