Jump to content

2020-21 Winter weather; bring it on


Parliament

Recommended Posts

Update:  About to see if my life will go well (pun intended) or suck over the next hour or two... about to try and re-pressureize house water from the well.

Why do I feel like Evel Knievel before his Snake Canyon jump (or that "earth is flat" guy)?

Spigots I think are more or less clear, but hard to say... water came out of a few, but drips (the south bib trickeled, then ran good for about 30 seconds, then stopped... but again, I have no house pressure, so not sure if it did it due to an ice clog or just losing all the pressure).

I will report back hopefully with good news.

 

Weather Update:

STFU!!!! No one wants to hear jack shit about the weather.  Yep, neither do I.  So here's the forecast:

Melting continues until about 7 tonight.  Stops, light freeze, then tomorrow starts AND DOESN'T FUCKING STOP, NIGHT OR DAY, UNTIL WE'RE DRY AS  A PANHANDLE COUNTY 'S LIQUOR LAWS.

Good enough.  Good luck, we're all counting on me (and you!).

  • Hook 'Em 5
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update:  About to see if my life will go well (pun intended) or suck over the next hour or two... about to try and re-pressureize house water from the well.

Why do I feel like Evel Knievel before his Snake Canyon jump (or that "earth is flat" guy)?

Spigots I think are more or less clear, but hard to say... water came out of a few, but drips (the south bib trickeled, then ran good for about 30 seconds, then stopped... but again, I have no house pressure, so not sure if it did it due to an ice clog or just losing all the pressure).

I will report back hopefully with good news.
 
Weather Update:
STFU!!!! No one wants to hear jack shit about the weather.  Yep, neither do I.  So here's the forecast:
Melting continues until about 7 tonight.  Stops, light freeze, then tomorrow starts AND DOESN'T FUCKING STOP, NIGHT OR DAY, UNTIL WE'RE DRY AS  A PANHANDLE COUNTY 'S LIQUOR LAWS.

Good enough.  Good luck, we're all counting on me (and you!).

Hope it goes well for you. I’m in the same boat, and honestly a bit nervous about whether my repair on a 1/2” cpvc line is going to hold under pressure. I’m waiting until tomorrow though when danger of another freeze has passed.
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If local places and Amazon start running out of plumbing supplies, joint glue, caps, sleeves, whatever, I’d be happy to see what’s in-store up here and mail it out.  If that helps anyone. Would be cheaper if I could send a box of shit to one place and it gets distributed from there, I’m sure. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

If local places and Amazon start running out of plumbing supplies, joint glue, caps, sleeves, whatever, I’d be happy to see what’s in-store up here and mail it out.  If that helps anyone. Would be cheaper if I could send a box of shit to one place and it gets distributed from there, I’m sure. 

I would like 3 of these:

hqdefault.jpg

Even if my house blows up, I'll go out a happy man.
(haven't gone out yet to re-pressurize well, waiting for wife to get off work phone - sound familiar?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

Folks are still without power on Westlake Drive. 60 hours and counting. 

yeah my son is in a student apartment in san marcos.  Their power went out monday morning and stayed out until thursday around noon. then quickly off and been off since. When the power came back on it broke something. What? We don't know. Can't get any information. They're nice new apartments so the lowest temp indoors was around 46. I was going to go pick him up yesterday but he assured me he's fine and didn't want to chance it. He's tired of the dark (no candles) and cold food.  I found an asian place that was open and they delivered he and his roommates dinner wednesday and yesterday. Hoping tonight is the tonight they fix the problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, SubliminalHorn said:

I am guessing around 2 AM Monday morning is when it went out

 

6 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

That's about where my sister is.  2222 and Mt Bonnell.  Four crews out working on it since yesterday and still haven't gotten it fixed.  Pure chaos.

I have two friends who live off Crestway and they've been in the same boat.  Weird little pocket of Austin that got the worst of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, hookemATL said:

Where can I find pho in the Parmer/Dessau area?  Or a place open in Cedar park?  My brother is being stubborn as fuck telling us to stay away, says he has plenty of (cold) food and (stored) water, but no power now going on 110 hours. I just want to do something and I’m hoping to make a drive over to him today to lift him up a bit. Apartment complex management is about as worthless as they always are, and they are getting reamed on Facebook for not responding to tenants. Fucking infuriating, all this bullshit. 

 

It's not Parmer/Dessau or Cedar Park and I have no idea whether or not they're open, but the best pho in Austin is at Tan My right at the Ohlen/Peyton Gin fork just east of 183.  Which is at least Northish.  And I desperately wish I were eating some right now!

 

Hope your stubborn bro is okay.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, horn4life said:

I sure wish I would have showered, on Tuesday when I had a chance of both water pressure and heat for a couple hours.  

Same here.  Wife said I smell like I've been on a fishing trip.

It's all of the melting of the toilet snow, and filling the toilet tank, the bathtub, etc.

Edited by atomheartbevo
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, utee94 said:

 

It's not Parmer/Dessau or Cedar Park and I have no idea whether or not they're open, but the best pho in Austin is at Tan My right at the Ohlen/Peyton Gin fork just east of 183.  Which is at least Northish.  And I desperately wish I were eating some right now!

 

Hope your stubborn bro is okay.

 

 

I was robbed at gunpoint at the salon in that strip center in 1984. Carry on. 

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Pato del Muerto said:

If local places and Amazon start running out of plumbing supplies, joint glue, caps, sleeves, whatever, I’d be happy to see what’s in-store up here and mail it out.  If that helps anyone. Would be cheaper if I could send a box of shit to one place and it gets distributed from there, I’m sure. 

Just send me this and I promise to put it to good use:

Men's Figaro Link Necklace 10K Yellow Gold 24" Length | Kay

  • Hook 'Em 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update:
(Never out of the woods, esp. the next 12-24 hours, but...)

WATER!!!
Did the 4-step process to re-pressurize the house.  All the spigots (even the IceMan Otzi northern bib!) are working full gush!  Interior pressured up, no leaks (yet!).

However my pipes are old (copper, 1990's) and we've planned all along anyway to do a total replumb of our house, but I've had 3 leaks as it is, and hopefully they weren't further weakened by cold).

For now, I'm golden.  TBTG.
======

The only lesson I guess I've learned is that I'm still adamantly #teamwrap.  Yes they froze, but it's apparent now that they only froze a few inches into the pipe from the spigots.  And they survived the worst icy outbreak since Marie Antionette Let 'em eat cake!  I'll stick with that plan.  Only thing is I'm not gonna wrap them in any kind of rag or towel (even if sealed), it can condense and put an ice blanket over pipe.  Insulation always now.

Questions, let me know, I think... hope... we're good.

I cannot believe my house survived this storm intact (so far, not gonna jinx shit now).

 

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, atomheartbevo said:

I'm in your area, south of you, and we still don't have water, but streets within 5 blocks do.  I'm guessing you are good to go, but I'd keep a bathtub filled just in case.  Or something.  Just don't let the little kids play around with it.

Just took a quick jog around the neighborhood.  We have people less than a block away who have water.  

angry hate GIF

On the flip side, ton of people on Nextdoor and FB are offering to boil water for those who don't have water.

I am so looking forward to a luxurious 10-minute shower when this shitshow is finished.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still haven't turned the water back on.  Gonna just wait until the morning at this point. Still no propane in the community tank, but commandeered a few more space heaters for tonight.  By an act of God never lost power throughout.  Can't even fathom some of the stints some folks here did without power. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cross Posting in the 3 weather/damage related threads:

I got a bunch of water (96 16 oz. bottles) from a guy who's going around today donating them to people.  Was going to give it to my neighbors, they're on a MUD that lost water this a.m. due to a main rupture, but they got it back this afternoon.  I clearly don't want most of it (save maybe 5-6 bottles for wife/me).

I'd like to start with the Surlys here and say if anyone needs some, let me know and I can meet or deliver some to you.  If not I'll give it to Bee Cave to use, all of those guys are on another water system and they're like Austin and much of Texas - no water(?).

I can get it out to you tomorrow, all the roads are now dry.  Travel not an issue more or less.  Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, phdhorn said:

The only lesson I guess I've learned is that I'm still adamantly #teamwrap.  Yes they froze, but it's apparent now that they only froze a few inches into the pipe from the spigots.  And they survived the worst icy outbreak since Marie Antionette Let 'em eat cake!  I'll stick with that plan.  Only thing is I'm not gonna wrap them in any kind of rag or towel (even if sealed), it can condense and put an ice blanket over pipe.  Insulation always now.

I am firmly #teamwrap, but will definitely be doing actual insulation in the future.  my towels got damp from the rain we had that one night, plus some condensation from a window above them, and that could have been bad, even with a box mostly containing them

If we made it through the fucking worst of it at the start of this week, we are golden.

Now if I was on team #PierAndBeam or team #PipesRunningAlongExteriorWalls, I might have them flowing heavier than Carrie on prom night.  It seems like most of our friends with pier and beam had issues of one sort or another.  One is already getting things lined up to get their pipes seriously/better insulated, and to get water cutoffs for certain pipes running under the house.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, ztejas said:

2021: where 4g cell service is more essential than power and water.

How else are people going to learn to melt fucking snow for their toilets, unless they have internet access?

That is actually the one thing I've been disappointed in - the number of people who didn't know how to flush their toilets when they lost water.  It makes me wonder if these people would die of thirst if they were stuck in the wilderness.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So apparently to turn the gas back on, the gas company has to send two techs to EACH house to do a safety inspection.  You dumb shit motherfuckers I don't want your asses in my house, and I don't need your ass in my house.  Turn on my meter and send a checklist if needed. This is going to take them a week to check all the houses in the neighborhood. 

  • Rage+1 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have some repair supplies incoming via FedEx. I won’t need them....and they wouldn’t have done me any good anyway....we have a plumber family friend who made it out here.

We’re on leak #4. Garage line had three separate leaks, so that Sheetrock is trashed, all the way into the laundry room. But that line is now secure.

Then we found another leak, over a craft room and downstairs bath.....lots of water came in. Mopped most of it with towels. Going to run fans, try to dry the carpet at the edge. Will have a lot of Sheetrock and insulation repair.

Probably up to a few thousand dollars so far. Still not sure if we’ve found them all....sigh.

  • Hook 'Em 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

If local places and Amazon start running out of plumbing supplies, joint glue, caps, sleeves, whatever, I’d be happy to see what’s in-store up here and mail it out.  If that helps anyone. Would be cheaper if I could send a box of shit to one place and it gets distributed from there, I’m sure. 

the copper caps were all gone at HD and Lowes i went to.   not much in the way of sharkbites but I did find some sharkbites that were 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch with a ball valve.  got 2 of each.  very pricey but I figured if I need to cap off a line to wait for a plumber I can use these in a pinch.  if I have more than 4 leaks its time to turn off the water and beg a plumber to come anyway.

I'm thinking about calling a plumber before I open up my street valve and tell him $300 to watch as I open it up(and direct me) and check for leaks for 30 minutes.  

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, atomheartbevo said:

How else are people going to learn to melt fucking snow for their toilets, unless they have internet access?

That is actually the one thing I've been disappointed in - the number of people who didn't know how to flush their toilets when they lost water.  It makes me wonder if these people would die of thirst if they were stuck in the wilderness.

can you imagine how many people had a pipe break and had to try to find a plumber to explain how to turn off the water? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

can you imagine how many people had a pipe break and had to try to find a plumber to explain how to turn off the water? 
I've been trying to help people on Nextdoor with this. So many people are helpless when it comes to these things. I've physically shut off a few and posted pics and step by step directions for others. At least they'll know for the future.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

36 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I have some repair supplies incoming via FedEx. I won’t need them....and they wouldn’t have done me any good anyway....we have a plumber family friend who made it out here.

We’re on leak #4. Garage line had three separate leaks, so that Sheetrock is trashed, all the way into the laundry room. But that line is now secure.

Then we found another leak, over a craft room and downstairs bath.....lots of water came in. Mopped most of it with towels. Going to run fans, try to dry the carpet at the edge. Will have a lot of Sheetrock and insulation repair.

Probably up to a few thousand dollars so far. Still not sure if we’ve found them all....sigh.

Having a craft room, that’s just asking for it, man.  

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We’re up to leak #5.

Turns out our house has a metric shitton of uninsulated copper pipe on outside walls or exposed to the elements (under some decking).

Mother fucker. When we’re done with the pipe repairs, we’re gonna insulate and/or heat tape all of it before next winter.
Take the opportunity to install shut-off valves wherever you can. Insulation can only do so much.
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Okie State said:
4 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:
We’re up to leak #5.

Turns out our house has a metric shitton of uninsulated copper pipe on outside walls or exposed to the elements (under some decking).

Mother fucker. When we’re done with the pipe repairs, we’re gonna insulate and/or heat tape all of it before next winter.

Take the opportunity to install shut-off valves wherever you can. Insulation can only do so much.

Yes, huge huge help.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Okie State said:
6 minutes ago, dcar00 said:
can you imagine how many people had a pipe break and had to try to find a plumber to explain how to turn off the water? 

I've been trying to help people on Nextdoor with this. So many people are helpless when it comes to these things. I've physically shut off a few and posted pics and step by step directions for others. At least they'll know for the future.

it really is pretty amazing. there should be some kind of class for home ownership and car ownership.  My dad wasn't a car guy.  he used to buy a car every 4 years.  sometimes it was the exact make/model/color/options.  I am by no means a gear head but I keep my cars for 10 years because I fucking hate depreciating assets, so I end up fixing a lot of stuff(electronics, basic part replacement, sensors and shit).  I tell my dad about it and he is always amazed that I do it myself.  I'm not doing major stuff because I don't have the tools or knowledge but with rock auto and a youtube video you can save yourself 1000's of dollars over the life of a car.

TLDR: some people really should educate themselves on likely the 2 highest priced purchases they will ever make.

 

  • Hook 'Em 5
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

it really is pretty amazing. there should be some kind of class for home ownership and car ownership.  My dad wasn't a car guy.  he used to buy a car every 4 years.  sometimes it was the exact make/model/color/options.  I am by no means a gear head but I keep my cars for 10 years because I fucking hate depreciating assets, so I end up fixing a lot of stuff(electronics, basic part replacement, sensors and shit).  I tell my dad about it and he is always amazed that I do it myself.  I'm not doing major stuff because I don't have the tools or knowledge but with rock auto and a youtube video you can save yourself 1000's of dollars over the life of a car.
TLDR: some people really should educate themselves on likely the 2 highest priced purchases they will ever make.
 
People just don't care to learn. This shit ain't rocket science. Lady next door gave no fucks to pay attention while I was shutting off the water to her exploding backflow preventer. I wanted to tell her to get her oldest son out there so I could teach him.
  • Hook 'Em 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...