It went down to about -8 last night. Everything was hunky dory this morning, not that I was stressed seeing as the magic number is -10.<\/p>\n
Today’s high was about -8 and it’s all been downhill from there.<\/p>\n
This morning was my favourite weather, the one in which I could live pretty much year round except for two weeks of swimming weather–coldish, dry, and sunny, perfect for wearing a light coat while doing some brisk exercise… like shoveling. But the weather has now degenerated to the ‘bitterly cold’ stage.<\/p>\n
Everything is no longer hunky dory. The line from the main part of the plumbing to the toilet room appears to be frozen solid.<\/p>\n
I traced the line and realised that, DOH, it’s actually located in a compartment, one that I so seldom use that I tend to forget I even have it. So, I went out to the hardware store and picked up the cheapest heater they had. The clerk tried to ‘upsell’ me to a fancier and pricier model but I made it clear that I had the heaters I needed for inside and I was just looking for something for the basement. He confirmed that the cheapie should work fine.<\/p>\n
So, I got the heater installed in the compartment, but there is a problem: I had to use the 15A connection that was running the space heater in the cab. I therefore can no longer run that space heater as I’m out of amperage!<\/p>\n
I purchased potable antifreeze, which I’ll add to my pipes periodically (yes, I know it’s not the most efficient way of using the product). I also bought some desiccant crystals to absorb some of the moisture in here.<\/p>\n
A reader asked a very pertinent question: why don’t I just leave and escape the weather? The only way out of here is through some pretty bad snow and icy road conditions. It’s safer to make my stand right here.<\/p>\n
I’m desperately trying to keep some perspective here. A few days of personal discomfort really won’t matter if I can at least keep my plumbing and other systems from suffering damage. I can wear more clothes, wrap myself in a blanket, or spend the day at the clubhouse.<\/p>\n