ICE STORM
12-27-2013, 11:41 AM
#61
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
I have one of those propane powere spqce heaters in my garage. Same warning came with it as above. For a couple years I had a CO detector in the garage and the alarm never went off when the heater was on. The only times it did was when I satrted the car for a few seconds. I'm not saying to use it in the house but to me seems safe enough to use it in an emergency witha battery powered CO detector for just in case.
12-27-2013, 12:36 PM
#62
Drifting
They do but you create another problem in the winter in that the water has to run somewhere and then freeze up after, which is why I have the suction pump. Most of these spas are made in California or BC and don't take into account issues people might have in northern areas in winter. Most of the drains don't get all of the water out of the system or like mine - are not designed and placed in the system that well so I made up a fitting and hooked it up to my air pump (from my car!) and blow the water out of the jets to make sure I get everything out. I used to run my spa year round but with current hydro rates and once or twice a month use in the winter it just wasn't worth the expense. Plus I'm off to Hawaii shortly for three weeks and didn't want to replicate my last holiday issue with this spa so I drained it. I also find the pumps last a hell of a lot longer if your not running it 24/7 and 365. Some of the pumps don't have a drain - mine is a sealed unit with a ceramic impeller that I rebuilt two years ago. The motors last forever unless you use the spa a lot in high ambient temperatures and even the motors can be rebuilt for $100 - I used a motor re-builder in Hamilton instead of paying $400 for a new one.
12-27-2013, 01:08 PM
#63
Rennlist Member
Don't use car antifreeze - use plumbing antifreeze available at home dept and other locations.
You'll also want to shut the valves on both sides of the pump and then detach the pump and bring it inside the house. When you get a day where the temp is above 0C for a couple of days you can reinstall and fill the unit up and then prime the pump by short on/off pluses on the power making sure you have the air valve open so you can get the air out. Check that every jet is flowing. It's really hard at this time of the year to ensure that there is no frozen section of ice somewhere in one of the tubes. It's easy to burst a connection in the system which will end your spa experience for the season until you can empty it and lift the spa onto it's side to repair the part. The only other thing that works is running hot water through the system (hose from your tap) with the bottom purge valve open so that the warm water melts any ice and then burping the pump and air lines. I found out all of the tricks after a vacation to Cuba one year in the winter to find the breaker had tripped at some point (we still don't know why) and I had a spa full of solid ice. You have the advantage that you got most of the water out. Next time buy a suction pump to make your life easier.
You'll also want to shut the valves on both sides of the pump and then detach the pump and bring it inside the house. When you get a day where the temp is above 0C for a couple of days you can reinstall and fill the unit up and then prime the pump by short on/off pluses on the power making sure you have the air valve open so you can get the air out. Check that every jet is flowing. It's really hard at this time of the year to ensure that there is no frozen section of ice somewhere in one of the tubes. It's easy to burst a connection in the system which will end your spa experience for the season until you can empty it and lift the spa onto it's side to repair the part. The only other thing that works is running hot water through the system (hose from your tap) with the bottom purge valve open so that the warm water melts any ice and then burping the pump and air lines. I found out all of the tricks after a vacation to Cuba one year in the winter to find the breaker had tripped at some point (we still don't know why) and I had a spa full of solid ice. You have the advantage that you got most of the water out. Next time buy a suction pump to make your life easier.
12-27-2013, 04:37 PM
#64
Drifting
12-28-2013, 12:04 AM
#66
Drifting
^^ Yup, my BIL the electrician will be doing the exact same thing to my furnace and my mom's tomorrow. He did his about 8 months ago. I would much rather go this route vs the pigtail at the panel discussed in earlier threads as a last resort.
12-28-2013, 12:34 AM
#68
Rennlist Member
A scene nearby:
Last edited by curtisr; 03-06-2014 at 08:18 PM.
12-28-2013, 09:57 AM
#69
Drifting
Would be nice to stay warm, take a hot shower, and drink hot chocolate in the middle of a black out!
12-28-2013, 05:55 PM
#70
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
one of my furnaces already has the outlet on the side, I just made a double male end extension cord and plugged in and had the furnace going.
so my friend called his insurance and was covered by his insurance for $250 each day his house was unliveable, and they said the cheque was already in the mail. I called mine and they will get back to me on Monday.
so my friend called his insurance and was covered by his insurance for $250 each day his house was unliveable, and they said the cheque was already in the mail. I called mine and they will get back to me on Monday.
12-28-2013, 07:35 PM
#71
Drifting
^^ How is that possible? if there was no physical damage to the home ie broken hydro stand pipe, frozen pipes etc. I would also assume the payment is less deductible? Just curious is all.....
12-28-2013, 09:12 PM
#73
Instructor
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Toronto, Ontario 2001 C4
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Plus if you burn your house down good luck with the insurance company. Just spend the $100 and buy a single circuit transfer switch and wire it properly.
12-28-2013, 09:14 PM
#74
Drifting
Interesting, I'm letting my sister know, she's already contacted her insurance company mid this past week about tree clearing and hydro/line repairing costs.
The hydro company finally came by yesterday afternoon to cut the power to their property, the tree clearing people won't be able to start until mid next week at the earliest, with the work estimated to take 5 days to complete, before the power and phone lines can be repaired on their property, so they would be out of their house for at least two weeks.
The hydro company finally came by yesterday afternoon to cut the power to their property, the tree clearing people won't be able to start until mid next week at the earliest, with the work estimated to take 5 days to complete, before the power and phone lines can be repaired on their property, so they would be out of their house for at least two weeks.
12-28-2013, 09:59 PM
#75
Drifting
Guy's don't use a double male extension cord. It is a really bad idea. If the genset is running when you're holding the plug it is energized and you can get zapped. Also, even though you may think the breaker is off you can backfeed the electrical panel and kill the hydro worker who is trying to restore your power. Don't do it !!!
Plus if you burn your house down good luck with the insurance company. Just spend the $100 and buy a single circuit transfer switch and wire it properly.
Plus if you burn your house down good luck with the insurance company. Just spend the $100 and buy a single circuit transfer switch and wire it properly.
Last edited by aviography; 12-28-2013 at 11:34 PM.