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[kbshcb]

By Ben Stoterau....a short eared owl somewhere in MN

Happy Friday.

still only 3 above heading up to 15 above.....nope on that walk Ollie man.

I stepped out on my upper deck to check on my bathroom vent....looks like the ice has dropped from 2 inches to 1 inch?...we've had some morning/easterly sun yesterday and today.

Unfortunately tomorrow though getting up to 31 got a weather alert for treacherous travel tomorrow due to ice tonight and tomorrow.

Sunday and Monday above freezing I'm hoping...to melt that ice on my vent.

Guess I'll grill steak today at around 12 above and do soup tomorrow....no stepping on deck with ice tomorrow.

[kbshcb]

Hmm, Chris is reporting toilet is flushing normally.....crossing my fingers!

Perhaps the drop in an inch is the ticket?

More ice coming tonight so will report next week as well.

Eeks, just noticed it's Friday the 13th!....I'm not prone to superstitions though

[karengramke]

Pip at swfl!  From wiskernwings!  The   Hatch estimated in  33 hours!

[Lani]

TGIF Beakers!
Morning Eagles4, Lisa, Ezee, Eburg, Weasel, Jilltosa, Kb, Tsk, Karen, Oldguy, Puff, Eaglesrock, Emyrauld, Lilbro, Blschue, Lori, Clynn, Tig, Baz, Phyl, Peep, Jaspurr, Pink, BL, Bggolden, T40, ssrl, Maxie, Nrstooge, Omasawyer, Paulie, jicaji, LB, and All!

[tsk34]

CLYNN  Love that Santa/snowman - wood carving?   Unfortunately I do not get to see my twin great nieces when I go there or the two other greats as they are in school!   Gabapentin is working great for Tim and I to do Lulu's nails.  She's "sleepy" and lets us pretty much do what we want.  LOL   I hold and Tim cuts.   I don't want to think about all that snow that Alaska gets.  Think Buffalo, NY got a couple feet the other day.  Don't ever live on the east side of a major lake  LOL   How stunning and different is that lights display in Oskaloosa 

LISA   Makes today's 21 feel downright warm  LOL   I can't even begin to imagine Tim making cookies!!!  In my mind you are blessed. 

PHYL   God blessed us with Charles Schultz and his creations.

LANI   Cool dog with also I might say a cool driver  LOLOL

Just finished making a pot of chili - used my ripened green tomatoes. - I have 10   2 Cup bags of them   

[LisaG1967]

Phyl - Hope your back is feeling better now.  There are so many yummy looking goodies in the grocery stores right now. 

kb - Enjoy your steak.  What kind of soup are you making for tomorrow?  Glad to hear the toilet is flushing. 

karen - Ohh, how eggciting for the PIP at SWFL!!!

Lani - Cute Friday pup!

tsk - Chili sounds good on this cold day.  I told Jeff he is making me look bad by doing all the cooking and baking.  I said, people are going to think I don't do anything. 

[kbshcb]

Lisa - butternut squash.

However, I've changed my mind about today. I found some salmon and defrosted to cook in pan.

Just too cold to grill today although I bet Jeff would!

I went out today to warm and drive car and get lights to charge etc.....way too cold for normal life

[BrokenLug]

Hmm, Chris is reporting toilet is flushing normally.....crossing my fingers!

Perhaps the drop in an inch is the ticket?

More ice coming tonight so will report next week as well.

kb I've had roof vent pipes freeze up at several cabins over the years.
Same result: very slow draining of everything and a gurgling toilet especially.

Now that Chris is reporting the upstairs (?) toilet is working properly.
1) Try running really hot water in that bathrooms sink to finish off melting the ice plug. 1/2 hour maybe.

BE AWARE. Don't just "set it and forget it".
Keep an eye on that sink to make sure it doesn't overflow !

If you have safe access to the attic ..
2) You can go up into the attic with a hair dryer/extension cord.
With the hair dryer on low heat the copper pipe (conducts heat very well) from inside the attic just below it's exit through the roof.

3) Open the hatch / attic access door for maybe an hour.
All the hot air from upstairs will rise up into the attic and might be enough heat to "finish her off".
Of course your heating bill will take a temporary hit with the temps your having.      
 

Spring time attic project:
Insulate the portion of copper vent pipe inside the attic from attic floor up to it's exit through the roof.
We haven't ever had it happen again after we did that.       

https://nwhomepartners.org/2018/01/extreme-freeze-part-two-plumbing-vents/

[kbshcb]

Hmm, Chris is reporting toilet is flushing normally.....crossing my fingers!

Perhaps the drop in an inch is the ticket?

More ice coming tonight so will report next week as well.

kb I've had roof vent pipes freeze up at several cabins over the years.
Same result: very slow draining of everything and a gurgling toilet especially.

Now that Chris is reporting the upstairs (?) toilet is working properly.
1) Try running really hot water in that bathrooms sink to finish off melting the ice plug. 1/2 hour maybe.

BE AWARE. Don't just "set it and forget it".
Keep an eye on that sink to make sure it doesn't overflow !

If you have safe access to the attic ..
2) You can go up into the attic with a hair dryer/extension cord.
With the hair dryer on low heat the copper pipe (conducts heat very well) from inside the attic just below it's exit through the roof.

3) Open the hatch / attic access door for maybe an hour.
All the hot air from upstairs will rise up into the attic and might be enough heat to "finish her off".
Of course your heating bill will take a temporary hit with the temps your having.      
 

Spring time attic project:
Insulate the portion of copper vent pipe inside the attic from attic floor up to it's exit through the roof.
We haven't ever had it happen again after we did that.       

https://nwhomepartners.org/2018/01/extreme-freeze-part-two-plumbing-vents/

As usual very helpful info BL - yes it's the upstairs toilet. I can run the hot water in the sink.

The attic access is problematic for me though. It's from a ladder in the garage, crossing wood holding "junk above the garage. The access door is easy enough if one can get to it through all the furniture and junk.!

I have told Trevor my junk guy who removed junk from my garage I will need him next spring to do the same in my garage ceiling pile which has the access to my attic.

Scott and I blew in enormous amounts of insulation in the attic a few years after we got married. Helped immensely with ice dams of course and heating in house. I haven't been up there nor has Scott to visualize the vent pipes though, nor to see how much has settled. Also those baffles?.

I keep procrastinating on all this as my roof is now 25 years old and I keep thinking I'll get around to all that when I replace the roof. However after multiple inspections it's in good shape.

I'm sure you are correct though and will save your info.

So far, so good on the toilet....crossing my fingers as we have lots of winter left.

[kbshcb]

15 minutes into 30 of hot water in sink.

To my eye at the moment, vent looks clear but I can't see inside it.

Also looked clear late last night but visualized 1 inch of ice this morning.

For good measure before ice comes tonight I'll keep running it..

Thanks again. No over flowing of sink in bathroom whatsoever.

[BrokenLug]

kb at this point if all in that bathroom is draining normal and as before I would say you're good to go with that pesky ice plug.

My go to plumber guy 100% agreed with your go to plumber guy as in it really takes unusual weather and household conditions for it to happen.

I'd say save the hot water $ and go take a nice Calgon.

15 minutes into 30 of hot water in sink.

To my eye at the moment, vent looks clear but I can't see inside it.

Also looked clear late last night but visualized 1 inch of ice this morning.

For good measure before ice comes tonight I'll keep running it..

Thanks again. No over flowing of sink in bathroom whatsoever.

I get the layout of the attic ingress now.
My # 2 and 3 options not applicable at this time .. check.
 

[BrokenLug]

 
    ~   An occasional old time plumbers dirty trick from way back in the day    ~

If a costumer would not pay their bill on a big job after a long period of time.

The plumber would sneak up on the non-paying costumers roof and gently tap cork plugs into the vent stacks.

Costumer ?? now what the heck nothings draining !

We can't call "Bob" the plumber we owe him lots of money, we'll just call "Joe" the plumber ..

Joe scratches his head for the whole day racking up even more $$$ until he breaks out the ladder and goes up on the roof.   

Joe to costumer ?

Did you perhaps forget to pay your last plumber ?

Joe hands the costumer the cork plugs and his bill. 

[kbshcb]

    ~   An occasional old time plumbers dirty trick from way back in the day    ~

If a costumer would not pay their bill on a big job after a long period of time.

The plumber would sneak up on the non-paying costumers roof and gently tap cork plugs into the vent stacks.

Costumer ?? now what the heck nothings draining !

We can't call "Bob" the plumber we owe him lots of money, we'll just call "Joe" the plumber ..

Joe scratches his head for the whole day racking up even more $$$ until he breaks out the ladder and goes up on the roof.   

Joe to costumer ?

Did you perhaps forget to pay your last plumber ?

Joe hands the costumer the cork plugs and his bill.

LOL....luckily I pay my bills and I have plumbers that don't over charge!.....

[camperstig]

Brrrrrounce

BL... Lolol.
We used to have the problem. For many years we would set up the (painted to match the room) hinged pieces of wood that would direct the heat from the bathroom register toward the toilet. Then, a decade ago, my brother built a covered, insulated tunnel inside our walk-in attic from behind the register along behind the bathroom wall to the toilet area where the vent pipe rises. We haven't had a problem since. Knock on wood.

SED

[BrokenLug]

You gals keep your wool handy.