Apparently the combination of anti-predator netting and a load of ice sank the heater, which shorted out. We are hoping that it did no harm to the fish, but we have no way of knowing until the weather warms and the fish should venture into view. I did some scurrying about and replaced the heater with a new one, of better design, and this one is now in service, but as aforesaid—no way of knowing if everybody is all right. There is a gfi on the circuit, but I don’t know if that will have been enough.
The temperatures are in the minuses at night; the whole house was 55 degrees this morning.
It’s hard to get warm. But we don’t heat the house much in the winter: we don’t like heat. We’d prefer just a wee bit more warm, but that’s the way it is.
OH, I hope the fishies do well. I’m rooting for them.
One also wishes the fishes well. No, on second thought, I wish the fish in the pond, not in a well.”Alive without breath, as cold as death, clad in armor never clinking, never thirsty, always drinking, thinks an island is a mountain, thinks a fountain is a puff of air. So sleek, so fair…..” If I messed that up, it’s because I’m too lazy to go and dig out my copy of “The Hobbit”.
House is 56 degrees at night here. I have had mornings when I had no oil and was forced to burn firewood (a dual fuel furnace), once the fire died, the house gets cold very rapidly. Mornings could be as cold as 37 inside the house. Poor cats, but they wouldn’t get on the bed until I got up. They must not have liked sharing the heat.
South eastern Arizona snow is tapering off, and the temp has risen to 36 degrees F after falling well below freezing overnight. The gale force winds have subsided as well. We’re worried that our area will have another natural gas shortage (second this month) and people will be unable to heat their homes. The gas compamy is urging everyone to turn down their thermostats so no one has to go completely without. In some ways we are having it harder than in areas of the country where freezing weather in winter is the norm. Two weeks ago all of Fort Huachuca was directed to turn their thermostats down to 50 degrees. That created miserable working conditions, so non-essential personnel were sent home, and all the schools were closed. The lack of heat was even worse because about 20% of the area had no heat at all. Fortunately heat was back on within 48 hours, but I still don’t understand the decision making process. People without heat were being sent to the schools which were designated as “warming stations.” I guess the emergency preparedness planning for freezing weather left a lot to be desired.
One thing about 50 degree temps—at least you can pile on more clothes: once it hits 100, it’s hard to find things to legally take off.
A third vote wishing the fishies well. I hope no one goes without heat this winter.
I remember going to college in central Ohio. Most rentals available to students were (and probably still are) houses that hadn’t been upgraded since the 50s or 60s: no insulation, aged plumbing and wiring, single pane windows, etc. In the winter, you had 2 choices. Either crank the heat up to a reasonable temperature and spend $300 a month on heating, or wear almost every sweater you owned. Taping plastic over the windows once the first snow hit, and leaving it there until April or so was common.
Toes crossed for the fishies to survive. Equipment failures are so frustrating, and, of course, they always happen at the worst time.
Woke up this morning to what I call frosting snow….wet and heavy enough to stick to everything, very pretty…no sun though so we didn’t get the bright sparkle effect. It was supposed to be rain. It’s mostly gone on what was bare ground……there is still a lot of ice on the ground. I use an old broomstick for walking. I feel like Gandalf! 😉
Anything over 52 in the morning is fine as it means the electric heat did not come on. Since we installed the fan up near the ceiling the house heats up quickly as soon as we light the wood stove. I grew up in a house with large ducted kerosine and gas heaters. It was always cool at night so I imagine that is why it does not bother me now.
I find it *very* strange that in the summer the hotter it is the happier I am, but in winter if goes over 70 in the house I start feeling claustrophobic……(I need a ‘puzzled’ smiley.)
Lol! At least I’m consistent: in summer, I’m happiest at the rink, temperature-wise, and in winter, about 67 is ideal, but usually it’s 65 during the day.
I’m sure that the safety labs specify that GFIs will prevent damage from ground faults to the tiniest conceivable human at the very least, so unless the fish are overly sensitive to electrical shocks or the GFI failed, I would expect them to be fine, especially since they are in a dormant state.
I tell myself that, and really hope. They’re individuals, they come to our hands to be fed, one likes to be petted, and we would really be upset to lose them.
CJ, it’d take a hellacious failure for enough current to flow to risk the kids. I don’t even know if a compliant design ***CAN*** fail that way. The GFI cuts off at a couple millivolts.
we are back down to 2 C and grey grey grey.it’s all coming over from scandinavia, because we have a high pressure system squatting over us at the moment ..
thought you might be interested in this link, CJ – about people selfpublishing on kindle ….
ooops, I forgot the link! I am sorry – here it is. awful stuff this girl writes, of course ..http://www.novelr.com/2011/02/27/rich-indie-writer