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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWe're almost frozen solid here. City water main's frozen in the ground on many streets.
X-Posted from Frugal and Energy Efficient Living:
I was suspicious when I kept the house fairly warm last night, left a heater on low by the critical indoor pipes, and even left the faucets on thin stream instead of drip. But this morning, still no water.
So I gathered up as many empty containers as possible and drew water at the church on the corner. If they want me for Sunday, they'll have to let me take a Navy shower in the basement on Saturday!
But here's my semi-emergency tip for when/if you find yourself with a toilet that won't draw water into the tank: Keep one of those portable john/jane jugs or some similar diy rig handy, then think spare toilet seat, big empty holiday popcorn tin lined with several sturdy plastic bags and a layer of newspapers, then the magic ingredient - kitty litter!!!!!!!! You figure out the rest. (I don't have a proper compost toilet.)
Between the odor-absorbing newspaper, baking soda, and kitty litter, it really doesn't smell. At least if you leave the temporary lid down. Care and a good sense of balance are highly recommended during use, however.
trof
(54,255 posts)IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)I couldn't afford to retire back to upper Maine where I love it so much, but parts of the central MidWest are not that different.
Rural folk used to get lost and freeze to death between the barn and the house if a blizzard started when they went out to feed the animals. For some reason they didn't run an elevated line between the two buildings and then clip a lead to the line and one end to their overalls. Some considered that sissy. But people who did it didn't get lost and turn into popsicles either. (sorry, I love that kind of stuff)