Realtor Misquotes - Winter Home Tips

[rwand1]

Just reading through a local Realtors monthly blurb and this is what he had to say, which I find most unusual.

1. Electric baseboard heaters are always drawing power even when shut off. If you are not intending to use them shut off the switch at the hydro panel.

2. When the ground is travelled upon, it pushes the frost ever deeper. If you have water lines underground, it is a good idea to stay off of it over the winter. Even a pipe 4 or more feet under ground can freeze if the frost is pushed deeper by traffic, either human or vehicular.

Thats news to me. I have never ever heard either of these theories before.

[Jae Williams]

Huh???

[rwand1]

Yes Bullcrap baffles brains. I have never seen frost in my region go below four feet EVER, unless you go really far north.

Now you know why Realestate agents should not endeavour to be home inspectors!

[phinsperger]

1. Bovine deposits.

2. Technicaly, yes.. this one can be somewhat true. However the way it is stated is missleading. Traffic in winter on a ground surface will compact/reduce the snow coverage. Snow does have an insulating value. So the less snow the colder the ground surface can get. Ever notice on years that we get a good snowfall before it turns really cold how much greater the mole population is? On years where it gets really cold first then the snow the mole population is greatly reduced as many did get the added insulation proptection from the snow.

However, I suspect that the lower ground surface temp translates into a fraction of a inch or otherwise negligable differance at the frost line level. 4 feet in our area Ray includes a margine for saftey for those really nasty cold winters. Soil compaction by heavy vehicles in the summer may also lower the frost line but I would still think that you would be ok a 4 feet anywhere in southern Ontario

So basically this one is bovine deposits also esp. by the way it is presented.

[rwand1]

Not to mention soil type, water content, drainage, grade,....

As to Moles, can't say I have done an extensive study, but if there is no snow cover its a greater opportunity for Hawks, coyotes, foxes to get at the critters.

As to this year the frost level is not down very deep because we have had a very mild winter. The most mild winter since they started keeping records. At this rate we maybe able to reduce the 4' requirement to 3'.

[rwand1]

Hey Paul,

Did you get the same flyer I did that contained the info I posted?

[Brian E. Kelly]

Originally Posted by rwand1

Just reading through a local Realtors monthly blurb and this is what he had to say, which I find most unusual.

2. When the ground is travelled upon, it pushes the frost ever deeper. If you have water lines underground, it is a good idea to stay off of it over the winter. Even a pipe 4 or more feet under ground can freeze if the frost is pushed deeper by traffic, either human or vehicular.

Thats news to me. I have never ever heard either of these theories before.

I believe the Colorado Rockies are directly over Bejing, China.

[phinsperger]

Originally Posted by rwand1

Hey Paul,

Did you get the same flyer I did that contained the info I posted?

I don't know. Let me go check the trash....

Nope. Just the Banner. Who is it put out by?

[rwand1]

Ahhh,,, but what about the electric baseboard heat?

[phinsperger]

Bovine deposits.

[rwand1]

I have a few bovine deposits out in the paddocks.

[Jae Williams]

Why do you have "bovine deposits" in the horse saddling area?

[rwand1]

Ah good question...

Actually they aren't paddocks per se but two large fields for grazing and I put cattle on it for the summer/fall. I took the fences down between the paddocks closest to the barn as that is where the water is so they can come in and water, salt, etc. I use to have horses, but they are all gone. So to keep the grass down cattle are the next best thing.

Green acres is the life me..

[phinsperger]

Ray,

Thanks for the email.

How's that corn stove working out for ya? There's one in the Banner this week for $500.

[rwand1]

Paul

Not using the cornstove much. I am not happy with it entirely, so I think it may go into the barn for use in my workshop.

Unless one can buy bulk corn it is a pain in the butt to buy bags and bags of corn. But I don't have a way to store the corn in bulk.

Wanna buy a cornstove?