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You May Need A New Front Door If....

I thought I would write a quick little post as I wait for my car to warm up. (It's only been 30 minutes, I have about 10 more minutes to wait).

Here are some signs you need to replace your front door LOL:

First: You have to chisel ice from your dead-bolt just to get it unlocked, and you should probably NOT touch said lock, for fear that your fingers may freeze to the metal :-)

Second: It looks as though some alien fungus has crawled through the cracks and is invading your home. In fact it is ice! Creeping through the obviously broken seal in your door LOL

Third: Though the frosted window look is sometimes hip, it is NOT hip that it is REAL FROST

While I am making light of my situation here (after all it is almost 30 below zero at my home at this very moment), this moisture problem is real and should NOT be taken lightly. There are MANY issues that could/should be addressed here and please feel free to add info :-)

When you see ice building up as in my pictures, the humidity in your home needs to be addressed as well as the condition of your doors/windows.

If left as is you will start to see wood rot, mold and mildew, not to mention the lack of energy efficiency!

Posted by Michael La Fay & Sara Edwards on 02/04/2008 01:45 PM

Comments (26)

26 Comments on You May Need A New Front Door If....

FEB

2008

Sara,

I love the idea that you are making the best of the situation. Boy it sounds cold where you are. Also enjoyed the blog...

Michael A. Caruso

Sara, That is way too cold for me!!! I have only been up there when it has been like -15. You must be in a real cold snap!! The door to our apt in AK is inside and I am glad!!

Oh my gosh. I am lucky. If the sun is out on the coldest day I can open my front door and enjoy the heat. The sun is so hot that it heats the first floor. I have, in the past, sat on a children's rocking chair with a cup of coffee and enjoyed the morning sun.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and I am crying about 30 degree. God Bless you! Stay warm

wow. now THATS cold. Thanks for the practical post, and I hope things warm up to a balmy 10 below before too long.

Did the antifreeze in your car freeze yet or is it plugged in?

Wow Chuck... what a response (which has been deleted :-). I guess I am really darned if I do, darned if I don't. I suppose I could build a bigger garage to pull my car in to which would require killing more trees and contribute to pollution in producing the materials I need to do so, which would also require the use of more electric and fuel oil to heat the space... pollution, pollution, demand, demand .... heaven forbid. The first thing to always keep in mind when driving during winter months is to begin with a warm engine. Remember: a cold start-up yields maximum engine wear and minimum fuel efficiency

I already plug in my car which reduces the pollution! "Did you know that plugging-in during cold nights helps reduce carbon emissions from cold starts by 60%? It also reduces emissions of other pollutants such as hydrocarbons and fine particles. In addition, by avoiding cold starts, you improve your automobiles performance, decrease repair costs (from wear and tear), and reduce fuel consumption."

But I think I will continue to warm my car up for the recommended time especially in extreme conditions. "In extremely cold weather below -25 °F (-32 °C) warm up your car for 5 to 15 minutes before driving, especially if the car has an automatic transmission." University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Although this statement does not take in to consideration that 4 people (3 of which are under 3 feet tall) will be breathing in the car. AND if it is not WARM ENOUGH the windows are going to fog/ice over. so at -30 the temperature in the car needs to be a minimum of 65 degrees INSIDE to prevent the windows from fogging up/icing over.

So while I appreciate your comment about my polluting Alaska air, it really had nothing to do with my icy front door.

Yup James :-) It was plugged in LOL

Thank you all for the wishes of warmth LOL It can't stay COLD forever!? or can it :0)

OMG! Wow! That makes cold look cold!

Sara...

I am originally from N.H. so I can relate to it taking 30 minutes for the car to heat up...

Not to mention the frozen doors :)

TLW...ROAR!

Don't ya just love this cold weather. It's beautiful here today... the sun is shining, the sky is a gorgeous baby blue... and it's -38. :) It won't last forever... tomorrow is supposed to be -60! haha. What are we, nuts? LOL Wait, don't answer that.

As to Chuck's comment... I probably shouldn't say that when it's this cold my NEW Mercedes and Toyota both run for hours at a time. At this temp the only time I turn them off is when they're in the garage. Kathy was stationed in Minot years ago and while the wind is a problem, they don't usually have -40 for any length of time... but even they leave cars running in the winter. Such is life in the frozen North.

Chuck~

I'm simply going to ask you nicely to stop using my blog about icy doors/windows and lack of energy efficiency/possibilities of mold/mildew growth.... as a place for you to voice your opinion about me warming up my car. (which have REALLY annoyed me and since been deleted)

The recommendations of plugging in to reduce pollution don't come from me... they come from the state and college... I am not the scientist that determined this fact.

It is also silly to compare your garage to my garage... my "garage" is a glorified walkin closet. A car (let alone a big truck) will not fit in it. Therefore I, A.) need to build a bigger one B.) add on and make this one bigger or C.) park my beautiful car outside where it is freakin cold and plug it in and warm it up.

Thank you in advance.

Maybe you should voice your opinion to our local police department as well as the state troopers as they leave their vehicle running for their ENTIRE shift. 8-10 hours or more.

Ahhhh. Fairbanks LOL

LOVE it in the summer.... could not do it in the winter hehehe

My thoughts exactly! The older I get the more this cold stuff wears on me. I just noticed a moose (I assume) knocked a bird feeder down in the back yard... I'm dreading having to 'gear up' just to walk the 150' to put it back in the tree. Wouldn't sand under our feet be better? haha

Btw.. those pictures are making my teeth chatter!

sick huh? LOL I literally had to chip the ice from the deadbolt.... and I am NOT replacing it when it is this cold! LOL

Speaking of moose... I was held hostage this morning as one stood between me and my car (which then had little tongue marks all over it LOL..... :0)

That's too funny (the moose tonuge marks). I guess he (had to be a he to lick a metal car in this weather, right?) has good taste in cars. LOL

You guys are making me cold talking about all the frozen temps! I lived in PA most of my life and had to deal with cold there but nothing like what you are talking about!!! Keep warm and keep those cars running!! :)

LOL Roberta it's warmed up like 20 degrees WOOHOOO now it's only -10.... so I guess... it's on it's way back down as it goes up 8-)

FEB

2008

Heck yes, from an energy standpoint this is a huge issue. Even here in Malibu the other night it was 45 degrees outside at 4:00 AM, late night, I'll tell you about it later. But, I cannot imagine letting that cold air in. Lance

Sara- My goodness, that is some cold you have! Brrrr. I can't imagine not warming it up for however long it takes, especially putting children in it too. Amazing pics of the door! I think I will be staying in the South, thank you very much! :.)

Guys I,m shivering just listening to you. Anything below 30 I find unbearabe for any period of time can't imagine 60 below.I would have the car as close to the front door as possible, start it with a remote and warm it up for at least anhour.

Holy moly. That is crazy. I am in Southern California and I am ready to go out in my garden in a t-shirt and capri pants to garden! Sending you a little sunshine from Cali!

FEB

2008

OK, that is just way too cold for any human to have to live! What the heck, man was not made to live in those kinds of temperatures!

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