Reference Question of the Week – 12/7/08
December 13th, 2008 Brian Herzog
Due to the ice storm that came through the area on Friday, there is a tie for most popular reference question today:
Hey, are you open?
and
Do you have internet?
My answer all day has been, "we're open, we have lights and heat, and everything is working normally except our internet connection is down*."
Needless to say, it's been a quiet day: not unbusy, just quiet - most of our work tables and all of our comfortable chairs are filled with people researching and reading, which all but goes unnoticed on a regular day. And because lots of area residents are still without power, there's even a couple people napping in the corners, just happy to be someplace warm.
The next most popular reference question has been:
Do you know how I can keep my pipes from freezing?
Most area residents lost power on Friday, 12/12/08, and although many homes are now back on, there are still plenty who are looking at two or three days without power. Temperatures are predicted to be in the teens and twenties for the next few days, so freezing pipes is a major concern.
The best advice came from Home Maintenance for Dummies. Before loaning it out to the first person who asked this morning, I photocopied the necessary page to keep a "reference copy" at the desk. It recommends:
A faucet left dripping at the fixture farthest from the main water inlet allows just enough warm water movement within the pies to reduce the chance of a freeze...
Insulating pipes that are above ground (those that are most susceptible to freezing) prevents them from freezing during most moderate-to-medium chills - even when the faucets are off. This includes pips in the subarea or basement and especially any that might be in the attic.
If your kitchen or bathroom sink faucets are prone to freezing, leave the cabinet doors open at night. This allows warm air to circulate in the cabinet and warm the pipes.
The last tip won't help much for a house that is at 39 degrees, but it's good to keep in mind anyway.
Hopefully the power to my house is back on by the time I get home, otherwise I might sleep at the library tonight.
*I'm sure you're asking, "No intertnet? Then how'd you post this?" As a reference librarian, I know the laundromat up the street has great wireless internet.
