Ice Dams and Frozen Pipes

We've been in a warming trend for a number of days.  As a result of this "heat wave" the snow on the roof is melting and some of the things that were frozen now are not.  This is when you find the pipes that froze solid and broke.  You see, when they are frozen the water doesn't leak but once the solid ice transforms itself to a liquid it just pours all over the place.  I was reminded of this fact when I noticed a large pooling of water near one of the downspouts. 

The downspouts drain into a collection pipe that runs, underground, to the front yard.  This keeps the foundation from getting wet and then dry and then wet...  which is a bad thing because we have a lot of clay in our soil and it likes nothing better that to expand and contract with the wet/dry cycles.  That doesn't hurt the clay... it hurts the foundation.

So the pipe apparently got clogged with water/ice and then froze solid bursting the pipe.  I had visions of fixing it and replacing it with a pipe buried deeper but the ground is frozen solid starting about 2 inches deep.  What's a guy to do? 

Well, I removed the pipe from the downspout and created a small channel using a tarp and some 2X4's sending the water toward the French drain.  It's probably frozen too but at least it isn't close to the foundation.

I had finished the channel fix when I noticed water dripping from our soffit.  That isn't good.  I have now been introduced to "ice dams."  I've never had a issue with ice dams in all the years I've lived in Colorado.  Even when we had the great blizzard of 1983 (I think it was) I don't recall ice dams being a problem.  Now my dog fell out of the backyard despite the 6 foot fence we had... she just walked up the drift and fell into the neighbors yard... but no ice dams.  I'm thinking the great snow storm in early December is the cause of the ice dam.  We had lots of snow on the roof and with a little sun and mostly freezing temperatures the snow melts a little and then freezes thus the ice built up.  So I crawled up on my ladder and raked some of the snow off the roof.  I then cleaned what I could out of the gutters and finally scratched away enough ice (yes, it was damn ice) so it wouldn't get into the soffit.

Every place I've lived has always had strange weather every year... Grand Junction is no exception.

Over 32 Degrees

Finally the afternoon temperature rose above freezing... not a lot above freezing but the thermometer made the transition.  It has been 22 straight days below freezing.  Luckily January has not turned out to be its normal freezing month.  Well, yea, I guess it has been freezing but in years past it has been more freezing than this January.  Got that?

Unbelievable as it may seem we spotted a tree today that has buds swelling.  It was a willow tree.  I was amazed as I thought everything was still frozen solid even with a temperature above freezing but below 40.  Guess I need to get my thinker tuned up.. maybe it froze!

Looking ahead; it actually won't be that long before we start to experience the ever onward march of the seasons and winter begins to give way and then spring will be in the air.  I'm ready.

Welcome 2010

Now that 2009 is left to the history books we are faced with the new year.  2010 Anno Domini or Common era, also MMX.  This is the 10th year of the 3rd millennium or the 1st of the 2010's decade.  In Japan is is referred to as the "Year of the Tiger," while the UN calls it "International Year of Biodiversity," the International Maritime Organization has designated 2010 as the "Year of the Seafarer."  I call it the year I start getting social security payments... YES!

Whatever you call this new year, be it twenty ten or two thousand and ten it will only last for 365 days so you had better get busy if you want to make it memorable.

As I look out to the back yard I see the snow is still piled high (over a foot high) from the big storm of 4 or 5 weeks ago.  No doubt the record setting cold temperatures of December have contributed to the snows longevity.  Most mornings I arm myself with my big iron bar and break up the ice restricting the water flow over the water falls... particularly Humpty Dumpty Falls. The morning temperatures are still mostly in the single digits.  I laugh we we say something like, "I hope it warms up to at least 30 today!"

January is historically the coldest month for us.  Considering how December was I hope January doesn't meet expectations this year.

We're starting to get the gardening catalogs now and Ginger is making lists of seeds and flowers she wants to plant this spring.  I'm looking forward to the return of the Woodhouse's Toads and more toadlets.  I don't expect to see Joe or any of her relatives but they would be welcome if they were inclined to stop by for a swim or even if they moved in... so to speak.

While we wait for the snow to melt... Wait for longer days... Bask in the warmth of the sun through the window... I'll keep my eye on my new sundial as I await spring... it's just around the corner.  Can you hear those birds chirp'n?  Can you imagine the green buds on the trees?  Naw, me either... it too cold.