What precautions do you or techs do when working outside during the bitter cold?

RayWohlfarth · January 24

About half our work is rooftop unit service. Its hot in the summer and cold in the winter. What do you or your employees do to prepare for it? I have tried layers and this year purchased heated gloves. We have tried infrared heaters that mount on a 30 pound can of propane. Just curious what you do

Ray

SlamDunk · January 24

postpone it until it warms up.

HydronicMike · January 24

I have a buddy who does a lot of rooftops. He started trying/using different brands of heated vests. Says they work great.

pedmec · January 24

PTO

pedmec · January 24

Just kidding.

HVACNUT · January 25

When I did RTU's in winter, I would work a bit, fingers would freeze, then go to another RTU that's running, and bask in exhaust gasses to warm my digits. And that's why I dont do commercial anymore.

RayWohlfarth · January 25

Yep RTUs are miserable to work on

Mad Dog_2 · January 25

Our old foreman would say:

"I don't wanna hear it! You think this is cold????? We froze our A---s off in Korea in 1951… The Heat is in the tools...all I wanna see is A—-s and Elbows movin" - Old School ha ha. Mad Dog

Mad Dog_2 · January 25

I use the same clothing I use for Subzero Hunting and Cod Fishing 🎣:

Oversized Insulated boots with the highest level Thinsulate available, 3 pairs of Alpaca Wool socks and Disposable handwarmers in the toes.
Heavy Cold Weather Hat, full face if windy.
Thin Deerskin gloves.
One piece Subzero Bibb Overalls and Parka.

Mad Dog

Dave Carpentier · January 25

Did decades of below zero work outside , in telecom.

Extreme rated boots, good quality insulated overalls and parka , 2 layered gloves (those grey/blue stretchy kinda gloves for dexterity and fur-lined mitts over them for warm when less dexterity is required).

Buddy Heater type heaters that use the 1 pound bottles are nice and portable but the propane costs are high.

leonz · January 25

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1883999#Comment_1883999

Hello Matt, your old boss was at the Chosin Reservoir eh?

ch4man · January 25

calories are fuel for body heat.. EAT A LOT. oh and stay dry..

RayWohlfarth · January 26

thanks appreciate the advice

EBEBRATT-Ed · 3:08AM

For RTUs I used to do as @HVACNUT said and warm up my fingers in a running unit but the exhaust is wet and doesn't help much.

I have been out on the roof at 0 degrees with no wind and you can be quite comfortable. But wind chill is for real.

Many times, I would have to go down to the truck to warm up.

Drop a little screw in the snow and your screwed. Fingers are numb and you can't wear gloves with really small parts.

You get so cold its hard to concentrate on the wiring diagram.

We used to say how efficient is a tin box on a roof used for heating in 0-degree weather with maybe 1" of insulation in it.

RayWohlfarth · 11:54AM

@EBEBRATT-Ed My first foreman sent me to a mall for a no heat call. I asked how can I tell which unit is down. He said look for the unit with snow on top

Mad Dog_2 · 1:14PM

The Coldest job I ever worked on was the East River Esplanade (Jogging path) on Manhattans East Side. January and February late 198os. Single digits for days at a time with strong winds..8 hours outdoors...no shanty..no cars to warm up in. Even the Old Man Harry said it was Korea-Cold....You do the best you can...Fingers and toes must be freeze-protected..then face...Mad Dog

Intplm. · 3:01PM

Florida

What precautions do you or techs do when working outside during the bitter cold?

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