On Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:26:26 -0600, Doug
wrote:

I'm noticing in upstate NY, zero or subzero weather and just wonder
how the older homes handle these temps? Does your heater constantly
run? Pipes stay safe? Etc... Do you have to do anything special
to your home for these kinda temps?

Nope. Just pay the heat bill.

In really cold weather, (-20F) the furnace may run continuously or
nearly so but that's also true here in the South when it gets down to
+20F. Basically, the heating systems are sized for the expected
temperatures.

Pipes can freeze but mainly because something isn't built right (water
service or hyrdonic heating systems in exterior walls or worse, in
cantilevered floors/walls). In a properly built house this doesn't
happen, unless the heating system is down (pay the bill).