crazietalk.net

Despite having considerable experience in dealing with severe cold when it comes to this part of the country, I was unable to prevent frozen pipes overnight. I did all the things on the checklist. A plumber friend confirmed that I had done all the things a homeowner could do including what I'd done to prepare for the water coming back through the lines. He said that the freezing was where the water comes into the house, that I would just have to wait it out until there was enough warmth outside to allow for thawing. With a high in the mid thirties today, I was prepared to deal with this inconvenience until the temps go up into the forties tomorrow.

About 15 minutes ago there was a wonderful sound of lots of water and air spewing out of a couple of faucets! All seems to be well now in the water system. Next: a wonderful warm shower!

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote: About 15 minutes ago there was a wonderful sound of lots of water and air spewing out of a couple of faucets! All seems to be well now in the water system. Next: a wonderful warm shower!

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Despite having considerable experience in dealing with severe cold when it comes to this part of the country, I was unable to prevent frozen pipes overnight. I did all the things on the checklist. A plumber friend confirmed that I had done all the things a homeowner could do including what I'd done to prepare for the water coming back through the lines. He said that the freezing was where the water comes into the house, that I would just have to wait it out until there was enough warmth outside to allow for thawing. With a high in the mid thirties today, I was prepared to deal with this inconvenience until the temps go up into the forties tomorrow.

About 15 minutes ago there was a wonderful sound of lots of water and air spewing out of a couple of faucets! All seems to be well now in the water system. Next: a wonderful warm shower!

I'd check to see if there's a way you could insulate that incoming line to help prevent it happening again. It'll be in the 40s Monday but forecasters are saying around 15F at sunrise.

captmojo wrote:

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Despite having considerable experience in dealing with severe cold when it comes to this part of the country, I was unable to prevent frozen pipes overnight. I did all the things on the checklist. A plumber friend confirmed that I had done all the things a homeowner could do including what I'd done to prepare for the water coming back through the lines. He said that the freezing was where the water comes into the house, that I would just have to wait it out until there was enough warmth outside to allow for thawing. With a high in the mid thirties today, I was prepared to deal with this inconvenience until the temps go up into the forties tomorrow.

About 15 minutes ago there was a wonderful sound of lots of water and air spewing out of a couple of faucets! All seems to be well now in the water system. Next: a wonderful warm shower!

I'd check to see if there's a way you could insulate that incoming line to help prevent it happening again. It'll be in the 40s Monday but forecasters are saying around 15F at sunrise.

You can buy a foam rubber pipe insulation at either Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... insulation or Lowe's. It's easy to install if you can get to the pipe. It is slit on one side so you fit it around the pipe. It has an adhesive on the slit sides, so you peel off the backing after you fit it on the pipe and then squeeze the sides together and it stays put. Chances are your supply pipe coming in is 3/4" http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Mater ... ogId=10053 , but check it first.

OZZIE4DUKE wrote:

captmojo wrote:

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:Despite having considerable experience in dealing with severe cold when it comes to this part of the country, I was unable to prevent frozen pipes overnight. I did all the things on the checklist. A plumber friend confirmed that I had done all the things a homeowner could do including what I'd done to prepare for the water coming back through the lines. He said that the freezing was where the water comes into the house, that I would just have to wait it out until there was enough warmth outside to allow for thawing. With a high in the mid thirties today, I was prepared to deal with this inconvenience until the temps go up into the forties tomorrow.

About 15 minutes ago there was a wonderful sound of lots of water and air spewing out of a couple of faucets! All seems to be well now in the water system. Next: a wonderful warm shower!

I'd check to see if there's a way you could insulate that incoming line to help prevent it happening again. It'll be in the 40s Monday but forecasters are saying around 15F at sunrise.

You can buy a foam rubber pipe insulation at either Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... insulation or Lowe's. It's easy to install if you can get to the pipe. It is slit on one side so you fit it around the pipe. It has an adhesive on the slit sides, so you peel off the backing after you fit it on the pipe and then squeeze the sides together and it stays put. Chances are your supply pipe coming in is 3/4" http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Mater ... ogId=10053 , but check it first.

I would love to do that.... haven't been able to determine where the water comes in other than under the cement driveway. The house is built on a slab with no crawl space. The garage is completely finished including mill work, sheet rock and paint... driveway and garage face the street and water main.

Where else should I look?

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote: I would love to do that.... haven't been able to determine where the water comes in other than under the cement driveway. The house is built on a slab with no crawl space. The garage is completely finished including mill work, sheet rock and paint... driveway and garage face the street and water main.

Where else should I look?

If the pipe is buried in the slab, it comes up into the house somewhere, probably the laundry room. If it comes directly into heated space, there is nothing you can insulate (without tearing up the slab, and I know you don't want to do that...). At least the pipe didn't burst when it froze. Best advice is to keep water running, faster than you did when it froze, next time it gets into the low 20's.

OZZIE4DUKE wrote:

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote: I would love to do that.... haven't been able to determine where the water comes in other than under the cement driveway. The house is built on a slab with no crawl space. The garage is completely finished including mill work, sheet rock and paint... driveway and garage face the street and water main.

Where else should I look?

If the pipe is buried in the slab, it comes up into the house somewhere, probably the laundry room. If it comes directly into heated space, there is nothing you can insulate (without tearing up the slab, and I know you don't want to do that...). At least the pipe didn't burst when it froze. Best advice is to keep water running, faster than you did when it froze, next time it gets into the low 20's.

I can see where a water pipe comes into the laundry room, up the wall near the top of the electric hot water heater. The laundry room backs up to the garage and has its own heat duct. It's usually very warm in there, warmer that the rest of the house. I can maximize the warmth by closing the door.... I can try that tonight in addition to the usual faucet heavy dripping and opening the cabinet doors.

There's previously been no problem with freezing water pipes with temperatures in the twenties. The one other incidence was five years ago just after I moved in. The temperature that morning was 9F, oddly enough.

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote: The temperature that morning was 9F, oddly enough.

There is nothing odd about that temperature. It's just damn cold!

This morning the temperature at 8A was 17 degrees. The water in the pipes of my house is very cold and flowing easily. Don't know which strategy made the difference (more volume running from a faucet overnight or closing the door of the laundry room to keep it toasty)..... maybe it was the advice and silent vibes from crazietalkers.......

Devil in the Blue Dress wrote:This morning the temperature at 8A was 17 degrees. The water in the pipes of my house is very cold and flowing easily. Don't know which strategy made the difference (more volume running from a faucet overnight or closing the door of the laundry room to keep it toasty)..... maybe it was the advice and silent vibes from crazietalkers.......

Where do I get one of those thermometers?

Lavabe wrote:Georgia LOVES the snow

She's beautiful!!!

That shot reminded me of the following....

cl15876 wrote: That shot reminded me of the following....

puppy-freezing.jpg

We are supposed to be up to 60 by Wednesday!

CameronBornAndBred wrote:We are supposed to be up to 60 by Wednesday!

i'm waiting for a warmer day.

I did an errand at lunch. My car showed an outside temperature of 34F. It is a heat wave around here.

we're supposed to have snow flurries tonight.