Frozen-Pipes » keeping pipes from freezing

A You Tube Video about Defrosting and Protecting Pipes

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:32:59 +0000

To view video, click on the post title

Defrosting and Protecting Pipes

Exposure to temperatures below 20 degrees can cause pipes to freeze and break. A few simple steps can help protect pipes from freezing or defrost them when they do.

Duration : 0:2:50

Technorati Tags: defrost, defrosting, freezing, frozen, pipes, protect, protecting, video

Keeping Water Pipes from Freezing?

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:35:59 +0000

Any suggestions on keeping my waterline to the barn flowing this winter?

I looked into the pipewatchman but the website is offline, the number doesn’t work and it got a poo rating on amazon.

Should I just leave my hose on drip?

HELP! Otherwise it is another year of filling coleman camping containers with water and taking them by sled, LOL.

If the line is freezing underground, the only solution would be to dig it up and put the line deeper, below the frost line. Your local extension agent should be able to give you a recommendation as to how deep.

We are just now running the waterline out to the barn, about 200 feet of line. So here’s my pointers for a happy water winter.

1. Dig the trench a foot below the “frost line” for your area.

2. Run TWO lines from your source to the barn. One “live” that you’ll hook up to your main source and to the barn fixtures, and one “dummy” that you will cap on both ends, and lay alongside the live line. Take a plastic loop fastener and attach it to both ends. It will basically just lay there until you may need it some day. Why? Pipe is CHEAP. Digging line is HARD. 10 or more years down the road, if a leak springs up somewhere in between, we dig down at both ends, hook up the new line and voila.

3. Use a “frost free” fixture in the barn, make sure it’s installed correctly. Go pick up a ratty old comforter at the thrift store and a plastic trash can. Wrap and cover the fixture when the temperature drops, or use a heat tape.

4. If you pipe from stall to stall, be sure it’s installed on an angle and leave individual valves open in the cold. (Cut off the water at the main frost free spigot in the barn and let it drain.)

Technorati Tags: freezing, from, keeping, pipes, water

Here is a Video on Keeping Your Pipes from Freezing

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:45:59 +0000

To view video, click on the post title

Help Protect Your Home From Bitter Cold

People, cars and even your home feel the strain of a bitter winter cold snap. So how do you protect your home from freezing pipes?

Steve Burbridge of Anthony Plumbing, Heating and Cooling said it pays to have a heated garage. “There’s plumbing that’s running in garage ceilings or exterior walls. So having a heated garage helps keep the bathroom above from freezing.

(It) certainly warms anything above the garage,” Burbridge told KMBC’s Donna Pitman. “This particular one runs on natural gas, and has a thermostat. So if there’s a power outage, you still have heat and don’t have to worry about your bathroom freezing above the garage.” Homeowners should also make sure that the cold outside air doesn’t get in.

“This is Fiberglass insulation. It resists air flow,” Burbridge said. Burbridge said to make sure the heat from your furnace will reach your pipes. “If (homeowners) really have a situation where they know it’s going to freeze, it’s good to leave the hot water and cold running at night,” Burbridge said.

Duration : 0:1:51

Technorati Tags: freezing, home, keeping your pipes from freezing, pipes, protect, video, winter

Pipe Freeze Kit

admin — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 07:56:59 +0000

General Pipe Cleaners Pipe Freeze Kit

No need to drain water lines, sprinkler systems, or hot water systems before cutting pipe or tubing.

The Cold-Shot keeps pressurized systems operating while you make repairs. It freezes all type of liquids in steel, copper, cast iron, aluminum and plastic pipes ranging from 18″ to 2″ 10 mm – 60 mm using carbon dioxide CO2. Dip-tube type cylinders are available at all welding supply houses. The Cold-Shot is faster and less expensive than “refrigerator-type” units faster and uses less CO2 than “bag-type” units.

In five minutes, youre ready to go to work on copper tubing, just three minutes for cast iron pipe. Kit includes 10 sets of freeze heads for 18″ to 2″ lines 10 mm to 60 mm, two high pressure spiral hoses with injectors, T-distributor, locking nut, hex head screwdriver, rubber gloves, goggles and carrying case.

22.00 L. 18.00 W. 6.00 H.

Technorati Tags: freeze, freezes, pipe, pipes

At what outdoor temperature do I run a risk of my pipes freezing without keeping the heat running?

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:48:59 +0000

At what outdoor temperature do I run a risk of my pipes freezing without keeping the heat running?

I’m a new homeowner and I also drive semi truck. I am gone five days out of the week, so economically it is more efficient for me to leave my heat off and I also turn off my hot water heater when I leave for the week. I live in mid-Michigan, and it’s starting to get pretty cold out now.

Just wondering at what outdoor temperature I should start leaving my heat set at 50F so that my pipes don’t freeze? Also, should I be leaving my hot water heater running during the week in the winter?

Thanks in advance!

I live in Wisconsin, so we have similar weather. I also travel a lot, so I have the same concerns. I installed a “T” in my city water inlet with a valve and compressor fitting. I also set up bypass valves in the hot water heater so I wasn’t pressurizing the hot water tank. I leave the compressor right in the basement, so when I have to leave, I hook up the air and blow out my lines.

I also drain the water heater. (Make sure you shut off the electric before you drain) It takes me about 1/2 hour to empty the water lines. When I leave, I know if the furnace fails, my water lines are safe. I also leave the heat set at 40 degrees. It doesn’t use that much fuel, and it keeps the paint in the house from extreme temperature changes which can cause damage. I do my road trips without worry about freezing pipes and it only takes 5 minutes to turn on the valves and restore water to my house.

Technorati Tags: risk of my pipes freezing

How far down do you need to bury PVC pipes to avoid freezing?

admin — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:00:59 +0000

I am burying the pipes that carry our sump pump water away from the house, but am not sure how deep I need to bury the pipes so they won’t freeze in winter

The standard distance is 18 to 24 inches and you can put fine gravel around it for drainage

Technorati Tags: bury, freezing, frozen, pipes

Freezing pipes….only answer if you really know?

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:34:59 +0000

When the temperature is very low (-12), how do you keep your pipes from freezing and busting? do you drip cold water, hot water, or both? yesterday i dripped only cold and the hot water froze (apparently not much because after i opened cabinets and cranked up the heater a little they were running this morning). I am newly divorced and cannot afford to replace all the pipes under my house if they bust. I NEED HELP!!!!

The easiest solution, but not the best long term solution would be to leave your water running just a little bit, especially at night when it is the coldest. This keeps the water in the pipes moving preventing it from freezing.
You can also get some pipe insulation to put on the pipes, it’s very inexpensive and available at any home improvement store.

Technorati Tags: freezing, from, insulation, keep, pipes

Wrapping insulation around your water pipes in a mobile home, enough to keep them from freezing up ?

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:34:59 +0000

you may also purchase what is called a heating element pipe wrap, which you would wrap around your pipes prior to the instalation of the insulation. also speak to your qualified salesperson about a heat resistant tape to secure the heating element around the pipes. plus most important evaluate all such element heating wraps for the lowest voltage required. i am 99% sure if you go to your local home repair / hardware store a qualified person will be able to assist you in the safest and most economical solution. good luck

Technorati Tags: freezing, from, insulation, keep, water pipes, wrapping

When it’s really cold, do you run water to keep pipes from freezing in your house?

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:57:59 +0000

It just seems a lot cheaper to buy water than it is to pay a plumber to fix frozen pipes. Not to mention the aggravation and the inconvenience.

You let a small trickle run. Of course it would be better to just have the plumber or electrician install some heat wire on the water pipe in the outside wall and crawlspace. It does require cutting open the wall a little to put it in, but so does fixing a busted pipe. The wire is then hooked up to a thermal link and it will come on just a little when the air outside gets cold!

You can also open the wall and install some insulation around the pipe – on the outside so the pipe still gets heat from the interior of the house, just less cold from outside. Interior pipes should be OK and drains have some composting heat in them. so they do not freeze. Cold water pipes freeze before hot water pipes.

Technorati Tags: freezing, frozen, keeping, pipes, run water

Someone said your water pipes won’t freeze in a new house. True or false?

admin — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:01:59 +0000

The temp is supposed to go down to 17 degrees tonite. It won’t last more than the night no doubt. Usually I just run a small steady stream of water overnight and that works fine, keeps the pipes from freezing. A family member said, “I heard that pipes won’t freeze in a new house.” HUH?

Pipes are pipes and water freezes. Keep doing what you are doing and they won’t freeze. A builder’s advice.

Technorati Tags: freezing, keeps pipes from freezing, water pipes