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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.)

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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.

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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

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To keep outside pipes/spigots from freezing will wrapping with a towel work as well as leaving water dripping?

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:44:59 +0000

To keep outside pipes/spigots from freezing will wrapping with a towel work as well as leaving water dripping?

I live in Florida and it doesn’t freeze here often. But tonight we’re expecting a hard freeze which will last about 10 hours. I’ve wrapped my outdoor water faucets loosely with towels to protect them from the cold. But will this work as well as leaving a drip going? Also, with the freeze not expected to last more than 10 hours, how much protection do I really need to plan for? The TV news stations don’t let up with the whole protect your pipes things, but it’s not like we live in Michigan! What’s the truth?

I would let drip, because if you have only a small leak on spigot you will wet towel and cause the spigot to freeze even quicker.

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I live in a mobile home and I have problems keeping the pipes and the water pump from freezing.Suggestions?

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:39:59 +0000

I live in a mobile home and I have problems keeping the pipes and the water pump from freezing. Suggestions?

You’re going to have to get dirty! Get under the home and wrap your pipes (they sale wrap just for keeping your pipes warm). Also any place around the skirting of your mobile home that lets alot of air thru should be insulated to prevent as much air flow (not all).

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