Frozen-Pipes » pipes from freezing http://www.frozen-pipes.com How to Fix Frozen-Pipes Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:09:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 My gas was shut off,still have electric on what should I do to prevent pipes from freezing? http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/my-gas-was-shut-offstill-have-electric-on-what-should-i-do-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/my-gas-was-shut-offstill-have-electric-on-what-should-i-do-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:58:59 +0000 admin http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/my-gas-was-shut-offstill-have-electric-on-what-should-i-do-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing I have two small space heaters but am worried about the pipes in the basement.  I can’t afford to have them freeze.  What should I do? They will be back out tomorrow to turn the gas back on.  We live in Michigan and it will be below freezing tonight

Leave your water running really slowly in a couple places flowing water can’t freeze

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]]> http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/my-gas-was-shut-offstill-have-electric-on-what-should-i-do-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing/feed 5 No heat. How do I protect water pipes from freezing for 3 days? http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/no-heat-how-do-i-protect-water-pipes-from-freezing-for-3-days http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/no-heat-how-do-i-protect-water-pipes-from-freezing-for-3-days#comments Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:42:59 +0000 admin http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/no-heat-how-do-i-protect-water-pipes-from-freezing-for-3-days No heat. How do I protect water pipes from freezing for 3 days?

I’m in NC. The boiler conked out in a 4-unit apartment building I own. Today is Friday. A new boiler will be installed on Tuesday. The night time temperature is supposed to get down to 14 degrees F. on Sunday, which is very cold for here. Day time temperatures will be a little above freezing.

How can I keep the pipes from freezing? I can’t put a heavy load on the electrical system. What’s best – - leave the water running a little? (which faucets??)? a kerosene space heater? electric pipe wrap? (on which pipes?) something else? I’m prepared to spend some money. (No problem with the tenants; they are getting rent relief.) Desperate in Durham

You’ll probably be fine if you keep all the faucets at a drip. It is highly unlikely that you will have a freeze-up at those temperatures for a short time. We have freeze-ups in the north east when the temperature is in the teens for 3 days straight. I don’t recommend kerosene heaters. they make you light headed after an hour. A small space heater near the meter, and one in each apartment would probably be sufficient, and not an overload on the electrical box. GL…..Rich

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]]> http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/no-heat-how-do-i-protect-water-pipes-from-freezing-for-3-days/feed 9 Keeping water pipes from freezing question? http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/keeping-water-pipes-from-freezing-question http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/keeping-water-pipes-from-freezing-question#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:35:59 +0000 admin http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/keeping-water-pipes-from-freezing-question Keeping water pipes from freezing question?

There are 3 sinks and one bathtub. Do I have to have every one of the faucets dripping to prevent freezing?

Thanks

I would drip them all just in case. Keep in mind though that depending on how cold it is where you live, there may be nothing you can do to prevent this. Sometimes its just too dang cold.

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]]> http://www.frozen-pipes.com/keeping-pipes-from-freezing/keeping-water-pipes-from-freezing-question/feed 12 Here is a great Q & A on How to Thaw Frozen Pipes… http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/here-is-a-great-q-a-on-how-to-thaw-frozen-pipes http://www.frozen-pipes.com/frozen-pipes/here-is-a-great-q-a-on-how-to-thaw-frozen-pipes#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:54:59 +0000 admin http://www.frozen-pipes.com/uncategorized/how-do-you-thaw-frozen-pipes-without-getting-a-flood-or-a-big-plumbing-bill How do you thaw frozen pipes without getting a flood or a big plumbing bill?

Never had frozen pipes before in this house but its -30 below zero outside, a little too cold for them I guess.

You have two things to be concerned about: the frozen pipe and whether it has burst because of the ice. Until the pipe thaws, you won’t know if there is a split in the pipe. Best thing to do is turn off the main water valve (not the one under the sink, but the whole house) before you thaw the pipe.

Then open a faucet in the lowest part of your house (basement or first floor) and another one or two on the highest level. This will drain the water out of your plumbing system so no more can freeze. Then heat the pipes that are frozen with a hair dryer; you are risking a fire if you use a propane torch or other open flames.

Turn off all the faucets and carefully turn on the main valve. If you hear water running in a wall somewhere you know you have a burst pipe and can immediately call a plumber. IF you don’t hear anything, chances are you are OK.

I’ve been through this, and no one told me to turn off the main valve. Fortunately, I was home when the burst pipe thawed. If I hadn’t been, the water would have been running for 8 hours before I got home from work and would have been a disaster.

Next time leave both the hot and cold water running at a trickle during cold weather. The water moving keeps the pipes from freezing.

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