Freezing temps and water pipes.

oz in SC V2.0 · #1 12/08/10, 11:29 PM

We live in an area that rarely reaches freezing so we want to make sure everything will be okay up at our place in WNC.

Last I was up there I shut the water off at the well,most of the water in the building was drained and it was left at that.

This coming week,temps are supposed to drop down into the teens,that is quite cold for up there.

So,should I go back up and make sure all the water is out of the pipes,and wrap the pump and pressure tank or should it be okay?

The pump and tank is inside a plastic shed type shelter,the kind you might have on a deck,it is not wrapped any more as we had to do some work on it earlier in the year and of course never got round to rewrapping it...

The house itself is insulated but has no heat source(well a woodstove but that doesn't help),will everything inside be okay?

Thanks.

#2 12/09/10, 12:54 AM

Oz,

You have to make certain that almost all the water is out of the pipes. I use compressed air and blow them out. If you leave much water in the pipes it will collect in the low spots, freeze, and crack the pipes. Don't forget to turn off and drain the water heater. Ball valves that are closed will crack from the freezing of the water trapped in the valve. Open them up.

Fill a pail with about 3 gallons of water. With the water turned off, flush the toilet. This should just about empty the tank. Pour the 3 gallons into the bowl as fast as it will take it. The pressure/suction will result in a much lower water level in the bowl than normal.

Pour RV type antifreeze into the toilet and the sink and tub traps. The water in them will dilute the antifreeze so be sure to use enough. RV antifreeze is not the same as auto antifreeze. RV antifreeze is nontoxic and safe for septic systems. It is ususlly pink and found here at Menards and Fleet Farm.

The well needs to be heated or drained if it's above ground. You can build an insulated box arround the well casing, pressure tank, and pump with 2 inch styrafoam. Glue it together with glue made for styrafoam. Duct tape doesn't hold well in cold weather or to styrafoam. Put 2, 60 to 75 watt incandecent light bulbs inside the box and the heat they generate will keep your well from freezing. If one burns out you should still be safe but if both burn out or there is a long power outage you are hatched. Turn off power to the well pump so if there is a ruptured pipe it won't pump out a lot of water.

If you can't heat the well then you have to turn off the power and drain everything. Don't forget to drain the well casing and open the backflow preventer valve to drain the water above it.

auctioneer · #3 12/09/10, 01:29 AM

O'Reilly, Advance and Wal*Mart would be easy choices in his area for RV type antifreeze.

Tarheel · #4 12/09/10, 06:33 AM

Better safe than sorry ! I think to be safe I would drain system (I had rather do that than plumb all day repairing broken pipes) and have peace of mind. Yesterday morning it was 12*F here in central NC and this a.m. it's 19. It is suppose to be colder the first of week. We go through this every few years, last year we had a few mornings at 7*F.

Good luck and welcome to NC !

oz in SC V2.0 · #5 12/09/10, 08:36 AM

Thanks all,looks like we might head back up there just to make sure.

We have to finish up the new woodstove anyway and Mrs oz hasn't seen the new additions.

Beeman · #6 12/09/10, 05:05 PM

Hang a light inside the shed and buy a thermocube to plug it into. It will come on below 40* and a lightbulb should be enough to prevent freezing. Pour the RV antifreeze in the drains and toilet so the P traps won't freeze. Make sure the toilet tank is empty. Is there a washing machine? They hold water in the pump and will break if frozen.

Vickie44 · #7 12/09/10, 06:11 PM

How would you get that water out of the washing machine pump?

meanwhile · #8 12/09/10, 06:51 PM

Where is your place? We are near Saluda and some of our pipes froze this week. The water pipes up under the house are OK but the out-line to the washer machine and our drain from one sink in wash-up room froze.

I use those electric tape things that you wrap around the pipes (I forgot to turn them on last week before I left for Asheville!)......and it has a little thermostat thing on it. I plug it in when the temps will not go over 32 in the daytime.........it will be that cold this coming week too. Tomorrow I have to fix it and plug them back in.

If you leave the place for a while, just drain everything out. But if you have some things that hold the water, like a pressure tank, then get those heat strips or like someone above said put a thermostat on a heat bulb device.

Good luck - hope your's are OK - but sure to check before noon Sunday since ice / snow on the way!

Beeman · #9 12/09/10, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vickie44

How would you get that water out of the washing machine pump?

Look at pump, either has a plug or you take hose off underneath. I'm guessing you could pour RV antifreeze in the drain hose.

meanwhile · #10 12/10/10, 09:40 AM

Hello Oz -
I looked at your blog site and see your location. Your place is near us. It will be below freezing this week in the upper section of your county and will not reach above thaw all day. In that cold, the pressure tank might freeze. If your place is in the lower section of your county, the temps will be above freezing during the day time and it should be OK.

I would probably put one of the heat strips on a thermostat inside the plastic cover with your pressure tank. It would turn on at the pre set time and protect the contents of the plastic Shed.

For example - this past week, I am near Saluda at 2300 feet, all my water pipes under one back room froze up plus the drain line from the washing machine. I did not realize the temps would be under 32 during the day time and I forgot to turn on my heat strips. Husband and Handy Man out there now fixing it back up.

Good luck - it is going to be cold this week.

Vickie44 · #11 12/10/10, 09:43 AM

Beeman: Thank You, I have a washing machine in the shed that will have to sit ( boo hoo ) for the winter.

oz in SC V2.0 · #12 12/10/10, 09:45 AM

Thanks,we are in the lower part I guess,just a little outside of Rutherfordton itself heading up Golden Valley.

We are going to head up there and check things out,and either get the woodstove up and running or drive back home.

We learned our lesson staying there with no heat.

oz in SC V2.0 · #13 12/12/10, 04:22 PM

Well it seems like we were a little late.

Got up there Saturday morning and went to check the well and while the pressure tank was okay,the pipes leading from it had shattered.

We looked on the bright side and we needed to repair that side anyway as it had a slow leak...at least it wasn't inside.
Will have to repair the damage next trip up as it was getting late and we needed to head back.

We added a heat source and insulation anyway so that should be good.

meanwhile · #14 12/12/10, 05:18 PM

Oh shucks - sorry that happened but at least you know and can plan to fix it once we warm up. The User Chickenista here lives near your place and she might know someone who can help if you need referrals.

We had a little over an inch of snow this morning but sleet off / on all day.

Stay warm!

oz in SC V2.0 · #15 12/14/10, 12:59 PM

Bright side,we will fix it properly this time...I have looked online and will end up buying another house filter as the housing that broke is almost as much as an entire new filter and would need to be ordered,typical of things today.

But on the bright side, we got the walls framed in upstairs AND the new wood stove in and working!!!
That is the last real construction in the living space so after I put up the wood planks for the walls we will have a house of sorts.

Well we also need to get the stove up there and dishwasher and fridge but still.