Timeline for Should I drain all the pipes before a freeze?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| Feb 12, 2021 at 15:16 | comment | added | J... | @d512 If that's the case, consider some type of indoor kerosene heater to at least keep the interior of the house just above freezing, at least the area around where the water comes in. Even with the water off, the shutoff valve will be inside the house and if the incoming water pipe freezes and bursts then the basement will flood when it warms back up. If you have an outdoor, underground shutoff this can be less of an issue, but you still need a way to chase the water out of all the piping that enters the house. | |
| Feb 12, 2021 at 14:51 | comment | added | CSM | You can put table salt in the toilet bowl and sink traps (assuming they're plastic, not metal). This should protect them down to -10°C [ - 5 °F ]. For the toilet, you can pour the salt in, and stir it. For the sinks, pour in some pre-mixed salt and water. | |
| Feb 12, 2021 at 12:48 | comment | added | jay613 | You can make a partial attempt at avoiding pooling in low spots by thinking about the locations of pipes and fixtures and opening exactly two at a time to drain parts of the house in a way that will add some siphoning action to help empty these low spots. It'll be far from perfect but can't hurt to try. I was going to suggest you do this for at least the hose bibs, then realized that with no heat there's nothing special about them. :( | |
| Feb 12, 2021 at 12:19 | comment | added | FreeMan | Many apartment complexes where I live (in Indiana) post notices to their residents to leave at least one faucet with a trickle running the help keep pipes from freezing when temps drop below 0°F. However, that's also in heated buildings. @d512's concern does seem valid in an unheated structure. Might take more than a "trickle" of water, more like a "thin, steady stream". | |
| Feb 12, 2021 at 0:04 | comment | added | d512 | The power is out because we had our electrical panel replaced and they won't turn it back on before inspecting it and inspections are way backed up right now. I'll consider your alternative option of running the water rather than draining the pipes. It's just that keeping the water away from the foundation can be hard. And preventing the flow from slowing down and freezing is also tricky. I've tried it before and the trickle ended up freezing into an icicle. | |
| Feb 11, 2021 at 23:08 | history | answered | Ted Mittelstaedt | CC BY-SA 4.0 |