Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:
Author:
jennifer1 (VA)
He, We have a snow/ice storm coming and are not staying in our home...if the power goes out and the house cools is it likely the pipes will freeze...temp will be in the teens....some one told me cut off the water at the street and empty all faucets and they said to turn off the hot water heater....I'm at a loss...what should I do....we may not even loose power. Thanks!
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
HelpMePlumb (FL)
Yes - turning the water off at the street and opening up an outside hose bib or two will avert a problem. The water heater should be fine.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
timO (VA)
It will be interesting to see the responses to this question.
I am also in Va and returned home last week to broken pipes due to a freeze.
But every house and situation is different, and I am not a plumber.
My opinion is leave the water heater on, and the heating at something like 60.
I would shut off main valve from street which I would imagine is located in in your house. Then open all the faucets and flush all the toilets. Leave the faucets open
This includes faucets to the outside for hoses, and irrigation.
If the water remaining in the pipes freezes it will expand and the open valves will allow it to expand through the pipes and hopefully not expand and burst the pipes.
I have a well, and an old house with both CPVC and galvanized pipe. The pipes burst on the second floor where the CPVC transitioned to the metal. If you have PEX, they say it will not burst.
I hope someone who is qualified responds to your question. We're not leaving for this storm, the roads are too screwed up between here and Jacksonville!
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
HelpMePlumb (FL)
I'm wondering what part of my answer rendered me unqualified......
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
bernabeu (SC)
thermostat:
either leave at usual setting or TURN IT WARMER to supply a cushion if power lost
water heater:
turn power or gas off - leave tank full (will hold heat for DAYS}
water supply:
shut supply valve as close to meter as possible
flush all toilets (to empty tanks)
open all faucets
open / drain all outdoor hose cocks/bibs
put 1 cup propylene glycol in each toilet (NOT ethylene glycol for cars) and 1/4 cup in each sink and bath / shower and 1/4 cup in dishwasher
turn off icemaker in fridge
anything beyond the above will involve specialty equipment like compressors, vacuums, etc.
==============================================
"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
timO (VA)
no no. I replied without seeing your post!
I would never say anything about another poster's qualifications since
I am not a plumber!
Sorry for the confusion.
BTW It's snowing in Central Virginia
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|