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Title: Our pipes are frozen this morning...no water
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Published: Jan 8, 2010
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Post Date: 2010-01-08 11:27:56 by christine
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Views: 7102
Comments: 170
it's cloudy with no sun to warm us up. the high predicted today is 35. currently it's 26 degrees (feels like 17). could be hours before the pipes unfreeze. i'm going nuts already.
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#23. To: christine (#16)
me too & i grew up in the snow just got back from freezing my butt off in germany & belgium spent much of the time thinkin' how nice it would be to get back to sunny texas shoot, it's warmer in frankfurt today than it is in houston!!
if none of your water is running it is most likely where the supply line from the meter comes out of the ground next to your house. get a clamp on spot light fixture and spot light bulb aim it at the pipe and turn it on. for best results enclose the light and pipe in something even if it's just a tent made from a blanket surrounding but not in contact with the light or the lamp fixture.
On the positive, if the frozen pipe is in a wall and has burst from the expanding water freezing then you could have a wall leak when it thaws. Isn't that cheery? All I have to say is I'm thankful that I've never had the problem as I learned early growing up where if it got up to freezing in the winter that was a heat wave.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
that's the situation. thanks.
Lord! You actually have a sense of humor. I'm shocked. Shocked, do you hear me!?
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Thermite would do it too. (Ducks.)
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Actually, here when our pipes freeze, we call the banker first and plumber second.
Something that would work is a seed starter's heat cable. You can find them at garden stores. They come in two types - mats and cables and in a couple of different lenghts. Wrap it around where the pipe comes out of the ground and tape it in place (Gaffer's Tape is best but regular Duct Tape will work. You'll likely need an exterior weatherproof extension cord, but that should do a gentle thaw which is less likely to cause a pipe to burst. If you have something to wrap around as insulation that would hold the heat in and speed up the process. And when it's all done you can start seeds for the garden.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
do you have an electric blanket? put it around the supply line and cover it with a tarp that will keep the wind out. set it to high and plug it in and again watch for leaks from a ruptured pipe. just watch the dial on your water meter, if it starts spinning like a fan there is copious amounts of water flowing.
It occurred to me also that depending upon how much Ice is in there that you might need more than one cable and/or reposition them as the pipe thaws. Once you have water flowing then keep it turned on and flowing for a while as that will continue to melt the ice remaining in the pipe. P.S. I hope my warped sense of humor didn't offend in a trying moment. ;-)
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Yes that would work too - although the nice thing about the seed starter's cables is that they are waterproof.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Yikes! I have never heard of dripping your outside water during a freeze. Generally we have to make sure all of the hoses are disconnected and that there is no water in the outside lines. Most people up here in Idaho who have sprinklers will have them blown out before winter comes. I would call somewhere and get some advice on what to do with the outside water since you began to trickle it. One thing you don't want is the water in the lines to freeze up expand and then burst the pipes.
I'll bite. Why?
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
For what it is worth, this is the nearest assessment as I see it: It is obviously cold enough that a section of your pipe close to an outside wall is frozen solid and blocking the flow of the water. The whole pipe-system in the house in all likelihood is NOT frozen (yet). There is however, a small section of the pipe that is vulnerable to the outside (low) temperature. If one could find the location (most likely in an outside wall) the application of warmth from the inside and possible protection from the outside, should prove helpful. _____________ (I live in Canada, for the last 20 some years our outside walls are 2x6 construction and very well insulated. We have experienced 25F below zero and nothing froze.)
heat gun, aka souped-up hairdryer my pipes always used to freeze up in the same place every time, under the house close to where the water main entered the house... a few minutes ---didnt take long at all, with one of these things on "high"--- did the trick. if you dont know where the pipes are frozen, the logical place to start thawing operations would be: (a) closest to where the water enters the house (on the theory that the heated water would naturally travel towards the frozen spot if there was any movement at all), and (b) where you figure the pipes would get coldest. could be both are in the same place. meanwhile, i made lots of spidery friends when i was thawing the pipes in the crawlspace under the house.
In winter time plumbers are our enemies. They sit in their shop sticking pins in people to cause frozen pipes. When the phone rings, they KNOW they are KING and you are gonna pay. First question is always, the same, do you understand my fees???? No BS excuses will work, you are on social security, you are sick, no money in bank, all that is brushed aside, "do you understand my fees"????? Then you start whining and sniveling, to no avail, you start pleading for him to show up. He baits you for another half hour before he grudgingly says he will put you on a list. List you say, what damned list??????
It certainly could suck for our irrigation system if we ever thaw - looking at 20, or lower, tonight. This is becoming tiresome.
That is the nice thing about living in the cold zone - so far as this stuff goes - 2 x 6 construction is pretty much standard any more and required by code - as is extra insulation and pipe wraps.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
I think I would be making a list of my own. And checking my safety twice.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
My last foray a year ago was $1100. I tried explaining I did not want to buy an interest in his business. He just snickered.
Frozen pipes could be a big problem. If the pipe breaks then you are going to need a plumber pronto. Hope that doens't happen. Try to leave them dripping on cold nights.
God is always good!
Heating cables are cheaper. And they don't snicker. Makes me glad I'm Trailer Trash with a simple distribution system and a short connection to the water main - under the house with easy access. Although we have been as cold as 10 or 11 without any problems. This year is much better than last. Last year at this time it was 20 degrees with a foot and a half of snow. Today it is just raining and 38. I actually did some work on some of my containers for the garden yesterday as it was dry - a rarity this time of year.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
good lord. we just called our plumber and he said he doesn't have any surefire way to thaw our pipes either. :/
Christine, If and when you do get your pipes thawed, if it is to get really cold then you need to trickle the water in the sinks and other areas. What I do is usually trickle both a little from hot and a little from the cold so that both pipes have some water coming through. Make sure to take of the hoses to any outside pipes. I made it all the way through one winter without anything bursting until one of the hose bibs did a number in spring because there was a hose connected and some water up in the bib. Good luck. I hope they do not burst on you. Two winters ago we had a whole bunch of people that happened to.
LOL, that's funny. Hmmm.... could that be a conspiracy against Texas? :-))
What part of the country are you located in? In Idaho I don't worry unless we get down in the low single digits about frozen pipes. But irrigation is usually always taken care of before winter. This winter has been relatively mild. Although it was it the teens at night this week we hardly have had any snow this year. And it is suppose to get back up into the 40's next week.
I think the heat gun (which you can get at an Electronics Repair Supply) or the Gardener's Heat Cable are likely your best bets. Either that or time and crossed fingers that nothing has burst. On the positive side my Ocikitten is snuggled up and warm against my shoulders - and not climbing all over me making it hard to type. ;-) P.S. She is morphing from gray to kind of a cinnamon brown with darker brown/black spots. She's going to be a real "looker" once she finishes getting her adult coloration.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
No, more like a lot of sinning going on in Texas. Especially in and around Austin. Those people need to repent.
Christine and I are in Austin, on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country. This kind of winter blows through every fifteen years or so. We are definitely not properly geared for it. One other hint, wherever there are faucets in the home leave the cabinet doors open so the warm air gets to the supply lines.
When our pipes first froze after we moved here what I did was hair dryer and I would boil water and put it in the bathtub hoping to warm it enough to melt some of the ice without it expanding. Depending were the pipes are you may try a heat lamp in one area and hair dryer in another. It takes a long time with a hair dryer.
need pics! our little one is getting more and more of the light beige that is his whole undercoat coloring showing.
true, I'm not sure about this far south and I don't recall seeing it here in the Corpus Christi area but they make an electric tape just for pipes I used it in Virginia when I was stationed at Yorktown to keep both my well head and separator tank from freezing. the good thing was all of the plumbing was under the back porch so it was protected from the wind. link for heat tape
the pipes just unthawed and we got water running!!!!! shower time !!!
I turned off the water at the curb, turned off the water heater power, opened the cabinets beneath the sinks, and opened all the taps in the house and am using 1 gal water jugs until Sunday when the temperature gets above freezing. I don't want to have to call a plumber.
_________________________________________________________________________ That would be tough to plan for this kind winter down there. Hope it all goes well for you guys and nothing burst.
I guess I need to break down, grit my teeth in protest, and buy a digital camera. She's still in the middle of the color change so at the moment some of her is still gray but the new fur is growing in kind of a cinnamon brown. It has really become noticeable in the last 2 weeeks. She also has Abyssinian eyes that are just huge gold saucers (one of the ancestral strains in the Ocicat). Sounds like yours is morphing into a cutie too. ;-)
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
Now you know what it feels like on a Navy Ship when they are rationing water. Holiday Showers! P.S. That's why they called the old Diesel Submarines "Pig Boats" because there was never enough water, at sea, to shower in fresh water.
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
An Airedale eh? Wooden Ships and Iron Men Forever! Minesweep Sailors do it with Wood!
"One of the least understood strategies of the world revolution now moving rapidly toward its goal is the use of mind control as a major means of obtaining the consent of the people who will be subjects of the New World Order." K.M. Heaton, The National Educator
If you have water in the pipes you need to get it trickling or flowing before it warms up. The ice in those pipes expands when it warms up and causes pipes to burst. You need to warm it up somehow.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latesti'm having trouble lasting mere hours
#24. To: christine (#21)
The best gun to have, is the gun you have, when you need a gun.
#25. To: christine (#0)
#26. To: IRTorqued (#24)
if none of your water is running it is most likely where the supply line from the meter comes out of the ground next to your house. get a clamp on spot light fixture and spot light bulb aim it at the pipe and turn it on. for best results enclose the light and pipe in something even if it's just a tent made from a blanket surrounding but not in contact with the light or the lamp fixture.
#27. To: rotgut (#4)
You didn't have this problem when Bush was President.
#28. To: christine (#26)
#29. To: Itistoolate, christine (#14)
You better make friends with Al Gore so he can send you some 'global warming'.
#30. To: Original_Intent (#28)
#31. To: christine (#26)
#32. To: christine (#26)
The best gun to have, is the gun you have, when you need a gun.
#33. To: All (#31)
#34. To: IRTorqued (#32)
#35. To: Lod (#5)
#36. To: Cynicom (#30)
Actually, here when our pipes freeze, we call the banker first and plumber second.
#37. To: christine (#15)
all we have exposed on the exterior is hose bibs, front and back. is it those we're supposed to try this on?
#38. To: christine (#26)
(Edited)
#39. To: Original_Intent (#36)
#40. To: MiracleRose7. all (#35)
One thing you don't want is the water in the lines to freeze up expand and then burst the pipes.
#41. To: sushigirl (#37)
#42. To: Cynicom (#39)
List you say, what damned list??????
#43. To: Original_Intent (#42)
#44. To: christine (#6)
#45. To: Cynicom (#43)
#46. To: Cynicom, All (#43)
My last foray a year ago was $1100.
#47. To: christine (#0)
#48. To: randge (#23)
...spent much of the time thinkin' how nice it would be to get back to sunny texas shoot, it's warmer in frankfurt today than it is in houston!!
#49. To: Lod (#40)
#50. To: christine (#46)
(Edited)
#51. To: sushigirl (#48)
LOL, that's funny. Hmmm.... could that be a conspiracy against Texas? :-))
#52. To: MiracleRose7, christine, all (#49)
#53. To: christine (#46)
#54. To: Original_Intent (#50)
#55. To: Original_Intent, christine (#34)
The best gun to have, is the gun you have, when you need a gun.
#56. To: All, YIPPEE (#54)
#57. To: christine (#0)
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?”
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#58. To: Lod (#52)
#59. To: christine (#54)
#60. To: christine (#56)
#61. To: IRTorqued (#55)
#62. To: X-15 (#57)
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