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> I can just run a bucket of water then shut off the main to make sure the pipes don't burst. Don't do this... please don't do this. Just set all your taps (i

by leeter 5y ago

> I can just run a bucket of water then shut off the main to make sure the pipes don't burst. Don't do this... please don't do this. Just set all your taps (internal and external) to drip slowly. That's all you need to do. Shutting off the main could actually make it worse because it creates an area without expansion. > So what would I do to "winterize"? Consider putting in more insulation in your attic, R30 should do it. It will help with energy bills in the summer too. Fixing walls is nice but not worth it unless you're doing a whole house reno. Also next time you get your AC replaced, consider swapping it for a unit that also functions as a heat pump. Get one rated to 5-10F, that means it will be within rated efficiency range until that point. It will still function and operate below that but will be more like the electric heat you have now below that. But still generally more efficient overall. That reduces load, less load overall means less chance of things going out. It may seem small but those two things can have an effect.

sidewndr46 5y ago
I have over one meter of insulation in my attic. But realize that way this home was constructed, a good portion of the roofline is directly against the ceiling. You can't add insulation to that area. It is very poorly insulated by design. The snow on my roof always melts in this area and make some nice ice dams as it runs off. There is no fixing that without a major change to the home. The only thing that could freeze when I shut off my water main is the water main in the street. If that freezes, that isn't my problem. Nor is it anything I can do something about.
- MR4D 5y ago
  I live in Houston - the water main actually froze last year. It sucked, to say the least. Unfortunately, problems like that are very hard (expensive & time consuming) to fix. But my house was warm due to excellent insulation and running the fireplace for about 8 days straight.
cloverich 5y ago
Dripping worked fairly well for us during the last freeze (Austin), although I still had a few frozen pipes (that did not result in a leak). The insulation is sufficiently poor that our indoor bathroom faucets will freeze after ~12 hours of <30 or so. There's pipes that run along the exterior of the home that have literally no insulation whatsoever. We'd have to do some targeted insulation in those exposed areas as well, unfortunately.
hnu0847 5y ago
> Don't do this... please don't do this. Just set all your taps (internal and external) to drip slowly. That's all you need to do. Shutting off the main could actually make it worse because it creates an area without expansion. Can you please elaborate on this? Why wouldn't shutting off the water supply to my house and then completely draining the pipes by running the lowest faucet in the house be the safest way to protect against burst pipes? Or am I misunderstanding your recommendation?
- leeter 5y ago
  You're misunderstanding. I was responding to the idea that simply shutting of the mains will protect from burst pipes. It wouldn't; all it would do is trap the water inside the existing pipes with no outlet. Completely draining (and potentially backfilling antifreeze into sumps) will protect pipes however but that was not what was being suggested by my reading. That said homeowners in this sort of situation may not have pipes built to completely drain anyway; nor would they necessarily want to as that would have a negative impact on sanitation.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

by leeter 5y ago

sidewndr46 5y ago

I have over one meter of insulation in my attic. But realize that way this home was constructed, a good portion of the roofline is directly against the ceiling. You can't add insulation to that area. It is very poorly insulated by design. The snow on my roof always melts in this area and make some nice ice dams as it runs off. There is no fixing that without a major change to the home. The only thing that could freeze when I shut off my water main is the water main in the street. If that freezes, that isn't my problem. Nor is it anything I can do something about.

MR4D 5y ago
I live in Houston - the water main actually froze last year. It sucked, to say the least. Unfortunately, problems like that are very hard (expensive & time consuming) to fix. But my house was warm due to excellent insulation and running the fireplace for about 8 days straight.

cloverich 5y ago

Dripping worked fairly well for us during the last freeze (Austin), although I still had a few frozen pipes (that did not result in a leak). The insulation is sufficiently poor that our indoor bathroom faucets will freeze after ~12 hours of <30 or so. There's pipes that run along the exterior of the home that have literally no insulation whatsoever. We'd have to do some targeted insulation in those exposed areas as well, unfortunately.

hnu0847 5y ago

> Don't do this... please don't do this. Just set all your taps (internal and external) to drip slowly. That's all you need to do. Shutting off the main could actually make it worse because it creates an area without expansion. Can you please elaborate on this? Why wouldn't shutting off the water supply to my house and then completely draining the pipes by running the lowest faucet in the house be the safest way to protect against burst pipes? Or am I misunderstanding your recommendation?

leeter 5y ago
You're misunderstanding. I was responding to the idea that simply shutting of the mains will protect from burst pipes. It wouldn't; all it would do is trap the water inside the existing pipes with no outlet. Completely draining (and potentially backfilling antifreeze into sumps) will protect pipes however but that was not what was being suggested by my reading. That said homeowners in this sort of situation may not have pipes built to completely drain anyway; nor would they necessarily want to as that would have a negative impact on sanitation.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]