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re: I’m a plumber.

Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:33 pm to
Posted by thewarmth
Bali
Member since May 2010
1891 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:33 pm to
I have an outdoor tankless water heater in S. Louisiana. We’re leaving tomorrow and lows will be in the low 20s for 4 nights. It’s a new well insulated house, but should I turn off the water to protect the water heater pipes? If I turn off the water, do I need to turn off the gas as well?
Posted by TigerFanatic99
South Bend, Indiana
Member since Jan 2007
27631 posts
Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:49 pm to
In our spare shower, when I pull the bar up to make the water come out of the top shower head instead of the spigot, have the water still comes out of the spigot. How fricked am I?
Posted by DarthTiger
Member since Sep 2005
2746 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 4:34 am to
Instead of dripping the faucets, could I just turn off the water main and then let all the faucets/lines drain out to prevent them from freezing?
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17265 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 7:19 am to
quote:

Instead of dripping the faucets, could I just turn off the water main and then let all the faucets/lines drain out to prevent them from freezing?


Yes an no
If you do be sure and open all of the faucets , but you are still taking a chance because you will not be able to drain all the water out of The lines unless you blow the lines with an air compressor, so you will still have water in some of your lines, as long as when it freezes the ice has somewhere to go (hence leaving all the faucets open) ice will form along the line of least resistance and go long ways inside the pipe and it not burst, BUT if you have an ice plug form and trap water in a dead space then that water freezes it will burst a pipe, same for dead end connections that you forgot to leave open, toilet fill lines, ice makers, washing machines, dishwashers
All of that takes prolonged super cold temps , but best to just leave hot and cold dripping, set a delay start on dishwasher, empty your ice bin and possibly put a pencil under the flapper inside the toilet tank , all of this is overkill for most modern slab houses, I have a 70 year old camp on pier and beam in S.W. MS, I will be doing all of the above, a $100 water bill is much better than a several thousand dollar plumber bill on Christmas Day

Good luck
This post was edited on 12/21/22 at 7:21 am
Posted by OneSaintsFan
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2009
1613 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 7:25 am to
Advise for stuck hose on spigots
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17265 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 7:27 am to
quote:

AdviCe for stuck hose on spigots


2 pipe wrenches, one to stabilize hose bib, the other to take hose off, if you can not do that in time cut your hose as close to bib as possible, wrap bib and fix hose and get fitting off when you have time

When you have time soak fitting with vineger or CLR to break up mineral deposits
This post was edited on 12/21/22 at 7:35 am
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1743 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 8:38 am to
blaze ice maker inside custom brick countertop freeze protection options...

shut off water, unplug, remove water inlet line, and dolly the whole unit inside my shop and cover?

or

stuff blankets in small voids around ice maker and tarp from countertop to floor and add heat lamp under the grill compartment about 8 feet away under same counter top?
This post was edited on 12/21/22 at 8:47 am
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17265 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 9:16 am to
either would be fine, also keep the emptying the ice bin so that it continues to make new ice and will keep flushing the line
Posted by LSUTIGERTAILG8ER
Chance of Rain....NEVER!!
Member since Nov 2007
1743 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 9:33 am to
quote:

either would be fine, also keep the emptying the ice bin so that it continues to make new ice and will keep flushing the line


thanks. i guess disconnecting and removing is the safest option, but more involved.

heat lamp is easier, just not a guarantee from freezing I guess.
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17265 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 9:35 am to
disconnecting saves the ice maker but still leaves the pipes to burst
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
31268 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 1:38 pm to
quote:

Correct but uponor pex A fittings will still break when frozen so insulating pex fittings is recommended.


correct....pex wont rupture, but if in a wall that is uninsulated.....it can mess up the fitting and come apart. friend of mine had this happen above his outdoor kitchen(really a full conditioned room)
This post was edited on 12/21/22 at 2:16 pm
Posted by LSU-MNCBABY
Knightsgate
Member since Jan 2004
24362 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 1:48 pm to
I’m going to put a space heater next to mine and hope for the best, mine is tucked into a corner with the wall behind it being the garage so it’s not completely exposed
Posted by lsuchamps23
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2008
9494 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 4:14 pm to
outdoor kitchen sink....do I just drip both hot and cold?
Posted by rattlebucket
SELA
Member since Feb 2009
11456 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 4:26 pm to
Toilet wont stop running. Turned off water valve to toilet and it makes the same sound. It sounds like air or water when it recovers after flushing. Water tank beads water on bottom of tank and drips on floor. Very small amount of water.
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 5:59 pm to
1
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 5:59 pm to
Water is a great insulator, as long as water moves through your meter periodically you'll be fine.
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:00 pm to
PEX will expand and/or crack. Will 100% burst if it is exposed to sunlight on a regular basis.
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:01 pm to
Wrong. It will expand and have a permanent "bubble" where it expanded in the line. This guy is not a plumber he's like a 1st or 2nd year apprentice do not heed his advice.
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:03 pm to
In all seriousness you have the most likely chance of a pipe bursting than anyone in here. There is no way to protect your heater without having a constant flow of water through it. Outdoor tankless heaters are outlawed up north for this reason. They will likely soon be outlawed here
Posted by MrBobDobalina
BRo.LA
Member since Oct 2011
2993 posts
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:05 pm to
Very not fricked, LINK

$13 at Amazon or $18 at Home Depot. Unscrew the old one, screw the new one on. Or I'll come change it for $100
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