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Message
Winterizing a vacant home
Posted on 1/18/25 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 1/18/25 at 1:34 pm
Have a home that is currently vacant. I can't go check it daily so I'm trying to figure the best method for freeze protection.
I plan on running the heater but don't really want to leave water dripping all week. If I cut off the water supply and open up the faucets should that prevent pipes from freezing? Is it necessary to blow out the lines with air?
I plan on running the heater but don't really want to leave water dripping all week. If I cut off the water supply and open up the faucets should that prevent pipes from freezing? Is it necessary to blow out the lines with air?
6
Posted on 1/18/25 at 2:12 pm to terd ferguson
Only way to be sure that all the trapped watter is out of the lines is to blow it out.
If you have a small pancake air compressor, you can buy a fitting that fits a hose bib to blow it out yourself.
If you have a small pancake air compressor, you can buy a fitting that fits a hose bib to blow it out yourself.
Posted on 1/18/25 at 2:23 pm to terd ferguson
quote:
If I cut off the water supply and open up the faucets should that prevent pipes from freezing?
I don’t know why this wouldn’t be enough to ensure that the pipes wouldn’t break.
Posted on 1/18/25 at 3:17 pm to SloaneRanger
You need a low point drain and a means to blow everything out. Can't have any water trapped anywhere above ground.
Posted on 1/18/25 at 3:26 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I don’t see why some water left in the pipes would be a problem. Even if it freezes it will expand into empty pipe.
Posted on 1/18/25 at 4:01 pm to terd ferguson
Are you on a slab or piers?
Posted on 1/18/25 at 7:09 pm to terd ferguson
If you cut the water supply, don’t forget to cut the power or gas to the water heater
Posted on 1/18/25 at 7:12 pm to terd ferguson
You can leave sink base cabinet doors open to keep water lines conditioned. You can also empty ice maker in fridge and the water will keep making ice thus running water.
Every little bit helps.
Every little bit helps.
Posted on 1/18/25 at 7:58 pm to ItzMe1972
Slab. I shut off the main, turned up the heat, and left the cold side open on all faucets... we shall see.
Posted on 1/19/25 at 5:46 am to pweezy
As long as its not a full pipe anywhere exposed to air. In other words, any dips or low points will still be full of water and can possibly burst.
Posted on 1/19/25 at 2:13 pm to Spankum
quote:
If you cut the water supply, don’t forget to cut the power or gas to the water heater
This. My nephew turned the water off to his house at school and forgot to turn off the water heater.
It was completely rusted when we moved my daughter in. Had to run it for 30 min to clean it all out. I suspect it will go out within the next couple of years, where it would have had had many years left in it.
Posted on 1/20/25 at 7:20 am to terd ferguson
I had to look after a vacant house during snowmageddon, with single-digit temps as low as we've seen here for several days. Cut off the water at the street, opened the faucets inside, and left the electric water heater on despite some reservations. I would have turned it off or set as low as possible, but the damned thing was almost inaccessible in the attic, so I took a chance. Left the central heat on, with relevant cabinets open. Did not blow lines out. Everything worked out well.
Did the same to my own house when I had to take a Christmas road trip during 20 degree temps. All was good.
Did the same to my own house when I had to take a Christmas road trip during 20 degree temps. All was good.
Posted on 1/20/25 at 9:16 am to baseballmind1212
quote:
Only way to be sure that all the trapped water is out of the lines is to blow it out.
If you have a small pancake air compressor, you can buy a fitting that fits a hose bib to blow it out yourself.
Need to go a little further....also drain the water heater, and pour some RV anti freeze down the p traps. Don't forget the p trap that washing machine dumps into.
That's exactly what I do to our 5th wheel. Same thing applies to your house.
I guess technically if you start blowing the lines out right at the source water inlet of your house and you're blowing through all the lines, you could blow out the water in the water heater. I like to drain the water heater, and then put air in the water heater using it as another large air storage tank.
tl;dr: don't forget to pour RV anti freeze down the p traps.
This post was edited on 1/20/25 at 9:17 am
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