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Started By
Message
Plumbing question re: extreme freezing weather
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:08 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:08 am
A leak started in my supply line between the meter and the house, so until the plumber repairs it we have tubs filled with water for toilets, gallon jugs for drinking water and turn on the water at the meter for quick showers, then turn off.
Assuming the plumber does not finish the repair, today, and we know the weather temp will plunge to 15°, what should I do to protect my pipes?
I have Freeze Mizer freeze protectors on all my outdoor faucets but they only work under water pressure.
Should I (A) turn on and leave on my water, eating the water bill, or (B) turn off the water and leave it off until this hard cold is over?
My concern is water still in the pipes in the outside brick walls wont be moving in the lines and without water flow, they'll freeze and burst.
Recommendations?
Assuming the plumber does not finish the repair, today, and we know the weather temp will plunge to 15°, what should I do to protect my pipes?
I have Freeze Mizer freeze protectors on all my outdoor faucets but they only work under water pressure.
Should I (A) turn on and leave on my water, eating the water bill, or (B) turn off the water and leave it off until this hard cold is over?
My concern is water still in the pipes in the outside brick walls wont be moving in the lines and without water flow, they'll freeze and burst.
Recommendations?
4
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:18 am to HubbaBubba
I would have everyone shower, then remove freeze mizers, open the exterior faucets, and shut the water off.
When you need to turn the water back on, just shut the exterior faucets.
Then again, if the leak isn't that bad I would just leave the water on.
When we had the snow here a few weeks ago, I left all 3 of my exterior faucets run with a steady stream for 4-5 days without ever cutting them off and I didn't even notice my bill go up.
When you need to turn the water back on, just shut the exterior faucets.
Then again, if the leak isn't that bad I would just leave the water on.
When we had the snow here a few weeks ago, I left all 3 of my exterior faucets run with a steady stream for 4-5 days without ever cutting them off and I didn't even notice my bill go up.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:31 am to HubbaBubba
I wouldn’t be worried. A plumber would easily be able to fix that kind of leak today.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:32 am to southern686
Leak is about 2500 gallons a day, so my cost per day for the leak is somewhere around $15. Probably cheaper to leave it on than repairing a burst pipe.
This post was edited on 2/18/25 at 8:33 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:38 am to sledgehammer
quote:Fixing the leak isn't the issue. It's the concrete sidewalk that has to come up in order to get to the leak and digging around the gas, power, phone and fiber ISP lines, so it's not as simple just getting to the leak. Waiting on all the 811 folks to mark their lines so the demolition crew can start.
I wouldn’t be worried. A plumber would easily be able to fix that kind of leak today.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 8:49 am to HubbaBubba
I understand. This freeze won’t be as bad as the one a month ago though.
At our church, I turned the water off , opened every faucet inside and out to relieve pressure, insulated exposed pipe outside and nothing had busted when I turned it back on the following Saturday. If I were you, I’d do the same thing.
At our church, I turned the water off , opened every faucet inside and out to relieve pressure, insulated exposed pipe outside and nothing had busted when I turned it back on the following Saturday. If I were you, I’d do the same thing.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 9:26 am to HubbaBubba
You could block it in at the meter, open some stuff and blow the lines. What's left would leak out of the busted supply line. Just wont have water until fixed.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:07 am to HubbaBubba
I’m near DFW airport. We just open cabinets behind exterior walls. The outdoor spigots, if functioning correctly will be fine. The packing is 6” deep into the wall usually. We still cover them with the insulated covers with the pull strings.
We have one spigot that does not work correctly, has an exterior valve, and is super vulnerable to freezing. We wrap that one pretty good. The pool just stays in a mode where freeze protection can kick in. As long as your house stays warm, you’ll be fine. I don’t see a need to drip anything.
We have one spigot that does not work correctly, has an exterior valve, and is super vulnerable to freezing. We wrap that one pretty good. The pool just stays in a mode where freeze protection can kick in. As long as your house stays warm, you’ll be fine. I don’t see a need to drip anything.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 5:26 pm to Dallaswho
Kind of an update:
My terrible neighbor ( About her on TD from 2016) called the police and ICE on my work crew. Two of the workers are green card holders but didn't want to get harassed, so they packed up and left. I won't get a return until Friday or Saturday.
Anyway, the plumber in charge told me that I could just eat the loss of water from the underground leak and leave the water on during the hard freeze with faucets dripping and cabinets open. He said, "Water's a lot cheaper than a busted line in your wall." I agree.
My terrible neighbor ( About her on TD from 2016) called the police and ICE on my work crew. Two of the workers are green card holders but didn't want to get harassed, so they packed up and left. I won't get a return until Friday or Saturday.
Anyway, the plumber in charge told me that I could just eat the loss of water from the underground leak and leave the water on during the hard freeze with faucets dripping and cabinets open. He said, "Water's a lot cheaper than a busted line in your wall." I agree.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 8:03 pm to HubbaBubba
With water off at the meter and your faucets open you will be fine.
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