Dripping faucets when it's cold?

[Doc Shapiro]

Is there any truth to the need to drip faucets when it's cold?  Next couple of nights are going to be pretty chilly, possibly as low as -30 on Wed morning.

 

What do you all have to say about it?  Never lived somewhere this cold.

 

Thanks!

[Still hand Bill]

It is true that moving water is harder to freeze.  A faucet with some flow will freeze more slowly than one without moving water.  Not sure how effective it is, but people do it all the time.   Also leave cabinets open so the warm air can get in. 

[Rip Snorter]

Depends on building heat and insulation.  I once rented a summer cottage, not knowing that it was not adequately insulated for year round living and in a geography with hard cold.  Leaving faucets at a trickle keeps the pipes from freezing.  A better solution (other than moving to a real house) is what used to be called heat tapes.  You wrap the pipes and plug them in.  So many cold weather issues - be sure you have a heat backup if the furnace fails.  Slow learner, another cottage.  Loved living on lakes, so I suppose it was worth it.  Plenty of stories!

[Doc Shapiro]

Just now, Rip Snorter said:

Depends on building heat and insulation.  I once rented a summer cottage, not knowing that it was not adequately insulated for year round living and in a geography with hard cold.  Leaving faucets at a trickle keeps the pipes from freezing.  A better solution (other than moving to a real house) is what used to be called heat tapes.  You wrap the pipes and plug them in.  So many cold weather issues - be sure you have a heat backup if the furnace fails.  Slow learner, another cottage.  Loved living on lakes, so I suppose it was worth it.  Plenty of stories!

The place is well insulated. and the water comes in under the house in the crawl space (really a crawl space), which has a skirting.  We're on well water and the pipe is below the frost line.  But still wondering if it's necessary.

[Singin' Sue 71615]

9 minutes ago, Doc Shapiro said:

The place is well insulated. and the water comes in under the house in the crawl space (really a crawl space), which has a skirting.  We're on well water and the pipe is below the frost line.  But still wondering if it's necessary.

In our double wide...same as you described...YES. in extreme cold temps you should drip your faucet.

We now live in a much smaller home, so it isn't as necesary...no crawl space.

It is better to let it run...than fix a busted pipe or be without untill it thaws.

[Rip Snorter]

On a well also, water pipes below the frostline all the way through the foundation into a heated basement.  At -41° we had an issue once in 18 years.  Heater in the well pit now.  IMHO, the crawl space is likely the issue - insulation / heat tape on the water line.  I have only field experience, my advice, ask a pro.  In the interim, fill the bathtub and have a couple of cases of bottled water.  Breathing / flushing, etc. room.  Good luck!  -21° here tonight.

[Choctaw Jack]

It's cheap insurance against freezing. When the temperature approaches 0 degrees, I leave the faucet from the water heater dripping.

I'm not sure it's the best idea for a well water system.

It might make your pump cycle all night.

Depends on your set-up.

[Doc Shapiro]

We didn't have any problem when the temps were -20.  But -30 is a different story.  Will probably just start the drip just in case.

[J-BAR #18287]

Our house has a crawlspace.  If the temperature goes below 10 F, I run the faucets in all sinks, thin streams, both hot and cold taps.  It adds a few dollars to the utility bill, but is cheaper than calling the plumber to thaw the pipes.

 

Consult your neighbors for more advice.  Pipe depth varies from town to town.

Edited February 11 by J-BAR #18287

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

Faucet on to allow a trickle.

Pipe heating tape first opportunity you have.

Also leave the doors, of any cupboards that have pipes in them, open to allow some heat to get at them.

Good luck.

[Nickle]

It depends on which part you are worried about freezing and way you are set up.

Example your drain pipe going to your septic tank.  How far will the drip have to travel and at what temperature.  Drippings can freeze in your pipe on the way from your drain to septic. 

Depends on your setup.  I'm in pretty cold climate.  I don't personally know anyone that let's taps drip but we are probably set up for cold better than most. I've lived in trailers without a basement.  Heat tape, insulation  plus I would also semi heat the crawl spaces  and best of all I would stack small square bales of straw three high completely around mobile home.  Even with that I ended up getting really good at plumbing and always kept a good supply of pex pipe and plumbing supplies on hand. 

Edited February 11 by Nickle
Spell check keeps changing my words

[Doc Shapiro]

3 minutes ago, Nickle said:

It depends on which part you are worried about freezing and way you are set up.

Example your drain pipe going to your septic tank.  How far will the drip have to travel and at what temperature.  Drippings can freeze in your pipe on the way from your drain to septic. 

Depends on your setup.  I'm in pretty cold climate.  I don't personally know anyone that let's taps drip but we are probably set up for cold better than most. I've lived in trailers without a basement.  Heat tape, insulation  plus I would also semi heat the crawl spaces  and gest of all I would stack small square bales of straw three high completely around mobile home.  Even with that I ended up getting really good at plumbing and always kept a good supply of pet pipe and plumbing supplies on hand. 

 

Not much I can do right now about cold proofing.  Will just have to cope as best we can, and pray nothing goes wrong.  Likely will let the faucets drip for the next 2 nights.  After that it warms back up.  Just a short bit of a cold snap.

[Nickle]

Another thing I've learned is that professional plumbers won't crawl under trailers when it's really cold weather. 

What cold lake kid said about opening cupboard doors to allow heat to get to pipes is good advice.  

But on trailers the factory supply pipes that are in your floor are bad if they freeze.  Or your water pipe that goes into your trailer. Any kind of draft makes them freeze faster.

 Good luck 

[Rip Snorter]

Have had it happen a couple of times down decades.  Didn't die, turn the heat up and do what you can to have air circulation and available water in the morning.  Good luck, BTDT!

[Trailrider #896]

When we first moved into our house, 36 years ago, it was brand new. Designed and built by a California outfit that had no clue about cold weather! Christmas Eve night the outside temp went down to -24F. The pipes to the master bath ran under the floor, which is the roof of the garage. They claimed they insulated around the pipes, but did not have any heat duct runs nearby. They didn't understand that given enough time, the temp over insultation will reach a steady state so there might as well not be any insulation at all.  Pipes froze and burst and when it warmed up, flooded the garage! Couldn't get a plumber, and there was only one master shutoff valve for the whole house! Turned it off, had some copper pipe caps of the same diameter as the burst pipe. Cut off behind the break and soldered them in place.  There were eight houses in the new development of the same design. Same thing happened to all eight!  Under warranty, they came in and fixed up most of the heat runs.  But there is still one shower pipe set that is in an exterior wall. Hasn't been that cold since, but almost. Solution is, as everyone has recommended. When it is forecast cold, let the hot and cold water drip and open the shower and cabinet doors so heat can get to the pipes! Wind chill along the Front Range in Colorado can get well below zero.

[Doc Shapiro]

10 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said:

When we first moved into our house, 36 years ago, it was brand new. Designed and built by a California outfit that had no clue about cold weather! Christmas Eve night the outside temp went down to -24F. The pipes to the master bath ran under the floor, which is the roof of the garage. They claimed they insulated around the pipes, but did not have any heat duct runs nearby. They didn't understand that given enough time, the temp over insultation will reach a steady state so there might as well not be any insulation at all.  Pipes froze and burst and when it warmed up, flooded the garage! Couldn't get a plumber, and there was only one master shutoff valve for the whole house! Turned it off, had some copper pipe caps of the same diameter as the burst pipe. Cut off behind the break and soldered them in place.  There were eight houses in the new development of the same design. Same thing happened to all eight!  Under warranty, they came in and fixed up most of the heat runs.  But there is still one shower pipe set that is in an exterior wall. Hasn't been that cold since, but almost. Solution is, as everyone has recommended. When it is forecast cold, let the hot and cold water drip and open the shower and cabinet doors so heat can get to the pipes! Wind chill along the Front Range in Colorado can get well below zero.

 

Our heating ducts seem to parallel the pipes, which will be helpful.

[watab kid]

i have not had a problem in my house but my father did in his house 300 miles south of me , he tied into an outside faucet feed for his basement bar sink - then built a cabinet around it , that trapped the cold air , it was fine if he let the water flow but it was better to leave the cabinet doors open and even better when he blew a fan into the open cabinet for the duration , cheaper too according to my utility bills , as stated not worth the hassle of frozen pipes 

 

however , i started this reply with ive not had a problem in my home in the 34 years ive lived here yet this year as has been the case the last two we have almost no snow cover [that is our winter insulation] but we have very little again this year , less than a foot , normal is twice that at least , so i might be looking at my plumbing as well , 

Edited February 11 by watab kid

[Doc Shapiro]

I'll open some cabinets and drip the water tonight and tomorrow night. 

 

Thanks for the information! 

[Rye Miles #13621]

It seldom gets below zero here but when it does I let a few faucets drip. I even do it when it gets below 10. Plumbers advise it so I do it.

[Doc Shapiro]

5 minutes ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

It seldom gets below zero here but when it does I let a few faucets drip. I even do it when it gets below 10. Plumbers advise it so I do it.

 

Since we moved here at the end of Dec, we've had several early mornings at -20.  Could get to -30 tonight and tomorrow night.  Then it will warm up.

[watab kid]

hmmmmm guess im not gonna move there - im really tierd of the cold here and am thinking to move but i want warmer , we shall see what the wife wants 

[Pat Riot]

Take precautions but store some water just in case. 
Also, get yourself a propane torch or two and several tanks, just in case. 

[Eyesa Horg]

One thing to be careful of when leaving a faucet running, is muscle memory! You use water and turn the faucet off due to habit! Come home to an oops! Needs a decent trickle too, a drip will do nothing. The only time we needed to do it was when we built our last house. We lived in an old mobile home from the 50s. After coming home from work a couple times to a frozen source hose, I plumbed in a faucet behind the washer with hose thru the floor. It was hard to break the habit of turning a faucet off! At the well, we left the hole 5 feet deep with the expansion tank sitting on the  bottom and filled it with leaves. Never froze there, always the hose to the trailer. We could thaw the hose in the basement of the house even with no heat, but it took a couple days. Needed to have extra hoses.

 

Also check for any air leaks near a pipe in the crawl space. A small air leak will freeze a nearby pipe.

[Doc Shapiro]

Update: It's currently 7:15am, and the thermometer reads -30.  Water is still flowing.  Another 36 hours of this cold snap.

 

Thanks!

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

A friend  let the cold drip but saved money by turning off the hot water. The drain froze and water damage to first floor ceiling etc.

So you might let both hot and cold drip a bit.  Good luck. 

Best

CR

 

[Doc Shapiro]

19 minutes ago, Chili Ron said:

Howdy,

A friend  let the cold drip but saved money by turning off the hot water. The drain froze and water damage to first floor ceiling etc.

So you might let both hot and cold drip a bit.  Good luck. 

Best

CR

 

They are both on, one all the sinks.

[PowderRiverCowboy]

11 hours ago, Doc Shapiro said:

 

Not much I can do right now about cold proofing.  Will just have to cope as best we can, and pray nothing goes wrong.  Likely will let the faucets drip for the next 2 nights.  After that it warms back up.  Just a short bit of a cold snap.

 

 

All good just remember its a dry cold  

[Grass Range]

Every year there are at least 2-3 mobile homes caught on fire by propane torches somewhere in Montana. Drips and open cabinet doors are better than torching your house. I once helped a friend who lived in a mobile home crawl under and unhooked the heat duct going to one of the bedrooms and redirected it to go under the bathroom. No more problems.

[Nickle]

That's the best with heat duct modified to heat the crawl space under the trailer but you should also have a way for the air to circulate. Example if the skirting is tight around the trailer and you have straw bales around that. If it's tight it's hard to blow more hot air in there unless  it has some place  to go.

 

Also halogen lights or even agricultural heat lights can be wired in to help with heating.  Even  my drinker for my cattle.  It's electric, plus Also heat tape. But I have a halogen light bulb in there that I can turn on if heat tape malfunctions or something. 

3 hours ago, Grass Range said:

Every year there are at least 2-3 mobile homes caught on fire by propane torches somewhere in Montana. Drips and open cabinet doors are better than torching your house. I once helped a friend who lived in a mobile home crawl under and unhooked the heat duct going to one of the bedrooms and redirected it to go under the bathroom. No more problems.

 

[Texas Maverick]

Women's hair dryer is your friend. At least it was in Colorado out on our mini ranch to keep the barn water flowing to the horses.

 

TM

[John Kloehr]

Water is off in three of my buildings, just don't want to run down and start drip before the freeze and shut it off after. Lines all blown out with 40 PSI air.

 

Had a burst pipe at another place (now sold) where I did not blow them out well enough, heard water flowing when I turned water back on.

 

My current home (4th building) has not frozen , this is the 3rd winter.

 

But yes, freezing pipes and even burst pipes is a real thing. For my current home, I did have a faucet burst last winter as my lady left a hose connected with water in it. The faucet itself (fortunately off at the time) burst. That made for a fun afternoon when I wanted to wash my car.

 

One of the properties I owned had no water one day, no time to deal with it and no residents so just left it be, figuring the pump failed. Finally warm enough to go look at it and it was now working! The pipe from the well was too close to the surface and it had frozen. While I still owned the property, part of the fall maintenance became not clearing all leaves but blowing them into a cover pile over where the pipe ran between the well and the house.

 

Moving water does freeze slower than standing water, but dripping faucets also bring warmer water out of the ground keeping the pipes from getting cold enough to freeze.

 

As long as pipes are buried below the frost line and otherwise inside a heated structure, they should not freeze. If they might, a few dollars of electricity of municipal water rates are a lot cheaper than a repair.

 

I had a house in San Jose CA for a couple decades before moving to the United States. Had a pipe freeze once where a couple feet of pipe were above ground outside the house before it entered the structure. A neighbor let me draw a bucket of hot water and a soaked towel around that section of pipe got water flowing again shortly. Turned the kitchen faucet on so any water would be able to move and first got a drip, then a trickle, then things got a bit loud as the ice broke up and flow increased. Fortunately that pipe did not burst.

 

tl;dr If you have a thermometer to read water temp, draw a glass of water which feels really cold from the faucet. If it is 32F and temps are expected to drop, run a drip if going to sleep. The water will not drop below 32F until liquid turns solid.

Edited February 11 by John Kloehr
Typos 2, Otto 1

[Doc Shapiro]

8 hours ago, PowderRiverCowboy said:

 

 

All good just remember its a dry cold  

Hey, I'm not complaining at all.  I really don't mind the cold.  It's the heat I have trouble with.

[Three Foot Johnson]

The line from my well is more or less 8' underground, so it's not going to freeze. It enters my basement at slab level, so also 8' underground. But in the laundry room, the copper pipes run across the ceiling and down a back-filled, but uninsulated block wall to the washer. Those pipes have "soft froze" before, so I close the door to the laundry room and turn the electric thermostat to its lowest level over the winter, 40 degrees.

 

Last night, tonight, and tomorrow night will be around twenty below zero, so I'll turn the thermostat up to 45 in that room for a couple days.

[Doc Shapiro]

8 hours ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

The line from my well is more or less 8' underground, so it's not going to freeze. It enters my basement at slab level, so also 8' underground. But in the laundry room, the copper pipes run across the ceiling and down a back-filled, but uninsulated block wall to the washer. Those pipes have "soft froze" before, so I close the door to the laundry room and turn the electric thermostat to its lowest level over the winter, 40 degrees.

 

Last night, tonight, and tomorrow night will be around twenty below zero, so I'll turn the thermostat up to 45 in that room for a couple days.

 

It's -35 F right now. 

 

All the water in the pipes is still flowing.

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

Definitely run cold water line at a trickle, doesn't have to be much.  Central IL definitely sees the kind of cold that freezes pipes.  Couple years ago, I was remodeling my dads old house, I knew all this but we forgot.  We were notified by water company ovenight that our empty house had "excessive water usage" as they noted the empty house had no previous usage.  We walked into a 15,000 gallon water mess spewing off the ceiling, walls, outside the windows, into the furnace from ductwork etc.  Dad had run washing maching water lines into an outside uninsulated wall.   His heat tape was not plugged in.