The Freeze

[DIGGER]

Well....the cold front is gonna hit the Houston area tomorrow night.   Supposed to get down to around 11 degrees where i live in Tomball Tx with strong winds that will drop the "feels like" temps into the single digits.  For you northern folks that is not a biggie.   For us southern folks it is.  I read somewhere that in recorded history this will only be the 6th yime our area has had teens temps in December.   I just installed a 24 kw generac generator so when the power goes out....and it will most likely....if all works as planned....we should be able to have power.   This crutial as we have a water well.   Gonna be a plumbing work boom when this over from all the local busted pipes.   My plan....since I should have power....is to wrap and drip and cover all outside faucets and put a space heater in the attic.    Wont be long niw before it hits tomorrow eve.   Wish us luck.

[Patrick]

Talk about Climate Change !  There is even talk about frost in mid-Florida this weekend.

[hubcapsc]

It is coming here. Even though my plumbing has always survived,
I always get nervous at 12 degrees... I put on my tyvek overalls
and crawled around under there to inspect two days ago... I'd hate to
be under there fixing pipes in the cold. On Christmas. When Home
Depot and the plumbing supply store is closed.

-Mike

[scooperhsd]

Thursday and Friday - our HIGHS will be single digits....I know some of you further north are pooh-poohing this...

[..]

It's gonna be BRRRRRRRRRR here for a few days starting Thursday.

0 for the low Friday night.

[f6john]

On the plus side, snuggle weather!

[Patrick]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

[hubcapsc]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

[0leman]

Feel for you southern folks who don't get to enjoy the cool weather.

WE are just coming out of nearly two weeks of the freeze.  The first part of December was the coldest in several decades.   Had several snowstorms and temps that never got out of the 20's with lows in the single digits.   Normal is high in the 30's or low 40's, lows in the upper teens. 

Last night it started raining.  Not heavy just steady.  Still have a lot of white on the ground.  Thankfully the temps are in the mid 30's so don't have to go shovel the moisture.

I am starting to get PMS.

[Patrick]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

From the cold of upstate NY, we understand trickle.

The flow isn't constant in all applications, but, the main trunk line flowing a little bit keeps it from freezing. If you're worried about the others, just run them every so often.

If you're anywhere near my age then the toilet will get used a couple times during the night  . When you're up just run the other things for a couple seconds.

Overall, it takes quite a bit to freeze lines.  A line can freeze, and usually will, without breaking. The hot lines are the ones that do freeze first, I've heard its the lack of oxygen.

[Jess from VA]

Not a fan of the cold at my house either (well below normal).  Brrrr

I follow the trickle advice in my morning walks around the neighborhood. 

There's two or three good spots where I can trickle in decent cover.  The cold seems to make that more necessary. 

Hey Lady, I'm just making sure my pipes don't freeze, they're old you know.    

[..]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

if we don't drip faucets the line will freeze and then we have to wait for the ground to warm.

We do have heated tape on one of the main lines into the house  -the house is 2 smaller ones joined together so the water line splits in the yard - one of the lines is accessible. The heated tape has a thermostat.

[old2soon]

      Been through this cold chit couple times here in the Missouri Ozarks. And livin in yankee land has taught me a thing or three bout cold weather!  Up front I no longer Like cold weather. But I managed to survive it. Single digit highs startinf 2moro and the mid teens Saturday low 20s Sunday and dang near in the 50s next week. I am More worried about the city water main in the street as it has been repaired numerous times since I've retired. So in prep I am filling some empty gallon jugs of water in case!  This old guy Gotta have his Morning coffee!  I do NOT wanna see my gas heating bill from this cold snap!  RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

Was just in N. E.  KS for the second time this month to visit my Mom and take care of some other business, wanted to stay for a day or so longer but, saw that weather coming from up north and decided I didn't want to deal with the "S" word they were predicting and the temps.   The last prediction I saw while at my  Mom's was for a few inches of the "S" word and temps in the minus level.  

I've become climatized to southern Mississippi weather and I have no desire to deal with those conditions so, I left.   So, now I'm sitting in S. W. TN till Christmas then back to S. MS.   You folks enjoy that "S", if I have the choice, I don't wish to deal with it.

Rams

[..]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

The river may have frozen over but the water would still be moving below the ice.

[Patrick]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

if we don't drip faucets the line will freeze and then we have to wait for the ground to warm.

We do have heated tape on one of the main lines into the house  -the house is 2 smaller ones joined together so the water line splits in the yard - one of the lines is accessible. The heated tape has a thermostat.

Are you able to get at them enough to insulate them ?  

I had to super insulate the water and heat lines. I had 6-7" around some water and all the heat[hot water baseboard] lines. But if the temp got to the -20-30F with any wind I had 1 kitchen hot water line that would get stiff at times.

Heck, where we are now the lines are laid right on the ground or just barely buried outside the houses. This still seems crazy to me, but, they get away with it.

[scooperhsd]

Was just in N. E.  KS for the second time this month to visit my Mom and take care of some other business, wanted to stay for a day or so longer but, saw that weather coming from up north and decided I didn't want to deal with the "S" word they were predicting and the temps.   The last prediction I saw while at my  Mom's was for a few inches of the "S" word and temps in the minus level.  

I've become climatized to southern Mississippi weather and I have no desire to deal with those conditions so, I left.   So, now I'm sitting in S. W. TN till Christmas then back to S. MS.   You folks enjoy that "S", if I have the choice, I don't wish to deal with it.

Rams

Smart -

In the next couple days we are forecast to see below zero lows as well as single digit highs. Today is the last realistic temp day until Christmas....

[Rams]

Was just in N. E.  KS for the second time this month to visit my Mom and take care of some other business, wanted to stay for a day or so longer but, saw that weather coming from up north and decided I didn't want to deal with the "S" word they were predicting and the temps.   The last prediction I saw while at my  Mom's was for a few inches of the "S" word and temps in the minus level.  

I've become climatized to southern Mississippi weather and I have no desire to deal with those conditions so, I left.   So, now I'm sitting in S. W. TN till Christmas then back to S. MS.   You folks enjoy that "S", if I have the choice, I don't wish to deal with it.

Rams

Smart -

In the next couple days we are forecast to see below zero lows as well as single digit highs. Today is the last realistic temp day until Christmas....

Not being sarcastic, I hope everyone that has to deal with such weather does so and stays safe.

Rams

[f6john]

I haven't had a pipe freeze in 40 years. Both houses had full basements with the majority exposed to heated air. My first house in that 40 year time frame was plumbed entirely in cpvc hot and cold lines, current house is all copper.

[..]

If you are worried about freezing pipes, just let the water run at a trickle.

The john, the dish washer and clothes washer don't trickle. The mixer valve in the bathtub
is only cold on trickle. I guess water would move in the main trunk if only one sink (or whatever)
was trickling. When I've gone to West Virginia in the winter time, I've seen the whole
Greenbrier river freeze.

I would never try to convince people not to trickle, my distaste of my pipes leaking extends to
your pipes.

But I don't really understand "trickle"...

-Mike

if we don't drip faucets the line will freeze and then we have to wait for the ground to warm.

We do have heated tape on one of the main lines into the house  -the house is 2 smaller ones joined together so the water line splits in the yard - one of the lines is accessible. The heated tape has a thermostat.

Are you able to get at them enough to insulate them ?  

I had to super insulate the water and heat lines. I had 6-7" around some water and all the heat[hot water baseboard] lines. But if the temp got to the -20-30F with any wind I had 1 kitchen hot water line that would get stiff at times.

Heck, where we are now the lines are laid right on the ground or just barely buried outside the houses. This still seems crazy to me, but, they get away with it.

The buried one can stay buried and as I wrote the other has heat tape on it.

[cookiedough]

I do not mind single digit temps, but with 35 mph winds is what gets to me when single digits.  blowing and drifting snow when that windy sucks as well driving in it.  Just hope everyone is off the roads tomorrow so do not have to deal with the ying yangs doing dumb stuff with the 4 or so inch snowfall expected tomorrow. 

[hubcapsc]

full basements



Carolyn's relatives are from Canada... we've been up there a few times. Talking around,
it seemed like everyone's foundation was a poured concrete basement. Of course, they
measure their frost-lines in feet up there...

-Mike

[Patrick]

Full basements are great if you have them . Many homes have additions with crawl spaces which complicate things a bit.

[scooperhsd]

Already -3 , we have already had the high temp for the day. No frozen pipes yet.

[Gryphon]

It was 29 when I got up this morning, 20 when I left for work, freezing drizzle and 16 when I arrived.  It's supposed to be heading for -6 as the low.  The drive home from work should be interesting.  I told my colleagues that I can always make it home, but I may or may not be able to make it in tomorrow. 

[..]

Look at this wind map. Cool.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-88.11,34.09,1355/loc=-52.279,17.894

[scooperhsd]

Full basements are great if you have them . Many homes have additions with crawl spaces which complicate things a bit.

That depends on the "crawlspace". In our NC house, There were some areas that I could standup in, others I was on hands and knees. But there was no area that not accessable.

[Jersey mike]

It is coming here. Even though my plumbing has always survived,
I always get nervous at 12 degrees... I put on my tyvek overalls
and crawled around under there to inspect two days ago... I'd hate to
be under there fixing pipes in the cold. On Christmas. When Home
Depot and the plumbing supply store is closed.

-Mike

You have pipe insulation?

[Jess from VA]

The freeze is being preceded by the rain (all day and half the night). 

Thank goodness it is rain in the 30s and not snow in the freeze.

Thank goodness for sump pumps. 

I could happily live without any basement at all (where the sump pup is) (if I ever move). 

My family in Michigan are getting smacked with a frigid and white Christmas (6-10 inches), and wind.

Thank goodness for natural gas generators too. 

[Avanti]

What happens when the natural gas stops flowing?

[hubcapsc]

You have pipe insulation?

Besides the insulation in the floor,  the pipes are covered in pipe insulation
in many places... probably what I considered "strategic" places when
I installed the plumbing. We've been in here a little over 20 years now, so
far so good. I said above, I get nervous if it is going to be 12... they've
changed it to 10. I keep getting older and the crawlspace keeps getting
less inviting.

-Mike

[old2soon]

    Right this minute I'm showing just above freezing. By sunset a bit after minus 6 with wind chills appraoching minus 24. Oh almost fergitted the blowin snow that might accumulate as much as 2 to 4"!  winter sux. RIDE SAFE.

[Moonshot_1]

Thursday and Friday - our HIGHS will be single digits....I know some of you further north are pooh-poohing this...

Pooh Pooh.

-17 at 10:30 am, winds at 20 mph+

NW Iowa

Pooh Pooh

[Serk]

Heh, the 24 hour temperature graph from my backyard weather station looks like it was speeding in a school zone and saw a cop...

[scooperhsd]

-5 F right now, with 20-30 MPH gusts (-20 to -30 windchill).

Fortunately, the light snow is mostly powder and I will clear the driveway / front porch after lunch (and bundling up -- BRRRRRR ).

[Patrick]

Hmmm, 65F and calm right now, same for tomorrow. Thats cold enough ! 

But, possible frost Sunday.

[Skinhead]

#$$@%^ Global Warming!

[old2soon]

   global warming?  at 1 degree F? And STILL dropping! whatever moisture was on my front mud porch is now an opaque coating on the inners surfaces of the storm door and side windows!  oh and blowing snow starting to accumulate. AND so far our local weather guessers got it right.  BUT not a one of those local weather guessers mentioned ANYTHING bout global warming!  RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

ooh - WE ARE UP TO -3 AFTER GETTING DOWN TO -5 earlier today. Will probably drop to -7 or so tonight...

[Jersey mike]

Hmmm, 65F and calm right now, same for tomorrow. Thats cold enough ! 

But, possible frost Sunday.

Nobody likes a show off...ooh look at us we're so warm.