Frozen pipes upstairs
rooftop59
Posts: 8,121
So...I left the outdoor faucets dripping and of course the pool pump running so everything downstairs is fine. But the upstairs is getting water in one bathroom but not in the master or the laundry room (which ironically is pretty close to the bathroom that is getting water). We are very fortunate in that we still have power and water, but I really don’t want to deal with busted pipes. Any thoughts on how to deal with this?
Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
Comments
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I’m catching up from yesterday. Rooftop seems to be in better shape today than yesterday. Sorry if my info was bunk.
Joey’s Emm DAC has a frozen waterline that leads to his Pre. A little music should thaw that.
And MSG is a wonderful person.
I’ll tell you this, in my world, if there is a hint of a leak, you cut drywall. If 1 pipe let’s go and you flood out 1...2...5 newly finished apartment units below/adjacent, your repair bill goes from $200 for tape and mud to $100,000+ pretty quick. It happens more often than you think. Plumbers on production jobs miss gluing a fitting all the time, or a dry Waller uses a pipe as a step ladder.Post edited by mrbiron onWhere’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
For the fellows that have turned off the water supply to their hot water heaters; make sure you turn off the power to the heater as well so you don't burn up the heating elements. Best of luck to you all in getting your lives back to normal.
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It may be a good idea for Texans who lost power and have had any signs of frozen pipes indoors to turn their water off at the street. Once the outdoor temperature goes back above freezing later this week the pipe ruptures will start to show up.
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I would think a main shut off at house entrance would suffice. Well unless codes and things are different in Texas.
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I would think a main shut off at house entrance would suffice. Well unless codes and things are different in Texas.
I would bet the farm that water isn’t > 4’ down to get below frost levels...Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
Most Texas homes are on a slab. The water shutoff is normally out front between the sidewalk and curb. The pipes are normally less than 18" underground."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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Gotcha makes more sense now. -
sucks2beme wrote: »The water shutoff is normally out front between the sidewalk and curb. The pipes are normally less than 18" underground.
That's were ours is as well, but 48" deep. You would need water co or plumber to shut off as it is a special tool. also found out the hard way up here if it hasn't been shut off and say 30 years it ain't shutting off they're digging that hole and putting a new fixture in for it. -
Yeah, Bud, it can freeze unless it's a fast steady drip. A slow drip doesn't work.Couldn’t the pipe still freeze if only a drip, or two, was all that was ‘flowing’?
Like @audioluvr mentions above, 3-5/sec. or faster.
Just strange to me that cold lines are okay, but not the hot? Are those different pipe materials?
We had a stretch of sub-freezing temps here a while back and my sink trap froze. Kitchen sink is on an exterior wall. Had to leave the sink cabinet open with a fan and space heater nearby.
Now that is COLD. Did you loose heat in the house for a while?Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
If it stays cold for a while and the cold starts to penetrate deeper in the ground, you might want to stuff some fiberglass above the meter/shutoff at the street. Up here in Idaho everything is buried pretty deep underground, but the meter access can still freeze with prolonged sub-zero. I pile feet of snow on ours when I shovel to insulate it from sub-zero temps. All the old timers around here swear that the hot water will freeze before the cold... Keep it dripping and good luck.
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I got water back this morning. Like a lot of others my cold is working but not a drop from the hot side. The other day when I lost water I was told to turn off the water heater. So I’m sure that with it being in the garage I have some frozen pipes in that line.
The saga continues. I’ve had enough of this and ready to get back to normal!
I'm so bummed to hear of so many members having these frozen pipes. It's a feeling I equate to like waiting for the cops to show up at your door at any moment. Not that I know, because I don't but I can imagine it.
Our water lines here in Wilm. NC. are just a foot deep outside. That was the code back then.
I was lucky the last hard freeze 20+ years ago but hundreds experienced the same nightmare that hits others. Our neighbor 2 doors down has had his PEX split a few times over the past 10 years on some of the very cold with high windy nights. I just thought about the copper pipe I used when I replumbed 95% of my home's plumbing and also added a bunch since I added a bathroom and moved the washing machine to another room.
I learned from my Plumber boss, Copper pipe comes in two thicknesses. L & M I believe.
I spent the extra and used the thick tubing for anything I did.
I wouldn't have known there's a "good" and "a lot better" if I hadn't worked for that plumbing Co..
I'm thinking about you all and hoping for the best.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Turning off the water in Texas isn't very hard. And they sell a tool to do it.
You can do it with a socket and breaker bar.
Here in Metro Memphis much the same."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
FYI I got them all thawed. Put kept the space heater on all day in the closet downstairs facing the outer wall where the pipes run up the north side wall to the second story laundry. No hot and cold are both dripping back in the laundry drain. Wishing everyone the best of luck!Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
Glad you got them thawed out without any damage.Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Glad you got them thawed out without any damage.
My wife has all kinds of co workers sending pics of downtown businesses with busted pipes and flooding, including magnolia table. And we have several friends and neighbors with frozen pools. This is seriously crazy...Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
Game Room 5.1.4: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
Bedroom 2.1 Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer -
I got everything going today. Electricity has been on since about 7 am and my water came back on around 5 am. Took about 3 hours to get cold water working to all locations. Then I had to place a electric space heater in my garage next to my water heater where the pipes come out the top. Once I left it for about 45 minutes the lines broke free and we were getting cold water to flow from the hot water side to most locations. I then turned on the power to the water heater and at about 1 pm everything was back. No leaks. What a relief. Good thing I had the cheap space heater. A number of my neighbors are still not getting hot water. I had passed the heater to 5 household and they are all back online without issue. I think we got very lucky.2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables
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Space heater to areas near the problem spots.
Got all of them back today.
Yess!!!
I was beginning to worry that I would have to divert audio funds to fixing leaks... fingers crossed it all continues well!Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
I was beginning to worry that I would have to divert audio funds to fixing leaks... fingers crossed it all continues well!
Never, the two funds don’t know about each other!!!2 Channel Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II, 2 REL Carbon Limited, Norma Revo IPA-140B, Lumin U2 Mini, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Modwright PH 150, Denon DP-59l w/Denon DL-301MKII, WAY Silver 3 Ana+ Speaker Cables, WAY Silver 4+ Interconnect Cables, AudioQuest Niagara 7000 w/Dragon and Hurricane Power Cables -
JSYK leaving a faucet drip doesn’t really protect against freezing pipes. The idea is that the pipe can freeze without building up enough hydraulic pressure to burst the pipe. The drip allows the the increased hydraulic pressure to escape. Leaving multiple faucets on both sides of the freezing condition would be most effective to prevent bursting. The caveat is leaving too many faucets open causes the water to freeze faster. The higher the pressure the less susceptible the water is to freezing but only by a few degrees. So by lowering the waterline pressure the pipes will freeze slightly faster, but it will be less likely to burst a pipe.
I should add that if the faucets are left open enough where the rate of the warmer incoming water can keep the keep the pipe from falling to freezing temps than sure leaving the line open can prevent freezing. However the number of drops per minute would depend many variables, ambient temp, air speed-draft, water temp from the main, pressure, area of line exposed to freezing temperatures etc. However, I feel like a steady drip in many cases wouldn’t create enough flow of warm water to effectively prevent a freezing situation.
In theory an entire community leaving faucets open may create a lower pressure situation on the mains and provoke a mass waterline freezing situation. Not to mention any leaking/broken main that might cause low pressure or air in the line.Post edited by jeremymarcinko onOh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant -
Either way, leaving a faucet running is better than not.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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They all intertwine!!
New tonearm... or pipes?Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
A friend mine in Dallas area suburb-
Neighbor across the street had a pair of water heaters in the attic that froze, leaked, the leaks froze and both water heaters came crashing through the ceiling 2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
It's funny how construction varies from state to state.jeremymarcinko wrote: »JSYK leaving a faucet drip doesn’t really protect against freezing pipes. The idea is that the pipe can freeze without building up enough hydraulic pressure to burst the pipe. The drip allows the the increased hydraulic pressure to escape. Leaving multiple faucets on both sides of the freezing condition would be most effective to prevent bursting. The caveat is leaving too many faucets open causes the water to freeze faster. The higher the pressure the less susceptible the water is to freezing but only by a few degrees. So by lowering the waterline pressure the pipes will freeze slightly faster, but it will be less likely to burst a pipe.
I should add that if the faucets are left open enough where the rate of the warmer incoming water can keep the keep the pipe from falling to freezing temps than sure leaving the line open can prevent freezing. However the number of drops per minute would depend many variables, ambient temp, air speed-draft, water temp from the main, pressure, area of line exposed to freezing temperatures etc. However, I feel like a steady drip in many cases wouldn’t create enough flow of warm water to effectively prevent a freezing situation.
In theory an entire community leaving faucets open may create a lower pressure situation on the mains and provoke a mass waterline freezing situation. Not to mention any leaking/broken main that might cause low pressure or air in the line.
I'm sorry but nothing here is even close to truth. I grew up in Minnesota and we would snowmobile on the rivers in winter. The shallow rapids would always be open even when the ambient temperature was -20+ F. I often camp in the mountains where wind chill can reach 20 below and I've never had my pipes freeze in my 5th wheel if l leave my faucets /shower running at a trickle.Post edited by audioluvr onGustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
It's funny how construction varies from state to state.
Kind of like having ceiling fans installed in common apartment corridors?
Just hope nobody was standing under that spinning death when the power came back on.
Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!! -
The construction here is so subpar
I have learned from mistakes on this build.
If I build a next house, I’m going to centralize the pex water pipe system and invest in upgraded pex piping.
Need something like this to allow easy shutting off of systems within the house rather than just shutting the main line when there’s a leak.
I’m gonna have a generator also.
I’m not gonna get caught with my plaid shorts down on the next one.
Or I’ll just move to Tampa.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
It's funny how construction varies from state to state.jeremymarcinko wrote: »JSYK leaving a faucet drip doesn’t really protect against freezing pipes. The idea is that the pipe can freeze without building up enough hydraulic pressure to burst the pipe. The drip allows the the increased hydraulic pressure to escape. Leaving multiple faucets on both sides of the freezing condition would be most effective to prevent bursting. The caveat is leaving too many faucets open causes the water to freeze faster. The higher the pressure the less susceptible the water is to freezing but only by a few degrees. So by lowering the waterline pressure the pipes will freeze slightly faster, but it will be less likely to burst a pipe.
I should add that if the faucets are left open enough where the rate of the warmer incoming water can keep the keep the pipe from falling to freezing temps than sure leaving the line open can prevent freezing. However the number of drops per minute would depend many variables, ambient temp, air speed-draft, water temp from the main, pressure, area of line exposed to freezing temperatures etc. However, I feel like a steady drip in many cases wouldn’t create enough flow of warm water to effectively prevent a freezing situation.
In theory an entire community leaving faucets open may create a lower pressure situation on the mains and provoke a mass waterline freezing situation. Not to mention any leaking/broken main that might cause low pressure or air in the line.
I'm sorry but nothing here is even close to truth. I grew up in Minnesota and we would snowmobile on the rivers in winter. The shallow rapids would always be open even when the ambient temperature was -20+ F. I often camp in the mountains where wind chill can reach 20 below and I've never had my pipes freeze in my 5th wheel if l leave my faucets /shower running at a trickle.
That’s not the same situation. The shallow rapids consists of the warmer moving water from under the frozen river surface.
Believe it or not even moving water freezes. Ever seen an icicle?Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant -
Again. You are making no sense.Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
Those distribution systems are a nightmare, atleast round these parts. When we see them pop up, it's almost an automatic replumb.
Either way, the best investment I have ever made is a Flo by moen device. 24/7 water monitoring... Auto shut off with unusual activity and can shut off anywhere in the world with a wifi connection
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Those distribution systems are a nightmare, atleast round these parts. When we see them pop up, it's almost an automatic replumb.
Either way, the best investment I have ever made is a Flo by moen device. 24/7 water monitoring... Auto shut off with unusual activity and can shut off anywhere in the world with a wifi connection
So Trey, you don't like those pex manifolds?2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Or just find a way to not pay.
I know they have the roof deductable up so high
That filling a claim is useless. A lot of insurance providers
Ducked paying for burned businesses after last summer's
Mess."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
