what about a halogen bulb in the attic? Looking at walmart online it seems damn near all they carry are LED 60w's these days
Preparing around the house for unusually cold weather
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Last: 1 yr ago by AustinCountyAg
Have you checked the temperature in your attic?AustinCountyAg said:
what about a halogen bulb in the attic? Looking at walmart online it seems damn near all they carry are LED 60w's these days
no, not currently at home
Do this for peace of mind. If it aint freezing up there, then there is nothing to worry about.AustinCountyAg said:
no, not currently at home
turn off the backflow device, and open up the 2 test cocks on the PVB (if you have a PVB as your backflow). also wrap your backflow device with a heavy blanket This will drain water out of mainline enough that you should not have any issues, at least in southern part of state.
If you live in the panhandle area where it is supposed to be minus 8 degrees, I am guessing you have to drain and do special stuff.
If you live in the panhandle area where it is supposed to be minus 8 degrees, I am guessing you have to drain and do special stuff.
I am in central Texas - Bastrop County in the "country". I have four spigots on the house - N, S, E, and W walls. I wrapped them in old socks/towels/etc. and then put the foam covers over that. It's worked since we built in '12.
I have 6 faucets along the perimeter of the yard that stick out of the ground 2' - 2.5'. I wrapped them in that black, tubular styrofoam wrap. I then put two feed sacks over that with a lick tub on top. That has also seemed to work since we built, but we haven't been to single digits AND 3 - 4 days below freezing. I'm a little worried on those faucets.
I also have a main water valve with two valves after that - one runs to the house and one for the yard faucets. I guess if I want to be safe I could close the yard valve and open those faucets to "run" the water out. That might be overkill, but - like others have said - it would give peace of mind I guess.
I don't mind having a little winter, but this might be a bit much. :-)
I have 6 faucets along the perimeter of the yard that stick out of the ground 2' - 2.5'. I wrapped them in that black, tubular styrofoam wrap. I then put two feed sacks over that with a lick tub on top. That has also seemed to work since we built, but we haven't been to single digits AND 3 - 4 days below freezing. I'm a little worried on those faucets.
I also have a main water valve with two valves after that - one runs to the house and one for the yard faucets. I guess if I want to be safe I could close the yard valve and open those faucets to "run" the water out. That might be overkill, but - like others have said - it would give peace of mind I guess.
I don't mind having a little winter, but this might be a bit much. :-)
Weeks ago I arranged my schedule to have Fri - Mon off. Sunday is Valentines and Monday is wife's birthday. It now looks likely that Memorial Hermann will declare disaster mode and I will be called in Sunday evening and spend the night. Work Monday. Spend the night and work Tuesday then go home.
Bad side is wife will be home alone to deal with whatever arises due to weather.
Good side is I will be on the clock the entire time I'm at the hospital.
Bad side is wife will be home alone to deal with whatever arises due to weather.
Good side is I will be on the clock the entire time I'm at the hospital.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But, it's still on the list.
well I turned off my backflow but I cannot open up the test cocks. Whoever installed this system years ago has the test cocks facing the brick wall of the house. Impossible to turn them on. System has not run since August so no idea if anything I've done will help or not. Only saving grace is the system is on the southside of the house.
What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
Picard said:
Seems we have a correlation here of people that heat already hot water that also don't know how to handle freezing weather.
Yup. The ol Hot Water Heater.
The screw head is literally resting on the brick. I would have to forcefully pull the pipe away from the house. I've been saying I need to upgrade and repair this system. Might be time!
What do you boys want for breakfast BBQ ?.....OK Chili.
Know we discussed the washer fluid in the car.
Stupid question probably, but are we starting to talk about temps cold enough to worry about other things in the car engine if it lives under a carport? Newer cars, up to date on Antifreeze and such.
Stupid question probably, but are we starting to talk about temps cold enough to worry about other things in the car engine if it lives under a carport? Newer cars, up to date on Antifreeze and such.
I actually saw something on that yesterday when I googled if you really need to make sure your gas tank is full (they recommend it). Pour isopropyl alcohol in washer fluid. They did not say how much. I put 2/3 bottle of 99%. Most have 70%, so I would probably do a whole bottle.Absolute said:
Know we discussed the washer fluid in the car.
Stupid question probably, but are we starting to talk about temps cold enough to worry about other things in the car engine if it lives under a carport? Newer cars, up to date on Antifreeze and such.
You don't want to do that. Hot air will indeed go up and right out your ridge vents or power ventilator openings. That should draw the cold air from the outside the home up through your soffit vents and would replace the air in the attic which might be 28 degrees or 34 degrees or whatever with the air outside the home which could be 10 or 15 degree air.Mas89 said:On your access door going into the attic, crack it open enough to let warm air go up there if you're worried about it. Maybe prop open with an empty can or bottle. Hot air goes up.AustinCountyAg said:
posted in the other thread, but I am worried about my exposed pipes in the attic. An older house and they arent wrapped or anything.
I have several faucets at an RV park exactly as you describe your 6 faucets. I wrap the pvc pipe that is exposed (10" to 2', they vary) with the tube insulation and zip tie them. Our water pressure is so intense if you barely open the 1/4 turn valve it doesn't drip but turns into a fine misty spray that will turn to ice as soon as it hits the pedestal or anything else. So we put a short piece of hose or a splitter or something on top, and crack the valve, then put a five gallon bucket on top to help with the misty spray and to keep the wind at bay. Have never had a problem, but then I don't think we have gotten colder than like 20 or 22 degrees so far.WLW12SPJ said:
I have 6 faucets along the perimeter of the yard that stick out of the ground 2' - 2.5'. I wrapped them in that black, tubular styrofoam wrap. I then put two feed sacks over that with a lick tub on top. That has also seemed to work since we built, but we haven't been to single digits AND 3 - 4 days below freezing. I'm a little worried on those faucets.
Would closing doors and/or shutting vents in bedrooms or other rooms that don't actually need the heat help concentrate the heat in the remainder of the house? Or letting all the air circulate throughout.
Potcake said:
Would closing doors and/or shutting vents in bedrooms or other rooms that don't actually need the heat help concentrate the heat in the remainder of the house? Or letting all the air circulate throughout.
I would vote circulate. But don't think it really matters.
Waterski02 said:
I'll second "this thread is funny"
Unless all of your homes are built without insulation your interior plumbing in an occupied house should be just fine.
Now those of you with older non frost free spigots. That may be a different story.
I bought my first house at 23 and it got down to like 10 degrees - my neighbor was a master plumber and in his late 50's, we drank beer together and were buddies, he treated me like one of his kids. I was out there in that temp with a torch trying to defrost one spigot b/c it dripped a little. He saw me, came over, and said "leave that alone let it freeze up it'll quit dripping and we'll fix it when the weather is better." I thought to myself shut up old man you don't know. Long story short I busted it by heating it up and he came out in the freezing a** weather and fixed it for me for free. Never said I told you so.
We're still buddies 13 years later and I don't live there anymore.
Does the pipe not have some give? I can pull mine away from the wall a little bit, certainly enough to get that screwdriver linked aboveMAROON said:
The screw head is literally resting on the brick. I would have to forcefully pull the pipe away from the house. I've been saying I need to upgrade and repair this system. Might be time!
Put a $2.00 bottle of dry gas in your tank...I've had gas gel in fuel lines in temps as high as low teens.
Antifreeze that is a 50/50 mix won't freeze until -35. We ain't getting that cold.
Pools - if you have auto fill, make sure that valve is wrapped and turned off
Empty your ice trays which will keep running water going through to the fridge
If you were out of luck getting foam pipe insulation, use pool noodles
Set water softener to run at night
Set dishwasher to run late at night - should have timer or delay
Empty your ice trays which will keep running water going through to the fridge
If you were out of luck getting foam pipe insulation, use pool noodles
Set water softener to run at night
Set dishwasher to run late at night - should have timer or delay
I close the bottom valve on my pvb, and when I open the test cocks they don't stop draining water. I suppose keeping the valve closed, test cocks closed, and wrap with towels is the best I can do?
If they don't stop draining (like more than 20-30 seconds), then your bottom valve is not fully closed. Work it back and forth (I had this problem last year) to loosen it a little and make sure you get it fully closed (perpendicular to the pipe). Water should then stop from test cocks, leave them both open, towels, and cover with something to keep towel dry (trash bag).RustyBV said:
I close the bottom valve on my pvb, and when I open the test cocks they don't stop draining water. I suppose keeping the valve closed, test cocks closed, and wrap with towels is the best I can do?
Pool question.
I'm in Houston (Sugar Land). My pool has a winterize setting on the valve. Put it on that?
I'm in Houston (Sugar Land). My pool has a winterize setting on the valve. Put it on that?
Asked my buddy in NJ about pool prep, he said leave all the pumps running 24/7 during freeze and everything should be fine.
Anyone covering oleanders up with blankets, should they be ok during freeze, or should I plan on replacing all my privacy bushes in a week?
Anyone covering oleanders up with blankets, should they be ok during freeze, or should I plan on replacing all my privacy bushes in a week?
I'm in NW Houston.
Anyone doing anything about a water heater in the attic?
Anyone doing anything about a water heater in the attic?
Not sure if serious...
Sazerac said:
Not sure if serious...
Yeah, I should've specified.
Assuming turning off main water line and opening faucets to drain: Would there be any issues with the water heater in the attic? I wouldn't think so, but I figured I'd ask.
Sorry if a dumb question.... lol
Are most not even turning their main water off? Dripping faucets good enough?
Is it ok to turn main water off and drain pipes after losing power? (Hypothetically speaking)
I'm thinking I may shut off my main water just to save the stress of possible pipes bursting but curious when I should.
I'm thinking I may shut off my main water just to save the stress of possible pipes bursting but curious when I should.
I posted in other thread also. Our backflow preventer has been covered but I think it may already be frozen because the valves won't turn. I'm guessing I need to heat it up and close the valves. Which of the four bleed screws do I need to open?
Thanks for that.fire09 said:
Asked my buddy in NJ about pool prep, he said leave all the pumps running 24/7 during freeze and everything should be fine.
Anyone covering oleanders up with blankets, should they be ok during freeze, or should I plan on replacing all my privacy bushes in a week?
I have a ton of exposed pvc pipes for pool. Throw tarp over and hope motor will add a touch of heat?
Insulated the garage window with some 7 Mil painters tarp, duct tape, and a heat gun.
Old trick.
Old trick.
I'm not unless attic temp dips below freezing, which I doubt it will.Warsteiner said:
I'm in NW Houston.
Anyone doing anything about a water heater in the attic?
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