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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

Getting mighty cold in central Texas. Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. Any
ideas?

Bob-tx

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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees..
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32..
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Heat is transfering from the inside out. Warm always moves towards
cold.
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On Feb 1, 2:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees..
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32..
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Assuming that it is warmer indoors than out, heat is conducted through
the pipe and the water toward the outside.
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees..
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32..
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Every other week I hear somebody tryin to wet me
But I be out of town, gettin water where the hose lay
I'm gangzta with the hose bib
So don't be messin with my nozzle

....Oh sorry, you didn't mean that type of rapping, did you?
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On Feb 1, 3:07*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:



Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.


Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.


But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?


I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?


Bob-tx


Every other week I hear somebody tryin to wet me
But I be out of town, gettin water where the hose lay
I'm gangzta with the hose bib
So don't be messin with my nozzle

...Oh sorry, you didn't mean that type of rapping, did you?


==
Probably do as much good as wrapping it with a rag...although that
will help retain some heat.
==


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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On Feb 1, 6:26*pm, Roy wrote:
On Feb 1, 3:07*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:


Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.


Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.


But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?


I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why.. *Any
ideas?



I think the operative statement here is the last sentence. It seems
to help and it
does to a certain extent. It will shield and protect it and there is
always going to
be heat transfer from the pipe inside to out, throught the wall,
etc. How effective
it will be, to what extreme you can take it, for how long, is another
story.

Which is why I like frost proof sill cocks. Solves the problem once
and for all,
provided you remember to disconnect hoses or at least make sure they
are
drained of water.
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On 2/1/2011 3:37 PM, Bob-tx wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was
32. Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. In fact, we
may not get above freezing until Saturday sometime. It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first
with a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it
all tight around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual
warmth in the faucet / pipe stub. A little residual warmth from the
brick siding, but that is all. It seems to me that the bitter cold would
soak through the towel and foam rubber in a few hours. Then, what good
does it do to wrap them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why.
Any ideas?




As somebody already pointed out, heat flows from high to low. Wrapping
your faucet insulates it so that the heat isn't so readily lost to the
outside. It's enough to keep it from freezing in most cases.




Jay
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

On 2/1/2011 2:45 PM, jamesgangnc wrote:
On Feb 1, 3:37 pm, "Bob-tx"No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Heat is transfering from the inside out. Warm always moves towards
cold.


Is that why I should keep the refrigerator shut when I fart? :-)

TDD
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Default Wrapping outdoor faucets (hose bibs)

?
"Bob F" wrote
Which is why I like frost proof sill cocks.



I finally installed one a couple years ago. I am waiting for the repair
parts now to fix it. It didn't survive its second Seattle winter. I hate
to think about how well they do in the midwest.



Something is wrong. Mine are 30 years old and still work just fine.



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On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees..
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32..
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Not that it matters much, but most of todays hosebibs are "frost
free". which means there isn't any water in the bib itself. The valve
is inside the house. If you have this type, it doesnt matter if you
wrap them or not.

Hank
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Ed Pawlowski wrote:
?
"Bob F" wrote
Which is why I like frost proof sill cocks.



I finally installed one a couple years ago. I am waiting for the
repair parts now to fix it. It didn't survive its second Seattle
winter. I hate to think about how well they do in the midwest.



Something is wrong. Mine are 30 years old and still work just fine.


Yeah, but you're in Miami.


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On Feb 6, 7:32*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Ed Pawlowski wrote:
?
"Bob F" wrote
Which is why I like frost proof sill cocks.


I finally installed one a couple years ago. I am waiting for the
repair parts now to fix it. It didn't survive its second Seattle
winter. I hate to think about how well they do in the midwest.


Something is wrong. *Mine are 30 years old and still work just fine.


Yeah, but you're in Miami.


I have 4 frost proof sill cocks on my home in NJ for the last 16
years.
Only one of them has failed and that was because I left a garden
hose filled with water on it so it could not drain. The principles
here
are straightforward and simple. They work by using a very long
valve stem and moving the actual valve 12" from the handle, so that
it's inside the house. Hence, when it's shut off, water drains out
and the water behind the valve is inside, where it can't freeze.

But, there are a number of ways you can screw it up:

Not install a long enough one.

It's below freezing inside where the valve is, perhaps due
to open holes, drafts, etc.

It's pitched in the wrong direction so that water stays in it.

You left a garden hose filled with water attached to it.
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"Hank" wrote in message
...
On Feb 1, 3:37 pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was
32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. In fact, we may
not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first
with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all
tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth
in
the faucet / pipe stub. A little residual warmth from the brick siding,
but
that is all. It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why.
Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Not that it matters much, but most of todays hosebibs are "frost
free". which means there isn't any water in the bib itself. The valve
is inside the house. If you have this type, it doesnt matter if you
wrap them or not.

Hank


I have seen these up north, what we have here are just
short stubby hose bibs with the valve just below the handle.
Bob-tx



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On Sun, 6 Feb 2011 04:18:56 -0800 (PST), Hank wrote:

On Feb 1, 3:37*pm, "Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:
Getting mighty cold in central Texas. *Last couple days was 80+ degrees.
Got down to 40 at midnight last night and by 9:00 this morning, it was 32.
Going to be 17 degrees tonight, and 15 tomorrow night. *In fact, we may not
get above freezing until Saturday sometime. *It was a short summer.

Anyway, I went out and dutifully wrapped all our outdoor faucets; first with
a bath towel, then with two inch thick foam rubber, and taped it all tight
around the faucets.

But, I wonder why this keeps them from freezing. *Obviously, there is no
heat generated by wrapping them, and there is very little residual warmth in
the faucet / pipe stub. *A little residual warmth from the brick siding, but
that is all. *It seems to me that the bitter cold would soak through the
towel and foam rubber in a few hours. *Then, what good does it do to wrap
them?

I know it seems to help by wrapping the faucets, but I'm not sure why. *Any
ideas?

Bob-tx


Not that it matters much, but most of todays hosebibs are "frost
free". which means there isn't any water in the bib itself. The valve
is inside the house. If you have this type, it doesnt matter if you
wrap them or not.


I don't know about "most", mine aren't, but frost-free are certainly
available. The line to one goes through the attic of the garage, too. I do
the best I can; shut off those lines at the manifold and leave the valves
open.
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"Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:

All good info, but none addresses my original question of WHY it helps to
wrap faucets.

Anyone have any ideas??


It slows the transfer of heat. Metal is a great conductor of heat, which means
that the cold outside will follow the valve/pipe into the wall. By wrapping the
facuet, you put a thermal break in place which in tun keeps the pipe and valve
warmer. In most cases, it only takes a few degrees to keep things above freezing
at the valve.


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On Feb 6, 11:27*am, Robert Neville wrote:
"Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote:

All good info, but none addresses my original question of WHY it helps to
wrap faucets.


Anyone have any ideas??


It slows the transfer of heat. Metal is a great conductor of heat, which means
that the cold outside will follow the valve/pipe into the wall. By wrapping the
facuet, you put a thermal break in place which in tun keeps the pipe and valve
warmer. In most cases, it only takes a few degrees to keep things above freezing
at the valve.


==
And also since the OP lives in Texas...just cracking the valve open
enough to let the water slowly dribble out over night for the few
times that temps go below the freezing mark would work. This may not
be practical depending on location of the valves vis a vis the walks,
shrubs, foot traffic, etc..
==
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