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Rich256 Rich256 is offline
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Default What does it take to freeze pipes?

Toller wrote:
"MLD" wrote in message news:TTsVg.2$HP.0@trndny08...
"Toller" wrote in message
...
Is there any reference on the internet about temperatures and durations

that
are required to freeze pipes?

Every year I get neurotic when they start having frost advisories about
my
cottage. I know it takes hours to freeze ice cubes at 0 degrees, so it
obviously takes more than a few hours at 30 degrees to freeze pipes; but
some actual data would be nice.

It is a big chore to shut off the water, and then I am without water
until
next Spring.


Other posts have good comments. If you can't or don't want to handle it
yourself then have a plumber do it--at least for the first time. If the
house is left unoccupied and unheated for (I think) 30 days and something
happens you might have an issue with the insurance company. If you're in
an
a location where below 30 is not a frequent occurrence then why not leave
your thermostat at 50 deg or so and have complete peace of mind.
MLD

Well, not having any heat is a good reason to not leave the thermostat at
50.

I know how to winterize the cottage, having done it 10 times. The issue is
when is it necessary to do it.
Will a low temperature of 30 overnight freeze anything. 25? 20?
Seems like a common enough problem that there ought to be some information
available on it.



You didn't answer the question of what kind of temperatures you might
expect.

Yeah, ice cubes take a long time because the water is 60 degrees to
start with. If it is already at 35 it doesn't take long.

Why is it a big chore to turn it off? Are you including blowing out
the lines?

If you don't expect the temperatures to get below 30 you probably can
get by without that. Just to be safe turn off the water and open a
faucet. You might have to get a line fixed but the cottage won't be
flooded.

If you expect temperatures to get to 30 and stay there for a day or more
I sure would drain the lines too.