Power Outage: Prepare Now to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing
Вставка
- Опубліковано 4 вер 2024
- Jeannie asked us how we prevent our pipes from bursting during a power outage. If you invest a little money and time into insulating your pipes, it can save thousands of dollars repairing the damage caused by frozen pipes.
You also may need to drain your pipes or let it drip to prevent freezing. These items can also be purchased at your local hardware store:
*Heat tape amzn.to/3FPi233
*Split foam pipe (make sure to get the right size for your pipes) amzn.to/3PrSRH3
*Fiberglass pipe insulation amzn.to/3FnIgZf
*Generark Solar Generator at bit.ly/3dGJFg4
*EcoFlow ecoflow.com?aff=128
You might also be interested in these posts at TheProvidentPrepper.org :
6 Lifesaving Tips to Keep Warm During a Winter Power Outage
theprovidentpr...
Top 3 Tips to Efficiently Heating Your Home With Wood
theprovidentpr...
Surviving a Winter Power Outage: How to Stay Warm
theprovidentpr...
Best Alternative Heat Sources to Use During a Power Outage
theprovidentpr...
Backup Power: Sizing a Power Station to Meet Your Critical Needs
• Backup Power: Sizing a...
Calculate Backup Emergency Power Requirements Using a Power Consumption Meter • Calculate Backup Emerg...
Backup Power: How to Protect the Food in Your Freezer During a Power Outage • Back Up Power: How to ...
Backup Power Basics: More Power to Ya! • Backup Power Basics: M...
Thanks for being part of the solution!
Follow us!
*Instagram - theprovidentprepper / theprovidentprepper
*Facebook - The Provident Prepper: Building Your Family Ark / providentprepper
*Pinterest - The Provident Prepper / theprovidentprepper
TheProvidentPrepper.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
You also may need to drain your pipes or let it drip to prevent freezing. These items can also be purchased at your local hardware store:
*Heat tape amzn.to/3FPi233
*Split foam pipe (make sure to get the right size for your pipes) amzn.to/3PrSRH3
*Fiberglass pipe insulation amzn.to/3FnIgZf
*Generark Solar Generator at bit.ly/3dGJFg4
*EcoFlow ecoflow.com?aff=128
You might also be interested in these posts at TheProvidentPrepper.org :
6 Lifesaving Tips to Keep Warm During a Winter Power Outage
theprovidentprepper.org/6-lifesaving-tips-to-keep-warm-during-a-winter-power-outage/
Top 3 Tips to Efficiently Heating Your Home With Wood
theprovidentprepper.org/top-3-tips-to-efficiently-heating-your-home-with-wood/
Surviving a Winter Power Outage: How to Stay Warm
theprovidentprepper.org/surviving-a-winter-power-outage-how-to-stay-warm/
Best Alternative Heat Sources to Use During a Power Outage
theprovidentprepper.org/best-alternative-heat-sources-to-use-during-a-power-outage/
Backup Power: Sizing a Power Station to Meet Your Critical Needs
ua-cam.com/video/HdU3HfU3CwI/v-deo.html
Calculate Backup Emergency Power Requirements Using a Power Consumption Meter
ua-cam.com/video/rs9GyVnE2MA/v-deo.html
Backup Power: How to Protect the Food in Your Freezer During a Power Outage
ua-cam.com/video/605fTzgvPwI/v-deo.html
Backup Power Basics: More Power to Ya!
ua-cam.com/video/UpvV46-GvR0/v-deo.html
Thanks for being part of the solution!
Follow us!
*Instagram - theprovidentprepper instagram.com/theprovidentprepper/
*Facebook - The Provident Prepper: Building Your Family Ark facebook.com/ProvidentPrepper
*Pinterest - The Provident Prepper www.pinterest.com/TheProvidentPrepper/
TheProvidentPrepper.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
My house is plumbed with Pex and I have a crawlspace so in an emergency situation I would go down and cut a hot water line and a cold water line to drain the whole system. I’ve already purchased the clamps, clamp tool and a couple stop and waste valves at the hardware store to repair the lines so next time I can just drain the lines by opening the valves. In a SHTF situation I would also drain the water heater and pour some antifreeze in the P traps located in the sink, bathtub and toilet drains. Kinda like winterizing an RV only bigger. 🤔
Yep, exactly! Way to be prepared. I have 2 jugs of RV antifreeze ready if needed. Thanks for your comments...Keep doing the right stuff!
Leave a bucket or container under your running faucet. You can use the water for drinking or cooking instead of letting go down the drain 😊
I live in northern Wisconsin. I used to turn my water off and drain my pipes every day before I went to work.
If that's what it takes, best to do it. Hopefully, it isn't a huge hassle. Keep doing great things!
@@JonathanBJones thank you😎
my local power companty offered a free winterization kit to customers, the kit included weatherstrip, LED light bulbs, window film and pipe insulation. although I do not have exterior wall run pipes I got the kit anway just in case someone local to me needed it
Well done...keep doing great things!
Oh darn, I thought you were going to show us how to shut off the water 💧 and drain the pipes. Could you do a more detailed video on this? Please!! 🙏
I will add that to our list...great idea. Thanks for being part of the solution!
We downsized into an older home. Poorly built, shortcuts taken in order for the contractors to make more money. Bottom line is that when we happened on a good man who could do it, we had him cut into the drywall in order to wrap and insulate pipes that had frozen our first winter here. It was not in a wall, but in a space between the vertical wall and where the roof slants outward, so he had to cut a man-sized hole and crawl through. Drywall replacement and repair. Expensive yes, but one less thing to cause anxiety, stress and problems. That tip about turning off the water when going away for a few days - will do!
Money well spent...that's the goal...fix it before we have a problem (or another problem). Thanks for the comment...keep doing great things!
Great information! In my parent's old farmhouse in Maryland, we wrapped any exposed pipes with fiberglass insulation, kept the taps running a trickle on very cold nights and opened the doors to the under-sink cabinets :-)
Many years ago the city advised against letting the water run all night because it would drop the water pressure and make it difficult to fight a fire because it will lower the water pressure.
Each water system is different, but it seems extreme to advise against leaving taps dripping or with a small stream...very interesting!
Make sure all in the house know what to do!
My household plan in no heat, drain the pipes!
I turn my water off when going away also, mostly because I know of at least 3 neighbors that have had the water line to there refrigerators start leaking when they where on a summer vacation.
Well stated Mike...I know several that have had either fridge lines or other lines break...not fun to come home to. Totally agree that everyone needs to know how to turn off all utilities. Keep doing great things!
Turning off and drawing pipes is a great idea before bugging out or vacation. Thanks for all the great information.
Thanks for your comments Debbie...keep doing great things!
I bought a couple lengths of the foam plumbing "noodles" for just in case, and also ended up buying a couple actual pool noodles to use for closing a few of my windows onto, to make sure I'm getting a good seal in this old house. After 93 years (house was built in 1930), the wooden windows and frames have warped just enough to not always close well. Instead of opening the noodle around a pipe, I open the cut-to-length noodle around the edge of a window then close the window. No more drafty windows!
Jonathan, you have a lot of practical sense for being an engineer. I appreciate you. I live about fifteen miles outside of Phoenix and it still gets below freezing every once in a while. Even in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, I turn off my water main when I am going to be gone for more than a few days. This is an excellent example of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Once again, great video.
Thanks for your comments...that ounce of prevention is often worth many pounds of cure. Keep doing great things!
I just hope that they built our house correctly. Our first winter in Alaska. Thankfully we're about a 8-10 minute drive from WalMart and 7 minute drive to Home Depot. If they have power, we're likely to have power...right😅?
You forgot drain traps: sinks, bathtub/shower and toilet. For those all that is needed is just a little bit of antifreeze. Car antifreeze could be used but it is toxic to animals and humans. RV antifreeze is non toxic.
For a sink, tub, shower drain a couple tablespoons would be needed. A toilet trap would require about 1/4 cup. The trap doesn't have to be filled with antifreeze, some mixed with the water already in them will prevent the water from freezing and expanding, the pressure of the expansion causing the damage. An antifreeze/existing water mix (at least 25%) will get "slushy" but won't expand and burst the trap.
DO NOT forget the water heater, tank type or tankless, they contain water and are extremely expensive to replace.
A gallon of RV antifreeze won't be cheap but it will save a LOT OF MONEY in the long run. A gallon will easily protect the average home and there would be enough to help an unprepared neighbor or friend.
Good point Tom...should have addressed that as well. I have 2 gallons of RV antifreeze on hand just in case. Thanks for your comments...keep being part of the solution!
...and leaving the water running won't work if you are Not on city water and lose power. Unless you have backup power.
This video is right on time! It is traditional Alabama weather and it is about to go from highs in the 60's and 70's to freezing at night and highs around 45-50, with my most trusted meteorologist saying that by Christmas we could see lows in the single digits! Usually whenever we get these kinds of temperatures we leave a faucet running. This time, since we OWN OUR OWN HOME, I think I'll get some outside faucet covers and some of that pipe insulation foam and cover any at risk pipes.
Good plan...yes, tis the season for several things including bitter cold temps. Thanks for your comments...Prepare well!
Great advice
Dripping faucets at the end of each line of pipe. 99.9% un-vented gas heaters. They come in 10,000 through 30,000 BTU Natural gas and Propane. They can have thermostats to control temperature. Approved in many states for use in common areas and up to 5000 feet elevation. One heater located in the common area of the basement will keep the basement warm and the rest above freezing. If the structure has any heat insulate the pipes into the house. The final backup is a wood burning stove with the heat powered fans. I agree with Jon the water is always turned off when we leave for extended outings. Every member of the family needs to know where the water valves, breakers, and gas shut offs are and how they work.
Great comments Jim, and yes, everyone needs to know how to get these things done. Thanks for being part of the solution!
This was a great video! I lived in an older cabin in the mountains for over 20 years. I had a couple of outdoor spigots that would freeze no matter how well insulated they were. I finally simply removed the spigots and capped them off at the start of each winter. I let the indoor faucets drip (and collected the water to re-use) and opened up the cupboards underneath the sinks so that the heat could better reach the plumbing. I now live full time in an RV and it is an entirely different experience. Sometimes I will turn off the water at the source and empty any water in the lines through the low point drains under the trailer. If I leave the water on I will open the cupboards and sometimes place a strand of Christmas lights (they put out a surprising amount of heat) near the water lines. If power is out I use my Jackery power station to keep the mini lights burning. I use the onboard propane heater to heat the underbelly and also wrap any exposed hoses or water lines and pipes with the insulation that you showed. I place styrofoam caps over the outside spigots and over my grey and black tank handles just for extra measure. I have wondered if those disposable "HotHands" hand warmers would work in a pinch to keep a spigot or vulnerable section of pipe warm enough for a short period of time to avoid freezing?
Sounds like you have some great experience...it can certainly be a challenge in the situation you have lived in. As for the "HotHands"...they may help some if you can put them on the lines and wrap them...probably not the most effective solution, but if that's what you have for a short-term need, it would help. Thanks for your comments and for being part of the solution!
ever try RV Antifreeze for the pipes! Rv antifreeze are non toxic !
You have become my favorite UA-cam channel. Always such good information. I have plumbing on an exterior wall and can’t get to the pipes. It is a finished wall. But now I will drain all the water and use my water supply water. I am prepared because of you guys. Thank you. 🙏🏽
In many cases, it is tough to get to the pipes. Running a small stream will usually do the trick, but in some cases, best to turn off and drain. Thanks for being part of the solution!
Went through the power outage in Texas for just three days. 🥶 No frozen pipes by letting water dribble. Hot and cold water pipes. 😁
Well done...yes, do want to do both hot and cold. If you have single handle temperature adjustment, set it in the middle to move water through both lines. Thanks for your comments...keep doing great things!
Thank you so much for sharing this! It is so helpful to know you went through that and it worked. I would not have thought about the hot water too.
Estonian Prepper has just posted news from Estonia and they are having snow blizzards blocking roads etc it will be tough in Ukraine at this time of year.
Yes, I feel for those people...serious challenges. Did an interview with a reporter there...breaks my heart to hear and see the difficulties there. Thanks for your comments. Keep making progress!
Ukraine is a long way from Estonia
@@howtohavehealth it is about as far away as Sydney is to Perth in Australia, which here is part of the one country. It is very cold for them. Estonian Prepper covers Ukraine in his posts. Happy New year to you.
I close the the main water source, let taps drains then pour RV antifreeze down every sink, bath and shower! Rv antifreeze are non toxic !
This is amazingly simple, I feel a lot more confident just watching this. Can't wait to put this knowledge to use!
Thanks for your comments...keep making those small steady steps!
Excellent! We bought a house in 8 years ago in December that had an outdoor hose Bibb freeze, when we turned on the hose in March It flooded bedrooms.
OUCH! This sounds awful! Is the "hose bib" just a faucet sticking out of the home's wall? We have two of those and I use those foam insulating covers sold at hardware stores, that have rubber band attachments.
Bad news and very frustrating. Since we had our little flood, I permanently turned off and drained the hose bibs on the house. If it had been the front bib, we would have had a huge mess and needed to rip out a bathroom wall with the shower and all and would have been massively expensive. Insurance covered our mess, but it was very inconvenient and frustrating dealing with the insurance company...just prefer to avoid that again. Keep making progress!
Drip saved my pipes during uri. Oddly, they no longer tell people to do that. I also asked a Canadian online in some comments how they’d keep their pipes safe and he told me about draining them. My worry this time is the city changed the cutoff and I can’t seem to stop the water (tried it a couple weekends ago when I was going to fix a toilet. Couldn’t turn it off. )
Yes your right I do the same thing with my pipes shut them down
Thanks Gavin...keep doing great things!
God Bless you two.
Thanks so much!
Well, as far as what I will do is keep the furnace running with a solar battery and gas generator - I also have RV/marine anti-freeze for the drainpipes. You, like every other UA-cam prepper forgot to include drainpipes (the traps are filled with water) in your video.
Great point Mike...should have gone into that. I have two gallons of RV antifreeze on the shelf just in case. Thanks for your comment...and thanks for being part of the solution!
Greetings from Tennessee. I really think it's video would have been a good place to discuss the hazards of people setting heaters and everything else of that nature under their house to prevent freezing or thawing out their pipes. Our local Dollar general stores have pool noodles for a dollar a piece but you have to check the inside diameter to make sure it will go around your pipes. Love the channel and please keep up the good work.
How right you are Daniel...people do a lot of dangerous things...often they backfire. Great comment!
I run my tap during cold weather and put a bucket underneath then use those water later. But I've never experienced a long-term power outage.
Yes, if possible, good to use the water for something other than going to the sewer. Thanks for your comment!
Important information shared, thank you Jonathan and Kylene. Happy trails!
We had a house in a ski area. In the winter, when we would leave, in addition to draining the pipes, we would put a table spoon of “environmentally friendly” ant-freeze in each sink drain trap and each toilet.
Also in regards to spigots freezing; some people had insulated covers that could be remove in the spring. We had special spigots, the on/off handle was outside, but the actual valve was 12 inches inside in the basement area. Those spigots can run anywhere from $25 to $70.
Thank you for breaking it down so I could understand it. This is so helpful! Do we need to do anything like this if we have power but the temperatures are in the 20s or 30s? I have my outdoor spigots covered. I'm an older 1st time home owner and having rented for 40 years I don't know how to do a lot of this, so thanks again.
Hey Jody...generally if the temps are in the 20s and 30s and you have the ability to heat, you will be fine, but that depends on your situation. If there are water lines that are exposed to the cold, you could still have some problems. In that case, you could most likely be okay by just running a small stream of water in critical times. Thanks for the question...keep making progress!
I think the pipes froze and burst in Texas during the freeze of ‘21. The water was not turned off or the pipes drained. It was so sad to see all the water damage to houses!
Any advice or comments on turning the water back on to your house? Surge concerns etc…. Also, we have a water shut off where the line comes into the house, but it sounds like your preference is to not use that valve but to go to the meter valve out in the yard?
Yes, I prefer the one at the meter...then all water inside and out is off. I know people who have burst an outside line while away...not as bad as one in the house, but can still make a big mess. As for turning the water back on, I turn it on slowly and have a couple of open sink taps inside. Because the water lines are still full, it usually doesn't create much if any surge, but the open taps help dissipate any potential surge. Great questions...thanks for being part of the solution!
Good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !
Many thanks...keep making progress!
Very helpful! Thank you!
Thanks for your comments...keep making those steady steps!
TYSM sharing!!
Thanks for being part of the solution!
We have the heat tape on our pipes in our crawl space. Putting it on our solar bank in a long term power outage is now in my check list.
Thank you.
Good plan...thanks for being part of the solution!
Thank you, thank you, thank you....this is exactly what I wanted to know and you both explained it so well!
Don’t forget to turn off your hot water heater before shutting of water and draining it.
How do you do that with a gas water heater? What happens if you leave it as is and turn the water off?
@@101jody their is a valve close to the tank on the gas line coming in. Gas heaters can over heat and damage the tank. Electric will burn up the heating element very quickly.
@@101jody As long as you have natural gas, you can leave the system on with the water turned off and the tanks still full...it will just continue to keep that water hot. In that case, I would turn the thermostat down to low so that I didn't use any more fuel than necessary. Hopefully, the situation improves quickly and life can resume. Keep doing great things!
PEX. New construction, remodel, or whole house repipe - PEX will expand and contract without fear of breaking or cracking. I don't recommend the Shark Bite connectors, they're super expensive and while they snap on easy... they'll also leak or pop off easier.
You really need to address the antifreeze option
Can you talk about how the hot water tank fits into the turn-off-and-drain-the-pipes scenario? Are you going to need to drain the tank too? Thx!
Hey Kristen...great question! Yes, in a worst case scenario, you will also turn off your water heater and drain your tank. If you have a natural gas water heater, and you can continue to heat the water, you won't need to. However, in a large scale long-term grid down, you will likely eventually lose natural gas. Since water heaters are generally fairly well insulated, they will stay viable longer, and can provide some good water storage, especially if your water service is interrupted. Thanks for your comments...keep making progress!
@@JonathanBJones They also make protective covers for water heater tanks. Live in area where freezing winter temps and outages are common and draining the tank every time isn't practical. Cost about 70 bucks (or less) on average. Some are better than others so research.
If you drain your water pipes and you have a gas water heater will you also need to turn off your gas water heater as well?
Those pipe insulators did not work in the last Louisiana freeze.
What about the water heater? drain that? Its a lot of water to capture as well, for emergency water supply. Is there less risk in a basement due to subsoil on the foundation being above freezing?
.
I would only drain as a last resort. As you mentioned, it is good source of water storage (80 gallons for us). The water heaters are generally well insulated and will take much longer to be at risk. If your water heater is fueled by natural gas or propane, at least for a while, it will keep water warm. If it is a long-term power outage, eventually you will probably lose natural gas also. If you end up using the water, be sure to turn the water heater off.
@@JonathanBJones how do you turn a gas water heater off? How do you know when it's time to do this? Sorry, I am an ignorant older 1st time home owner.
I wish I could hand you my keys and a budget and say... make it MO BETTA! 😉
Small steady steps get you there...keep moving forward...thanks for being part of the solution!
what about our hot water tank should we drain it also?
Only as a last resort. Hot water tanks have some great hot mass and are well insulated, so they will be fine for a while. However, if the outage lasts for a while, you may need to drain it/them also. They are a a great source of stored water. But yes, if it looks like you need to leave and there is a lot of winter ahead without the ability to heat, they get drained also. Great question...keep doing great things!
John your so smart! :)
What about the radiators in an old house?
Could you just turn the water and drain the pipes in a power outage?
In some cases that is best. Good comment...keep doing great things!
@@JonathanBJones I was talking with my dad over the summer about if the power would ever go off on the winter and we discussed doing that . I do not have the income to go out and get a solar generator, to keep my house warm. So I told him that is what I will do If that ever happened. Also if the power was going to be off for an extended time period, and it is all around like for miles around me , We discussed turning tdd he gas off too at the gas meter.
@@lovepugs05 why do we need to turn the gas off too? Yikes.
Great info. Comment and question. Had a friend I Pheonix and he had an outdoor pipe a number of feet running off the ground to water his garden. It does get below freezing there and he was surprised when his pipe cracked. We Canuks laughed about that.
I am a Mathie but I also drain the pipes went I go away in the winter. We have, as usual here, have a natural gas tank hot water heater. The gas company will not let us shut off the gas (well there are big penalties if we do). What do you suggest for the hot water lines. Generally I do as you indicated on the cold water lines and figure the lack of pressure of new water into the house will help, and the water in the hot water lines will keep the tank's water from getting low.
How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing: Live in Phoenix. :D
Do you drain your water heater as well as your pipes?
Hey Jeremy...sometimes that is tempting...we just struggle with the heat in the summer. As for the water heater, I would only drain it as a last resort. It is a great source of water storage and would be the last part of the system to have a problem. But yes, if I had to leave with lots of winter ahead, I would definitely drain. Keep doing great things!
Not when the power company turns your power off when you have well water.
:)