Community Chat

[BlueFinch]

@Carmie OH MY GOSH, you've described a nightmare. I thank you for sharing your experience and I'll pass it on. I've never even heard of heat tapes before. I have to check it out.

I'm hoping this is one of those rare events that doesn't repeat again for years, once we get through this cycle. But, I'm going to be investigating things I can do to be better prepared. 

[LindaSal]

@BlueFinch  If you have heat in your house keep your cupboard doors open to let some warmth get under there.   If you own a portable heater put that facing the outside wall  plumbing.   As others stated try to shut off the water.   Fingers crossed for you.  

[BlueFinch]

@Kachina624  Yes, I remember some of your past comments. I consider you an honorary Texan. My dad was career AF (32 years), stationed for years at Kelly/Lackland, so the bases are some of my old haunts, too.

I'm sure you found SA to be your favorite over Midland, Houston, or Amarillo . It's mine over those choices, for sure. 

[fthunt]

Up here in Northeast we use  hairdryers to apply heat to area of frozen pipes.  Not directly ON the pipe but around the area.

[Icegoddess]

@BlueFinch, if it's just at the one sink, you should be able to turn the water off using the knobs on the lines coming into the sink.

I'm in the path of some of that in N AL.  We're expecting an ice storm this evening.  I'm a little mad at hubby for insisnting on going out in this weather, currently rain, to meet his friend for lunch.  Mainly I'm mad because he took my pickup truck instead of his car because his battery is dead.  Also, his friend really shouldn't be out in this either as he has a lot of health problems and, by my husband's description, his driving skills are not the best, and my husband's driving scares me sometimes.  

It's currently 34 outside, but the temp has already dropped 2 degrees i the last hourr.  We are supposed to get down into the teens tonight.  But, at least it won't last as long as it has in TX.  We're supposed to be back up to 50 on Wednesday.

@Kachina624, everybody really should have one of those tools for cutting the water off at the meter, but I think you can also use a wrench.   I have cutoffs at each sink and toilet, but those are just for those lines.  There's actually a seprate one for each line coming into the sinks.  

We have a legal show on Sunday nights after the news and last night's topic was Weather and the law.  Something the lawyer mentioned was that it's important to mitigate the damage once it has occurred or insurance might not completely cover it.  So, it's on the homeowner to turn that water off once the damage starts happening. 

[Kachina624]

@BlueFinch.  I liked Midland a lot.  Might have stayed there if summers weren't so hot.  Very nice place to live.

[BlueFinch]

@LindaSal Yes, I have central heat and I've thankfully maintained power. So, I left cupboard doors open under all sinks as soon as the temps began dropping here, hoping the heated air would help. I also wrapped pipes outside like I was in the frozen tundra, to no avail. 

I don't have a portable heater, but a friend had some success just with a hair dryer.  I'm watching it closely and will turn the water off if I sense a pipe break. I'm waiting to see how some of my neighbors do, too.

[Kachina624]

@Icegoddess.  There should be a central water shut off somewhere in the house.  I didn't know i had one until a plumber showed it to me.

[BlueFinch]

@fthunt Yes, I just had someone tell me the hairdryer trick. I'm gonna give it a try.

[BlueFinch]

@Icegoddess Yes, I have a curb key to cut off all the water, if necessary, plus I know I can cut off individual faucets under cabinets. I just hope none of those things have to happen.

I get your comment, and worries, about your DH and his friend. I don't get what men are thinking sometimes.

My brother took off from his home in Austin yesterday, for a short trip to the grocery store. He had no problem going there, but coming back, he didn't realize he'd have to navigate an icy incline, one that hadn't been a problem going down previously. He couldn't get traction to get up it.

He had to leave his truck and started walking home in the frigid weather carrying grocery bags. Thankfully, a neighbor saw him and picked him up in his Jeep for a ride home, but he had to leave his truck behind. My brother's comment: 'Man, that was really stupid.'