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Camellia

Beach Fanatic
Nov 26, 2004
418
113
Are we really supposed to turn on outdoor faucets (connected to house) and let them drip all night long? Because I am from Minnesota, where, obviously, it's a lot colder and where no one would dream of doing such a thing, how does it make sense here? Most homes here are insulated. What's the dif?
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
Yes, just to keep the water flowing enough to keep the usually uninsulated outdoor shower lines/hose bibbs from freezing.

For indoor faucets (in an insulated and inhabited house where you are also using the water) Mama Scooterbug claims opening the cupboard doors is a much more effective way to keep things from freezing.
 

Minnie

Beach Fanatic
Dec 30, 2006
4,328
829
Memphis
Water lines to outdoor faucets in areas where cold temps are normal are better isolated and also have cut offs to the line so you can drain it before it gets cold.

Even here in Memphis we have a seperate cut off for our outside lines.

Also you can purchase one of these.

606328_com_frozenpipe.jpg


Disconnect your garden hose from the hose faucet. Hoses attached will almost always freeze and ice will back up into the faucet into the house.
 
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Minnie, we don't have these gadgets in the ATL and south. Sister's outdoor shower at her main home in Seagrove blew out. I called our rental management company to check on her and our properties. Assuming Big D feels like it, we plan to drive down and check on things.

As a tangent, did you attend any of the Elvis BD celebration events in Memphis? I was too young to be a fan of his, but now that I see the photos, he was absolutely gorgeous. No wonder that women went wild over him!
 

Lynnie

SoWal Insider
Apr 18, 2007
8,151
434
SoBuc
Are the outdoor showers an issue if no water has run through them since Oct.?

I've decided to not do laundry here until we are above freezing because I haven't run a load since well before we froze. No water has been through those pipes. And, I had an old cast iron pipe crack last Jan. - no funn in these older homes!!!
 

Beauty hunter

Beach Fanatic
May 3, 2009
1,206
158
I knew I needed to get on sowal last night since I never check the weather status, but this week with the kids getting back in school whipped my butt, so I fell asleep. My pipes are frozen. I was so looking forward to a little relaxation- ice dastard! I'm going to report the ice monster to Geo.
 

seagrovegirl

Beach Fanatic
Feb 9, 2008
3,828
464
Historic Old Point Washington
I knew I needed to get on sowal last night since I never check the weather status, but this week with the kids getting back in school whipped my butt, so I fell asleep. My pipes are frozen. I was so looking forward to a little relaxation- ice dastard! I'm going to report the ice monster to Geo.

Keep an eye on your frozen pipes. When they start to thaw, the water expands and the pipes will burst.
 

Minnie

Beach Fanatic
Dec 30, 2006
4,328
829
Memphis
Are the outdoor showers an issue if no water has run through them since Oct.?

I've decided to not do laundry here until we are above freezing because I haven't run a load since well before we froze. No water has been through those pipes. And, I had an old cast iron pipe crack last Jan. - no funn in these older homes!!!

Even if you don't do laundry, the water is still in the pipes unless you turned them off and drained them.
 
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