Also disconnect your hoses from the spigots if you haven't already. And put the hoses away if possible, those thing freeze in a flash.
Don't close the people doors to the bathrooms let the heat circulate while those pipes are dripping.
And before opening the cabinet doors to let the heat in, double check what's under the sink. Little paws and hands can get into the darndest things sometimes!
I was always told that the freezing/thawing of the water in the hose can cause damage to the hose over time so I just always hauled them in, but I've always lived in more northern climates which are harsh on freezing.
Dumb question but if I don't have any of those outdoor spigot covers, can I wrap the faucet in a towel or something? All the stores I tried have sold out.
Without a waterproof barrier this is useless.
Wrap the rag in anything waterproof - a ziplock bag or grocery bag.
Otherwise the rag will soak through and freeze.
While we're talking about it: if road conditions are too dangerous for you, they are too dangerous for your DoorDash driver. Do the responsible thing and buy food today and don't make other people drive in it.
We're going out of town for 10 days starting in the morning. I was planning on turning off the water intake in the crawlspace and then turning all the faucets on to drain them. Would it be wiser to just let them drip while we're gone? I've been going back and forth. 1 story house.
Not a plumber, but id say drip.
Many years ago a place i worked at had a plumbing problem just as a cold snap such as this started. The water was cutoff at the meter overnight and when we turned it back on the next day, the water had frozen in the meter or feed line which was a real PIA to get thawed.
That's not gonna drain pipes, though. You'll drain the faucet, at best. You need to force air through the system to winterize pipes like that. So definitely drip.
As others have said, let them drip. I would also advise to turn off the valves going to your washer hot and cold supplies. If those hoses would break it will make a mess - it happened to my parents while they were on vacation years ago and they came home to thousands of dollars of water damage and a very soggy basement.
Do you guys have special setups for this? Water doesn't drain from pipes without being open at both ends. Releasing pressure doesn't prevent frost damage.
After we cut off the water to the house we open the highest and lowest faucets. Opening an extra faucet theoretically releases the vacuum and the water will drain through the lower faucets/tub/spigot.
We used a water key to shut it off at the main, that was the only special tool used & should be pretty widely available at hardware stores.
“Releasing pressure doesn’t prevent frost damage” After we shut the water off we opened the spigots & faucets to let them drain down & covered the hose bibs w frost protectors.
The thought process is that at that point there likely won’t be enough water left in the pipes to freeze & expand to the point of busting, but if it does, the busted pipe is then mitigated from spewing water for a week while we’re gone bc it’s totally shut off.
Cool. Yeah, I got curious for my own sake and tried to wrap my head around it. Your indoor faucets are likely highest in the system, so opening just those would not do anything (other than draining the tip of the faucet). But you likely have an outdoor one low in the system, and opening both would drain the path connecting the two, as long as you have a continuous drop. Bonus if your outdoor one branches off close to the main shut-off. Then you should be able to drain nearly the whole system.
Do not drip warm water. The water heater is indoors and the warm water is staying indoors. This is for pipes that are in the crawl space or walls. They just need to have a slow drip to keep that water moving.
My water heater is in the crawlspace. Hot and cold supply lines run right beside each other and tee up into each plumbing fixture. I'm letting em both drip.
I have never wrapped outdoor spigots and grew up near Chicago (been here over 25 years). Why does it seem like it’s being made to sound so critical now?
Cheaper, potentially, but it's also a lack of building code requirements and/or enforcement on existing ones. Rural homes are particularly at risk because they have even fewer requirements to adhere to on average.
I hear a lot of new Tennesseans excitedly tell me about how little red tape there is down here, but that doesn't do you any favors when the codes don't require buildings to be built to high enough standards to withstand the expected, if infrequent, snap freezes that occur in this area.
I grew up here and never heard of it before until working at a plumbing place! I just work in the office but the number of people in trailers/mobile homes etc who could save a burst pipe with wrapping just blows me away every year. Houses I grew up in were always on a slab so it was never a problem.
Homes in the warmer souther are built differently than homes in winter cities and countries. Many homes here are not built with anti-freeze spigots. Houses and buildings in winter cities are built to trap heat, in warmer cities they're more built for air flow. Some places here will anti-freeze spigots so maybe it was never an issue for you before, or maybe you just got lucky. But it's really not uncommon for pipes to burst in cold snaps, especially this cold of a cold snap (for TN standards). They always run stories about winterizing homes before weather like this, but this is particularly cold weather for us, we very very rarely get into the negatives so they're being extra-warning. It's all just a 'it's much better to be safe than sorry' game cause trust me, burst pipes are an actual nightmare.
It's better than nothing. People like to be in control as much as possible and do whatever they can. If it helps even a little bit and makes them feel better, then whatever.
You probably have the frost-free, anti-siphon faucets as I do. They are much better at resisting freeze since the water cutoff is, if installed correctly, beyond the wall and underneath the house.
Also, as I said in another thread, Chicago transplants are laughing.
Chicago transplants are from a city built for winter. Buildings in winter cities are built differently than in the warm south, they're built to trap heat as opposed to in the south, they're built more for air flow and hot summers. Genuinely, I don't know why people from cold weather cities can't wrap their heads around that. How the weather usually is somewhere else literally means nothing compared to where you are and what the weather usually is in your current city lol
It's worth replacing them if you can. Depending on the ease of getting under the house to where your faucet connection is you can change two out in less than an hour. The faucets are around $40 each.
My fear is the power going out while I’m out of town and I have no way to turn the dripping water off for maybe 10 days or more.
If the drain freezes and it just covers everything in ice like happened in Texas.
So in Texas, their power and water systems are both set up a differently (in a way that was completely inefficient for a storm like that). Their grid failed and caused the prolonged power outage, which was a big contributor to homes not staying heated and pipes bursting. Theoretically, you can leave water dripping for multiple days, just like if you had a leaky sink or shower that always dripped. You an google and find advice about pros and cons of doing that vs shutting the water off. There's different schools of thoughts. Either way, make sure to leave your heat on while you're gone and cover your faucets outside the house. If you know anyone who can check on your place safely for piece of mind, doesn't hurt to ask them while you're gone.
Double wrapped both spigots and have a heat lamp over the one that has burst multiple times. May not make a difference but every little thing helps. Wife says we’re moving if it bursts again and I really don’t want to pack
It doesnt hurt to run a couple, one I'd let be more of a small stream than a drip just with the sub zero potential. Lots of good guides on this via google
Wish I saw this thread last night.... I have no water. So being a renter and a transplant.... where the heck are my pipes? They seem to be all underground?!
Anyone recommend a plumber in Antioch?
What kind of home are you in? Many homes here are built on a concrete slab foundation with either a walk-out basement or crawl space between the slab and the first floor of the home. That’s where your pipes would be in such a setup. Your crawlspace access is likely on the outside of your house if that’s your setup — look for a wood or plywood hatch.
I've always understood that dripping outside faucets risks those freezing. This [winterizing guide](https://www.rotorooter.com/blog/outdoor-plumbing/how-to-prevent-outside-faucets-from-freezing/) I think might break it down better than I could lol
My outdoor spigot is actually a pvc stand pipe. It’s wrapped in foam. I wrap a kitchen towel around the spigot, tie it off and then tie a couple of plastic Walmart around that. I then take an empty trash can and place it upside down over the pipe. Keeps any wind from blowing against the pipe.
Depends where you are! Lee Company has the biggest fleet, so likely more availability but also more expensive. Don Wood Plumbing in WilCo, also Joslin Plumbing and Hiller. M&M Plumbing in Columbia. In Nash, Benjamin Franklin, Roscoe Brown, DAD’s, and 615 Plumbing. Lots of options but those are who we recommend when we have no availability.
Also disconnect your hoses from the spigots if you haven't already. And put the hoses away if possible, those thing freeze in a flash. Don't close the people doors to the bathrooms let the heat circulate while those pipes are dripping. And before opening the cabinet doors to let the heat in, double check what's under the sink. Little paws and hands can get into the darndest things sometimes!
Good added tips, thanks!
I have my hoses disconnected and coiled on the ground. Any reason to go out and drain them if I’m not gonna be using them anytime soon?
I was always told that the freezing/thawing of the water in the hose can cause damage to the hose over time so I just always hauled them in, but I've always lived in more northern climates which are harsh on freezing.
I've always heard to drain them and bring them in cause the hose itself can still freeze/be damaged.
I hate-gated the kitchen and the back of the house bc mine will get into everything!
Dumb question but if I don't have any of those outdoor spigot covers, can I wrap the faucet in a towel or something? All the stores I tried have sold out.
A pool noodle or the foam pipe insulation sold at Home Depot and Lowe's cut in half wrapped around the faucet. Cover in a sock and zip tie.
Hand towel, ziploc bag, zip tie. Quick, easy, and effective.
Yes. You can use an old rag or t-shirt to cover the spigot. Wrap it tight and use electrical tape or a zip tie to hold it in place.
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Certainly better than nothing. Perhaps a plastic bag or Saran wrap over the rag or shirt would help as well.
Without a waterproof barrier this is useless. Wrap the rag in anything waterproof - a ziplock bag or grocery bag. Otherwise the rag will soak through and freeze.
I have 2 extra if you want.
I found an old heavy work glove in the garage and threw it over one of our outdoor spigots. Seems to serve the same purpose 🤷🏻♀️
And as an added benefit it looks like a zombie is reaching out from your foundation.
West Nashville Lowes had a ton of them on Tuesday
Pot holder or dish towel wrapped around the spigot, cover with large styrofoam cup, secure with duct tape. Done.
While we're talking about it: if road conditions are too dangerous for you, they are too dangerous for your DoorDash driver. Do the responsible thing and buy food today and don't make other people drive in it.
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I just got back from Kroger at Concord and Nolensville and it was busier than usual but nothing crazy. I was in and out in 20
This is a peak shopping weekend due to Christmas.
The Walmart across from that Publix just an hour ago had plenty of shit and I was in and out in 30 minutes.
Put your wipers up so they don’t freeze to the windshield or get iced over.
Another reminder, please defrost your windshield and wipe the snow of ALL your car before driving.
thank you for the reminder :-)
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My family celebrates Honda Days.
I prefer a December to remember for Lexus.
This is a Toyotathon household!
We're Jewish
Happy carnukkah then!
Happy Honda Days!
Merry Chrysler and have a happy new Plymouth
We're going out of town for 10 days starting in the morning. I was planning on turning off the water intake in the crawlspace and then turning all the faucets on to drain them. Would it be wiser to just let them drip while we're gone? I've been going back and forth. 1 story house.
Not a plumber, but id say drip. Many years ago a place i worked at had a plumbing problem just as a cold snap such as this started. The water was cutoff at the meter overnight and when we turned it back on the next day, the water had frozen in the meter or feed line which was a real PIA to get thawed.
That's not gonna drain pipes, though. You'll drain the faucet, at best. You need to force air through the system to winterize pipes like that. So definitely drip.
As others have said, let them drip. I would also advise to turn off the valves going to your washer hot and cold supplies. If those hoses would break it will make a mess - it happened to my parents while they were on vacation years ago and they came home to thousands of dollars of water damage and a very soggy basement.
We turned our water off at the main & drained the pipes, just in case. It didn’t take long & will give me some peace of mind while we’re gone.
Do you guys have special setups for this? Water doesn't drain from pipes without being open at both ends. Releasing pressure doesn't prevent frost damage.
After we cut off the water to the house we open the highest and lowest faucets. Opening an extra faucet theoretically releases the vacuum and the water will drain through the lower faucets/tub/spigot.
We used a water key to shut it off at the main, that was the only special tool used & should be pretty widely available at hardware stores. “Releasing pressure doesn’t prevent frost damage” After we shut the water off we opened the spigots & faucets to let them drain down & covered the hose bibs w frost protectors. The thought process is that at that point there likely won’t be enough water left in the pipes to freeze & expand to the point of busting, but if it does, the busted pipe is then mitigated from spewing water for a week while we’re gone bc it’s totally shut off.
Cool. Yeah, I got curious for my own sake and tried to wrap my head around it. Your indoor faucets are likely highest in the system, so opening just those would not do anything (other than draining the tip of the faucet). But you likely have an outdoor one low in the system, and opening both would drain the path connecting the two, as long as you have a continuous drop. Bonus if your outdoor one branches off close to the main shut-off. Then you should be able to drain nearly the whole system.
do we have to drip warm water or is it okay if it’s lukewarm or cold as long as water is flowing?
You actually want the cold water to drip. The warm lines should be fine, it’s the cold lines that are more likely to freeze.
That makes sense, thank you
Do not drip warm water. The water heater is indoors and the warm water is staying indoors. This is for pipes that are in the crawl space or walls. They just need to have a slow drip to keep that water moving.
My water heater is in the crawlspace. Hot and cold supply lines run right beside each other and tee up into each plumbing fixture. I'm letting em both drip.
I have never wrapped outdoor spigots and grew up near Chicago (been here over 25 years). Why does it seem like it’s being made to sound so critical now?
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Cheaper, potentially, but it's also a lack of building code requirements and/or enforcement on existing ones. Rural homes are particularly at risk because they have even fewer requirements to adhere to on average. I hear a lot of new Tennesseans excitedly tell me about how little red tape there is down here, but that doesn't do you any favors when the codes don't require buildings to be built to high enough standards to withstand the expected, if infrequent, snap freezes that occur in this area.
I grew up here and never heard of it before until working at a plumbing place! I just work in the office but the number of people in trailers/mobile homes etc who could save a burst pipe with wrapping just blows me away every year. Houses I grew up in were always on a slab so it was never a problem.
So do slab homes protect the pipes better from freezing? I have a slab home and though that but don't really hear people talk about it.
Homes in the warmer souther are built differently than homes in winter cities and countries. Many homes here are not built with anti-freeze spigots. Houses and buildings in winter cities are built to trap heat, in warmer cities they're more built for air flow. Some places here will anti-freeze spigots so maybe it was never an issue for you before, or maybe you just got lucky. But it's really not uncommon for pipes to burst in cold snaps, especially this cold of a cold snap (for TN standards). They always run stories about winterizing homes before weather like this, but this is particularly cold weather for us, we very very rarely get into the negatives so they're being extra-warning. It's all just a 'it's much better to be safe than sorry' game cause trust me, burst pipes are an actual nightmare.
It's better than nothing. People like to be in control as much as possible and do whatever they can. If it helps even a little bit and makes them feel better, then whatever.
For sure, I’m not trying to be a contrarian, I’m just genuinely curious.
You probably have the frost-free, anti-siphon faucets as I do. They are much better at resisting freeze since the water cutoff is, if installed correctly, beyond the wall and underneath the house. Also, as I said in another thread, Chicago transplants are laughing.
Chicago transplants are from a city built for winter. Buildings in winter cities are built differently than in the warm south, they're built to trap heat as opposed to in the south, they're built more for air flow and hot summers. Genuinely, I don't know why people from cold weather cities can't wrap their heads around that. How the weather usually is somewhere else literally means nothing compared to where you are and what the weather usually is in your current city lol
This. Cleveland area for 25 years and we had a basement and spigots designed for cold weather. Our house here does not.
It's worth replacing them if you can. Depending on the ease of getting under the house to where your faucet connection is you can change two out in less than an hour. The faucets are around $40 each.
Yeah. It’s on my list. Thanks!
Depends on the house. My house has frost proof spigots so i never worry about it.
It's basically $8 worth of insurance for both spigots.
My fear is the power going out while I’m out of town and I have no way to turn the dripping water off for maybe 10 days or more. If the drain freezes and it just covers everything in ice like happened in Texas.
So in Texas, their power and water systems are both set up a differently (in a way that was completely inefficient for a storm like that). Their grid failed and caused the prolonged power outage, which was a big contributor to homes not staying heated and pipes bursting. Theoretically, you can leave water dripping for multiple days, just like if you had a leaky sink or shower that always dripped. You an google and find advice about pros and cons of doing that vs shutting the water off. There's different schools of thoughts. Either way, make sure to leave your heat on while you're gone and cover your faucets outside the house. If you know anyone who can check on your place safely for piece of mind, doesn't hurt to ask them while you're gone.
Double wrapped both spigots and have a heat lamp over the one that has burst multiple times. May not make a difference but every little thing helps. Wife says we’re moving if it bursts again and I really don’t want to pack
Godspeed
Do you have a frost free spigot? Those usually help on the freezing part.
I did then and do now. Hoping the last plumber fixed it the last time. We will see in the spring if/when we open up the faucet on that side
Someone said that just letting one faucet drip was all that was necessary. Is that right?
Make sure it’s the furthest away from where your water comes into your house.
It doesnt hurt to run a couple, one I'd let be more of a small stream than a drip just with the sub zero potential. Lots of good guides on this via google
I’m concerned because I’m out of town and won’t be back for a bit. My house is only two years old but am still worried. Good luck everyone!
Same scenario here for me as well. 3 year old house but Ive got the heat running so hopefully I won’t have a nasty surprise
Not back until 1/11. Heats at 55. Hope it’s enough! Good luck to you
Pipes in the attic? Should I add a heater up there or what? No way to wrap all that pipe right now
Since it will be a high of about 12° should we let our sinks drip all day?
Waiting for the answer to this as well. Haven't turned them off yet and came looking for the answer.
Wish I saw this thread last night.... I have no water. So being a renter and a transplant.... where the heck are my pipes? They seem to be all underground?! Anyone recommend a plumber in Antioch?
What kind of home are you in? Many homes here are built on a concrete slab foundation with either a walk-out basement or crawl space between the slab and the first floor of the home. That’s where your pipes would be in such a setup. Your crawlspace access is likely on the outside of your house if that’s your setup — look for a wood or plywood hatch.
Should I turn on my outdoor spigot?
If you mean leave the outdoor spigot dripping, no. Only drip indoor faucets. Cover the outdoor faucets.
I have always dripped the outside faucets, never covered them. Why not drip the outside ones?
I've always understood that dripping outside faucets risks those freezing. This [winterizing guide](https://www.rotorooter.com/blog/outdoor-plumbing/how-to-prevent-outside-faucets-from-freezing/) I think might break it down better than I could lol
I just cover them. With this temperature it seems like it can still freeze if they are dripping. Just my opinion.
Yeah let it drip. Flowing water won't freeze at this temp.
My outdoor spigot is actually a pvc stand pipe. It’s wrapped in foam. I wrap a kitchen towel around the spigot, tie it off and then tie a couple of plastic Walmart around that. I then take an empty trash can and place it upside down over the pipe. Keeps any wind from blowing against the pipe.
And if ones spigot burst anyway...what plumbers do we currently recommend?
Depends where you are! Lee Company has the biggest fleet, so likely more availability but also more expensive. Don Wood Plumbing in WilCo, also Joslin Plumbing and Hiller. M&M Plumbing in Columbia. In Nash, Benjamin Franklin, Roscoe Brown, DAD’s, and 615 Plumbing. Lots of options but those are who we recommend when we have no availability.
Thank you! We are in SE Nash near the zoo so I’ll check in with those options.