Winter - Away - Turn Off Heat - Drain Pipes

Blue Thunder · 12-10-2022, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camp guy

Every year this topic comes up, and every year people relate their horror or success stories. But in one of the above posts there is mention of a gentleman up on stilts patching the ceiling. This has nothing to do with draining pipes, but everything to do with with the whole house getting too cold and the sheetrock reacting to stress. It is not an exact comparison of apples-to-apples, but sheetrock eventually succumbs to constant cold and will crack. Draining the pipes AND keeping the heat on at a low setting will probably solve both issues. The cost off the extra fuel to keep a house at a low temperature during the winter is significantly less than the cost of the repairs necessary when you try to DIY and cut corners. For homeowners who aren't able to monitor (electronically) their house, contract with a property management company for periodic checks. This is money well spent. I am not trying to spend other people's money, not tell them how to manage their house, but by following my own rules I have successfully managed my own house for many years.

My impression of his remarks regarding patching the ceiling was that a pipe needed repair and it was in the space above the ceiling…..

SAMIAM · 12-10-2022, 07:59 AM

If you decide to drain pipes......be sure and leave all faucets in the house wide open. That way if there is any residual water it will expand without breaking the pipes

TiltonBB · 12-10-2022, 08:43 AM

I have a seasonal guest house that I blow out and shut down every winter. The water feed is underground from another house that I blow it out from so even the pipes in the ground should be free of any water. The pipes will hold air pressure all winter so when I return in the spring it is reassuring that when I open the faucets and hear the hiss I know there are no underground leaks. It may be safer to leave the faucets open but this method has been working for about 12 years.

Over several years, I have made all the mistakes you can make. Two years ago, when I opened the valves to feed water to the guest house I also turned on the breaker for the hot water. I learned the hard way that the air locked hot water heater wouldn't fill until I opened a faucet. Both electrodes had to be replaced.

I am not sure if this is the reason but I left an LCD television in there for the winter and it was junk in the spring. I think the (L stands for liquid) TV froze. Now I remove the new TV and put it in a building that stays at 50 degrees for the winter.

ishoot308 · 12-10-2022, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I am not sure if this is the reason but I left an LCD television in there for the winter and it was junk in the spring. I think the (L stands for liquid) TV froze. Now I remove the new TV and put it in a building that stays at 50 degrees for the winter.

Interesting that you had problems with your TV. I don’t think it was because of the cold. I have two 60” LCD TV’s that I have left out at my camp for years now. I was told LCD was the type of TV that can take the cold and that is why they use them in conversion vans and RV’s specifically for this reason.

I do know your suppose to let them come up to room temp before turning them on in the spring or you could damage them. I also make sure to unplug them over the winter….

Dan

WinnisquamZ · 12-10-2022, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Interesting that you had problems with your TV. I don’t think it was because of the cold. I have two 60” LCD TV’s that I have left out at my camp for years now. I was told LCD was the type of TV that can take the cold and that is why they use them in conversion vans and RV’s specifically for this reason.

I do know your suppose to let them come up to room temp before turning them on in the spring or you could damage them. I also make sure to unplug them over the winter….

Dan

Wondering if it was a plasma tv?

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Biggd · 12-10-2022, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

My impression of his remarks regarding patching the ceiling was that a pipe needed repair and it was in the space above the ceiling…..

My impression of the remarks is that they have structural problems and by leaving the heat off you increase the snow load on the roof. No heat leaking through to melt any snow fall means a heavier snow load.
I wonder which issue caused the need to patch ceilings every year?

12-10-2022, 07:59 AM	#2
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,924 Thanks: 350 Thanked 1,693 Times in 595 Posts	If you decide to drain pipes......be sure and leave all faucets in the house wide open. That way if there is any residual water it will expand without breaking the pipes

12-10-2022, 08:43 AM	#3
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,062 Thanks: 726 Thanked 2,236 Times in 956 Posts	I have a seasonal guest house that I blow out and shut down every winter. The water feed is underground from another house that I blow it out from so even the pipes in the ground should be free of any water. The pipes will hold air pressure all winter so when I return in the spring it is reassuring that when I open the faucets and hear the hiss I know there are no underground leaks. It may be safer to leave the faucets open but this method has been working for about 12 years. Over several years, I have made all the mistakes you can make. Two years ago, when I opened the valves to feed water to the guest house I also turned on the breaker for the hot water. I learned the hard way that the air locked hot water heater wouldn't fill until I opened a faucet. Both electrodes had to be replaced. I am not sure if this is the reason but I left an LCD television in there for the winter and it was junk in the spring. I think the (L stands for liquid) TV froze. Now I remove the new TV and put it in a building that stays at 50 degrees for the winter.