Safe to leave water on?

Jimr · 04-14-2018, 09:38 AM

Hey Guys
Going up early this year to open cabin. Do you think it’s safe to leave water on as far as freezing pipes? Don’t think 24 deg. at night will freeze pipes inside but not sure. What do you think?
Thanks Jim

fatlazyless · 04-14-2018, 11:04 AM

Looking at the temps in the weather page, no, if you have a totally unheated cottage, I'd wait till Monday, April 16, before leaving the water storage tank all pressured up and the faucets closed. Typically, a standard porcelain toilet is a first item to get destroyed when it cracks down low to the floor.

FlyingScot · 04-14-2018, 03:02 PM

Agreed with FLL, especially if it is a cabin. Even if there's only a 10% chance of pipes freezing, it's such a high price to pay if they burst

SAB1 · 04-14-2018, 08:20 PM

I think you are fine. Not seeing any nights below freezing. Even if it dipped into the twenties the days look warm enuff

Dad sold the C * C · 04-15-2018, 05:30 AM

I went up yesterday and the indoor outdoor thermometer had a max of 45 in the kitchen. Underneath the cabin is blocked in so I did put all the drain nipples on and reconnected pipes but did not startup the well.

Winnisquam is still frozen in front of our place and it just feels cold. Hopefully in a week of two. On the other hand all the bottled water I left in the basement has thawed.

PaugusBayFireFighter · 04-15-2018, 08:09 AM

Purchasing these has made my water worries a lot less likely. This particular maker, Guardian by Elexa, is available on Amazon for $399 and has three sensors. You can place the sensors anywhere you may have a water problem. Under the hot water tank, washing machine and kitchen sink are my targets.
A small investment for piece of mind. Possibly a reduction in your home owner's insurance too.

https://youtu.be/tOZ-qfh2C5I

SAMIAM · 04-15-2018, 09:31 AM

Why take a chance? I would turn water off but leave all faucets and valves open. A little RV antifreeze in the toilets and you're good to go.
If there is any residual water in the pipes, they're not likely to burst with all the valves open.
When I've done this in the past we just come in, turn on the water and then close all faucets and valves one by one to clear them.

winnisquam · 04-15-2018, 02:03 PM

I went up yesterday and turned the water on and no leaks, always the first milestone. Back to MA last night as the weather was deteriorating.

Read these post this morning and got to wondering? Drove back up to the lake and "boom", frozen waterline coming into 2 cottages. Two hours of effort and the ice was removed from the lines, then I drained the systems and added the anti freeze, one step back . . .

jbolty · 04-27-2018, 08:48 AM

thermo cube.

never saw this exact item before but looks like a cheap alternative to turning on a heater or lighbulb

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006U2HD2...-v9wfnr-VG7AHG

The Real BigGuy · 04-27-2018, 09:09 AM

Still need a heat source to plug into thermocube. I use these to turn my roof melting wires off & on during winter.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

04-14-2018, 09:38 AM	#1
Jimr Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Safe to leave water on? Hey Guys Going up early this year to open cabin. Do you think it’s safe to leave water on as far as freezing pipes? Don’t think 24 deg. at night will freeze pipes inside but not sure. What do you think? Thanks Jim

04-14-2018, 11:04 AM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,734 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,005 Times in 733 Posts	Looking at the temps in the weather page, no, if you have a totally unheated cottage, I'd wait till Monday, April 16, before leaving the water storage tank all pressured up and the faucets closed. Typically, a standard porcelain toilet is a first item to get destroyed when it cracks down low to the floor. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-15-2018, 02:03 PM	#8
winnisquam Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 29 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Frozen Water Lines I went up yesterday and turned the water on and no leaks, always the first milestone. Back to MA last night as the weather was deteriorating. Read these post this morning and got to wondering? Drove back up to the lake and "boom", frozen waterline coming into 2 cottages. Two hours of effort and the ice was removed from the lines, then I drained the systems and added the anti freeze, one step back . . .

04-14-2018, 03:02 PM	#3
FlyingScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA Posts: 2,369 Thanks: 1,269 Thanked 1,016 Times in 626 Posts	Agreed with FLL, especially if it is a cabin. Even if there's only a 10% chance of pipes freezing, it's such a high price to pay if they burst

04-14-2018, 08:20 PM	#4
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,229 Thanks: 188 Thanked 319 Times in 234 Posts	I think you are fine. Not seeing any nights below freezing. Even if it dipped into the twenties the days look warm enuff

04-15-2018, 05:30 AM	#5
Dad sold the C * C Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 273 Thanks: 119 Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts	I went up yesterday and the indoor outdoor thermometer had a max of 45 in the kitchen. Underneath the cabin is blocked in so I did put all the drain nipples on and reconnected pipes but did not startup the well. Winnisquam is still frozen in front of our place and it just feels cold. Hopefully in a week of two. On the other hand all the bottled water I left in the basement has thawed.

04-15-2018, 08:09 AM	#6
PaugusBayFireFighter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 837 Thanks: 361 Thanked 674 Times in 264 Posts	Purchasing these has made my water worries a lot less likely. This particular maker, Guardian by Elexa, is available on Amazon for $399 and has three sensors. You can place the sensors anywhere you may have a water problem. Under the hot water tank, washing machine and kitchen sink are my targets. A small investment for piece of mind. Possibly a reduction in your home owner's insurance too. https://youtu.be/tOZ-qfh2C5I

04-15-2018, 09:31 AM	#7
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	Why take a chance? I would turn water off but leave all faucets and valves open. A little RV antifreeze in the toilets and you're good to go. If there is any residual water in the pipes, they're not likely to burst with all the valves open. When I've done this in the past we just come in, turn on the water and then close all faucets and valves one by one to clear them.

04-27-2018, 08:48 AM	#9
jbolty Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 663 Thanks: 320 Thanked 250 Times in 149 Posts	thermo cube. never saw this exact item before but looks like a cheap alternative to turning on a heater or lighbulb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006U2HD2...-v9wfnr-VG7AHG

04-27-2018, 09:09 AM	#10
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,306 Thanks: 125 Thanked 467 Times in 285 Posts	Still need a heat source to plug into thermocube. I use these to turn my roof melting wires off & on during winter. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app