Every few winters a real freeze reaches Lake Livingston, and every time, the pipes that were going to be wrapped "this weekend" burst. We are a fence company, not plumbers, but we are on a lot of rural properties in the fall and we see the same unwrapped faucets and open pump houses every year. Consider this the reminder.
Wrap what is exposed
- Outdoor faucets. Foam covers or a wrap of insulation and tape. Disconnect and drain hoses first; a hose left on a faucet traps water and splits the faucet.
- Pipes under a pier-and-beam house or a mobile home. Foam pipe sleeves, and close up the skirting so the wind stays out.
- The pump house or well head. The most common casualty on rural property. Insulate the pipes, close the house, and put a heat lamp or small heater on a thermostat inside before a hard freeze.
- Water lines to barns, troughs and pens. Insulate what you can and know where the shutoff is.
- Irrigation and sprinkler backflow. Insulate the backflow preventer; it is above ground and freezes first.
Before the freeze
Know where the main shutoff is. Let a faucet drip on the far end of the house on the coldest nights. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. Keep a little heat in the pump house. If you leave for the winter, shut off and drain.
The outdoor items on the same list
While you are out there with the pipe insulation:
- Grease gate hinges and check latches; wood gates swell in wet weather.
- Check the driveway opener's battery and manual release.
- Rake leaves and pine straw away from the fence and the deck skirting.
- Push on fence posts after the first wet spell.
- Walk the deck for slick spots and loose rails.
Protect your fence this winter and winter deck and outdoor safety go through those.
Skirting and the plumbing under the house
Closing in the space under a raised house or a mobile home keeps wind off the pipes and holds ground warmth, which is one of the practical reasons we build skirting. It is not a substitute for insulating the pipes, but it makes the insulation work.
After the freeze
Walk the property and look for wet spots, running water and a pressure drop. A burst line at the barn can run for days unnoticed. Then put the wraps away where you will find them next year.
Frequently asked questions
How cold does it have to get to burst a pipe?
A hard freeze, in the twenties for several hours, is enough to freeze an exposed pipe or an outdoor faucet. That happens a few times most winters here, and once every few years it happens for days.
Does skirting help keep pipes from freezing?
Yes. Closing in the space under a pier-and-beam house or a mobile home keeps the wind off the plumbing underneath and holds some ground warmth. It is one of the practical reasons for skirting.
What if the pipe is at the well or the pump house?
The pump house is the most common freeze casualty on rural property. Insulate the pipes, close up the house, and put a heat lamp or a small heater on a thermostat in there before a hard freeze.