Ideas on protecting pipes from the freeze (Houston: rent, new house)

[HedwigTramp]

I have an older house in Memorial with pipes in the attic and I plan to drip the outside faucets beginning Thursday evening.

I also own a couple of 1920's rent houses on pier and beam with un-insulated pipes under the house. I am unsure what action to take to protect the pipes. Bother are inside the loop so they should not get extended freezing temps. One is empty until the 15th so it also has no heat.

I am thinking the safest thing to do is turn off the main and drain all the water I can from the lowest faucet. I also plan to turn on the heat to keep the inside about 45 degrees or so.

What is the best way to protect an old pier and beam house's pipes?
And conventional slab also.
Your comments are appreciated.

For those folks with pools don't forget to run your pump 24/7 till the temps get above freezing.

[Poltracker]

Pipes above and below should be insulated. Turn off the water and drain in empty house but remember not to run the water heater dry, turn it off too. Also DO NOT allow the water to run at a drip, do the job properly. If everyone allows their water to drip, water pressure across the system will drop to seriously low and dangerous levels especially when combined with broken pipes (and there will be many). This will of course prevent yours from dripping and you will have no protection. More importantly, there tend to be more fires during cold weather and low pressure will prevent the fire department from putting out or controlling any fires...remember it could be your home on fire.

I found that this is a good link for preparedness tips: http://www.allstate.com/catastrophe/winter-freeze.aspx

[EasilyAmused]

One of the major things with these old Memorial houses is to make sure the garden hoses are disconnected from the faucets, and the faucets completely wrapped and covered. Also, blanket all the pvc pipes to the pool equipment, make sure all traps are clear of the stupid pine needles and oak leaves, and run them the system from 7pm to around 9am the next day.

Also, make sure the main water line coming to the house is proptected, and the irrigation connection as well.

Also, if you have older windows, make sure that no room is closed off. Pipes in the walls may have problems if you let one room turn into an ice box.

PS- Most people try to keep the house above 50.

[Poltracker]

Also make sure you open the cabinets under sinks that are located on outside walls so the house heat can get to them.

[sbhubbell]

So are houses in Houston just not built to withstand freezing or what? Up north, nobody blinks when it gets cold. I hardly consider 32 degrees cold.

[SteveArmy]

we got pipe heaters up north

[EasilyAmused]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

So are houses in Houston just not built to withstand freezing or what? Up north, nobody blinks when it gets cold. I hardly consider 32 degrees cold.

Older houses sometimes have lost some of their insulation around pipes over time, and most still have metal pipes in there guts.

New houses run risks too, as even most of the better tract builders cheap out in properly insulating and protecting the PVC pipes in the walls.

Everyone's pools have a risk of burst PVC if you don't take precautions. Everyone's outdoor faucet are at risk.

Hard freezes are rare, so yes, everyone freaks out a little after years of being lazy and not properly maintaining pipes and pools.

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

So are houses in Houston just not built to withstand freezing or what? Up north, nobody blinks when it gets cold. I hardly consider 32 degrees cold.

Not really. Up north you tend to have things like basements where your pipes run. Basements are naturally insulated to some extent, they really have nothing in common with pipes running through attics or under crawl spaces or the dangers thereof. Houses with crawlspaces up north tend to have good insulation underneath which might cause a moisture problem here, and some up north have heaters. So, I guess you could say the design is different for different general climates.

[jimmyev]

Houses in Clear Lake are built with uninsulated PVC pipes above the attic insulation. No one blinks in the north because the pipes are between the insulation and the inside walls or in the basement.

[aj8830]

It was recommended to me to nightly:
1) run a tub of water for flushing toilets, etc.
2) turn off the water to my house
3) turn on a few faucets (inside and outside) to let the water run through
4) turn off faucets when pipes are empty
5) then wrap up the outside faucets to protect them

Then the next morning, once the temp has come up above freezing, turn the water back on for regular use.

Is this overkill?

I live in a 50+ year old house in Sharpstown --- with some pipes in the attic. My house is poorly insulated. I can make due without having water (temporarily) and I can shower at the gym. I'm just to trying to avoid broken/burst pipes and water damage.

Help.