Too Early to open summer house?

Jimr · 03-20-2016, 09:32 AM

Hi Guys,
Thinking of coming up Thrusday. Have to pick something up in Tilton and was going to open Summer house up and spend the night. Just wondering if it is safe to turn the water on. I know it can still get pretty cold at night so don't want to come back to frozen pipes. I've never even thought I'd open up this early.
Thanks, Jim

Slickcraft · 03-20-2016, 09:40 AM

Unless your water system is protected in a heated area, I would wait. We opted to haul water from the lake for a while. We also added some rv antifreeze to the drain traps and toilet when we left last Thur.

TiltonBB · 03-20-2016, 09:46 AM

It is impossible to answer that question without having a lot more information.

Will you leave the heat on?

Are any pipes exposed such as in a crawl space under the house?

What do you have for insulation and do you have any plumbing in outside walls?

What is the exposure of the house to wind, sun, shade, Etc?

My experience is that every house is different and "learning" the way everything about the house works (or doesn't) is the only way you can make that decision.

MAXUM · 03-20-2016, 02:09 PM

I got my system all put together yesterday but did not charge it yet. Going to hold off just a little longer to be on the safe side. Overnight temps dipping below 30 is a bit concerning even though it's probably unlikely any pipes would hard freeze at this point why risk it over waiting just a little longer.

Twox48 · 03-21-2016, 08:58 AM

Always a hard decision especially here in New England as the weather has no rhyme or reason!

Just looking at the accuweather.com projected weather forcast... (not sure how they can predict that far out when they can't typically get tomorrow's weather right but...) http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lac...016&view=table They're calling for cold nights still... Look at April 4 low of 21 degrees... I personally think it's still a bit early but it all depends on the individual system .Some are less exposed and can withstand a cold snap better than others...I know my system tends to be less resistant to freezing.

Barney Bear · 03-21-2016, 10:19 AM

Suggest that water systems in seasonal, uninsulated camps and cottages not be activated yet. Any lengthy cold spell could cause trouble. Gallon jugs of water can be brought in, and toilets can be flushed by pouring a bucket of lake water into the toilet after the fact.

Merrymeeting · 03-21-2016, 04:11 PM

As others have mentioned, many factors here. But at this point it would be unusual for the inside of your home/cottage to get cold enough to cause problems for plumbing that is inside. Not saying it couldn't happen, but the odds/history are in your favor once the lake temps are in the 40's.

But if you have exposed pipes outside/underneath, it may be a bit early.

Before living here full time, we had a seasonal cottage with exposed pipes underneath. We always opened up on Patriots Day weekend (mid-April). In 17 years, never had a problem. But there were a few times when the temps went to the low 20's for a few hours at night in late April when I would worry until I got back and found that all was well.

secondcurve · 03-21-2016, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

As others have mentioned, many factors here. But at this point it would be unusual for the inside of your home/cottage to get cold enough to cause problems for plumbing that is inside. Not saying it couldn't happen, but the odds/history are in your favor once the lake temps are in the 40's.

But if you have exposed pipes outside/underneath, it may be a bit early.

Before living here full time, we had a seasonal cottage with exposed pipes underneath. We always opened up on Patriots Day weekend (mid-April). In 17 years, never had a problem. But there were a few times when the temps went to the low 20's for a few hours at night in late April when I would worry until I got back and found that all was well.

My rule of thumb is the heat needs to be on between October 15th and April 15th to have water pipes not freeze. This is a bit conservative but it has always worked for me.

03-20-2016, 09:32 AM	#1
Jimr Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Too Early to open summer house? Hi Guys, Thinking of coming up Thrusday. Have to pick something up in Tilton and was going to open Summer house up and spend the night. Just wondering if it is safe to turn the water on. I know it can still get pretty cold at night so don't want to come back to frozen pipes. I've never even thought I'd open up this early. Thanks, Jim

03-20-2016, 09:46 AM	#3
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,004 Thanks: 699 Thanked 2,202 Times in 936 Posts	Don't know It is impossible to answer that question without having a lot more information. Will you leave the heat on? Are any pipes exposed such as in a crawl space under the house? What do you have for insulation and do you have any plumbing in outside walls? What is the exposure of the house to wind, sun, shade, Etc? My experience is that every house is different and "learning" the way everything about the house works (or doesn't) is the only way you can make that decision.

03-21-2016, 08:58 AM	#5
Twox48 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Sterling, MA Posts: 46 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I'm waiting... Always a hard decision especially here in New England as the weather has no rhyme or reason! Just looking at the accuweather.com projected weather forcast... (not sure how they can predict that far out when they can't typically get tomorrow's weather right but...) http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lac...016&view=table They're calling for cold nights still... Look at April 4 low of 21 degrees... I personally think it's still a bit early but it all depends on the individual system .Some are less exposed and can withstand a cold snap better than others...I know my system tends to be less resistant to freezing.

03-21-2016, 10:19 AM	#6
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	Early Opening Suggest that water systems in seasonal, uninsulated camps and cottages not be activated yet. Any lengthy cold spell could cause trouble. Gallon jugs of water can be brought in, and toilets can be flushed by pouring a bucket of lake water into the toilet after the fact.

03-20-2016, 09:40 AM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,301 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,088 Times in 955 Posts	Unless your water system is protected in a heated area, I would wait. We opted to haul water from the lake for a while. We also added some rv antifreeze to the drain traps and toilet when we left last Thur.

03-20-2016, 02:09 PM	#4
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	I got my system all put together yesterday but did not charge it yet. Going to hold off just a little longer to be on the safe side. Overnight temps dipping below 30 is a bit concerning even though it's probably unlikely any pipes would hard freeze at this point why risk it over waiting just a little longer.

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03-21-2016, 04:11 PM	#7
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	As others have mentioned, many factors here. But at this point it would be unusual for the inside of your home/cottage to get cold enough to cause problems for plumbing that is inside. Not saying it couldn't happen, but the odds/history are in your favor once the lake temps are in the 40's. But if you have exposed pipes outside/underneath, it may be a bit early. Before living here full time, we had a seasonal cottage with exposed pipes underneath. We always opened up on Patriots Day weekend (mid-April). In 17 years, never had a problem. But there were a few times when the temps went to the low 20's for a few hours at night in late April when I would worry until I got back and found that all was well.