preventing pipes from freezing

RUGMAN · 09-12-2016, 06:32 AM

Has anyone had experience with the heat cables used to prevent pipes from freezing. I have a new crawl space under my cottage, the water service pipe runs up from the floor and runs across the ceiling and up into house. I looked on line and saw home depot sells a cable ( frost Line) that one runs along pipe has a thermostat attached that will keep pipes from freezing. It will be our first winter in our newly renovated cottage and want to be prepared.

FlyingScot · 09-12-2016, 08:45 AM

I don't have experience with the particular system you mentioned. But we just went through this general process a year ago. A very important secondary issue is to make sure you have a separate thermostat connected to an alarm that will call your cell phone in case the temperature of the pipe in question falls to near freezing. All systems will fail at some point, and you'll want to know ASAP when yours does.

jbolty · 09-12-2016, 09:42 AM

What he said. ^^^

Heat tapes have been around for many years and generally work pretty well, unless the power goes out. Best bet is to drain the exposed part of the pipe.

Bear Islander · 09-12-2016, 10:31 AM

I have used heating cables, they work very well.

Be careful to read and follow the instructions faithfully. There may be important instructions like not passing the cable over itself or not using insulation over the heat cable. Both would involve getting the cable to hot.

MAXUM · 09-12-2016, 03:10 PM

No way I would chance it. Not that what you are thinking won't work, it's a question of whether or not you will have guaranteed power.

Three years ago I took my first trip out to my place over the ice, got the camp, no power. Called the COOP to report power was out. They already knew about it and their response to me was they will under no circumstances send a crew out to restore the power until the ice is at least 12" thick. Ok fair enough - now I had no idea how long the power had been off for and I know for a fact they did not come out for another two weeks to get things back up and running. Ample time for any pipes to freeze.

Kerk · 09-12-2016, 05:25 PM

install all piping to pitch towards the drain spot and drain system. Safest system. Toilet can be used from a hole in the ice and then drained and Vacuum out with a wet/dry vac. Has worked for 35 years> JMO or suggestion!

RUGMAN · 09-12-2016, 07:17 PM

thanks for the input, what is the brand of thermostats that will send me a text or alarm when temp falls below safe levels, we are on the mainland and have wifi, agree everything will work with power, but to be safe in maybe worth draining water in crawlspace when not there, the street shutoff is just outside front door, so I can put a pail on it to get to to turn back on even with snow cover.

VitaBene · 09-13-2016, 03:47 AM

Nest is the most well known, but I have had great luck with Honeywell.

secondcurve · 09-13-2016, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUGMAN

thanks for the input, what is the brand of thermostats that will send me a text or alarm when temp falls below safe levels, we are on the mainland and have wifi, agree everything will work with power, but to be safe in maybe worth draining water in crawlspace when not there, the street shutoff is just outside front door, so I can put a pail on it to get to to turn back on even with snow cover.

If you have a forced hot air system in the crawlspace you should cut a hole in one of the ducts so hot air is able to escape and really warm up the crawl space.

The only problem with nest and some of the other systems is they operate through the internet and in the Lakes Region their are lots of power outages that knock out cable from time to time.

winni83 · 09-13-2016, 08:06 AM

In our old camp, we used a Freeze Alarm.

http://www.controlproductsonline.com...p-17-l-en.html

This device operates on AC, but has a 9 volt battery backup (and you can use 6 D cells to get a longer battery life). It does require a landline to operate. This will not sense the temperature of a water line but could be used to monitor the temperature in the crawl space. It also notifies you if the power is out or if the battery is low and you can call into the device to get this information.

ITD · 09-13-2016, 11:44 AM

I would go for it, use the heat tape and see how it goes. I assume your intention is to use the home during the winter, so if the pipe freezes you should find it before there is major leakage, plus it's in a crawl space so I assume damage would be minimal from a leak. I would take the risk.

Fargo · 09-14-2016, 08:56 AM

We have guest quarters where the waterline goes through the very open crawl space. Have never had an issue with the basic electric tapes. Be sure to check for any tiny holes/gaps in the surrounding walls where cold air might blow on the water line in a concentrated spot.

09-12-2016, 06:32 AM	#1
RUGMAN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: weirs beach, Posts: 281 Thanks: 37 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	preventing pipes from freezing Has anyone had experience with the heat cables used to prevent pipes from freezing. I have a new crawl space under my cottage, the water service pipe runs up from the floor and runs across the ceiling and up into house. I looked on line and saw home depot sells a cable ( frost Line) that one runs along pipe has a thermostat attached that will keep pipes from freezing. It will be our first winter in our newly renovated cottage and want to be prepared.

09-12-2016, 08:45 AM	#2
FlyingScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA Posts: 2,209 Thanks: 1,111 Thanked 934 Times in 576 Posts	Buy an alarm too I don't have experience with the particular system you mentioned. But we just went through this general process a year ago. A very important secondary issue is to make sure you have a separate thermostat connected to an alarm that will call your cell phone in case the temperature of the pipe in question falls to near freezing. All systems will fail at some point, and you'll want to know ASAP when yours does.

09-12-2016, 05:25 PM	#6
Kerk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 87 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Water pipes install all piping to pitch towards the drain spot and drain system. Safest system. Toilet can be used from a hole in the ice and then drained and Vacuum out with a wet/dry vac. Has worked for 35 years> JMO or suggestion!

09-14-2016, 08:56 AM	#12
Fargo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lake Winni Posts: 213 Thanks: 36 Thanked 130 Times in 38 Posts	Pipes We have guest quarters where the waterline goes through the very open crawl space. Have never had an issue with the basic electric tapes. Be sure to check for any tiny holes/gaps in the surrounding walls where cold air might blow on the water line in a concentrated spot. Last edited by Fargo; 09-14-2016 at 10:30 AM.

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09-12-2016, 09:42 AM	#3
jbolty Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 653 Thanks: 312 Thanked 244 Times in 143 Posts	What he said. ^^^ Heat tapes have been around for many years and generally work pretty well, unless the power goes out. Best bet is to drain the exposed part of the pipe.

09-12-2016, 10:31 AM	#4
Bear Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bear Island Posts: 1,757 Thanks: 31 Thanked 429 Times in 203 Posts	I have used heating cables, they work very well. Be careful to read and follow the instructions faithfully. There may be important instructions like not passing the cable over itself or not using insulation over the heat cable. Both would involve getting the cable to hot.

09-12-2016, 03:10 PM	#5
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	No way I would chance it. Not that what you are thinking won't work, it's a question of whether or not you will have guaranteed power. Three years ago I took my first trip out to my place over the ice, got the camp, no power. Called the COOP to report power was out. They already knew about it and their response to me was they will under no circumstances send a crew out to restore the power until the ice is at least 12" thick. Ok fair enough - now I had no idea how long the power had been off for and I know for a fact they did not come out for another two weeks to get things back up and running. Ample time for any pipes to freeze.

09-12-2016, 07:17 PM	#7
RUGMAN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: weirs beach, Posts: 281 Thanks: 37 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	thanks for the input, what is the brand of thermostats that will send me a text or alarm when temp falls below safe levels, we are on the mainland and have wifi, agree everything will work with power, but to be safe in maybe worth draining water in crawlspace when not there, the street shutoff is just outside front door, so I can put a pail on it to get to to turn back on even with snow cover.

09-13-2016, 03:47 AM	#8
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,529 Thanks: 1,565 Thanked 1,601 Times in 821 Posts	Nest is the most well known, but I have had great luck with Honeywell.

09-13-2016, 08:06 AM	#10
winni83 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 423 Thanks: 17 Thanked 212 Times in 134 Posts	In our old camp, we used a Freeze Alarm. http://www.controlproductsonline.com...p-17-l-en.html This device operates on AC, but has a 9 volt battery backup (and you can use 6 D cells to get a longer battery life). It does require a landline to operate. This will not sense the temperature of a water line but could be used to monitor the temperature in the crawl space. It also notifies you if the power is out or if the battery is low and you can call into the device to get this information.

09-13-2016, 11:44 AM	#11
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,860 Thanks: 461 Thanked 666 Times in 366 Posts	I would go for it, use the heat tape and see how it goes. I assume your intention is to use the home during the winter, so if the pipe freezes you should find it before there is major leakage, plus it's in a crawl space so I assume damage would be minimal from a leak. I would take the risk.