Should I worry about the cold

feb · 10-13-2009, 12:21 PM

I've been working 7 day weeks lately and haven't had the chance to drain my pipes when I usually do. Now we get this cold snap. How cold is it up in the Meredith area? Do I need to worry about them this week or are the days warm enough to alleviate any concern?

Pineedles · 10-13-2009, 01:17 PM

We never have closed the cottage up before November 1st.

meteotrade · 10-13-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feb

I've been working 7 day weeks lately and haven't had the chance to drain my pipes when I usually do. Now we get this cold snap. How cold is it up in the Meredith area? Do I need to worry about them this week or are the days warm enough to alleviate any concern?

You're pushing your luck if you wait much longer. Lows on Wednesday night will drop into the mid/upper 20s.

BroadHopper · 10-13-2009, 02:12 PM

Never had a problem.

Neko · 10-13-2009, 03:22 PM

I always start draining my water pipes after thanksgiving. But I also have my T-Stat set at 40 Deg's just in case I can't make it up. I also have my alarm set to go off at 35 Deg's.

Sunrise Point · 10-13-2009, 03:38 PM

Your pipes are probably fine, but those 7 day weeks will wear you out fast!

We traditionally drain our pipes around Veteran's day. Last year, the water pipes in our smaller cottage (it's that much more exposed to the north wind)were slushy on Nov. 11th. So we will close that one up a week earllier this year.

Pineedles · 10-13-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meteotrade

You're pushing your luck if you wait much longer. Lows on Wednesday night will drop into the mid/upper 20s.

November 1st is OK. We got a few years of experience under our belt. Although we didn't bring water into the cottage until 1923.

Maybe the 86 year early frost is due?

SAMIAM · 10-13-2009, 07:49 PM

Feb...don't even worry.....it would take several days of single digit temps before your pipes would freeze. Brief periods of 20's and 30's are not a problem.

feb · 10-13-2009, 08:12 PM

One less thing to stress about right now...

meteotrade · 10-14-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

November 1st is OK. We got a few years of experience under our belt. Although we didn't bring water into the cottage until 1923.

Maybe the 86 year early frost is due?

Well I guess it depends how exposed your pipes are. Ours are fully exposed as our cabin sits on a post/pier foundation. Last year i head to fix several broken pipes after a night with lows only in the upper 20s in late October.

Mink Islander · 10-14-2009, 11:36 AM

It really depends on your setup. If you're pipes are well protected, my guess it's not an issue. If they are exposed to the air, you're at some risk. 2 nights down to 27 degrees is pretty cold. Moderates again after that per Weather.com.

We drain the pipes Columbus Day weekend every year and fire it back up when we come up through Thanksgiving so long as overnight temps don't go much below freezing and daytime temps come up to the 40's. Our pipes are completely exposed under the house so we err on the side of caution.

If you have the time to get out there, I'd drain the system soon.

Pineedles · 10-14-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meteotrade

Well I guess it depends how exposed your pipes are. Ours are fully exposed as our cabin sits on a post/pier foundation. Last year i head to fix several broken pipes after a night with lows only in the upper 20s in late October.

Thanks for adding the information about the pipes being exposed. feb can now evaluate whether they have the same situation.

Mink Islander · 10-14-2009, 11:42 AM

It really depends on your setup. If you're pipes are well protected, my guess it's not an issue. If they are exposed to the air, you're at some risk. 2 nights down to 27 degrees is pretty cold. Moderates again after that per Weather.com.

We drain the pipes Columbus Day weekend every year and fire it back up when we come up through Thanksgiving so long as overnight temps don't go much below freezing and daytime temps come up to the 40's. Our pipes are completely exposed under the house so we err on the side of caution.

If you have the time to get out there, I'd drain the system soon.

LIforrelaxin · 10-15-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meteotrade

Well I guess it depends how exposed your pipes are. Ours are fully exposed as our cabin sits on a post/pier foundation. Last year i head to fix several broken pipes after a night with lows only in the upper 20s in late October.

This is why you always make sure you have a main shut off. I shut the water off comming into the house, and turn the pump of that way if something does happen. There is minimal water damage.

Also remember wind exposure plays a role hear. As well the lake effects the temperature as well.

Dave M · 10-16-2009, 06:01 PM

I have exposed pipes as well. My camp is built into a side of a hill on stilts with the back section of the lower level exposed. Have always closed down the end of October and have never had a problem with broken pipes. As SAMIAM mentioned, it would take a few days of cold temperature to do some damage.
Just a thought though, could you use the "insulator" that can be put around the pipes. Does it work for cold as well as hot.

Dave M

DickR · 10-18-2009, 10:25 AM

My first camp was open underneath. I always figured closing the last weekend in October. One year, two days before that weekend, it went to the 20s overnight, with a breeze behind it, and the pipes froze. The breeze is what did it, as without that the heat radiating down from the cabin and upward from the ground would have slowed down the process a lot.

When I arrived, the melt water was dripping out the popped joints. All I could do was drain what what still was liquid, close up, and wait until spring. Then I spent a week on my back underneath repairing the damage.

Having a skirt around a crawl space makes a huge difference. A crawl open to the breeze, and uninsulated copper piping, will go to the end of October most years, but I'd never risk that again.

10-13-2009, 12:21 PM	#1
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 209 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Should I worry about the cold I've been working 7 day weeks lately and haven't had the chance to drain my pipes when I usually do. Now we get this cold snap. How cold is it up in the Meredith area? Do I need to worry about them this week or are the days warm enough to alleviate any concern?

10-13-2009, 02:12 PM	#4
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	Always closed up around Thanksgiving. Never had a problem. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

10-13-2009, 08:12 PM	#9
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 209 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Thank you for the peace of mind One less thing to stress about right now...

10-14-2009, 11:36 AM	#11
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Draining the water. It really depends on your setup. If you're pipes are well protected, my guess it's not an issue. If they are exposed to the air, you're at some risk. 2 nights down to 27 degrees is pretty cold. Moderates again after that per Weather.com. We drain the pipes Columbus Day weekend every year and fire it back up when we come up through Thanksgiving so long as overnight temps don't go much below freezing and daytime temps come up to the 40's. Our pipes are completely exposed under the house so we err on the side of caution. If you have the time to get out there, I'd drain the system soon.

10-14-2009, 11:42 AM	#13
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Draining the water. It really depends on your setup. If you're pipes are well protected, my guess it's not an issue. If they are exposed to the air, you're at some risk. 2 nights down to 27 degrees is pretty cold. Moderates again after that per Weather.com. We drain the pipes Columbus Day weekend every year and fire it back up when we come up through Thanksgiving so long as overnight temps don't go much below freezing and daytime temps come up to the 40's. Our pipes are completely exposed under the house so we err on the side of caution. If you have the time to get out there, I'd drain the system soon.

10-13-2009, 01:17 PM	#2
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,059 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	We never have closed the cottage up before November 1st.

10-13-2009, 03:22 PM	#5
Neko Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 102 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I always start draining my water pipes after thanksgiving. But I also have my T-Stat set at 40 Deg's just in case I can't make it up. I also have my alarm set to go off at 35 Deg's.

10-13-2009, 03:38 PM	#6
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Your pipes are probably fine, but those 7 day weeks will wear you out fast! We traditionally drain our pipes around Veteran's day. Last year, the water pipes in our smaller cottage (it's that much more exposed to the north wind)were slushy on Nov. 11th. So we will close that one up a week earllier this year.

10-13-2009, 07:49 PM	#8
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,836 Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts	Feb...don't even worry.....it would take several days of single digit temps before your pipes would freeze. Brief periods of 20's and 30's are not a problem.

The Following User Says Thank You to SAMIAM For This Useful Post:
dpg (10-14-2009)

10-16-2009, 06:01 PM	#15
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Another suggestion ? I have exposed pipes as well. My camp is built into a side of a hill on stilts with the back section of the lower level exposed. Have always closed down the end of October and have never had a problem with broken pipes. As SAMIAM mentioned, it would take a few days of cold temperature to do some damage. Just a thought though, could you use the "insulator" that can be put around the pipes. Does it work for cold as well as hot. Dave M

10-18-2009, 10:25 AM	#16
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 735 Thanks: 4 Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts	My first camp was open underneath. I always figured closing the last weekend in October. One year, two days before that weekend, it went to the 20s overnight, with a breeze behind it, and the pipes froze. The breeze is what did it, as without that the heat radiating down from the cabin and upward from the ground would have slowed down the process a lot. When I arrived, the melt water was dripping out the popped joints. All I could do was drain what what still was liquid, close up, and wait until spring. Then I spent a week on my back underneath repairing the damage. Having a skirt around a crawl space makes a huge difference. A crawl open to the breeze, and uninsulated copper piping, will go to the end of October most years, but I'd never risk that again.