When is it safe to turn on the water?

IslandRadio · 05-03-2011, 10:42 AM

Hi !

We're on Rattlesnake, and put the docks back in the water on May 1. But, I was and am very hesitant to hook up the water pump and turn on the water, etc. for fear of freezing, etc.

Last year was very much warmer than this year, and I did hook up the water in early May.

The cottage is unheated and all of the piping underneath is exposed.

Any ideas, suggestions, rules-of-thumb, etc?

Thanks and Regards,

Steve

Slickcraft · 05-03-2011, 11:01 AM

It is safe now based on 30+ years of experience at Welch. There may still be nights down to 25 or less but it won't be long enough to hard freeze water in the pipes. Also the lake is warming and helps keep night temps higher than on the mainland. Our water is in.

RLW · 05-03-2011, 11:55 AM

GO FOR IT.

codeman671 · 05-03-2011, 12:36 PM

Go for it. Ours was turned on on the day of ice-out as it always is. You certainly wont have any issues

Bear Island South · 05-03-2011, 01:42 PM

I agree with the other posts, we have past the freezing point.
Last season our water was hooked up from March 25 - November 27 never had an issue with freezing.
This year was April 21st

Merrymeeting · 05-03-2011, 04:13 PM

We have the same setup, with pipes exposed under the house.

We've been opening up on Patriots Day weekend (mid-April) for the past 15 years. No problems yet.

There have been some nights when I worried, seemingly unnecessarily. As Slickcraft pointed out, it's usually only cold for a few hours in the wee hours of the morning, not nearly long enough for the hard freezes that cause damage.

Rattlesnake Guy · 05-03-2011, 05:48 PM

Agree.
We have been leaving water in the pipes from Ice out till end of November each year. (8) My camp is exposed underneath and pipe lays on the ground to the lake. I get more nervous on the fall end than the spring end but have never had a problem.

A few times I have had the water in the black poly lines "get stiff". Never enough to cause any damage. Just wait a while for the lines to thaw.

One practice we are religious about is turning off the breaker to the Pump and the Hot water heater. If something does break, I would not want to flood the camp or burn out the heater.

WIS · 05-03-2011, 07:34 PM

Hi Steve,

We start installing our client's water systems immediately following ice-out. You should be safe anytime after ice-out for the reasons other forum members have already mentioned. Rattlesnake Guy's suggestion about shutting off the breaker is a great idea for peace of mind both early and late in the season.

Good luck,
Mike

This'nThat · 05-03-2011, 08:34 PM

Turn it on. Then if you're worried, let it drip a little on the cold nights. Should be more than enough for the few hours of freezing temperatures that might occur.

fatlazyless · 05-04-2011, 08:39 AM

Go for it....it'll never freeze after about April 12...and even if it does it's pretty easy to repair a cracked copper 1/2' pipe with some soldier and a new fitting or something. Any leaky water just ends up in the dirt crawl space with no damages.

Probably you want to pull the electric plug for the pump when leaving as standard procedure.

IslandRadio · 05-04-2011, 11:24 PM

Thanks very much for all of the replies. So, I guess I'm safe after 1-May, which is generally when West Alton Marina opens, and we can actually get to the Island. Of course, it depends a little on the year, etc.

I'll be hooking things up this weekend, weather permitting !

Thanks and Regards,

Steve

05-03-2011, 10:42 AM	#1
IslandRadio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mirror Lake - Full time resident Posts: 398 Thanks: 70 Thanked 156 Times in 61 Posts	When is it safe to turn on the water? Hi ! We're on Rattlesnake, and put the docks back in the water on May 1. But, I was and am very hesitant to hook up the water pump and turn on the water, etc. for fear of freezing, etc. Last year was very much warmer than this year, and I did hook up the water in early May. The cottage is unheated and all of the piping underneath is exposed. Any ideas, suggestions, rules-of-thumb, etc? Thanks and Regards, Steve

05-03-2011, 11:55 AM	#3
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	When is it safe to turn on the water? GO FOR IT. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

05-03-2011, 01:42 PM	#5
Bear Island South Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southboro, MA Posts: 579 Thanks: 75 Thanked 384 Times in 170 Posts	Good to go I agree with the other posts, we have past the freezing point. Last season our water was hooked up from March 25 - November 27 never had an issue with freezing. This year was April 21st

05-03-2011, 07:34 PM	#8
WIS Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lake Winnipesaukee, NH Posts: 32 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 7 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	Hi Steve, We start installing our client's water systems immediately following ice-out. You should be safe anytime after ice-out for the reasons other forum members have already mentioned. Rattlesnake Guy's suggestion about shutting off the breaker is a great idea for peace of mind both early and late in the season. Good luck, Mike __________________ Winnipesaukee Island Services - Moorings, Docks, and General Construction 603-707-4677 www.WinnipesaukeeIslands.com

05-03-2011, 08:34 PM	#9
This'nThat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 534 Thanks: 19 Thanked 134 Times in 61 Posts	Let it drip Turn it on. Then if you're worried, let it drip a little on the cold nights. Should be more than enough for the few hours of freezing temperatures that might occur.

05-03-2011, 11:01 AM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,215 Thanks: 1,172 Thanked 2,000 Times in 914 Posts	It is safe now based on 30+ years of experience at Welch. There may still be nights down to 25 or less but it won't be long enough to hard freeze water in the pipes. Also the lake is warming and helps keep night temps higher than on the mainland. Our water is in.

05-03-2011, 12:36 PM	#4
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,360 Thanks: 209 Thanked 764 Times in 448 Posts	Go for it. Ours was turned on on the day of ice-out as it always is. You certainly wont have any issues

05-03-2011, 04:13 PM	#6
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	We have the same setup, with pipes exposed under the house. We've been opening up on Patriots Day weekend (mid-April) for the past 15 years. No problems yet. There have been some nights when I worried, seemingly unnecessarily. As Slickcraft pointed out, it's usually only cold for a few hours in the wee hours of the morning, not nearly long enough for the hard freezes that cause damage.

05-03-2011, 05:48 PM	#7
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Agree. We have been leaving water in the pipes from Ice out till end of November each year. (8) My camp is exposed underneath and pipe lays on the ground to the lake. I get more nervous on the fall end than the spring end but have never had a problem. A few times I have had the water in the black poly lines "get stiff". Never enough to cause any damage. Just wait a while for the lines to thaw. One practice we are religious about is turning off the breaker to the Pump and the Hot water heater. If something does break, I would not want to flood the camp or burn out the heater.

05-04-2011, 08:39 AM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	Go for it....it'll never freeze after about April 12...and even if it does it's pretty easy to repair a cracked copper 1/2' pipe with some soldier and a new fitting or something. Any leaky water just ends up in the dirt crawl space with no damages. Probably you want to pull the electric plug for the pump when leaving as standard procedure. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

05-04-2011, 11:24 PM	#11
IslandRadio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mirror Lake - Full time resident Posts: 398 Thanks: 70 Thanked 156 Times in 61 Posts	Thanks very much for all of the replies. So, I guess I'm safe after 1-May, which is generally when West Alton Marina opens, and we can actually get to the Island. Of course, it depends a little on the year, etc. I'll be hooking things up this weekend, weather permitting ! Thanks and Regards, Steve

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