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HELP! Freezing pipes!

Nate0918

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May 20, 2017
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Keizer, Oregon
It almost never gets cold enough to freeze where I live so when we got a cold snap today I did not think to prep my outdoor well spigots. PVC pipe with a spigot protruding from the ground, frozen solid, mid teens expected tonight. What's the best I can do to prevent the worst at this point? Shut off the well pump and hope for the best? Spigots are frozen and not able to turn to let it trickle.
 
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BrandonV

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Is the spigot PVC or metal? I would think you should be able to heat it up a little.
 

BrandonV

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The spigot itself is brass. Not able to find heat tape this late. I guess I could run out with a heat gun.

In the past I've used a very high wattage halogen lamp in almost direct contact to keep a pipe from freezing.
 

southalabama

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Brewton AL
I’m three miles from the Florida line. Supposed to be 17 degrees Tuesday followed by 22 degrees on Wednesday. We’ve always wrapped our outside spigots with rags or foam wrap and covered with black plastic bag and tied with zip ties.

I don’t suggest this.
 

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Nate0918

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May 20, 2017
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Location
Keizer, Oregon
It's 17deg out now with a high of 27 tomorrow. I thawed the spigot with a heat gun enough to be able to turn the valve but no water... I was at it for awhile trying to take it slow but I didn't want to put any heat on the PVC, just the spigot hoping some radiant heat would travel down the pipe. I wrapped it up in a moving blanket and will have to assess the damage tomorrow. I rummaged around in the tiny rigid-foam-built pump house and found heat tape already on a spigot at the pump house. I plugged it in and turned on some incandecent lights. Luckily the well only feeds a couple outdoor spigots, the house is on city water. Long story short, bought a project house and cleaning it up, the well was low on the priority list. We'll see how it goes... Thanks for all the ideas!
 

alfadan

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Augusta, ks
Watch for leaks when it does finally thaw.

One things for sure...this will never happen to you again I bet!
 

Davefr

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OR
It almost never gets cold enough to freeze where I live so when we got a cold snap today I did not think to prep my outdoor well spigots. PVC pipe with a spigot protruding from the ground, frozen solid, mid teens expected tonight. What's the best I can do to prevent the worst at this point? Shut off the well pump and hope for the best? Spigots are frozen and not able to turn to let it trickle.
Not much you can do now until the thaw comes. I would not attempt to thaw it out now. If it was going to crack it would have done it yesterday. Once things start to thaw then inspect it closely for leaks and be prepared for a repair. A strip of inner tube rubber and a couple hose clamps can seal the leak temporarily so you won't have to turn your pump off.

Outdoor remote spigots need a main disconnect valve from your homes water. When a freeze is coming turn off the valve and open the outdoor spigots.

I have a feeling you aren't the only one that's going to have pipe issues.
 
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HoosierMark

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Southeast IN
Could you use a shop vac to **** water out this side of the ice block? Then blow hot air in or hook a hose up to it with other end hooked to hot water? Make sure hot water is at end of hose before you turn it on. Just out of box ideas.
 

larry_g

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Apr 28, 2007
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oregon
It's 17deg out now with a high of 27 tomorrow. I thawed the spigot with a heat gun enough to be able to turn the valve but no water... I was at it for awhile trying to take it slow but I didn't want to put any heat on the PVC, just the spigot hoping some radiant heat would travel down the pipe. I wrapped it up in a moving blanket and will have to assess the damage tomorrow. I rummaged around in the tiny rigid-foam-built pump house and found heat tape already on a spigot at the pump house. I plugged it in and turned on some incandecent lights. Luckily the well only feeds a couple outdoor spigots, the house is on city water. Long story short, bought a project house and cleaning it up, the well was low on the priority list. We'll see how it goes... Thanks for all the ideas!
At this point in time I'd suggest that you power off the pump, add some heat to the pumphouse to keep it from freezing, and see what the end of the week brings. If you have no need for the well water then leave it off till spring. I'm just south of you and have for many years left the spigots running so that I have water for the animals. A bit of wasted water is a lot cheaper than repairs to frozen pipes and having to haul water. We also have water running in a couple of the inside house faucets right now till it gets a bit warmer. Right now we're up to a balmy 28f.

lg
Just over the hill from the Enchanted Forrest.
 
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Nate0918

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May 20, 2017
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Keizer, Oregon
I think I'm going to follow Davefr and larry-g's advice on this one and not mess with it anymore. Attempting to thaw it out when I won't be able to completely blow out the lines is just asking for it to refreeze again. Also if I'm messing with it while it's frozen I could end up cracking it when it otherwise might have survived. I think the pump house is going to be ok so I'll just get some sun tan lotion and my bathing suit and enjoy the weather till the end of the week.
 

Fixr

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Dec 23, 2012
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SW VA
I think I'm going to follow Davefr and larry-g's advice on this one and not mess with it anymore. Attempting to thaw it out when I won't be able to completely blow out the lines is just asking for it to refreeze again. Also if I'm messing with it while it's frozen I could end up cracking it when it otherwise might have survived. I think the pump house is going to be ok so I'll just get some sun tan lotion and my bathing suit and enjoy the weather till the end of the week.
Yep. Leave it shut down until it thaws out, and then when you have a stretch of warmer weather and spare time, replace the cracked parts. Or at least make a list of what needs replacing.
 

RPH

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Dec 17, 2006
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Michigan Thumb
Things have been changing over the last few decades. It's been noticeable in some places.
Absolutely! I spent a couple years in Florence, Kentucky. I thought the winters were worse down that way. I find it laughable head to south for winter. I just bought 2 pair of snowshoes and all we had was mud prior. Now this storm results turn back to mud on next Tuesday when it warms to forty. Just prior to the storm, I was thinking I might have to mow the lawn, in January no less.
 

MattRMagnum

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May 10, 2012
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PNW
Not much you can do now until the thaw comes. I would not attempt to thaw it out now. If it was going to crack it would have done it yesterday. Once things start to thaw then inspect it closely for leaks and be prepared for a repair. A strip of inner tube rubber and a couple hose clamps can seal the leak temporarily so you won't have to turn your pump off.

Outdoor remote spigots need a main disconnect valve from your homes water. When a freeze is coming turn off the valve and open the outdoor spigots.

I have a feeling you aren't the only one that's going to have pipe issues.
Yep. It got cold enough up where I am that our ENTIRE well system froze. Despite my heaters. I suspect my pressure tank is destroyed, and a couple of the existing pipes will need to be replaced. If they didn't freeze and split, I'll be utterly amazed, as they're absolutely rock solid. Plus, it's going to be another 2-3 days before things will be warm enough we can even thaw them out and start looking for leaks, or trying to see if there's functionality.
 

Spareparts

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Mar 12, 2010
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Lansing Ks.
That is one of the disadvantges of copper and plastic water lines, back in the day they were galvanize water pipes, a portable
welder would thaw it out in a couple of minutes, sometimes you could thaw copper if their weren't any soldered joints, isn't
progress wonderful.
 

Davefr

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OR
Yep. It got cold enough up where I am that our ENTIRE well system froze. Despite my heaters. I suspect my pressure tank is destroyed, and a couple of the existing pipes will need to be replaced. If they didn't freeze and split, I'll be utterly amazed, as they're absolutely rock solid. Plus, it's going to be another 2-3 days before things will be warm enough we can even thaw them out and start looking for leaks, or trying to see if there's functionality.
Next time turn on a trickle of water in your bathtub which will cycle your well pump every 3-4 hours. That'll keep the entire system from freezing over. (learned the "hard way"). All outdoor spigots need to be turned off from your main supply and leave the spigots open. If you have kitchen/bathrooms against an outside wall leave the cabinet doors open for air circulation.

We got down to 9 on Sat. and I've never seen it get that low here. (and with 25 MPH winds)
 

MattRMagnum

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Next time turn on a trickle of water in your bathtub which will cycle your well pump every 3-4 hours. That'll keep the entire system from freezing over. (learned the "hard way"). All outdoor spigots need to be turned off from your main supply and leave the spigots open. If you have kitchen/bathrooms against an outside wall leave the cabinet doors open for air circulation.

We got down to 9 on Sat. and I've never seen it get that low here. (and with 25 MPH winds)
I had that going. I left a steady trickle running, but it seemingly still wasn't enough. I'm going to insulate it, this summer, to help prevent these situations.
 
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Nate0918

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May 20, 2017
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Keizer, Oregon
Well, everything thawed out and so far I can't find any leaks. I'd like to replace all the piping from the well but none of the underground piping is marked. I'm going to have to just dig around the pump house, disconnect what I find, run new lines, and abandon in place whatever else I find later. At least all seems good.
 

juddspaintballs

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Sep 1, 2011
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Hedgesville, WV
I suggest PEX for any new lines. It'll at least hold up to a freeze if you ever have this issue again. Plus, it's inexpensive and really easy to work with.
 
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