Heating/plumbing question...?

Question

I just had a new furnance installed last week. I have a home that is 104 years old (I've only owned it a year and a half) with all the plumbing connections in the basement crawl space. Even though I have insulated all the pipes I can get to, they froze today. I have a heat tape on there now but my question is:

Wouldn't it be the more intelligent solution to vent heat into the basement to prevent this from happening again? Is it unusual and/or wasteful to heat a partial basement normally?

Answer 1

Normally it takes a cold draft on water lines to freeze them, I would recomend you seal up (insulate) the crawl space and also throw a little heat run in there. It woud not all be wasted as it will also help the floor avove it stay warmer.

Answer 2

I am not sure it would be cost-efficient to pump heat into the basement given the fact that it is probably a bit airy down there anyway.

If you have heat tape properly installed, I can't understand how it would have frozen, unless you lost power long enough for the pipes to freeze. But it did, so that is academic at this point.

My pipes are wrapped and also have a heat tape, but when the temperature gets to 20 degrees F. or lower, I definately run water just as an added insurance. It really is a whole lot cheaper to pay for water than it is to pay a plumber.

Believe me, I have spend a lot of time crawling under houses in zero weather trying to unthaw frozen pipes, and it ain't no picnic.

And what was frustrating was the fact I had forewarned the people to please run water as a guarantee because in extreme temperatures they would absolutely freeze.

Answer 3

You might just be getting an abnormal cold spell. I think it's a waste of money to heat it when the heat tape will do the job.I live in the northeast and my grandparents had a trailer they lived in till the day they passed, never had a frozen pipe BUT always had the heat tape on. It's only my opinion, good luck stay warm.