2007-02-13 03:55:47 · 7 answers · asked by iwsyu 1 in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Health & Safety
If the pipes aren't insulated against the cold, and the temperature drops below freezing the water in the lines could freeze. When water freezes it can expand, thus causing the pipes to burst. Shutting off the water is easier than fixing burst water pipes.
Update: I should have mentioned that after shutting off the water the pipes need to be emptied (i.e. run the water until it stops) so you don't have water trapped in the pipes.
2007-02-13 04:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by forestpirate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. But not exactly correct.
Letting the Water Run
Letting a faucet drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting. It's not that a small flow of water prevents freezing; this helps, but water can freeze even with a slow flow.
Rather, opening a faucet will provide relief from the excessive pressure that builds between the faucet and the ice blockage when freezing occurs. If there is no excessive water pressure, there is no burst pipe, even if the water inside the pipe freezes.
A dripping faucet wastes some water, so only pipes vulnerable to freezing (ones that run through an unheated or unprotected space) should be left with the water flowing. The drip can be very slight. Even the slowest drip at normal pressure will provide pressure relief when needed. Where both hot and cold lines serve a spigot, make sure each one contributes to the drip, since both are subjected to freezing. If the dripping stops, leave the faucet(s) open, since a pipe may have frozen and will still need pressure relief.
2007-02-13 12:14:45 · answer #2 · answered by krodgibami 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, they don't. I certainly don't. Freezing weather causes the pipes to burst. To prevent this, I turn all the faucets on to a slow drip. As long as the water is running, the pipes won't freeze.
2007-02-13 12:05:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thinkk you got it all backwards, they keep water running so it want freeze in the pipes want burst and you have a big plummering bills in the thousand also they don't want to be flood out.
2007-02-13 12:04:32 · answer #4 · answered by animal 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We do for our outdoor faucets because we will not be using them. But, indoors never, I believe that would freeze your pipes
2007-02-13 12:04:18 · answer #5 · answered by shorty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because their pipes could freeze and that is a horrible expencive mess!!
2007-02-13 18:33:51 · answer #6 · answered by Christina W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my uncle always did cuz his pipes burst one year
2007-02-13 12:19:53 · answer #7 · answered by chrisandlindsayjohnston 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋