I live in the northeast, and was wondering how long it takes water pipes to freeze? We live in the house, but I'm concerned if the water pipes would freeze if we shut the heat completely off all day, until we come home (12-14 hours without heat), I assume that the house would stay warm (above 32 degrees) for at least a few hours (after we shut the heat off before work). I am not looking for answers stating the water freezes at 32 degrees. I'm wondering if the pipes would freeze/burst in a house that has no heat on for approximately 12 hours.
Thank You
2007-12-07 01:18:11 · 14 answers · asked by stv62575 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It depends on how cold it gets outside and how good your insulation is. Do you really want to find out the hard way?
A much less risky solution is to get one of those electronic programmable thermostats. Turn the heat down to 40 while you're gone, but don't turn it off. You can program it to turn the heat up before you get home as well.
2007-12-07 01:23:49 · answer #1 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Will Pipes Freeze At 32 Degrees
2016-10-30 22:09:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a good rule of thumb.If the outside temp is not expected to drop below 15 or 20 its not going to be a problem for 12-24 hours,unless the pipes happen to follow along an outside wall,then the pipes need to be insulated.If its going to be say...10 degrees and 15 mph winds,your pipes will freeze and break in 6 or 8 hours.I live in northern indiana and here's what I do...I simply vented my dryer into the basement,and I turn the drier on just as I leave for work,the heat from the drier heats the basement for a good hour and a half to a toasty 70 or so,then I have no worries about freeze ups while I'm gone.But I still NEVER set the thermostat below 45 just in case I am caught in a storm or whatever,and don't make it home at all,which happens sometimes.
2007-12-07 01:34:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The plumbing in your home is often in the outer walls. Depending on the outside temperature and the amount of wind blowing your pipes will routinely freeze if the temperature in your home falls below 65 degrees for any length of time.
So what you have to realize is that the inside of your home doesn't have to be at 32 degrees or less for your pipes to freeze. Opening up kitchen and bathroom cabinets will help, wrapping exposed pipes and leaving a small amount of water flowing will help keep them from freezing.
If you skimp to much on the heat you will have broken pipes. Deal with it.
Miketyson26
2007-12-07 01:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by miketyson26 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For efficient heating you shouldn't turn you heat completely off anyway. It takes much more energy to try to "heat up" your place later than to keep it at a constant temperature for periods of less than a day.
Is it a freestanding house or an apartment? When I lost power during an ice storm in NC and it was out for days in that apartment the inside temperature never dropped below 50 degrees farenheit. Of course good insulation matters.
Also as someone else mentioned one way to help prevent frozen pipes is to leave a small drip running (no wider than a match stick) so that the water is always in motion.
2007-12-07 01:53:36 · answer #5 · answered by Say_What? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they could freeze in 12 hours. this is why people who live in cold climates wrap the pipes with insulation and why they leave the faucets turned on to a very slow drip overnight when it freezes. if the water is flowing, even slowly, it won't freeze
2007-12-07 01:21:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They probably won't freeze in 12 hours but why not just turn the heat down to 50 degrees. Your furnace will run very little if at all.
2007-12-07 11:42:19 · answer #7 · answered by jamzm2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how cold it gets,but more than likely if you have absolutely no heat.Try to keep them bundled up with a couple of thick towels if you plan on going out for that long,or keep the heat on low but there's still a chance that they may freeze up.
2007-12-07 01:29:00 · answer #8 · answered by Britt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont knwo if they would burst..this happened to my mom before...the pipes froze overnight .we went to turn on the water in the morning and nothing came out....we had someone come out and he said the pipes has frozen and to get insulated foam stuff for around the pipes.she sis that and hasnt had a problem since....he didnt say anything about them bursting or anything...
2007-12-07 01:26:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It truly depends on what the temp is outside. Heat goes from hot areas to cold areas so the heat in the house would diffuse outward. If the temp is around the 0c (32 degrees) mark then you should be fine for 12 hours.
Its all mathematics. The temp in the house will fall at a rate depending on the initial temp inside and the temp outside.
2007-12-07 01:24:11 · answer #10 · answered by Michael 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋