32 degrees: frozen pipes?

Departing tenant moved out last weekend. New tenant moves in February 1. I didn't change the electricity over to my name because it is less than three weeks between tenants.

I went over tonight to check on things and the departing tenant has indeed cut off the power.

I left the cabinet doors under the sinks open. The house felt pretty warm - maybe 50? - when I went inside tonight.

Question - how long does it usually take for pipes to freeze? It will be above freezing by 9 am tomorrow.

I never know when to worry, so I just worry all of the time!

--76.30.xxx.xxx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by in [IN]) Posted on: Jan 12, 2012 9:13 PM
Message:

When it get down to 12 they might freeze....house stays warm just like an unheated garage...

utilities need to flip back into owners name if shut off....freeze cause much damage...

Indiana saying... --98.253.xxx.xxx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Janet [KY]) Posted on: Jan 12, 2012 9:48 PM
Message:

I am 1000 miles north of you and when my house is without tenant, I put a outdoor

therometer on the kitchen wall and watch it

closely. House has been 32 degrees

several days in a row and not frozen pipes.

It would have to be several days in a row

32 degrees for pipes to freeze. If it is going to be above freezing the next day

I don't think you will have to worry.

Leave a small stream of water running in

the bathtub during the night. --74.236.xxx.xxx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Big tex [TX]) Posted on: Jan 12, 2012 9:51 PM
Message:

Nothing to worry about tonight. It will get to 21 here, even last winter when it was in the teens for a couple of days, one vacant house of mine never got Below 40 inside. No heat on at all. Now if we were up north and cold all the time, then I might worry. --173.74.x.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Reid [KS]) Posted on: Jan 12, 2012 10:06 PM
Message:

If need be you can always let the faucet drip that works well till it gets real cold for a prolonged period of time --99.151.xx.xxx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Martin [MO]) Posted on: Jan 12, 2012 10:37 PM
Message:

I have only ever had frozen pipes when it was about 5F or colder at night, and daytime highs were below freezing for several days. --99.96.xxx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 4:42 AM
Message:

Wind, insulation, and caulking must also be factored.

If it's dead calm, you will be fine.

The higher the wind, the faster the temp in your house will drop. If you have good insulation and caulking, it drops much slower.

At any rate, 32 is nothing to worry about. --141.129.x.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Virden [OH]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 5:45 AM
Message:

Around here we have been lucky until this morning the snow came thru the night like powder sugar on cookies but the temp has dropped to 17-20, when the temp stays this low for more then 3-4 days then the ground loses the warmth and pipes will freeze then, we are projected to get above 30 next week so I am not draining yet - it takes a long duration to really freeze all that stuff. --76.241.xxx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 6:44 AM
Message:

I agree that if you want to save on heating a vacancy but want to sleep at night, drip the faucets, particularly the ones on outside walls. That'll keep them open enough to withstand all but the worst temps, and water is relatively cheap compared to electric. --208.70.xxx.x

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Carolyn [MO]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 7:36 AM
Message:

In my area, my experience has been that usually there isn't a problem until it gets into the high teens around the clock.

If it just dips below freezing at night you shouldn't have a problem. --70.246.xxx.xxx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Opinionated [NC]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 9:09 AM
Message:

Advice on the web varies widely. Here is a studious paper with real answers.

greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-blog/jeffrey-gordons-paper-bursting-pipes --66.226.xx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by tryan [MA]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 12:20 PM
Message:

single digits for multiple days and you'll have a problem. Otherwise the sun beaming during the day will be enough. --24.128.xx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by Robert,Ontario,Canada [ON]) Posted on: Jan 13, 2012 9:59 PM
Message:

A lot depends how the house is insulated and the type of windows on the house. If there some solar gain when the suns shines then the house will warm up a bit. In one of apartment buildings have no heat on vacant units at all where a rental unit on the coldest night the temperature never goes below 10C where freezing is zero C. If one drains out all the water in the pipes then there is no water to freeze. One can also install pipe insulation on all the exposed which will protects the pipes from freezing. Pex piping expands then contracts when the pipe freezes where copper can break or crack. There is going to be very cold night next week down to -15 C next week then the outside will go above and below freezing. If the inside temperature never drops down to freezing then the pipes will be ok. --74.220.xxx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by DougV [MA]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2013 3:37 AM
Message:

Just being at 30 degrees outside overnight would be very unlikely to freeze your pipes. It needs to get below 32 INSIDE the house for a prolonged period of time for water inside pipes to freeze. However, there is a complete solution to preventing freezing pipes. If you are that worried about it, shut off the water to the house at the main shutoff in the basement where the water comes into the house from the street. Now turn on all the water at the sinks and drain the faucets until the water stops running. If it doesn't slow and stop after a ten or fifteen minutes, call the local DPW so they can send someone have your shutoff valve replaced. Next, buy a 4 or 5 gallons of RV antifreeze at Home Depot or Walmart. Flush every toilet until it won't flush then pour a gallon of RV anti-freeze into each toilet (tank, not the bowl) and flush the RV anti-freeze down the toilet. Now pour RV anti-freeze down every drain. About half a gallon for every sink drain, including all kitchen, and baths, meaning tub and shower drains. If you have scrub sinks or laundry sinks, don't forget those too. Next, follow the same procedure with the washing machine and dishwasher. Pour antifreeze in those and twist the selector dial to the rinse position and wait a minute or so until it drains. Finally, don't forget to drain fridge if it has an ice maker or chilled water in the door. All this takes an experienced plumber about an hour. So figure maybe two hours for the average homeowner or three hours for the person who thinks a wrench is something that happens to someone's back. Now your house is winterized. Go home and stop thinking about it. --68.184.xx.xx

32 degrees: frozen pipes? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2013 6:07 AM
Message:

I was in upstate NY a few years back, inside a 400 year old stone foundation barn.

the stone foundation had cracked.

The farmer told me it just cracked the winter before, that it had gone almost 400 years with no cracks.

The difference: the year before was the first year the barn was empty. The small amount of heat generated by the animals was enough to keep the foundation from freezing.

Your freezer is not 32 degrees... it's closer to zero. Water will freeze at 32, but it takes a LONG time. Just drip your faucets and you will be fine in mildly freezing weather.

--173.233.xxx.xxx

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