Walkout Basement Baptism

[jinman]

Jim, just be sure to not leave a garden hose hooked, up to a frost free faucet, when it gets really cold, that is what happened to me. I have become a hose fanatic, now when winter comes. ( "honey did you disconnect the hose after you used it" "yes dear")

James

James, we disconnect hoses and put on the foam covers (Dollie Partons ). Evidently, that is still not enough. I think putting pipes behind insulation on the outside is probably the stupidest thing I can think of. Since my water lines to my kitchen and to the outside wall comes through the ceiling, I think I would be well-served to put an access in the ceiling of my basement where I could turn off the supply during really cold nights. I can normally count the number of times the temperature gets into the teens here on one hand in one season. If it stays above 20 degrees, there has never been the slightest problem. If I know a severe cold spell is coming, I could open the access panel in my ceiling and cut off the water supply and allow me to drain the outside wall pipes. I've attached a picture of the water supply going across the ceiling during construction of my house. A panel with a nice cover in my basement rec room wouldn't be a problem and would take away the future danger. In the photo you can see where the pipes going down the wall are wrapped in foam, but when the insulation was installed the pipes were covered on the inside. I don't know why I didn't notice. Hindsight is 20-20.

 

[SandburRanch]

Foam insulation on pipes is another common error and we see it on the TV news at the beginning of winter nearly every year. We are told to open the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink and also told to wrap the pipes. Well DUH, didn't we open the doors to allow heat to warm the pipes. Those folks are in that 90 percent that just don't know category.

 

[jinman]

Foam insulation on pipes is another common error and we see it on the TV news at the beginning of winter nearly every year. We are told to open the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink and also told to wrap the pipes. Well DUH, didn't we open the doors to allow heat to warm the pipes. Those folks are in that 90 percent that just don't know category.

I could not agree more. Good point!

 

[JB4310]

I have that kind, one in front and one in back sticking right out through the bricks. So far, no problem, but I don't trust them. I do have the styrofoam covers over them. But there is no way to cut off the water to those except to go to the meter and turn all the water off. I sure liked the system at our old house better, where the faucets were in the flower beds, front and rear, in something like small meter boxes, with a water shutoff valve and a stop and waste valve for each one.

Bird,
You can trust them they are designed for freezing climates. They shut the water 8-12 inches inside the sill and drain out the part that goes through the wall, that's why you see them dripping after you shut them. You should always have a shut off behind it though anyway.

The problem many people including myself have had is if you leave a hose connected with a spray handle on that does not let the water drain out then it will still freeze and break, no running water/flood cause it closed behind the break, but when You open that sillcock the next time it will leak inside the wall, It's something we see all the time.

JB.

 

[dcyrilc]

So what did you end up doing for the game?

 

[Bird]

You should always have a shut off behind it though anyway.

I agree, but this house doesn't have. Under the kitchen sink and the bathroom lavatories and behind each toilet is a shut off valve, as there should be. But there's no shut off for the 2 outside hydrants nor for the tub/showers except to turn off the water at the meter.

 

[dcyrilc]

I agree, but this house doesn't have. Under the kitchen sink and the bathroom lavatories and behind each toilet is a shut off valve, as there should be. But there's no shut off for the 2 outside hydrants nor for the tub/showers except to turn off the water at the meter.

We have a main shut off where the water enters the house so at least we wouldn't have to go outside and find the meter to get the water shut off. Or find tools.

 

[Bird]

We have a main shut off where the water enters the house so at least we wouldn't have to go outside and find the meter to get the water shut off. Or find tools.

That's the reason I keep one of those "T" handle tools by the garage door all the time. So far the only time I've used it was when the lady next door came running out to say they had a leak that was flooding the house. I shut off the water at the meter first, then went inside to see where the problem was and it was the water heater, which did have its own shut off valve so I was able to turn the water back on at the meter.

 

[dodge man]

We have the faucets that drain back on the outside of our house, no problems at all. I have seen people get a basement dried out without doing to much. I'd just look at the trim and the bottom of the drywall.

 

[jinman]

So what did you end up doing for the game?

We watched it on our other HDTV in our living room. The rec room is still drying with fans, and all the furniture is up on styrofoam blocks. So, my wife and I put a fire in the fireplace and enjoyed the game. . . except for the butchered Star Spangled Banner and some commercials, and the half-time show, and. . . sigh!. . . We enjoyed the game a bunch!:thumbsup: