record cold weather coming- avoiding burst pipes with higher burning?

[newatthis]

So, we are getting colder temps here than I've ever seen before in this area. I am worried about burst water pipes. The temp of the water pipe coming into the basement this afternoon, as measured by the IR thermometer, was 38 degrees. I guess that reflects the general temp of the lateral water line, coming from the main. I'm not confident that will be under the frost line tonight and in the coming days. I already am aware of running the water continuously as a way to avoid freezing the pipes. One issue for our house is that the water lines are actually embedded in the concrete slab.

My question is, if I run the stoves really hot tonight, will that help with heating the slab (and therefore the pipe) and avoid catastrophic water pipe freezing? I am not like some of you, who like the temp in the 80s. Very happy here right at 70. But if I crank it up toward the upper 70s, will that help my pipe/slab issue?

 

[1ruralmailman]

sadly,i doubt cranking the stove will do much for you.i think you will be better served with keeping the water running a little tonight.the only way i would know to make a difference would be if your slab had radiant heat in it that could be turned on,otherwise i dont believe you can get enough energy,from heat above the slab into it to make a difference.

 

[F4jock]

Probably won't help much. You need conduction heating on the pipes. Maybe heat tape? And running water as well. How far into the slab do they go?

 

[Stinkpickle]

sadly,i doubt cranking the stove will do much for you.i think you will be better served with keeping the water running a little tonight.the only way i would know to make a difference would be if your slab had radiant heat in it that could be turned on,otherwise i dont believe you can get enough energy,from heat above the slab into it to make a difference.

This ^^^

 

[ckitch]

Small electric space heater on low near the pipe, but if its not below the frost line I don't think anything is going to stop it

 

[Nick Mystic]

I don't think you have much to worry about regarding pipes embedded in your concrete slab since there is a lot of residual heat in the ground. I have an outdoor spa filled with 350 gallons of water and no heater running during the winter. I used to run the electric heat on the spa when it got down in the 20s and lower at night, but then I started taking temperature readings and discovered the water temperature in the spa never dropped below 39 degrees without the heat running. What you need to be more concerned about with freezing pipes are the ones that are exposed to the air. For example, where a pipe comes in through an outside wall, like an outdoor spigot, it's very important to make sure there is no air infiltration around the pipe. Even a slight breeze can freeze the pipe with the low temperatures tonight in many places. Also, pipes that are running right up against an outdoor wall, like in a kitchen or bathroom where the pipe might be cut off from the room heat by an enclosed cabinet. Opening those doors a few inches can help heat the pipes.

 

[begreen]

If you have a central heating system like a furnace or boiler, this is the time to use it a little bit. Run it a few times a day to warm up areas that the stove is not heating. Or put an electric heater in the basement set to a low temp.

 

[simple.serf]

Leave the water running, add some heat tape, run an electric heater, and cross your fingers. We run our oil burner in this weather, because the stove can't keep up.

 

[prezes13]

If your pipe is at least 4' below the ground nothing is going to happen. Put a heat tape on the exposed pipe or put some insulation on it, you don't want a cold draft blowing on a water pipe that's what will freeze it. I work for a local water dept. That what we deal with now all day everyday frozen meters and frozen pipes.

 

[BobUrban]

All the above is spot on. No good reason to save lots of money on propane/oil/nat gas to only give it to a plumber repairing burst pipes. I have an upstairs bathroom that is internal to the house but has some spot draft air leak issue that during sub zero temps likes to freeze. I leave a nail in the toilet and turn the water really low so it continues to run and let the tub and vanity drip. I really need to look into where the air is coming in but have so many other priorities that this gets pushed back and I go with the Drip, Drip method during vortex weather. I also have been running the furnace every morning for a little while to keep the basement warmer during this past week or so.

Would I like to go all winter w/o the furnace ever coming on? SURE. But not at the hassle and cost of frozen pipes.