Big snow storm/freeze prep

French toast, huh?

 

It does make it a lot less likely...but if it gets cold enough, for long enough, running water will freeze.
Creeks and rivers freeze...heck I have pictures of a spray nozzle at work that freezes whenever it gets really cold for a sustained period, I think I've actually posted photos of it on here before...hafta see if I can find it.
I call it a spray nozzle, but it's really just a straight stream, probably 5 gpm range...it runs 24/7.
But to be fair, it's not the stream that freezes up, it's more the mist around the stream I'd guess...it's still impressive to see this thing defy gravity!
Edit, here's the pics from work...I think I have other angles posted here somewhere too.

 

Yup! Niagara Falls for example......

 

But has the flow ever stopped completely and burst the pipes?

 

No, but, it doesn't stay cold enough for long enough here in NEO for that to happen. If it did, I do believe it could/would freeze up.
If the pipe feeding that nozzle was less exposed, I'd say no, it would not freeze.

 

I'm glad someone said something and has pictures to prove it!!! I can/have left a faucet drip/run before and the pipe froze up in the wall. Didn't burst the pipe but couldn't get water to warsh my clothes.... Moving water will freeze.

 

It depends on the volume of water and how fast it is moving as well as external temperatures and time of exposure on whether running water will freeze or not.

 

Sadly this would never be allowed today. 'Authority' figures would need to express their authority in the name of almighty Safety.

 

Municipalities around these parts will advise homeowners to let their water run during cold snaps.

The rule of thumb is to turn on the water until it is about the size of a pencil- (quite larger than a trickle)

Opening the cabinet doors that contain the water lines is also advised.

The advice includes taking a water meter reading before you let it run and then again after the cold is finished-for billing purposes.

 

Yup!

 

Why does that matter?
Never heard that one before...

 

The city (municipality) will give a discount on your water bill.

Water mains may not be deep enough in all locations and as they pass under plowed streets, the frost is driven much deeper and can sometimes reach the main.

It sure beats sending a team out to thaw.

 

We are ready at the border; we will learn if those electric mini splits can handle real storms, with power loss. That what they been selling… here

We also will go out and make sure others ok.

 

That’s smart as last freeze took one out at 8’ deep. Ounce prevention pound cure

 

I can’t imagine all that extra water would be very good for a septic system.

 

Have a Y fitting on top of my water trough for my cattle, and I have a Freeze Miser on top of the Y, and then a cheap auto fill valve below it. It was -10 air temperature (Christmas Day actually) here a few years ago and it never froze. You do have to put the trough on a slight tilt backwards into an unused area to keep the water flowing out of the trough.

Freeze Miser - Prevent Frozen Pipes & Damage in Winter

If you worried about your outside spigots freezing, you could put a Freeze Miser on it and let it do its magic.

 

-20 this morning and temps will stay below 0. Good day to stay inside. No precip of any kind is forecast for the next week.

 

Are our areas different? Most here, either have public water and sewer service or on site (well and septic) so a meter would indicate a sewage treatment facility, which are monitored and use less treatment.

 

I guess I should have said that it wouldn't be good for those with septic systems.