should I leave my water on, just a trickle?

Question

it's supposed to freeze tonight, and my pipes are just under the house, no insulation, no basement( I live in florida) should I leave the water on( just a small trickle) so they won't freeze up?

Yahoo Answer Rat · Accepted Answer

better a trickle than a frozen or burst pipe eh?

buzzwaltz · Answer

It has to trickle pretty strong to be of any use. If you are on a well that might be a problem if it is weak, you might pump it dry.The warm ground should provide enough heat to prevent freezing.unless it gets below 28` +/- with a wind..The next time you have an extra $10.00 but some pipe insulation and put it on the pipes. Can't hurt, summer or winter.

zzzzzzzzz27 · Answer

you should try and wrap your outdoor water faucets with as much heavy tape as you can. also, a mild Florida freeze will not likely burst your pipes. It usually takes a good freeze to do this.

But I would err on the side of caution and wrap them anyway. And, yes, keeping your water running will keep the water flowing so as not to freeze, especially if it is just a light freeze as Florida would most likely get.

If it got down to 20 or something, then I'd be nervous if my pipes weren't wrapped, etc.

Jim C · Answer

It would have to be a real hard freeze to freeze your pipes and in Florida I dont think it will get that cold.By hard freeze I mean 10 degrees or lower.

Anonymous · Answer

Yea i think you will be fine in florida even if it does get below freezing... The ground will still retain heat to keep the pipes from freezing...  Leave the worrying to the orange growers

M L · Answer

yes, but a drip should be enough, not a trickle.  Especially if you're renting, some landlords can freak out if the pipes have a problem as a result of failing to do this.

kimballama · Answer

Yes that is a very good idea and leave the cabinet doors open under the sinks so the heat can get in there.  Good luck, I've been there.  Do you know where your water shutoff is?  You should know in case the pipe breaks.

jeff the drunk · Answer

I wouldnt worry about it. I live in So. Cal and we've had a few night of freezing temps to the point where we had ice on one side of my house for 3 days straight and my sprinklers worked as well as my garden hose. You'll be fine.

Anonymous · Answer

Unless it is a very hard freeze I wouldn't worry.  But if it make you feel safer leave it on a trickle.

steel_n_fire · Answer

Being from Florida myself , I really can't remember ever having to worry about this problem , It would require several days of freezing temps to become a problem .

CctbOh · Answer

The ground should still be warm enough that you don't have to worry.  If it was to be below freezing for weeks than I would leave the water on.

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should I leave my water on, just a trickle?

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