It is 4/5 degrees F with wind chill of -9/10 degrees F. WE BOTH FORGOT TO OPEN FAUCETS ON THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YOUNg NEW YEAR!Old timer's Alzheimer's is setting in.
There is a concrete block building on the property that was intended to be an one room fishing cabin and single car garage. It was plumbed for water and a toilet. A washroom deep sink was installed with an old fashioned free standing faucet, [otherwise known as a silcock, similar to graphic]. The stump for the toilet was connected to an old septic tank.We inherited an antiquated plumbing system with the property and the building. we moved a double wide manufactured home on the property.
The building, plumbing and concrete septic tank were probably built in the time of Noah. They do not meet any building codes.
The city water system, which is probably 50 years old, enters our property to a concrete drop box and runs to another concrete drop box equipped with freestanding faucet (silcock) which also served as shut-off connection. This silcock valve control has rusted off---thank goodness in the open position. A garden hose could be connected to provide an outdoor source.
The water system makes a 90 degree turn into the concrete building to the inside silcock and then exits to another connection under our house. This is definitely hillbilly engineering.
Previously when the water system froze, the trouble spot is the concrete building silcock where exits the crude concrete floor. The concrete's surface was not finished: feels like walking on creek gravel.
So (H) is out looking for one of our plumber friends who has a kerosene blower heater that looks like an horizontal stove pipe. [similar to graphic] .We had a gallon of bottled water to make coffee this morning. Otherwise, we both might not be fit for conversation. In fact, I made extra cups. We will need it.
It's crisis time at Nitwit1. We can handle this one, let's hope there is only one.
9 comments:
I just wanted to thank ya for popin' in and commenting.
You left the water dripping which is good to do, did you also open your cabinet doors? We do that also. We also have a heat~lamp and a small heater hooked up to a temp. sensitive auto on plug in. Ya, don't need no stinkin' frozen pipes!
Hope all your pipes are runnin' free and you have a great day!
Your post brings back memories of frozen pipes when we lived in Texas. One time our kitchen faucet froze off and fell in the sink.
Since moving to Oregon we have not had that problem.
I wish you luck on this adventure.
Oh no! Sounds horrendous. Hope you can get it sorted.
Hope you get it thawed before it causes the pipe to burst. At this old house where we use to live, we finally wrapped the pipes with some type of electrical coil, just had to remember to plug it in on the nights it was to go cold. Believe me after a few times of frozen pipes, we remembers. LOL Happy week-end.
I do remember this. Leaving water drip pretty fast to keep the pipes from freezing up and bursting. Now, fortunately, we no longer have to do that but where the water comes into the house from the street, we do leave the closet door open so that space doesn't get too cold.
In our first house, the laundry was in a little room off the car port. The pipes froze one night,and we didn't realize it, and then burst while we were at work. We came home to see water gushing down the driveway, and went in the house to find a flood there, too. What a mess. I sympathize.
Oh, no, Carol! Bummer! I've been scared stiff all week about the pipes. Got every faucet in the house running, both bathrooms, tubs, kitchen sink, etc. Ten years ago I had some frezen pipes and was without water for a week. Never forgot that.
We have two more tough nights, before we moderate. I can't sleep well from worrying about it, not to mention that I despise this cold arse weather!
Hope the pipe can be defrosted, and you won't have too much trouble. Yep, living in the Ozarks this winter, really sucks!
Take care, stay warm, and keep those faucets running!
Renie
Keep on making that coffee!
Arrrgh. Thank goodness you at least have coffee. That could be critical. That friend's heater sounds like a good idea.Sure hope he can fix you up. Nature sure isn't going to provide the warmth for a while.
In Florida, everything is PVC and above or barely under ground which is fine most of the time. One year we had a 2 day freeze and when I went to Home Depot, the PVC aisle was packed with frustrated people. Ours was a fragile system but an easy fix.
Hope you all are soon back in business.
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