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North Texas Winter Storm and Freezing Pipes
February 19, 2021, 10:50 AM
Sr_BullNorth Texas Winter Storm and Freezing Pipes
I’m pretty sure my indoor plumbing survived - faucets were all left trickling (preparing for the summer-like water bill) - and I was fortunate in never losing power.
My two outdoor faucets were covered (slab foundation, brick sided home, faucets mounted through the bricks) but evidently there was a small drip from each one. Both are frozen solid. I’m a bit on edge for these two now that we are starting to thaw out.
February 19, 2021, 12:21 PM
MattWquote:
Originally posted by Sr_Bull:
I’m pretty sure my indoor plumbing survived - faucets were all left trickling (preparing for the summer-like water bill) - and I was fortunate in never losing power.
My two outdoor faucets were covered (slab foundation, brick sided home, faucets mounted through the bricks) but evidently there was a small drip from each one. Both are frozen solid. I’m a bit on edge for these two now that we are starting to thaw out.
There's a good chance that if those out door bibs split, you won't know till you turn the water on outside to use them. After things thaw out, make certain someone is inside near those lines when you turn them on outside. They'll hear the water instantly allowing you to turn them off right away if need be.
Don't know how many people have washed their car or pressure washed their drive way in the spring only to walk back into a flooded house.
February 19, 2021, 05:17 PM
Sr_Bullquote:
Originally posted by MattW:
There's a good chance that if those out door bibs split, you won't know till you turn the water on outside to use them. After things thaw out, make certain someone is inside near those lines when you turn them on outside. They'll hear the water instantly allowing you to turn them off right away if need be.
Don't know how many people have washed their car or pressure washed their drive way in the spring only to walk back into a flooded house.
Appreciate the words of wisdom. I figure tomorrow will be the day of reckoning when it really warms up.
February 19, 2021, 05:20 PM
smschulzquote:
Originally posted by ridewv:
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
.....We still have no water because we had to turn it off with a burst pipe.
Waiting until our plumber calls us back or it warms up enough to start on it myself.
I bet plumbers in Texas are swamped!
Yeah, we are getting they can come some time in March???
Gonna have to fix it myself.
February 19, 2021, 05:25 PM
tatortodd
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. February 19, 2021, 10:39 PM
flashguyquote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
quote:
Originally posted by ridewv:
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
.....We still have no water because we had to turn it off with a burst pipe.
Waiting until our plumber calls us back or it warms up enough to start on it myself.
I bet plumbers in Texas are swamped!
Yeah, we are getting they can come some time in March???
Gonna have to fix it myself.
I'm fortunate--my Handyman is a qualified plumber and will be fixing my pipes tomorrow.
flashguy
Texan by choice, not accident of birth February 19, 2021, 10:48 PM
snorisquote:
Originally posted by Sr_Bull:
I’m pretty sure my indoor plumbing survived - faucets were all left trickling (preparing for the summer-like water bill) - and I was fortunate in never losing power.
My two outdoor faucets were covered (slab foundation, brick sided home, faucets mounted through the bricks) but evidently there was a small drip from each one. Both are frozen solid. I’m a bit on edge for these two now that we are starting to thaw out.
I think all of our water is running okay. The only pipe I have a concern with is the front yard faucet which comes up out of the ground. When I tried to turn it on the first night it got really cold, nothing happened. I covered it up with one of the new fabric covers, a couple of plastic bags, and a metal washtub.
Nothing has happened so far, and my hope is that the slow rise in temperature will simply allow the ice to melt naturally and that outside faucet will start working again.
Fingers crossed for you.
February 19, 2021, 11:14 PM
Il CattivoWater's out around here. Me, I'm hoping that it warms up enough before water becomes available again that bursting pipes will be relatively rare. If we make it to Saturday, then we stay up above freezing, but it'll still be pretty cold at night.
February 19, 2021, 11:28 PM
blueyeMy good friend is fixing my broken pipes, have 4 so far and it's great that he is a retired plumber. Hope to get running water coming out of the faucets instead of thru the wall/ceiling.
February 20, 2021, 11:17 AM
flashguyHanyman (aka plumber) here today. Has fixed some of the pipes but keeps finding more. Hoping for a good outcome. Floors have been pretty well dried out from the flood.
flashguy
Texan by choice, not accident of birth February 20, 2021, 11:22 AM
iron chefPlumbing supplies are the new ammo now in TX. I'm seeing things such as Sharkbite couplers that retail for $8-15 being bought up and flipped for $25-60 on private party sales sites like CL and FB marketplace.
February 20, 2021, 11:57 AM
Opus Deiquote:
Originally posted by iron chef:
Plumbing supplies are the new ammo now in TX. I'm seeing things such as Sharkbite couplers that retail for $8-15 being bought up and flipped for $25-60 on private party sales sites like CL and FB marketplace.
Dick move, but they've got the right to. Locally, I found everything I needed (~$25.00 worth) and got my water going yesterday. I have a sediment filter at my well and the thick Lucite bowl cracked, but the valve was still OK and I could switch it to bypass.
Good luck to all without water. I hope it's restored and any plumbing issues are minor, fixed quickly, and inexpensive.
February 20, 2021, 01:56 PM
Butch 2340We simply must do something about this global warming!
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Never shoot a large caliber man with a small caliber bullet . . .
February 20, 2021, 02:34 PM
flashguyMy Handyman has completed temporary fixes and I've got hot and cold water in necessary places in the house now. He didn't find a few parts he needs to make a permanent fix, but I'll get by for now. All is well.
flashguy
Texan by choice, not accident of birth February 20, 2021, 05:51 PM
MikeinNCWent to the house today, the sprinkler riser that was under a insulated bag and with a trouble light froze. I had turned the valve off and opened the drain-but water in the valve body split it when it froze.
All my outdoor spigots were fine when they thawed out.
Went to Lowe’s got an 86 cent one inch cap and cut the valve out and glued a cap on the line and that’s that until it warms up and the ground dries out....I’ll re-plumb it, but under ground in a box where it won’t freeze.
I left a bottle of water in the water meter box and it never froze.
Still w/o power since Early Monday 0100.
"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein
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“A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker February 20, 2021, 06:01 PM
tatortoddquote:
Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Went to the house today, the sprinkler riser that was under a insulated bag and with a trouble light froze. I had turned the valve off and opened the drain-but water in the valve body split it when it froze.
All my outdoor spigots were fine when they thawed out.
Went to Lowe’s got an 86 cent one inch cap and cut the valve out and glued a cap on the line and that’s that until it warms up and the ground dries out....I’ll re-plumb it, but under ground in a box where it won’t freeze.
I left a bottle of water in the water meter box and it never froze.
Still w/o power since Early Monday 0100.
When you replace, consider replacing with a gate valve instead of a ball valve. Ball valves are the worst valve style for shutoffs since they trap liquid inside which expands when it freezes.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. February 20, 2021, 10:45 PM
83v45magnaWe got water back tonight after about 5 1/4 days without. Power never went out, thankfully.
I still have a fire sprinkler that was leaking profusely on Tuesday to be taken care of. Since it dissipated slowly that night I presumed it had refrozen (on a ceiling, four inches from an outside wall). Since the leak never reappeared I think the building sprinkler supply is shut off. Oh well, we probably have to wait another few days on that I'd bet.
February 21, 2021, 08:16 AM
heathtx25 miles east of Dallas. Lost power for 50 hours earlier this week. Shut off water outside of house. Had 6 pipe breaks, have repaired 5. Out of parts. All Lowe’s and HD stores have been picked clean of PEX pipe and shark bite fittings.
February 21, 2021, 10:17 AM
motor59No similar issues here in the northeast so...
If one or two of my forum brothers in Texas need plumbing parts they cannot source, send me an email.
I'll make home depot/Lowes runs and buy what you need, then overnight it to you Monday, at actual cost.
suaviter in modo, fortiter in re
February 21, 2021, 11:09 AM
dave7378quote:
Originally posted by motor59:
No similar issues here in the northeast so...
If one or two of my forum brothers in Texas need plumbing parts they cannot source, send me an email.
I'll make home depot/Lowes runs and buy what you need, then overnight it to you Monday, at actual cost.
I agree. Post a list or email and we will send you supplies. Good buddy of mine owns a plumbing supply.
Also let me know if there is anything else you need and I'll see if I can find it.
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