Posted on 11/27/2025 9:16:33 AM PST by LouAvul
Temps are going to be below freezing for about four days at my farm house/hunting cabin. The house is unheated.
The temps will be getting up to 37°F, 46°F, and 52°F on those days. I have two options.
A) Turn the water off from outside. I'd open up the faucets to relieve any existing pressure and turn the water heater down to low.
B) Option 2. Leave the water on from outside. Turn the water on inside the house at a trickle. (3 faucets) Leave the water heater as is.
Is one method better than the other?
thnx
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It depends how far below freezing it’s going to go and for how long. A few degrees should be ok. If it’s you going to be below 27° all night, we turn them off inside and open them up outside to drain the outside part.
Unheated space? I’d turn the water off outside. I have concerns about draining the water heater. The purpose of turning the water off outside is to lessen the damage if a pipe bursts. A drip might lessen the risk of a pipe bursting, but won’t mitigate the damage if one does.
“Just Jiggel the Handle”
.
All I Got
Also, how tight your cabin is.. even if it’s unheated, it will be a little warmer inside.
Depends on how long you’ll be away.
I’d shutoff the water supply and drain all pipes if possible.
(I’ve got a cabin and included drain valves at the low point of both hot and cold lines)
Other wise turn on low flow (hot and cold) at all locations.
If you’re concerned about the cost of running the water heater, shut it off. Don’t forget the shower if you have one.
Turn off the water, open all valves, empty the toilets and tanks.
I turn the water off at the meter and open outside faucets to drain the pipes. Not a complete drain but there in no pressurized water plus the pipes have plenty of air in them for any pocket of freezing water to expand and not break the pipes.
Depends. If you’re there you can leave the faucet with a trickle. If you’re not going to be there it’s best to shut off the water from the outside.
“Is one method better than the other?”
Move to a warmer climate.
wy69
Here are the three things a plumber needs to know:
1. Hot on left, cold on right
2. Shit runs downhill
3. Payday is on Friday
Happy Thanksgivings
Letting faucet drip does nothing to prevent freezing.
A friend says that all you need to know to be a plumber is that water flows downhill, and to keep your fingers out of your mouth
You forgot, don’t chew your fingernails.
If indoor toilet, consider adding anti-freeze in the bowl and tank. You can purchase a zero oxygen infrared heater to put on top of a 20/30/40 lb propane cylinder. On low, a 20 lb will last 4-5 days.
Is this your first year to own the farm house?
This sounds like a sensible way to go, unless you have a way of draining all the pipes.
Don’t forget the traps. You might want to pour RV anti-freeze in all the traps.
You are wrong. it gives you a bit of protection, but if it’s too cold for too long, it does not help.
The reason it works somewhat is that the water is bringing heat because the water temp is probably 50-60 degrees.
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