How do you prepare your home for record cold temperatures?

1. 39

   ChristinSposted 10 years ago

   How do you prepare your home for record cold temperatures?
   
   We are supposed to experience record cold temperatures after a major snowfall early next week.  I am concerned about how to keep pipes from freezing and bursting and how to keep my boiler working properly etc. 
   
   Do any of you who deal with subzero temps on a regular basis have any guidance for those of us who don't usually experience this extreme kind of cold.  I'm recovering from pneumonia and am afraid of the heat going out lol.

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2. 89

   Rock_njposted 10 years ago

   If you use oil heat, make sure your fuel supply line from your tank to your oil burner is properly insulated.  We had 10 F below temps about 4 years ago and woke up in the morning with no heat because the fuel supply line froze.  It had not be insulated by the previous owner.  As far as pipes go, make sure you heat spaces that they run through, such as the basement and crawl spaces.  Also, add insulation, if you can.

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   1. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      that would stink to have the furnace go out. We don't have oil heat thankfully and we are definitely double checking all the pipes we can especially along exterior walls

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3. 77

   CarolineChicagoposted 10 years ago

   The people who built our house in the 1950s put the basement shower pipes along an outside wall--with no insulation. We have not yet renovated that bathroom, so deal with "slushed" or frozen pipes. After plenty of research, the best prevention if you can't get at your pipes (like us) is to trickle the water at the nearest sink, as well as in the tub/shower. We also run a space heater in that bathroom.
   
   Hope you are feeling better soon!

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   1. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Our bathroom sink is against the outside wall and we are definitely putting a space heater in there because it gets cold. There's no radiator in there.
      Will probably let the water trickle on monday too not supposed to go above 0 that day.

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4. 95

   OldRosesposted 10 years ago

   As long as you have heat in your home, you don't need to worry about frozen pipes.  Close curtains and blinds to keep cold out (windows and doors leak a lot of cold air into your home).  Turn your thermostat down as low as you can stand it so that your furnace doesn't run as much.  That will prevent excessive use of fuel (oil or gas) as well as prevent strain on your furnace as it tries to keep up with the cold.  Turn the thermostat down even lower at night while you are sleeping.  Wear lots of layers and put extra quilts and comforters on the beds at night.  Flannel bedsheets are a godsend in the winter!

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      Rock_njposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's not really true.  Some people don't realize that their pipes run through unheated portions of the house (older houses), and then they are surprised to find that they freeze up during deep freezes.  I've seen and heard of it many times.

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   2. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, my cousin had burst pipes that ran through unheated areas of the home.  They do indeed burst in some homes that have the heat on unfortunately.  I agree though on keeping the thermostat down. Definitely.

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   3. 45

      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It is not expensive and kind of a fun project to go buy tubular insulation cozies and put them on your self.
      K-flex is pretty cool, pun intended ;-)
      Heating tape can be used on several needs. Safely use many candles. By a big turkey and cook it.

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   4. 39

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I have one pipe on our outer wall that goes to the washer and the genius that built it there didn't insulate the wall - that pipe freezes even with the heat tape! lol all our basement pipes are covered though

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