Post by dirtdiva on Feb 23, 2021 10:01:21 GMT -6
My husband and I were watching some of the videos of damage to houses in Texas during this recent storm and he brought up a really good point. Part of these issues could have been prevented with better building codes and building techniques. Some points he brought up.
1. Build better houses. Part of the reason your pipes freeze is they are in outside walls. That's against code in most places. My outdoor faucets on the outside of the house run through the middle of the house and poke out of the insulated walls 6 inches above the foundation. I cover them every fall to keep snow off of them. Every pipe in the house for fixtures near outside walls comes through the floor 3 inches from the outside wall. I have a water pressure regulator and house shut off easily accessible that's separate from the utility shutoff. So add a low point shut off and a drain inside the house. Use the drain to get water out when needed. Never run pipes in attics that is an accident waiting to happen.
2. Build your house with 6" walls, lots of insulation, and pipes inside like they do up north. EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN THE SOUTH!! Insulation, caulking, rubber gaskets around tight fitting doors are always good investments.
People wanting cheap house prices get cheap houses. His recommendations would help with cooling too and decrease the need for energy to start with. Heating and cooling is easier so you don't need as much electricity, wood, gas whatever.
It's like replacing all your light bulbs with more expensive LED bulbs because its easier to power them with solar.
The more concentrated renewables your system gets the more likely this will happen with no wind, excessive wind, storms, cold, hot, night time, etc.
3. You've got to know how to drain the pipes in your home.
When we winterize our family's mountain cabin we not only drain the water via an outside faucet on the crawl space wall (i.e. lower than any plumbing in the cabin) we also pour RV antifreeze into the traps for the sinks, toilets, and bathtub.
4. Always have an alternative heat source or two non electric. We have a fireplace ( preferably on an inside wall). We also have portable inside propane heaters ( that we rarely have ever used unless to heat the deer stands). Don't forget the propane. Also don't forget the fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector. Always have a supply of DRY firewood and kindling for both the fireplace and cooking if necessary.
5. Always bury your water pipes deeper than code especially in the south. You will eventually be glad you did.
6. As my husband says build expecting the unexpected. That heavier snowfall that ever received. That ice storm in the deep south. That loss of electric in an area that never loses power etc. That 100 year flood. The secret is not to prepare for particular scenarios, but try to prepare for whatever might happen.
So many things can and do happen that are unforeseen. I know the following is cliche, but it holds some truth: it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. And as with most things "within reason".
Any thoughts on the subject or input welcomed.
1. Build better houses. Part of the reason your pipes freeze is they are in outside walls. That's against code in most places. My outdoor faucets on the outside of the house run through the middle of the house and poke out of the insulated walls 6 inches above the foundation. I cover them every fall to keep snow off of them. Every pipe in the house for fixtures near outside walls comes through the floor 3 inches from the outside wall. I have a water pressure regulator and house shut off easily accessible that's separate from the utility shutoff. So add a low point shut off and a drain inside the house. Use the drain to get water out when needed. Never run pipes in attics that is an accident waiting to happen.
2. Build your house with 6" walls, lots of insulation, and pipes inside like they do up north. EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN THE SOUTH!! Insulation, caulking, rubber gaskets around tight fitting doors are always good investments.
People wanting cheap house prices get cheap houses. His recommendations would help with cooling too and decrease the need for energy to start with. Heating and cooling is easier so you don't need as much electricity, wood, gas whatever.
It's like replacing all your light bulbs with more expensive LED bulbs because its easier to power them with solar.
The more concentrated renewables your system gets the more likely this will happen with no wind, excessive wind, storms, cold, hot, night time, etc.
3. You've got to know how to drain the pipes in your home.
When we winterize our family's mountain cabin we not only drain the water via an outside faucet on the crawl space wall (i.e. lower than any plumbing in the cabin) we also pour RV antifreeze into the traps for the sinks, toilets, and bathtub.
4. Always have an alternative heat source or two non electric. We have a fireplace ( preferably on an inside wall). We also have portable inside propane heaters ( that we rarely have ever used unless to heat the deer stands). Don't forget the propane. Also don't forget the fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector. Always have a supply of DRY firewood and kindling for both the fireplace and cooking if necessary.
5. Always bury your water pipes deeper than code especially in the south. You will eventually be glad you did.
6. As my husband says build expecting the unexpected. That heavier snowfall that ever received. That ice storm in the deep south. That loss of electric in an area that never loses power etc. That 100 year flood. The secret is not to prepare for particular scenarios, but try to prepare for whatever might happen.
So many things can and do happen that are unforeseen. I know the following is cliche, but it holds some truth: it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. And as with most things "within reason".
Any thoughts on the subject or input welcomed.