COTTAGE - HEATED WATER LINE - http://www.hvacmechanic.com/ Forums
Original message
| mlmv
 |  "COTTAGE - HEATED WATER LINE"
, posted Thu 22 May 09:02  
We have a heated water line at our cottage, with a submersible pump. Since the electricity goes out quite often, and we have never had a burst pipe or any other problem, is it okay to turn off the heated water line when we are not there. We visit the cottage 2 - 3 times after New Year's Eve each year.
Our electric bills are horrendous over the winter, and, maybe this would be a good way to cut our usage.
Thanks for any help.
mlmv
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Replies:
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| yuri
| "Re(1):COTTAGE - HEATED WATER LINE" , posted Thu 22 May 12:48:
I would not shut it off. Even if the electricity goes off it takes several hours or longer for the pipes to get cold enough to freeze. You may have gotten lucky and not reached the freezing point yet. Definitely will happen if you shut it off. Just the price you pay to own a cottage. If it is that expensive perhaps you can bring water with you instead and drain the pipes for winter. Buy a chemical toilet or use the fresh air, outdoors type.I repiped a frozen cottage once, quite a mess. The new PEX pipe is less prone to bursting.
Yuri
[this message was edited by yuri on Thu 22 May 13:41] |
| | Freon
| "Re(2):COTTAGE - HEATED WATER LINE" , posted Thu 22 May 13:55
Another thought... Check the pitch of all your piping. If it was installed correctly, it should all pitch back to the water tank where the submersible pump line enters the house. You can drain you house very easily. Turn off the pump. Open a sink valve at the lowest point... outside faucet or inside sink faucet. Once the pressure has dropped to zero, open the valve at the water tank. You may need a hose to run it outside.
Turn off the hot water heater and drain it too. Go and open every faucet (sink and shower) so the water in the pipes can now drain back to the water tank drain. If the pipes are correctly pitched you should be good to go for this part.
Lastly, the traps. Buy a few gallong of RV antifreeze and liberally pour some into EVERY sink and shower drain. Remove as much water from the toilet bowls as you can with a small cup and now add antifreeze to those. Try for a 50/50 mixture, depending on your lowest temperature expected.
This process can be very quick once you have done it a few times. To open the house, close all valves, turn on the pump and open a hot water valve (sink preferably) furthest from the hot water heater. You'll get air mostly until the tank fills. Let the water run and also open a cold water valve. Let it run until any rust signs are gone.
Success depends on pipe pitch. Buy a propane torch, solder and flux just in case.
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