frigophobia ?

[KWBoy]

There are lots of water salvage calls being dispatched throughout the Tri-Community.
The number of calls is increasing as areas begin to thaw.

Wrightwood has not began to thaw so keep an eye open for flowing water in neighboring houses in the next few days. Water damage is very expensive if it is not caught immediately.

Wrightwood is correct it is very expensive. We have experienced having water damage before. At our old 1929 house the cast iron sewer line cracked under the house and we didn't know it for a long time. They had to come in and clean up all the crap and water and put fans everywhere. We had to go to a hotel for two nights because we couldn't sleep with the noise of the fans. That was one huge expense.


So if you see or hear running water under some ones house shut there water off at the meter. Or if you have to leave and your pipes aren't thawed out I would turn the water off at the meter just to be sure and when you get home turn it back on when you get home and see if you have any leaks.

[KWBoy]

It sure seems that putting foam insulation on frozen pipes would cause them to stay frozen longer.

It would sure seem that way. Last time I checked if you insulate cold in it stays that way a lot longer than being un-Insulated. If your going to insulate you should wait till your pipes are all thawed out.

Guess these people have never heard of "preventive maintenance."     I was at Mtn Hardware yesterday and saw people buying a lot of foam pipe wrap. 

We went to True Value and Home Depot yesterday and one of the workers at Home Depot told a guy to put insulation over the pipes now before it freezes even more and to use electrical tape to hold the foam insulation on the pipe... Ive never heard that one before.

[Wrightwood]

A call was just dispatched for water flow at Apple Valley Insulation   

[Nolena]

A call was just dispatched for water flow at Apple Valley Insulation   

Now that's funny! (Probably not so funny for them.)

[Wrightwood]

The number of calls is increasing as the day warms up. Lots of businesses and sprinkler systems in the high desert have busted pipes.

[KWBoy]

The number of calls is increasing as the day warms up. Lots of businesses and sprinkler systems in the high desert have busted pipes.

Ive been listing to all those.

Also picking up on the 2 Injuries at Mt. High that there going to be flying out shortly from the Caltrans yard

[ChattyCathy]

Okay, now what?  I just discovered I DO NOT have hot water - I had it yesterday.  And of course I discovered this after coloring my hair and jumping in the shower to rinse it out - needless to say I jumped right out of the shower -- and I've done my best to get this rinsed out.

So why don't I have hot water?  I still have heat, so my gas is running fine.  What do I do to get hot water back?  I left my tub dripping cold water last night.  None of my hot water faucets turn on today, and I still have NO water in my laundry room.

What do I do?  I thought I had already done everything right!!!

[Freighthauler]

Check the cold water line heading into the tank. Most of these are not insulated. Also your pilot light might have turned off.
Also check the water valve at the bottom of your tank to check if there  is water, and to see if it is hot.

[KWBoy]

Okay, now what?  I just discovered I DO NOT have hot water - I had it yesterday.  And of course I discovered this after coloring my hair and jumping in the shower to rinse it out - needless to say I jumped right out of the shower -- and I've done my best to get this rinsed out.

So why don't I have hot water?  I still have heat, so my gas is running fine.  What do I do to get hot water back?  I left my tub dripping cold water last night.  None of my hot water faucets turn on today, and I still have NO water in my laundry room.

What do I do?  I thought I had already done everything right!!!

You should have told me yesterday you still didn't have water to your washer. I could have figured out where it was frozen. It may just be frozen in the lines that connect the washer to the wall faucet bib.

[ChattyCathy]

Funky, I can't be imposing that much!  And I really did think it would have been fixed by now, as that room is now the warmest in the house with the heater in there.

I checked the water heater - and besides not knowing what the heck I'm looking for or at - one of the hoses coming out of the top was warm to the touch.  And I'm getting a trickle of water from the hot water side - so hopefully whatever is frozen will soon be unfrozen. 

[BikingBrian]

So if you see or hear running water under some ones house shut there water off at the meter. Or if you have to leave and your pipes aren't thawed out I would turn the water off at the meter just to be sure and when you get home turn it back on when you get home and see if you have any leaks.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it up to WW this weekend as originally planned.  I keep the house at 50 degrees when I'm not there, and last year I put in foam insulation on all the pipes under the house, but just to be sure ... If there's someone who'd be willing to turn my water off from the street for me (it's easily visible from the street), please PM me!

[BikingBrian]

If there's someone who'd be willing to turn my water off from the street for me (it's easily visible from the street), please PM me!

I've got a taker already, thanks for the PM's!

[KWBoy]

Were going into night #2 without water. Just stocked up on 10 gallons of water. Hopefully I can get another part I need In the morning.

[ForestGal]

Were going into night #2 without water. Just stocked up on 10 gallons of water. Hopefully I can get another part I need In the morning.

Gawd Funky, good luck!  I don't know how to do anything,  luckily everything is working tonite at my house.

I hate this cold weather......!

[Thiassi]

Our heater stopped working after the first cold night.  If I purge the gas line, following the instructions on the panel, it will run for about 10 minutes and shut itself off again. The fire place is getting a workout!

[mollymaekin]

Hoping for some advice....

The water for my wash machine will not turn on. Yesterday, I tried and got a trickle and decided to try to let it run its course, well it started leaking from the bottom and smoking...I think because it stayed on the wash cyle the whole time and because water wasn't coming out it started smoking.  Do you think this is a frozen pipe issue or wash machine issue? I did turn it to the spin cycle and it was able to get the water out of the machine fine, but only a trickle still comes out when I turn on the water.

I tried calling Campbell's Appliance, but they are closed until Feb. Do I call CFord Plumbing? Basically, I don't want to have to pay for two different service calls if it is just one issue. Does anyone have any ideas?? Oh, and if its is a wash machine issue, do you know of anyone else who fixes wash machines? Thank you!! I never thought I would say this, but I just want to do laundry again!! 

[ezzpete]

disconnet the water from the washer and see if there is water coming from the hose.

[Wrightwood]

Pete is right.
Turn off the water lines feeding the washer. Disconnect them and  test each of them to see if water flows through the hoses. If it does then the washer is frozen. If the water doesn't run in the hot and cold water lines then the pipes feeding those lines are frozen.

The washing machine could also be frozen and if the pump is frozen the belt would slip and could cause smoke.

You might have two problems.

[mollymaekin]

Thank you ezzpete and Wrightwood! I disconnected the hoses and those faucets are working as are the faucets that go to the sink. So, does this mean that the pump is frozen? I just put a heater in there and the dryer is running. Do you think this will help thaw out the pump? If not, what would you suggest? Thanks!

[Wrightwood]

You are doing the right thing. If water was comming from under the washer I'm afraid to say it doesn't sound good.

When the washer thaws and you test the machine don't put much water in it, try the drain cycle and be prepared in case it leaks.