What do I do about freezing pipes?

[Ilmater]

My pipes froze in my new house the other day, and I know it was because of me not having closed the vents in my crawl space. I remedied that by getting some space heaters down there and running them for awhile. I went under the house, and I now know that the pipes are insulated, as is the crawl space door. Since then, I've kept all the water running so that they don't freeze again.

Now to the problem... one pipe did freeze last night: the pipe leading to the dish washer. WTF can I do about that? I can't keep a space heater running all day down there! Even if I did, it would take 4 or 5 of them to keep that space above 32 degrees as cold as it's been here lately! I can't just shut off the water to the house, can I? Won't the pipes freeze anyway? Anyone that has any experience with this, I would greatly appreciate your help.

 

[brandonbull]

I'd like to help but I live where it's almost 80F a few days before Xmas.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: brandonbull
I'd like to help but I live where it's almost 80F a few days before Xmas.

:laugh:

it was about 70 here the other day, low 60s today. yay

wash dishes by hand for a few days?

 

[Modelworks]

I live in NC where you can get frozen/busted pipes. The two things we do are:

Leave a faucet or two running really low, almost to the point its just dripping. It has to get very cold for running water to freeze.
Place a light in the area, the heat from a 60W bulb is enough to keep water pipes and pumps from freezing.

 

[lupi]

there's always keep a faucet slowly dripping during the night that I've heard.

 

[Rubycon]

Insulate exposed pipes with foam like armaflex.

In extreme cold the use of heating tape may be necessary. Follow the directions! They are low watt density but if the instructions say not to wrap in a spiral fashion do NOT!

Are the pipes copper or plastic? Some plastics are more resistant to freezing than others but avoiding a freeze is recommended as it will reduce or halt the flow.

 

[nonameo]

Lay some new pipe. Your wife/gf can help you.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Insulate exposed pipes with foam like armaflex.

In extreme cold the use of heating tape may be necessary. Follow the directions! They are low watt density but if the instructions say not to wrap in a spiral fashion do NOT!

Are the pipes copper or plastic? Some plastics are more resistant to freezing than others but avoiding a freeze is recommended as it will reduce or halt the flow.

Heat tape is the way to go if your temperatures even occasionally run to the negatives and in particular if you have any open spaces underneath. Saves a lot of trouble in the long run.

 

[CoachB]

For the dishwasher, you can try leaving the cabinet door under the kitchen sink open (and maybe a cabinet door on the other side of the dishwasher. Sometimes it can get pretty cold in a base cabinet especially if they are along an outside wall.
Good luck!

 

[TheInternet1980]

Flamethrower. Done.