How do I winterize my water pipes during winter while I may be away for a couple of months. I live in Ohio.?
Answers:
You can also hire a company to turn your water off & blow out your pipes. That way, there's no standing water in your lines.
They do it for irrigation pipes, I'm sure they can do it for a house.
Other answers:
If the electric is going to on in the house for the furnace to run, I'll assume that you plan to keep the heat in the house at least in the 50's. In that case, there is nothing you need to do with the pipes...unless you have a faucet on an outside wall...then you may want to wrap the pipes in insulation so that they do not freeze.
If the electric is going to on in the house for the furnace to run, I'll assume that you plan to keep the heat in the house at least in the 50's. In that case, there is nothing you need to do with the pipes...unless you have a faucet on an outside wall...then you may want to wrap the pipes in insulation so that they do not freeze.
You can turn down the temp to the hot water heater but I would not drain it. You can heat tape the pipes that are close to the outside walls that may freeze up. most homes have a shut off for the outside faucets that are used for watering the grass etc. be sure to close these and then open the outside faucets all the way once you have closed the inside valves.
I had the same same problem. I bought a heated wire from the hardware store and ran it the length of the water line. Then I wrapped the pipe in pink insulation and then further wrapped the pink insulation in plastic wrap and taped it tight. Water lines haven't frozen in the five years since I done it. Even at -50C! No lie!
Leave the heat on at least 60 and open the cabinet doors. However since you live in a rural area you may want to drain the pipes or at least wrap with a good insulation..
If you are going to keep the heat on at 50 - 60 degrees there is no need to do anything. I've never had an outside faucet freeze even at temperatures -20F below outside. Wrapping the pipes in heated tape is a waste of money in my opinion.
Set the thermostat to 55 degrees, turn the electric circuit breakers off to the well pump motor and the hot water heater. Turn the main water valve off. Have some one check on the house once in awhile.