Quote:
Originally Posted by Mull
Here is a very stupid question...
If your house is going below freezing, or at risk of.. you would NOT want to shut off the water pre-burst, only leave flow on a small stream through your taps (or a high tap) as discussed elsewhere... right?
Shutting off the water would only occur if a pipe did burst, correct? Because if you shut off the water pre-burst, you could not drain your pipes anyway and keeping it flowing keeps warmer water entering the house from the water main?
Or, could you shut off water pre-burst, open a low elevation outside tap and backward drain the pipes outside?
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My condo had a lot of issues with residents having frozen pipes and flooding of units below due to negligence (leaving windows open, turning off the heat while away). They had to constantly post notices during cold snaps to shut off your water if you were leaving for 24-48 hours.
At least if you shut your water off pre-burst, you will be limited to water damage from what is currently in the piping system if you are absent from your home for a prolonged period of time.
If the pipes burst and the valves are open, you will be opening the floodgates to your home if you cannot get to the shut-off in time. With municipal water pressure, you can flood your entire home in minutes before you even have time to get to the valve.