This is a new issue for me. Daughter bought new home this summer, a two-story brick 4500 sq ft. Gas heat, two separate systems, with laundry and gas heater on second story. Washer and dryer on second story, in bonus room above garage. Busy with t-giving and didn't look hard enough for trouble, but when she told me what was going on I got alarmed.....garage still has stuff not moved into the house yet, and is good path for three dogs in and out of house so it stays open. Not real detail oriented cause they are more into bigger projects :o) So, daughter tells me her washer won't work when it is real cold out....commercial type, brand unknown. Well, did you try running water upstairs first? Adjust temp setting on washer? Nothing worked until it warmed up outdoors. So, we go exploring....in corner of garage, back side of fireplace, is inset covered with pegboard...all utils to 2nd story apparently go up there. At base of pegboard are two happy little water shutoff valves! There appears to be a water stain all the way down from top to the valves........good grief.....brain cells start firing......the house two doors down, same size and design, has had a dumpster parked out front for months, repairing flood damage from broken pipe. So, questions....is heat tape a good idea on these water pipes? Matter whether copper or pvc? Different types of heat tape? I've read of alarms...go on a main line or just appliance? Recommendations from experience would be appreciated. (Yeah, she is leaving the heater on in the garage....might have to have one or two teenagers go without food. They have four.)
- posted
9 years ago