Just to add something: water pipes freezing can be made less likely by leaving the water flowing slowly out of a faucet. Moving water does not freeze as easily. While I wouldn’t use this as any kind of regular protection, it can help buy you that extra peace of mind when you’re probably fine, but still slightly worried about a particular cold snap.
It took me a looooooooong time to realize that trying to minimize waste in “clever” ways (i.e. “why do people do X, it’s so wastefull!”) actually ended up being more wastefull in the long run because by doing so I was impacting other things I didn’t understand.
My suggestion: don’t try to be clever, or original. Do some serious research and talk to people before embarking on these journeys.
Housing for example is built making a ton of expectations, such as the expectation that the space will be heated. When it is not, you risk problems, starting with freezing pipes, sure, but also expansion/contraction and humidity issues (too much, too little), which can lead to all kinds of problems, including mold growth, cracks in walls, buckling floors, shifting structure, and many other things I don’t understand.
You should talk with an HVAC expert before experimenting on your house.
In older stick frame homes, it’s not just practical but essential. They were built to breathe, unlike modern designs. That means that even if you’re keeping the entire house warm you could still experience burst pipes.
Just to add something: water pipes freezing can be made less likely by leaving the water flowing slowly out of a faucet. Moving water does not freeze as easily. While I wouldn’t use this as any kind of regular protection, it can help buy you that extra peace of mind when you’re probably fine, but still slightly worried about a particular cold snap.
Interesting if not super applicable/practicable (I hate waste, love dripping sound tho lol. Very conflicted)
It took me a looooooooong time to realize that trying to minimize waste in “clever” ways (i.e. “why do people do X, it’s so wastefull!”) actually ended up being more wastefull in the long run because by doing so I was impacting other things I didn’t understand.
My suggestion: don’t try to be clever, or original. Do some serious research and talk to people before embarking on these journeys.
Housing for example is built making a ton of expectations, such as the expectation that the space will be heated. When it is not, you risk problems, starting with freezing pipes, sure, but also expansion/contraction and humidity issues (too much, too little), which can lead to all kinds of problems, including mold growth, cracks in walls, buckling floors, shifting structure, and many other things I don’t understand.
You should talk with an HVAC expert before experimenting on your house.
In older stick frame homes, it’s not just practical but essential. They were built to breathe, unlike modern designs. That means that even if you’re keeping the entire house warm you could still experience burst pipes.