Running water at night when temperatures are below freezing

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I’ve been told to run the faucet furthest from the water meter at a slow trickle at night to prevent the pipes in our two story home from freezing (it’s about 5 degrees F where I am). Why do they recommend doing this at night only and not during the day—for example, when you’re away at work? If the temperature is below freezing both periods what is the difference? Wouldn’t you want to do this day and night?

In: Physics

22 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

I had a small half bath with the pipes in the wall (north facing, so no sun during winter here in Massachusetts.)

Every year when it got to single digits we would leave the faucet dripping to prevent freezing.

We had the pipes relocated so they are interior, but, they come up through an old section of porch so even today when it gets to single digits we have to leave it dripping.

Luckily it only happens a few nights a year.

Probably frozen three times in the past 10 years….always worrisome.

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