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?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

> Why do they recommend doing this at night only and not during the day—for example, when you’re away at work?

Usually it gets colder at night. You know, with the lack of sun.

> If the temperature is below freezing both periods what is the difference?

Colder temperatures can resulting in freezing temperatures penetrating deeper into your structure than otherwise. For example pipes in an exterior wall might freeze only when the outside temperature is well below zero as otherwise the interior of the wall remains warmer than freezing.

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