Baby it's cold outside

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
At the start of each winter here we have a good amount of drivers that have to relearn how to drive in winter conditions and some never seem to either. I remember when we used bias ply tires here and you knew it was really cold when you spent the first few miles humping along the highway because of the flat spot on your tires. No such problem with radial tires.

Bob
Isn't there a tire change required?
 

R181

Grumpy old man
I experienced -27 F in the late '80's in Knoxville, Tennessee. Apparently, we were the coldest place in the US. It had been 87 earlier that month. No way to get acclimated with those extremes and our houses were not built as they are in Canada, I assume. Pipe froze and did much damage. Fortunately I went under the house and stuff newspaper and clothes in as many crevices as I saw.
Since our climate in most of Canada runs the range -30 C or more to +30 C or more, you are probably right in your assumption on how houses are built here. I doubt you'd need those same build standards under normal weather conditions in states like Tennessee. The water pipes that connect our house to the city water main are buried at least 6 meters below the ground level to be below the frost line and prevent freezing. Even then it is sometimes not enough and the water line to your house can freeze.

Bob
 

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
Since our climate in most of Canada runs the range -30 C or more to +30 C or more, you are probably right in your assumption on how houses are built here. I doubt you'd need those same build standards under normal weather conditions in states like Tennessee. The water pipes that connect our house to the city water main are buried at least 6 meters below the ground level to be below the frost line and prevent freezing. Even then it is sometimes not enough and the water line to your house can freeze.

Bob
Do you leave a faucet running at night?
 

R181

Grumpy old man
Isn't there a tire change required?
As with bias ply tires there are summer and winter versions of radial tires. To make it even more confusing there are all season radial tires which are winter rated. It depends where you live in Canada whether or not winter tires are mandated by law between certain dates. Some insurance companies will give you a rebate if you use winter tires too. Unfortunately, some people still do not have the CDF to use winter tires.

Bob
 

R181

Grumpy old man
Do you leave a faucet running at night?
If the water service line to your house from the city water main freezes, they come and thaw the line. Then you then can run a faucet at a trickle in the lowest level in your house all day long. Then in a few months the city tells you that you can stop doing that.

Our neighbour had their water line to the house freeze, thawed by the city and then turned the faucet off. Needless to say the line froze again, the city took days to come back and thaw the line again at which time they were told in no uncertain terms to not shut the faucet off until told to do so by the city.

Once the frost line is below the buried pipe you can shut the water off till the spring thaw.

Bob
 

TobyC

Patriot
Since our climate in most of Canada runs the range -30 C or more to +30 C or more, you are probably right in your assumption on how houses are built here. I doubt you'd need those same build standards under normal weather conditions in states like Tennessee. The water pipes that connect our house to the city water main are buried at least 6 meters below the ground level to be below the frost line and prevent freezing. Even then it is sometimes not enough and the water line to your house can freeze.

Bob
20 feet deep?!!! How? Pipe pusher? A 20 foot deep trench would be insane!
 

Vacumatic

Testy
As with bias ply tires there are summer and winter versions of radial tires. To make it even more confusing there are all season radial tires which are winter rated. It depends where you live in Canada whether or not winter tires are mandated by law between certain dates. Some insurance companies will give you a rebate if you use winter tires too. Unfortunately, some people still do not have the CDF to use winter tires.

Bob
Winter tyres are worthwhile, even in the UK, they reduce braking distances at 7 c and below, in addition to great grip in the snow. There is a good YouTube vid comparing 4wd on all season tyres and 2wd on winter tyres, the cars were try to climb an indoor ski slope, the 2wd car won.
 

Twelvefret

Forum GOD!
A friend had a Subaru, old Forester, that he had to rescue his big truck buddies with a few Winters back...Ha ha. The original Jeep 4WD and under powered. A good combination.
 

R181

Grumpy old man
Winter tyres are worthwhile, even in the UK, they reduce braking distances at 7 c and below, in addition to great grip in the snow. There is a good YouTube vid comparing 4wd on all season tyres and 2wd on winter tyres, the cars were try to climb an indoor ski slope, the 2wd car won.
Yes, they certainly are worthwhile as they are made with a softer rubber compound to help with the grip in cold weather and better tread designed for snow. You don't want them on too early or keep them on too long as they wear faster that summer tires due to their softer rubber compound.

Bob
 

TobyC

Patriot
Don't ask me, the depth is as stated by the city itself under the frozen water service heading.


Bob
" Most water service pipes are buried two metres below ground to protect against frost "

That's only 6.5 feet.
 

TobyC

Patriot
During our cold winters, some City residences can be at risk for frozen water pipes inside or outside the home. Most water service pipes are buried two metres below ground to protect against frost; however, extremely cold weather or fluctuations in temperature can result in frost pushing deeper into the ground and freezing pipes.

What you can do

Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of frozen water pipes:

  • If water piping inside your home is inside cupboards next to exterior walls, keep cupboard doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes
  • Do not set your furnace lower than 55 degrees F (~13 degrees C) at night, or when the house is vacant
  • In the fall, close and drain any pipes leading to outside faucets
  • Wrap foam pipe insulation around pipes most susceptible to freezing, such as pipes near outside walls, in crawlspaces, or in attics
  • Seal air leaks in homes and garages
  • If you will be away for a long time, close off your main service valve in your basement and open all taps to allow pipes to drain, and have someone check your home regularly
  • When renovating, do not leave plumbing in contact with the exterior wall of the basement. Whenever possible, insulation and vapour barriers should be placed between the exterior wall and the plumbing to prevent freezing. If this is not possible, consider leaving the plumbing exposed.
  • Remember to heat your crawlspace and close all vents for the winter months. For chronic freezing issues in crawlspaces, you can install heat trace cable, secured to water lines and wrapped in insulation.
  • Think about the location of your underground water service pipe when removing snow or planning landscaping or driveway work. Snow provides natural insulation to prevent frost from deeply penetrating the ground. When a water service line is directly under a driveway or an area where the snow is removed or compacted, the water service pipe is more likely to freeze.
Have frozen pipes in the past?

If your home has had frozen water services in the past, and the part that froze was on City property, we may advise you to leave a cold-water tap running slightly if frost depths are deeper than normal. We will adjust your water bill to consider this. If the freezing was located on private property, any extra cost is the property owner’s responsibility.

Experiencing a frozen water service this winter?

If you suspect you have a frozen water service pipe now,
please call the City Dispatchers at 625-2195. The City maintains an inventory of equipment to thaw out frozen water pipes and will respond as soon as possible.

Please read our handout: How the City Provides Support: Suspected Frozen Water Service (PDF)
 
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