Walkout Basement Baptism

[jinman]

Jim, just be sure to not leave a garden hose hooked, up to a frost free faucet, when it gets really cold, that is what happened to me. I have become a hose fanatic, now when winter comes. ( "honey did you disconnect the hose after you used it" "yes dear")

James

James, we disconnect hoses and put on the foam covers (Dollie Partons ). Evidently, that is still not enough. I think putting pipes behind insulation on the outside is probably the stupidest thing I can think of. Since my water lines to my kitchen and to the outside wall comes through the ceiling, I think I would be well-served to put an access in the ceiling of my basement where I could turn off the supply during really cold nights. I can normally count the number of times the temperature gets into the teens here on one hand in one season. If it stays above 20 degrees, there has never been the slightest problem. If I know a severe cold spell is coming, I could open the access panel in my ceiling and cut off the water supply and allow me to drain the outside wall pipes. I've attached a picture of the water supply going across the ceiling during construction of my house. A panel with a nice cover in my basement rec room wouldn't be a problem and would take away the future danger. In the photo you can see where the pipes going down the wall are wrapped in foam, but when the insulation was installed the pipes were covered on the inside. I don't know why I didn't notice. Hindsight is 20-20.

 

[SandburRanch]

Foam insulation on pipes is another common error and we see it on the TV news at the beginning of winter nearly every year. We are told to open the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink and also told to wrap the pipes. Well DUH, didn't we open the doors to allow heat to warm the pipes. Those folks are in that 90 percent that just don't know category.

 

[jinman]

Foam insulation on pipes is another common error and we see it on the TV news at the beginning of winter nearly every year. We are told to open the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink and also told to wrap the pipes. Well DUH, didn't we open the doors to allow heat to warm the pipes. Those folks are in that 90 percent that just don't know category.

I could not agree more. Good point!

 

[JB4310]

I have that kind, one in front and one in back sticking right out through the bricks. So far, no problem, but I don't trust them. I do have the styrofoam covers over them. But there is no way to cut off the water to those except to go to the meter and turn all the water off. I sure liked the system at our old house better, where the faucets were in the flower beds, front and rear, in something like small meter boxes, with a water shutoff valve and a stop and waste valve for each one.

Bird,
You can trust them they are designed for freezing climates. They shut the water 8-12 inches inside the sill and drain out the part that goes through the wall, that's why you see them dripping after you shut them. You should always have a shut off behind it though anyway.

The problem many people including myself have had is if you leave a hose connected with a spray handle on that does not let the water drain out then it will still freeze and break, no running water/flood cause it closed behind the break, but when You open that sillcock the next time it will leak inside the wall, It's something we see all the time.

JB.

 

[dcyrilc]

So what did you end up doing for the game?

 

[Bird]

You should always have a shut off behind it though anyway.

I agree, but this house doesn't have. Under the kitchen sink and the bathroom lavatories and behind each toilet is a shut off valve, as there should be. But there's no shut off for the 2 outside hydrants nor for the tub/showers except to turn off the water at the meter.

 

[dcyrilc]

I agree, but this house doesn't have. Under the kitchen sink and the bathroom lavatories and behind each toilet is a shut off valve, as there should be. But there's no shut off for the 2 outside hydrants nor for the tub/showers except to turn off the water at the meter.

We have a main shut off where the water enters the house so at least we wouldn't have to go outside and find the meter to get the water shut off. Or find tools.

 

[Bird]

We have a main shut off where the water enters the house so at least we wouldn't have to go outside and find the meter to get the water shut off. Or find tools.

That's the reason I keep one of those "T" handle tools by the garage door all the time. So far the only time I've used it was when the lady next door came running out to say they had a leak that was flooding the house. I shut off the water at the meter first, then went inside to see where the problem was and it was the water heater, which did have its own shut off valve so I was able to turn the water back on at the meter.

 

[dodge man]

We have the faucets that drain back on the outside of our house, no problems at all. I have seen people get a basement dried out without doing to much. I'd just look at the trim and the bottom of the drywall.

 

[jinman]

So what did you end up doing for the game?

We watched it on our other HDTV in our living room. The rec room is still drying with fans, and all the furniture is up on styrofoam blocks. So, my wife and I put a fire in the fireplace and enjoyed the game. . . except for the butchered Star Spangled Banner and some commercials, and the half-time show, and. . . sigh!. . . We enjoyed the game a bunch!:thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

Here are some photos. The first few show the soggy insulation and the pipe with the foam around it where it goes out to the outside spigot. The closeup is a picture of the actual crack in the pipe. Next is with the pipe capped. My CPVC glue was starting to be a little thick, so I thinned it a tiny bit with some purple cleaner. It seemed to work, but it's very non-standard for CPVC.

We have four theater seats in our rec room in front of the TV. They all are electric and the power supplies lay right on the floor. Guess what was completely immersed in water? Yep! I plugged them in and none of them have any output DC voltage. I opened one up and it is a mess inside from where an electrolytic capacitor exploded; not pretty (see last picture). I hooked a 12 volt battery directly to the chairs and all the motors work off the battery, so I don't think any of the motors got water into them. They are right at the level of the water and I don't think it was high enough so that the shaft/bearing/seal was compromised. I have the chairs leaned over so air can dry under them better and I can easily inspect for damage.

 

[Bird]

We watched it on our other HDTV in our living room. The rec room is still drying with fans, and all the furniture is up on styrofoam blocks. So, my wife and I put a fire in the fireplace and enjoyed the game. . . except for the butchered Star Spangled Banner and some commercials, and the half-time show, and. . . sigh!. . . We enjoyed the game a bunch!:thumbsup:

Yes, I really hate to see our national anthem butchered that way. In fact, neither of those two girls should call themselves singers in my opinion. As for the half time show, is it a generational thing or just me? I just cannot comprehand anyone enjoying that, but obviously some must. I've heard the Super Bowl commercials are the most expensive and the best commercials, but I didn't see a single commercial that would lead me to even want to buiy their product.

But in the opinion of an old man who is not a football fan, and who didn't care who won, it was a pretty good game.:laughing:

 

[dcyrilc]

We watched it on our other HDTV in our living room. The rec room is still drying with fans, and all the furniture is up on styrofoam blocks. So, my wife and I put a fire in the fireplace and enjoyed the game. . . except for the butchered Star Spangled Banner and some commercials, and the half-time show, and. . . sigh!. . . We enjoyed the game a bunch!:thumbsup:

Did the kids still make it over to comisserate over the game with you?

 

[dcyrilc]

We have four theater seats in our rec room in front of the TV. They all are electric and the power supplies lay right on the floor. Guess what was completely immersed in water? Yep! I plugged them in and none of them have any output DC voltage. I opened one up and it is a mess inside from where an electrolytic capacitor exploded; not pretty (see last picture). I hooked a 12 volt battery directly to the chairs and all the motors work off the battery, so I don't think any of the motors got water into them. They are right at the level of the water and I don't think it was high enough so that the shaft/bearing/seal was compromised. I have the chairs leaned over so air can dry under them better and I can easily inspect for damage.

Hopefully you can just replace the power supplies for a decient price and be good again. At least as far as the chairs are concerned.

 

[jinman]

Did the kids still make it over to comisserate over the game with you?

No, my two granddaughters ended up being called into work and my SIL who missed several weather days last week was called in also to help finish a military project on time. That left only my Daughter and one young granddaughter. They didn't want to drive 90 miles one way and not get to go home until the game was over at 10 pm local time. My grandson is in the USAF at Keesler AFB. We'll all do it another time when all the schedules come together. We get to see them often.:thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

Hopefully you can just replace the power supplies for a decient price and be good again. At least as far as the chairs are concerned.

Even if I can't find exact replacements, they are 24 vdc 1.5 amp power supplies. I shouldn't have too hard a time finding a suitable replacement. My guess is many manufacturers use the same power supplies and mechanisms.

 

[mikim]

Jim-- you're right my flood was rain water backed up (10" in 2 hours) ... In this new house we have a water maniblock in the laundry room where I can turn off and/or drain each and every outlet in the house including the outside spigots. And it's all pex that we hear such good things about....jury still out with me. And it's all under the floor and wrapped and sorta in the insulation under there as well. (it sticks out here and there but still has the foam wrap on it)

 

[jinman]

I talked to the Hartford Insurance rep yesterday. He wasn't the adjuster, just the claim rep. He told me that if I wanted the carpet up because of odor, they would honor that claim. The jury is still out. . . The adjuster is supposed to call today and make an appointment. However, with our weather going south tomorrow, he may not be able to get here for several days. I'll know more after he does his inspection.

 

[JB4310]

He told me that if I wanted the carpet up because of odor, they would honor that claim. The jury is still out. . .

Did you mention it's glued? Not sure if that could be removed without causing damage.
Anytime we have to lift even small areas of glued carpet it's a major PITN!

JB.

 

[jinman]

Did you mention it's glued?

Yep! It's glued to a concrete floor, so I'm thinking there is very little there to damage. If it had been a wooden subfloor, I'd sure agree.

The adjuster is due to stop by tomorrow afternoon. After he is here, we'll know a lot more.