We had very cold temps and wind-advisory-speed winds overnight and either of those is, it seems, pretty much guaranteed to take out at least some of the water.
I shouldn't complain, as the ONE faucet I leave dripping... the one that usually freezes first... is still running, so at least we have a place to fill container and haul to the commode, etc. The down side of that is that it is a bathroom sink so gallon jugs don't fit under the faucet and I have to use a measuring cup or the stovetop percolator to transfer water to the containers.
We have several months to contemplate the repairs/upgrades to the "underneath"... we knew freezing pipes were an issue when we bought... but it was late in the season and I wanted a winter under the belt before deciding what needs doing.
I am at present contemplating the following:
- removing the current skirting which is plywood that is held in place at the bottom by a vinyl channel and at the top by a vinyl track and replacing it with plywood affixed to a 2x4 "wall" under the trailer, with removable rather than hinged access planels strategically placed -- and that means NONE facing the prevailing winds on the west end of the structure.
- removing the sagging and likely water-soaked fiberglass insulation under the trailer
- redoing all the water pipe with something with which heat tape can be used for the entire length, installed in such a way that it can also be insulated but yet accessed
- applying spray foam insulation around the inside of the perimeter of the skirting and under the trailer to effectively insulate AND remove drafts. I am thinking 6" around the side and 8" underneath the trailer
- apply rigid foam board insulation to the inside of the removable access panels, weatherstrip and secure said panels so as to avoid drafts
and how to pay for this all and do it in a reasonable time frame with me working 4 days a week on a varying schedule and K growing weaker.
But we will...
2 comments:
Oh dear, frozen pipes is a pain. Sounds like you're coping though. I've heard that the heat tape works. You could also try that thick pink insulation. Wrap it around the pipes and use duck tape to hold it on. That works.
Well, you see most of the pipes are already up under the floor, invisible in the insulation under the trailer, which is covered on the underside with heavy black plastic tarp-like stuff... original issue as far as I can tell...
But apparently woefully inadequate. the pipe that I was trying to thaw is not the one that brings water to the kitchen sink, for starters. And yes, heat tape works WHEN IT WORKS, but this one is apparently dead.
The whole underside of this tin box is getting a serious work over come spring/summer... we're pulling out all the alleged insulation, re-doing all the plumbing (some of which was shut off when we bought the place on account of broken pipes in the past).
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