how often do you "thaw your pipe"?

PondScm007

just wondering how often anyone does, if they even have that problem... my sump pump line keeps freezing up, and its a huge pain to go thaw out the pipe with a heat gun, not to mention an "unmentionables"-freezing job... its already shortened to almost where it comes out of the ground, but it kept happening... thers another pump in the hole with a flexible pipe going out to the back yard via the basement door which is crakced open slightly, and makes it damn cold down there...bahh any ideas anyone plz?!?!
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ROOFCUTTER · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 6:57 pm Post subject:

well Im not from cold country but I have a friend from alaska who tells me they have heating pad or wires that are made for keeping water pipes from freezing.
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sgt stutter · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 6:59 pm Post subject:

This will fix it

Move to Southern California

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Blown · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 7:09 pm Post subject:

I do that sort of stuff for a living. Pump stuff. heh Man when we have cold spells we end up working till midnight thawing out ppls pipes. Crawling under houses with a propane torch and try not to burn the place down. They make heat tape, but they tend to not last long but might wanna check that out, or wrap the pipe with isulation. Insulation really only slows the effect, so if it gets warm enough durning the day it may not freeze anymore.

Blue Ruler · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 7:27 pm Post subject:

You can get a electric heating wrap. Just wrap it around the water line and plug it into the 110 outlet. This is what we use at work and it works great. We've had the same wrap, never changed, on the lines for the last 5 years. WE plug it in during November and unplug it in March. Just leave it on and your problem goes bye-bye til spring.
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thewz · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 7:27 pm Post subject:

Or you can be like my dad, ignore it and wait for the pipes to explode and flood the basement...

Secret Squirrel 006 · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 8:30 pm Post subject:

hoaxie · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:52 pm Post subject:

Mongoose_Slayer · Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 10:37 pm Post subject:

Hehe, yesterday the whole city here was out of water for a few hours because of some major pipe freezing or something

<TVB>IdiotSavant · Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2003 11:09 am Post subject:

Insulate all you can see as well as you can.
Also try using a drop light with a high power bulb in it. Turned on and leave close enough to the pipes to keep a little heat on them. Works for my brother who lives in NY. =)
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My Personal Insanity · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2003 1:44 pm Post subject:

Chan · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2003 2:58 pm Post subject:

after a certain depth in the ground everything stays the same temp. Bury it and hope for the besst is my guess.
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