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I don't think people knew what to do.
This is probably unintentionally a dumb question, but would it matter that their pipes are not used to these sorta conditions?
Many don't know how since they have never done it in their lives. And many homes in TX are slab homes so getting to a low point to fully drain is a challenge. Most pipes are PVC with limited wall insulation.
I started dripping all of my faucets last Friday. Finally shut off the main valve on Monday. First of all, Texas does not build in preparation for a winter storm like this. Second, nobody anticipated these extended power outages. And lastly, many people are simply incapable of thinking about it or the ability to shut their water off even if they knew it should be done.
As many have mentioned, I don’t know that homes here have a easy or efficient way to drain the system once you shut off the main water line. And even if there is, no one I know around here knows about it. Most people run the faucets to keep the lines moving when it gets cold. But I am now aware of several people who had the supply line to their hot water heaters freeze and subsequently burst, so I’m guessing they weren’t running the hot water. Also, having running water is pretty important when you’re living in a house without power. Just ask the hundreds of thousands of people without water for days now.
And now many cities are getting boil notices because the water treatment facilities have lost power and have been unable to maintain treatment pressures.
I think that first sentence is probably the biggest reason. If you have never had to deal with it before in your lifetime, you’d just have no idea what to do. And if your power is out, most people probably aren’t spending a lot of time on the internet risking running out of phone battery trying to Google what they should do.
A lot of different reasons for this. Very few people are travelling due to COVID so they are at home. Most people including the local news did not believe the models predicting single digit temps and did not do much prep. External faucets need to be wrapped/covered to prevent freezing/bursting. On our street the only water turnoff valve is out at the street and you need a special tool (sold at hardware stores). Many homes will have an easy turn off valve in the garage or kitchen pantry. Also water heaters tend to be located in the attic or in a closet in the garage. There are no basements. The garage wall is probably not insulated and in the attic there could be wide ranging levels of insulation of the pipes and water heater. Many pipe bursts occur with the cold water pipe entering the water heater. So as mentioned by others it's important to drip faucets on both cold and hot. I don't understand the lower levels of insulation in homes in the South. I am from MN and they insulate homes with 2x6 walls and thick attic insulation and good windows. Seems there is an equally good reason to do the same in the South. The only emphasis down here seems to be "low E" windows to minimize solar heat and UV rays in the summer. You also could get a pipe burst in the lawn irrigation system. Some people will drain the system for the winter. We have never done that; in fact we were continuing to water some flower beds in the yard last week. I usually have one or two sprinkler heads that need to be replaced in the Spring.
would you explain that?culdeus said:
Can you get to the Renaissance hotel in the Arboretum? I heard they were offering rooms for anyone without power.
That's what I did, but now I have barely any pressure. A tiny bit more than a trickle on all faucets. I opened them up hoping maybe it's a partially frozen pipe and the water flow will melt it out.
I've got a little generator, so we aren't in harm's way. But we are definitely in the way of inconvenience, discomfort, discord, and stress.
Well from the videos at Hilton Ft Worth and Dallas CC businesses got slaughtered with broken pipes too.
It may not be you. Many water utilities are struggling with system pressures due to the electric problem.
I think this has to be the main difference. I've lived in the upper midwest most of my adult life and have never touched our water main or left taps dripping (although I'm aware of people doing those things). Every winter, I shut the valves on the two pipes that lead to outdoor faucets - that's it. Our house is over 100 years old and is heated by radiators, so we have a huge boiler in the basement and pipes running all through the house.
Heard the grid collapse claim on KXAN last night said almost causally. Months down if happens. Can’t find anything supporting it on Google. Seems important.
Here's a TLDR for that report in a twitter thread. I hope things return back to normal for you guys soon.
You did post my name on a milk carton once so I feel obligated to come see that you're OK.Tom Skerritt said:
yep. 2011. made a few improvements. apparently not enough. statewide infrastructure collapse on multiple fronts.
