Stay Warm This Winter: Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
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Understanding the Risks of Freezing Temperatures
Last night, the temperature plummeted to a chilling 12 degrees. Living in a manufactured home on a crawl space means we have to be vigilant about the risk of frozen water pipes. While we have heat tape installed, checking its functionality usually requires crawling under the house, which is not an appealing task, especially in freezing weather.
To gauge the cold conditions beneath, I employed a remote wireless thermometer last year. This handy gadget allows me to monitor the crawl space temperature from indoors. I discovered that the heat from our home raises the crawl space temperature by at least ten degrees. Typically, our outdoor temperatures rarely dip below twenty-two degrees, giving me some confidence in our heat tape's efficacy.
However, 12 degrees can pose a threat if sustained for several hours. To mitigate this risk, I let the faucets drip overnight. The common wisdom is to run the faucet located furthest from where the water enters the house. In our case, both ends of the house are equidistant from the main water source.
Why is running water important? While it’s true that flowing water can freeze, it requires much lower temperatures. The primary purpose of letting the water drip is to relieve pressure caused by ice expansion. Ice expands as it forms, which can increase water pressure in the pipes. If the pressure becomes too high, it could lead to burst pipes.
For those who are resourceful, installing a pressure relief valve could help. However, this solution has its drawbacks: if the released water has nowhere to go, it could freeze in the relief pipe, defeating the purpose.
This situation got me pondering the intriguing phenomenon known as the Mpemba Effect—where hot water freezes faster than cold. This paradox is baffling and still lacks a clear explanation, but it has been observed throughout history.
In the video titled "Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé - Baby It's Cold Outside," the warm and festive atmosphere contrasts with the winter chills outside, emphasizing the importance of staying cozy indoors.
The Science Behind the Mpemba Effect
Many scientists, including Aristotle, have noted that hot water can freeze quicker than cold, but the reasons remain elusive. Consider this scenario: Water A is at 70 degrees, and Water B is at 200 degrees. If we cool both to see which freezes first, it's perplexing how Water B could freeze faster after reaching 70 degrees, especially when Water A is already there.
This leads to the notion that heated water may possess a 'memory' related to its hydrogen bonds. Perhaps this memory lingers for a time, influencing the freezing process.
Proposing an Experiment
To explore this further, I would conduct an experiment where 200-degree water is cooled to 70 degrees, then left for a specific period before freezing. By varying the dwell times and cooling rates, we could uncover more about the freezing dynamics.
Additionally, I would test water that was frozen and then reheated before freezing again. Would this take longer than water left undisturbed? If hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role, we might see a difference.
Lastly, it raises questions about whether this phenomenon occurs with other substances. Does it apply to seawater or metals like lead? Further exploration could yield fascinating insights into the freezing and melting processes across various materials.
In the second video, titled "Baby It's Cold Outside," viewers are reminded of the cozy indoor moments that can help us forget the biting cold outside.
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