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eljefino t1_j6ktddq wrote

No. They bury the pipe from your well to your basement under +/- four feet of dirt, below the frost line.

This winter has been mild so the frost hasn't gotten very far down, and the snow cover insulates the dirt from the cold air above even more.

Like others said, worry about your basement. Don't use a set-back thermostat, one that drops in temp over certain hours, as the time spent dropping is enough time for your heat pipes to freeze. Get a sliver of ice in an elbow and it blocks flow, thereby stopping your heat dead and making things oh so much worse.

Yes heat is expensive, but for 36 hours this upcoming Fri-Sat, run it at 72 degrees.

We had a "cold winter" ten years back and the city pipes were freezing and breaking, but it was in March, when the frost got down beyond its usual level and got to the pipes. Building codes dictate the "four feet" rule depending on your specific area, including a usually adequate margin of safety.

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MicasNoggin OP t1_j6ku5eg wrote

Thanks. I have a heated basement, hopefully nothing freezes.

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jasonhitsthings t1_j6mewib wrote

Heated basement is 100% fool-proof. If you have a bathroom sink with pipes in the walls of a finished basement, definitely leave the vanity door open. Also, keep the water running on a trickle. It'll prevent freezing. My basement is heated too, but my bathroom sink pipe still froze. It didn't burst thankfully, but it did freeze.

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Oldphile t1_j6mz0qo wrote

100% fool-proof unless it's a walk out basement. My neighbors baseboard heater froze. Nothing between the heater and outside except drywall, 3/4" air gap and concrete. His thermostat was set at 45F. My plumber advised to never set the thermostat lower than 55F.

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jasonhitsthings t1_j6n1eo4 wrote

Ha... my fat fingers betrayed me. I intended to write "ISN'T 100% fool proof. You and I are on the same page.

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badhmorrigan t1_j6mkw9o wrote

I'm turning my heat up today, but I have a heat pump and it doesn't work all that well under 0. (Older unit)

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