How prevent kitchen hot water pipes from freezing? Was told to drip the hot water overnight --- doesn't work.?

Question

Read an article about pouring antifreeze into sink, toilets, etc. but Yahoo answers said NO! How do I prevent my kitchen hot water pipes from freezing overnight when we get single digits? Dripping the hot water didn't work. It's only the kitchen hot water pipe that freezes in low temps. How do I prevent it? The pipes are insulated.

Answer 1

there might be a open space below the kitchen (was it an extension?), but a trouble light under the counter or where ever it's exposed

Answer 2

Part of what you say makes not sense. If the hot water freezes, why doesn't the cold water freeze? That's the one that should freeze first. Antifreeze will only work for the drains which is not your problem. The pipes must be located in an unheated very cold place. If possible relocate the pipes or get the space they're in heated. If that cannot be done then you have to get heater tape. Wrap the pipes with the tape and then wrap with insulation. Plug in the tape and they will not freeze. If you can't find one with a thermostat, you can add one easy enough.

Answer 3

You can get heaters for pipes. They are strips you wind around in a spiral, but you'd need to put it under the insulation.

If it freezes under the sink the light bulb idea may work, so would leaving the cabinet door open to let heat from the room in.

If it's freezing in the basement you might have to turn off the shutoff between the tank and the faucet and open the tap to bleed the line. It'll still get cold but it won't burst. If there's still water at the coldest point it will still freeze but without knowing the configuration there's no way to know.

Why is only the hot water line freezing? Is it routed differently than the cold? If so, after where they diverge is the trouble spot.

Answer 4

The problem is the routing of the hot water line.The exposure to cold must be corrected. There are variables that cause freezing. Is the line piped within an unheated outside wall? Is there a source of heat to the pipe or is it totally unaccessable in some areas. Pipe insulation works both ways. As daily temperature rises it prevents warmer air from thawing the line. Do you leave cabinet doors open under sink to add warmth to lines? Can you wrap line with electrical heat tape and use when its below freezing. The reason for letting faucet drip it is less likely to freeze, though it still can under very cold conditions. If line is within outside wall you should cut and remove rear of cabinet exposing both lines. Insulate stud wall behind pipe allowing warm air to reach lines. Remove pipe insulation in this area. Install air grill to repair back of cabinet. Always leave cabinet doors open when its low temperature.

Answer 5

Cinnamon Star Anise Cloves Ginger Garlic Thai peppers Soy sauce Lime juice (If you feel like putting something in the water, then try vegetables and noodles)

Answer 6

keep searching,try heat tape