It's Winter

When it is winter, it gets cold. When it is cold, the temperature drops. When the temperature drops to 32 degrees water freezes. When water freezes it expands. When water expands, it ignores the fact that it is in a non-flexible container like a hose clamp and expands anyway, breaking the clamp. When clamps that are meant to contain water break, water escapes.

So when it's winter, leave the heat on when you go on vacation. Even heating to 50 degrees will keep the water in the hose.

Fortunately, my neighbor has his own water shut off valve and cut off my water. The clamp is under my sink, and looks like an easy self fix, so hopefully no expensive piping to be replaced. But it'll be a 'fun' project for the morning.

Jeff
posted by Jeff Gatlin at 12/26/2004 10:59:00 PM