We woke up yesterday to find we had no water! The water pipes had frozen. We live in a pretty built up, residential part of Nova Scotia so didn't think this would be a problem. Is it common here in Canada? The cause of the freeze was not inside the house, but from the mains to the house. The water company sent someone out and said it wasn't their problem, but ours. We managed to get hold of a plumber who charged C$300 to thaw them out. He has said it will cost about C$4000 to fix the problem permanently. The house is about 10 years old so would have thought any problems would have been sorted by now. The other worrying thing is that the guy from the Water Board made us sign a form to say we had a problem and if it affects our neighbours, and they have to come out and dig up the road, we will be responsible for all the costs!
I know we have had below average temperatures here for the last couple of weeks, it hasn't got much above -10 degs most days, but surely the houses are built to withstand this? Are we doing something wrong? Didn't have a problem last winter when we first moved into the house, but it was generally warmer.

You could put trace heating in to run along the pipes, its like a flat cable that you connect to power, and you cable tie to to pipes and does'nt use much current. this in not that expensive

Thats bizarre innit? Ive not heard of problems like that, the Building Code generally requires pipes are well below the point that freezing would occur, and although its cold there at the mo, its got nothing on the Western Provinces.

I'd be inclined to get someone to inspect those pipes (video inspection). It could be that the company who built the house didn't do it right or to code. It's only ten years ago, so you might have a case against them.

That seems to be usual for barns.

Not for the underground feed though surely?

Yes. Most of the barns we looked at, including the one we hope to buy, had heated pipes for the water supply. I'm note sure how it works or what it costs to run but I suppose it's needed because the pipes aren't typically very deep.

Didnt know that.

Nor me. When the agent at the first one said that the pipes were heated I wondered why anyone would want warm water in a barn.

Whats the back up system when the power goes out as it inevitable does from time to time out in the sticks... I guess it would have to be out for a while for it to be a problem. I guess a generator is on the to do list anyway.

Fill bucket, hang bucket from tractor, drive to barn.


(Bucket and tractor are both virtual for the moment but then so's the horse).

I was thinking more about the damage to the piping aspect, rather then the watering the animals side of the problem.

Ah. I know the power was out for three days in January so if the pipes are working when we get there I shan't worry about it; that's a very long outage and there's no generator there now.

No shit!!!

I think it means no electricity, acksherlly. No shit is a blockage. Quite different.