Freeze-Proof Plumbing
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Problem
In cold climates, frozen pipes are the most common and most expensive winter building failure. A single burst pipe can cause $10,000–$50,000 in water damage. The standard defense — keeping the heat on and hoping — fails during power outages, the exact moment when pipes are most vulnerable.
Evidence and Discussion
The design solution is straightforward but rarely implemented: route all water supply pipes within the insulated envelope (never in exterior walls or unheated spaces), provide drain-down capability for vulnerable lines, insulate all pipes to prevent condensation and freezing, and locate the main shut-off where it's accessible without tools.
Therefore
route every water supply pipe inside the thermal envelope — never in exterior walls, never in unheated garages, never in uninsulated crawl spaces. Where pipes must pass through cold zones, provide continuous heat trace and insulation. Install drain-down valves on any line that could freeze during a power outage. Place the main shut-off valve where every occupant can reach it in thirty seconds without tools. The test: will this plumbing survive a 72-hour power failure at -30°C? If not, reroute it.