Scott in SoCal wrote:
On Mon, 5 May 2008 16:17:22 -0700 (PDT), Sheldon
wrote:
That won't work, in fact that's really dumb. At 20F, typical for
Chicago, the water in the hose will freeze solid right up to the hose
bib in an hour, then what? You obviously didn't think this through...
it can be well below freezing for many days in Chicago... the water in
the exposed hose bib will freeze solid too (as if that hose wasn't
there), and burst inside the foundation shooting water inside...

However, if you dig a deeper basement, you'll have more time to shut
the water off at the main before the level rises high enough to damage
something valuable.

What a horse shit response to Sheldon's post!

It's true that a hose will only expand so far when containing ice. Very
true. Those of us who have lived in areas of real winters and real
freezing temperatures know for a fact that the hose will BURST, and thus
expand no further. The only thing that may stop it from happening is to
leave the hose end open so that water will drain before freezing begins,
or drain your hoses and take them inside before freezing weather comes.

The water in the hose bib will freeze too, if the hose is left connected
(ahhh, bitter experience, friend, bitter bitter experience -- I was a
fool!) and if the pipe bursts the leak will either be in the basement or
within the wall and siding through which the plumbing runs. It's a
bloody, bloody mess, my friend! Turn off the water supply to your
outdoor taps!! Anyone who has had their pipes freeze will tell you that
your plan is idiocy.