Honestly, I’ve started leaving cabinet doors open under the sinks when it gets really cold. Not exactly high-tech, but it’s free and doesn’t involve crawling around with insulation or risking a fire.
Cabinet doors open is my go-to too. Tenants always think I’m nuts when I tell them to do it, but hey—beats a busted pipe and a flooded kitchen. I’ve had more luck with the foam sleeves than you did, but I guess it depends on how drafty the crawlspace is. Fiberglass drives me up the wall; I’m still finding itchy spots from last winter.
Had a guy once use those plug-in heaters by the pipes... ended up tripping half the breakers every time someone ran the microwave. “Breaker box has character” is one way to put it. I call it “playing with fire,” literally.
Ever tried those pipe wraps with built-in thermostats? I’ve heard mixed things but haven’t pulled the trigger since I don’t trust them not to fry the old wiring. Wondering if anyone’s actually had luck with those on vintage setups, or if it’s just asking for trouble.
I’ve seen those pipe wraps with thermostats and honestly, I’m on the fence too. A buddy of mine tried them in his ‘60s rental and swore they worked, but he also had to upgrade a couple outlets after one started buzzing. Makes me nervous with old wiring—last thing I want is a midnight call about smoke under the sink. Anyone ever just stick with heat tape and cross their fingers, or is that just asking for a different headache?
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Old wiring and anything that pulls steady power just makes me uneasy too. I’ve seen heat tape used a lot, but if you’re just crossing your fingers, is it really worth the risk? I’ve heard of folks wrapping the tape with extra insulation and checking it every winter, but I always wonder if that’s enough. Ever thought about just draining the lines if you know it’s gonna get real cold? Seems like less stress, but maybe not practical for a rental.
Ever thought about just draining the lines if you know it’s gonna get real cold? Seems like less stress, but maybe not practical for a rental.
Draining the lines does sound like the safest bet, but yeah, in a rental it’s not always doable—especially if you’ve got tenants who might not be on board with that kind of prep every time the temp drops. I’ve tried the heat tape plus insulation route, and while it’s worked so far, I still get nervous about leaving it plugged in all winter. Has anyone here actually had a heat tape fail, or is it mostly just the worry that gets to us?
I’ve tried the heat tape plus insulation route, and while it’s worked so far, I still get nervous about leaving it plugged in all winter.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve seen heat tape fail, but honestly, it’s usually because someone used the wrong type or didn’t install it right—like overlapping the tape or not securing it well enough. The anxiety’s real though... I always wonder if a breaker’s gonna trip or if a tenant accidentally unplugs it. Anyone else ever have tenants mess with the setup? That’s bitten me before.
