Frozen Pipes

Have you ever tried to explain Frozen Pipes to City People?  Especially 20 something City People?  Just one of the many times that I personally witness the irony of City People portraying Country People as the less intelligent of the species.
The farmhouse has frozen pipes, again.  Snow Days for the kids to be out of school are great, especially when the pipes are frozen.
Yesterday morning, the Shower Drain was the most urgent.  That was thawed by noon for the teen to shower (which the rest of the family really appreciated).  Hours of shoveling snow and building snow forts make for a smelly teen.  And the scent of damp socks in snow boots was overwhelming.
By yesterday evening, the clothes washer drain was spewing soapy water all over the kitchen.  Being the handy-family we are, we were able to find a 5 gallon Dry Wall Compound bucket to drain it into, so that load of jeans finally got washed and rinsed.  We are now all more fully aware of exactly how much water it takes to do a load of laundry.  And how heavy a 5 gallon bucket of soapy water is.  And how the shower drain, if not frozen, will drain out faster than the vanity sink that only holds about 1 gallon of water before overflowing.
All of these are lessons that city kids miss the chance of learning on snow days!
This morning, the shower was draining, and there was hot water, but a few minutes into the shower it was discovered there was no cold water to the showerhead.  Did you know that means that the water was too hot?  The first idea that might come up is to let the water run until most of the hot is used up and then the water will be cool.  That really only works for a few seconds of nice warm water, and then it gets progressively cooler until it's too cold to shower in.  We found that out last year.  But, on the other hand, a tub filled with only hot water until the hot runs out will eventually become tepid enough to bathe in.  Once, just for a few minutes.  And it is a chance to have a steam sauna spa experience without the expense of installing the expensive sauna. 
Next week we will look at how Problem Condensation can lead to home damage and Black Mold........