Airbnb, how to keep pipes from freezing during winter?

Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 6 votes

Need suggestions on how to keep my pipes from freezing. Yes, I have hose covers. But house does not have central heat. It has wall natural gas heaters. I feel it is a safety hazard to leave them on for a week at a time with no one there. Below is the link of what types of heaters they are. But if I don't have a heat source, the house will freeze and the pipes with it. What would you do? I also attached a link to my listing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...

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John UnderwoodPro Member

Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes

It's a STR or a house. Airbnb is just a listing platform.

Leave the water dripping to prevent freezing.

You can also buy heat trace tape that you wrap around the pipes to keep them warm.

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Account Closed
Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2020 · 562 posts · 554 votes
3y
I only see 3 options. One - turn off the water at the main, and drain the system between guests. Two - install a basic HVAC system that can be controlled by a thermostat. There are a couple ways to handle this depending on where it is, but will still cost a few thousand dollars. Three - just winterize the cabin, and don't rent it in the winter.

Great looking place by the way!!!
3 Reply
Justin Wood
OP
Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 6 votes
3y
Thank you
0 Reply
Paul Sandhu
Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Leave the wall heaters on when you know it will be very cold. Also leave the faucets on with a slow stream. Not a fast drip. Shut your crawlspace doors. Buy a propane torpedo heater.
speaking from experience.
1 Reply
Justin Wood
OP
Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 6 votes
3y
Sounds good. Thank you
0 Reply
John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
3y
It's a STR or a house. Airbnb is just a listing platform.
Leave the water dripping to prevent freezing.
You can also buy heat trace tape that you wrap around the pipes to keep them warm.
4 Reply
Bob S.
Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Justin Wood:

Need suggestions on how to keep my pipes from freezing. Yes, I have hose covers. But house does not have central heat. It has wall natural gas heaters. I feel it is a safety hazard to leave them on for a week at a time with no one there. Below is the link of what types of heaters they are. But if I don't have a heat source, the house will freeze and the pipes with it. What would you do? I also attached a link to my listing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...

UM, turn the water off and drain the pipes,
2 Reply
Justin Wood
OP
Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 6 votes
3y
Quote from @John Underwood:

It's a STR or a house. Airbnb is just a listing platform.
Leave the water dripping to prevent freezing.
You can also buy heat trace tape that you wrap around the pipes to keep them warm.
It is a house. I mentioned it is an AIRBNB to explain that it is very random when someone is there. And I can't completely shut it off because visitors do come about once a week or two.
0 Reply
Justin Wood
OP
Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 6 votes
3y
Quote from @Bob S.:

Quote from @Justin Wood:

Need suggestions on how to keep my pipes from freezing. Yes, I have hose covers. But house does not have central heat. It has wall natural gas heaters. I feel it is a safety hazard to leave them on for a week at a time with no one there. Below is the link of what types of heaters they are. But if I don't have a heat source, the house will freeze and the pipes with it. What would you do? I also attached a link to my listing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...

UM, turn the water off and drain the pipes,

Was hoping to find a solution where I don't have to do this between each weekly tenant.
0 Reply
Bob S.
Real Estate Consultant · Cleveland · Member since 2020 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Justin Wood:

Quote from @Bob S.:

Quote from @Justin Wood:

Need suggestions on how to keep my pipes from freezing. Yes, I have hose covers. But house does not have central heat. It has wall natural gas heaters. I feel it is a safety hazard to leave them on for a week at a time with no one there. Below is the link of what types of heaters they are. But if I don't have a heat source, the house will freeze and the pipes with it. What would you do? I also attached a link to my listing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...

UM, turn the water off and drain the pipes,

Was hoping to find a solution where I don't have to do this between each weekly tenant.
well its really only a matter of turning the knob back to on. I know tenants are lazy but I am sure they will do that LOL
There is a " wire" you can wrap around the pipe. It provides a low heat and minimal cost. Also letting the water drip every so slow will help as well
1 Reply
Kevin Escobar
Investor · Member since 2021 · 65 posts · 33 votes
3y
Look up heat tape. Helps a lot if you can access pipes in a basement or crawlspace. That and leaving faucets dripping will work
1 Reply
Richard AndersonPro Member
Professional · Batavia, IL · Member since 2016 · 104 posts · 39 votes
3y
We lived in a rental here in Chicago where the landlord had wrapped the pipes with the heating tape mentioned by others above. We lived there for 7 years and it worked very well to keep the pipes unfrozen. That a leaving a faucet open to a very, very slow trickle.
0 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
I can't stand those direct vent gas heaters. I feel they have no business being in a house.
If you have gas at the property, I would look into another way to heat the house. Maybe add a single mini split? Something that can provide heat all the time without the gas pilot.
0 Reply
Chase Gochnauer
Investor · Des Moines, IA · Member since 2015 · 380 posts · 201 votes
3y
Quote from @Justin Wood:

Need suggestions on how to keep my pipes from freezing. Yes, I have hose covers. But house does not have central heat. It has wall natural gas heaters. I feel it is a safety hazard to leave them on for a week at a time with no one there. Below is the link of what types of heaters they are. But if I don't have a heat source, the house will freeze and the pipes with it. What would you do? I also attached a link to my listing. Any suggestions are appreciated.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-...

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...
Find some quality electric space heaters that are safe, and run those. It may be enough.
0 Reply
Eliott Elias
Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
Insulate them
1 Reply
Alex MartensPro Member
Investor · Rochester, NY · Member since 2020 · 36 posts · 25 votes
3y
Like others, I vote for heat tape. I had a really bad pipe burst last year. After I got it fixed I put the heat tape on and it didn't happen again.
0 Reply
Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Justin Wood:

For a long-term solution I suggest you install a different heating system.
For the short-term, just keep using the existing heaters. The odds of a fire are ridiculously low. Even if it did happen, there's no risk to life because it's empty, and insurance will pay for you to build a new house on the same lot and make a better rental. It's a win-win!
Draining pipes or wrapping heat tape are too problematic for something with such small risk. Don't worry over the .01% chance of something bad happening. Frozen pipes are far, far more common than house fires.
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1 Reply
Paul Sandhu
Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
If you have a problematic area that freezes, replace the metallic pipe with PEX.
1 Reply
Tom Fidrych
Member since 2020 · 241 posts · 179 votes
3y
I don't think it is a safety issue to leave the wall heaters on for extended periods of time-they are designed to run all winter. You are talking about gas heaters or electric? When I'm marketing a property in the winter, we leave the electric wall heat on 60 to keep pipes from freezing and make showings more comfortable for the prospective tenants.
1 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
Hey @Tom Fidrych, he has ventless natural gas wall units. Like Cadets but natural gas.
I would have some concern with those running all the time with a closed up house. CO might build up over a few days or weeks of downtime. Plus the moisture buildup.
You could keep a whole house fan or some kind of exhaust fan going to vent the house.
1 Reply
Tom Fidrych
Member since 2020 · 241 posts · 179 votes
3y
Quote from @Michael Baum:

Hey @Tom Fidrych, he has ventless natural gas wall units. Like Cadets but natural gas.
I would have some concern with those running all the time with a closed up house. CO might build up over a few days or weeks of downtime. Plus the moisture buildup.
You could keep a whole house fan or some kind of exhaust fan going to vent the house.

Michael, thanks for clarifying. I didn't check the link and assumed they were the type that mounted into the wall and vented through the roof.
Those no-vent heaters are a building science nightmare. I remember reading a building science article and the no-vent gas heaters made the top 10 things not to do. That moisture is going to end up condensing somewhere and may cost a lot in dry rot repair. I'd suggest replacing them with a direct vent model such as Rinnai or whole house central air. I've used Rinnai for three places and they are very quiet and reliable.
The other solutions seem great as a pipe freeze mitigation strategy.
https://www.rinnai.us/resident...
1 Reply
Tyler Winget
Real Estate Consultant · Indianapolis IN + Poconos, PA · Member since 2022 · 51 posts · 39 votes
3y
Hey @Justin Wood - here's something we use for our bungalows...
If not a torpedo heater as mentioned above, because they can't fit everywhere...
We actually just run extension cords under the crawlspaces, and have "plug-in" electric heaters that remain ON so that temp stays semi-warm. We have 2-3 under each bungalow.
I also recommend the "slight drip" at the faucets. Doesn't have to be a steady stream, just a drip. I also inform my guests of this in an Automated Post-Checkin message so that they are aware of the intention.
It's worked well for us in Poconos, PA where temps get icy cold!
Plug-In Heater Link
(or something of the like)
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6...
1 Reply
Tatyana M.
Investor · Tobyhanna, PA · Member since 2015 · 61 posts · 46 votes
3y
I leave this by the kitchen sink and 2d floor bathroom sink. Worked so far. couple buck extra on the water bill is definitely better than frozen pipes on a guest.
Dear (Guest name)

Due to Wind Chill Advisory issued for our area till Tuesday morning Feb 15, please let COLD water (its very important its cold water not warm) to drip from the kitchen faucet and bathroom upstairs to create water circulation and prevent pipes from freezing.

Thank you!
0 Reply
Cliff H.Pro Member
Rental Property Investor · Nashua, NH · Member since 2014 · 587 posts · 477 votes
3y
@Justin Wood

As @Paul Sandhu says, you can always PEX your pipes. Otherwise, why not electric heat tape built for this exact purpose?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fr...
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