Hacker News Reader

Burst pipes can cause $100,000 worth of damage to a house, although it's usually less. There could have been a million houses affected. And burst pipes won't be the only cost of this event, by far.

So the power companies saved a few million dollars and cost Texas a hundred billion.

This is a clear example of where an ounce of prevention would have saved a pound of cure.

View on HN

i don't want to be over-libertarian here but you need to take care of your property. I, myself, have a burst water pipe in an exterior wall right now (i live in Dallas) i don't blame the power company for that. I blame only running the cold water side of my sink during the coldest nights. It was the hot water side that froze and burst.

edit: before anyone replies "but the water service failed!" then you turn off your water at the curb. and before you say "the city has to do that!" no they don't. You should have a key (from any hardware store) and know how to operate the valve.

For some people, no power for days plus running all lines does not prevent frozen pipes. The problem is in not knowing exactly which conditions will freeze the lines, we dont have temperature sensors on them, so people run them and hope for the best. Few are so prudent as to voluntarily drain their home for days on just the chance lines will freeze.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com