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Pitts and Sub Zero Weather

2Biz

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Last winter we had more than one -15° night. When it got that cold I covered my pits and put cones up. Tonight its supposed to get to -5° with wind chill temps to -20° to -25°. I have floor heat (no doors) but am concerned about the water in my pits freezing. I didn't have any freezing issues last winter when I covered the pits, but @ -5°, I'm wondering if that's overkill.
 

cantbreak80

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I think it is. However, my "pits" are over 500 gallons each and the liquid level is about 3' below floor level.
 

Earl Weiss

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Last year we had 2 days in a row that were very cold. High of -12 and high of -4. Pits did not freeze. Had many dozens of days when it did not get above freezing too.
 

Whale of a Wash

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Put some antifreeze in them. Our city allows dumping up to 500 g of antifreeze per business.
-9 today for us, and can't imagine no doors and such.
 

2Biz

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My bay pitts are 2 stage with the main part being 16” wide, about 16-18” deep, and 8’ long. That section overflows a wall and goes in a pit 16” x 30” deep x 3’ long where the drain is….That section is covered with solid grating. If My pitts were deeper and held more water, I wouldn’t be as concerned. It’s one of those things…How do you know unless you test the waters?!?!?!? Maybe I should have saved some of that Brine tank salt I threw away!

This winter and last is an exception for us. It hasn't been that cold in 20 years.





 

cantbreak80

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Jeff,
I believe Climate Change is upon us...just backwards from what's being touted!

I don't believe you have anything to worry about but, how about "pumping" the main section into the drain section? You'll likely see little to no business over the next few polar vortex days so...start with empty pits.

Unless your system includes another sand/oil separator before the sewer tap, I'd be more concerned about allowing oil to flow into the sanitary sewer. That drain elbow should be turned downward.
 

2Biz

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There are three more traps/seperators before the water hits the sanitary sewer, so oil has never been an issue. I keep the elbows turned up like that because it gives me just a little more wiggle room in the muddy season. There is a percentage of mud/silt that makes it past the overflow and this gives me a little more mud capacity before clogging the drain. Thanks for the tip though!

I never thought about draining the main section of the pits to keep from freezing! Thanks!! That will be a lot easier than dragging all my stuff up there to cover the grates. I drain the pitts about once a month in the summer to keep the smell down, so doing this is not a problem. About 15 minutes work and I don’t have to get the cones out! Great idea!
 

Robert2181

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A lot boat marinas around hear do not take their docks out. They just use a little bit of air or electricity to bubble the water around them and the water does not freeze for about 5 feet all the way around the the docks.
 
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