Will it freeze

[chrisser]

I'm moving down to our rural place tomorrow - start work at the new job monday.

Bringing down two 55 gallon plastic drums of city water to get me by until I have a chance to set up a pump from the spring.

Saturday night, it's supposed to go down to 18 degrees F overnight - it'll probably be the last night below freezing for the season, but I'm stuck with it. I don't have any place warmer to put them other than outside.

Do I need to worry about those barrels freezing and splitting over one night at that temp? I looked online and couldn't find any way to calculate how long it would take for that much water to freeze.

[Bearfootfarm]

Water retains heat well, so it would take DAYS of below freezing temps for those barrels to freeze solid

Just leave a few inches of "headspace" at the top and they will be fine.

It will also help if they are in a sunny spot, and are dark colored

I make blocks of ice to use in coolers, and a 3-4' thick, 12 X 16 block takes close to 48 hours to freeze solid at 0*

[Mad_Professor]

Stack them together and cover them if you can with some old dark blankets/tarps. If you can out of the wind on a south facing slope.

Even some hay or leaves will help if you don't have any other cover.

[chrisser]

Thanks for the feedback!

[God's Country]

I wouldn't worry about it. It will freeze some, so be sure you have enough water for a couple days so you don't have to concern yourself with a frozen spigot or however you are draining water from the barrels.