Pipe Antifreeze System

Abstract

The pipe antifreeze system does not require heating elements or chemical antifreeze to keep water from freezing in the pipes. The pipe antifreeze system comprises a thermostat, a solenoid valve, a faucet bypass drain, a T-joint, a ball valve, and a check valve. The thermostat would be connected to a temperature sensing component to measure outside temperature. The thermostat would control the solenoid valve to turn on and off the flow of water based on the outside temperature. Thus, when the outside temperature drops below freezing the thermostat would sense the drop and open the solenoid valve to allow the water to flow and decrease the chance of pipes freezing. The system can also be used for all types of faucets and any place where water pipes are present.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pipe antifreeze system that keeps water flowing within pipes to limit the chance of pipes freezing during cold weather, the pipe antifreeze system comprising:
 a thermostat;   a temperature sensor;   a solenoid valve;   a ball valve;   a check valve; and   a bypass drain T-joint;   wherein the pipe antifreeze system is placed in a fluid parallel path to an incoming water supply to a water using device;   wherein incoming water flows to a T-joint and is allowed to either proceed to the water using device per normal plumbing flow or flow to a closed solenoid valve;   wherein the solenoid valve prevents the water flow from progressing until an electronic signal from the thermostat is present to open the solenoid valve;   wherein, once the solenoid valve is open, the water flows through the solenoid valve and toward a ball valve;   wherein the check valve only allows water to flow in one direction, such that no water can flow in reverse, back to the ball valve and the solenoid valve;   wherein the water flows through the check valve and into a bypass drain T-joint, which directs the water into the water using device drain line; and   further wherein the running water prevents pipes from freezing.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 1 , wherein the water using device is a faucet, a clothes washer, or a dishwasher. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 2 , wherein the solenoid valve is in electronic communication with the thermostat, which allows the solenoid valve to open or close. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 3 , wherein the ball valve regulates an amount of water that can continue to the check valve. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 4 , wherein the thermostat is an electronic device that converts electronic signals from the temperature sensor into a temperature reading. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature sensor is electronically connected to the thermostat either with a wire connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 6 , wherein if the thermostat receives a reading below 32 degrees Fahrenheit from the temperature sensor, it will send a signal to the solenoid valve to open and allow water to flow through the pipe antifreeze system. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 7 , wherein the ball valve can be manually adjusted by the user to allow for more or less flow of water through the pipe antifreeze system. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 8 , wherein the check valve is positioned in line between the ball valve and the bypass drain T-joint. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe antifreeze system of  claim 9 , wherein the pipe antifreeze system further comprises a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         11 . A method of limiting the chance of pipes freezing during cold weather by allowing water to flow through the pipes, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a pipe antifreeze system comprising a T-joint, a solenoid valve, temperature sensor, thermostat, ball valve, check valve, and a bypass drain T-joint;   inserting the T-joint into the incoming water line to allow water to flow into the system;   sensing outside ambient temperature;   opening the solenoid valve to allow water to flow to the ball valve; and   allowing the water to flow through a check valve to ensure that water only flows in one direction, into the bypass drain T-joint and into the drain of the water using device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a temperature sensor in electronic communication with the thermostat is used to sense outside ambient temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermostat is in electronic communication with the solenoid valve to open and close the valve to either allow water to flow thought the system or not. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ball valve can be adjusted by the user to allow more or less water to flow through the system depending on the outside temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the water using device is a faucet. 
     
     
         16 . A method of allowing water to flow through the pipes, the method comprising the following steps:
 installing the pipe antifreeze system into an incoming water supply of the faucet;   alerting a thermostat when temperature outside the home is below freezing;   opening the solenoid valve;   flowing water from the solenoid valve through the ball valve;   flowing water from the ball valve to the check valve;   once the water flows past the check valve, flowing water to the faucet drain through the bypass drain T-joint; and   when the temperature outside rises above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, closing the solenoid valve and preventing water from flowing through the pipe antifreeze system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the temperature sensor electronically communicates with the thermostat to relay the outside temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the thermostat will electronically communicate with the solenoid valve to open and allow water to flow from the incoming supply into the pipe antifreeze system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ball valve is adjusted by the user to allow the correct flow through the pipe antifreeze system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the check valve allows water to only flow in one direction.