Frozen pipes!!

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bromley mum
Posts: 1061
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:04 pm

Frozen pipes!!

Post by bromley mum »

DH woke me up to inform me there was no water in the kitchen or outside tap. As he had to leave for work in order to cover people who were stuck abroad I was left to sort it out. Turns out I had frozen pipes :( Rang my plumber who was not going to be able to get to me. He told me to stick a heater under the kitchen sink and see what happens. 5 hours later, I have water :D . Have now put DD's old jumpers around the outside tap. I realise it could have been much worse and am looking for suggestions on what else I can do to prevent this happening again. Both the hot and cold water pipes were frozen but for some reason the cold water one thawed before the hot one.
KeepCool
Posts: 155
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:01 am

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by KeepCool »

Leave your hot water on all night. Expensive, but at least you won't wake up to any surprises 8)
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by moved »

Buy some lagging from Homebase or B&Q.
Blitz
Posts: 874
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:58 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by Blitz »

We had two frozen pipes this morning to our ensuite- no cold water tap and couldn't even flush the loo as cistern had not refilled. We left the loft hatch open for 2 hours and hey presto, water again. We were half expecting a burst pipe and water to come flooding through the ceiling at any moment. Leaving loft hatch open or water on all night will be a lot cheaper than a plumber's bill or an insurance claim!
Waiting_For_Godot
Posts: 1446
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:57 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by Waiting_For_Godot »

I'm planning to keep the heat on all night tonight. If I do this do I have to keep the water on too to avoid the pipes to the water freezing?
rachag
Posts: 209
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 9:27 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by rachag »

WFG - do keep the heating on with your chest probs please. You do not need to keep hot water on too though - as long as house is kept warm, they shouldn't freeze and I do not think that water in them actually stays hot even if water on.
My (1 year old) boiler stopped working today. It seems that if it is extremely cold, the pipe carrying the condensate outside freezes and whole boiler stops. Defrosted it with hot water and back on now.
melinda
Posts: 226
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:40 pm
Location: surrey

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by melinda »

I too have been keeping the heating on for as long as possible - the thought of water coming through the ceiling is nightmarish - my neighbour had a burst pipe in the kitchen today and I got soaked trying to help (I didn't really). I so wish this weather would just go away!!! More snow forecast tonight. :cry:
Snowdrops
Posts: 4667
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:20 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by Snowdrops »

Leave all your internal doors open. Close all your curtains, and keep them closed all day and night. Open the loft hatch and leave it open.

Any pipes which are on outside walls will benefit from being lagged, it doesn't matter what with. Use old jumpers, blankets, bubble wrap. Anything to put a layer around the pipes.

Fill your kettle and empty bottles/jugs with water and store in the fridge (not the kettle though :lol: ) so you have water for the morning to drink and wash in.

Use a hairdryer to gently unfreeze pipes in needed.

Leave your heating on all night, but turn your thermostat down.
Image
bromley mum
Posts: 1061
Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:04 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by bromley mum »

I leave my heating on 24 hours as DD has a weak chest. Will be leaving the loft door open tonight as well. I suppose I should leave the taps running too (I'm on ameter so : :( )
Y
Posts: 463
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:49 pm

Re: Frozen pipes!!

Post by Y »

Don't leave the taps running! Leaving the water on means leaving the *heating* for the water on!
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