Plumbing 11 January 2023

Preventing and Handling Frozen Pipes: What to Do When the Temperature Drops

Winter can be harsh, and one of the biggest challenges homeowners face is frozen pipes. When temperatures drop, water in pipes can freeze, causing the pipes to expand and even burst, leading to extensive water damage and costly repairs. But the good news is that with a few preventive measures, you can keep your pipes from freezing.

What Causes Pipes to Freeze?

The primary cause of frozen pipes is prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Pipes that are located in unheated areas like attics, crawl spaces, and garages are more susceptible to freezing. Pipes that run along exterior walls, as well as outdoor hose bibs, are also more vulnerable to freezing temperatures.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to take preventive measures before the cold weather sets in. Here are some tips that can help:

1. Insulate pipes: Insulating pipes can help keep the heat inside, preventing them from freezing.

2. Seal leaks and cracks: Make sure to seal any leaks or cracks around windows and doors to keep cold air from entering your home.

3. Keep the heat on: During extreme cold weather, keep the heat on and set it no lower than 55°F to prevent pipes from freezing.

4. Disconnect outdoor hoses: Disconnect outdoor hoses and drain them before the cold weather sets in to prevent water from freezing in the hose and causing damage to the tap.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

Despite your best efforts, pipes may still freeze, but there are a few things you can do to help minimise the damage.

1. Turn off the water: If you suspect a frozen pipe, turn off the water supply immediately to prevent water damage when the pipe thaws.

2. Thaw the pipe: Thaw the frozen pipe using a hair dryer, heating pad, or hot towels. Be sure to start at the end of the pipe closest to the tap and work your way towards the frozen area.

3. Call a professional: If you are unable to safely thaw the pipe, or if the pipe has already burst, call a professional plumber for assistance.

The Pipes That Actually Freeze

In the houses we attend, it is nearly always the same handful:

• The outside tap and its supply pipe, if it was not drained down in autumn.
• Pipework in an unheated loft, particularly where insulation has been laid over the pipes instead of under them — the pipe then sits in the cold, above the insulation.
• Garage and outbuilding runs, which nobody thinks about until they burst.
• The boiler’s condensate pipe, the plastic one running outside. This one does not burst; it blocks with ice and shuts the boiler down, usually on the coldest morning of the year.

Thawing a Frozen Condensate Pipe

Worth knowing, because it is the most common cold-snap call and you can very often fix it yourself. If the boiler has stopped in a hard frost and is gurgling, pour warm — not boiling — water along the outside section of the plastic pipe, then reset the boiler. Boiling water can crack it.

If it happens every winter, the pipe is likely undersized, run too far outside or poorly lagged, and it is worth having put right rather than thawing annually.

If a Pipe Has Already Burst

1. Turn the water off at the stopcock immediately.
2. Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit if water is near wiring or downlights.
3. Open the taps to drain the system and reduce what escapes.
4. Photograph the damage before clearing up — your insurer will want to see it.
5. Ring us.

Going Away in Winter

Do not turn the heating off entirely. Leave it on a low setting — enough to keep the house above freezing — or use the frost protection setting if your programmer has one. Open the loft hatch to let warmth up into the roof space, and ask someone to look in if you are away for more than a few days.

Emergency and repair work is charged at £95 + VAT for the first hour, always billable, then £47.50 + VAT an hour after. Call 01732 792 454.