Frozen pipes

[SWBreeze]

woke up this morning and the cold taps upstairs are not working, but the hot are, and downstairs the cold is working, but the hot isn't. my phone says it's minus 17 outside!!
the heating was on all night at 20 degrees. Could this be frozen pipes? where would it likely be? what's the best action?

thanks

 

[Dannypipe]

Almost certain its a frozen pipe. Keep the hot tap cracked open. Take a look in the loft with a torch for exposed pipe, any draft in the loft will freeze a pipe quickly. If you can identify the frozen part, check for splits, or seperation of joints. If the pipe is still in one piece and you can identify the frozen part, then boil the kettle and soak towels in hot water. Drape the towels over the frozen part. Keep a tap open and have someone to shout up when the flow starts. If this is a problem you can use a hair dryer.

Before you attempt all of this, make sure you can isolate the cold mains stopcock, incase when it thaws there is a split, and you get water splashing everywhere.

Its not in the loft for certain, but its a good place to start. Basically look for pipe that is in cold position. I had a customer with a frozen pipe behind a kitchen unit yesterday, and yes it had pushed 2 joints apart. So be careful and methodical.

If in doubt call a plumber.

Good luck.

 

[Henno82]

it's most likely going to be in your cold water tank in the loft ( well your pipes servicing it ) as if you have cold downstairs you know it it not your mains so this is most likely where it is

 

[Henno82]

Danny your just too quick lol

 

[Dannypipe]

Danny your just too quick lol

My wifes always telling me that.

 

[Henno82]

LOL!!! funny enough mines always complaining too......

 

[Henno82]

Danny can i just say that i have been looking at your portfolio and may i just say how fantastic that is!! there are some excellent design pieces there did you have much say in where things went or were they customer orientated?

 

[SWBreeze]

I've had a look in the loft and I can't see any frozen pipes, I can't actually get to the tank because of all the junk up there, but I can see that the pipes looks insulated and there's insulation in the loft.

I've left the hatch open and cranked the heating up to full, like I said the heating was on 20 all night so can't believe it's got that cold ...

 

[SWBreeze]

Keep the hot tap cracked open. .

when you say keep the hot open, do you mean the one's that are working or aren't working? thanks

 

[MickBrown]

Got called to an empty house on Friday by an Estate agent as there had been a burst pipe and they wanted me to turn off the water. What a mess, it was the main feed pipe to the cold water tank and I think it had frozen over a week ago. We then had the warmer spell and it had burst and so it had been flowing for over a week. It had been a rental property and the owners had decided to sell, they had had it all done up with all new carpets, bathroom and kitchen and freshly decorated. They had just found a buyer and offer accepted but no exchange of contracts. I don't know how long it had been empty but I fear they may have problems with their insurance.

I turned off the water and drained the CWT, the HWC and the central heating. I only live around the corner so while the central heating was draining down I nipped home for a cup of tea, it was so cold that when I got back my hose to the outside had frozen up, I had to take it home to defrost it.

I checked the central heating oil tank and not only was it empty the isolation valve was closed. I subsequently talked to the owners and it was the estate agents responsibility, they were also the letting agents, to check the heating during the cold weather. Methinks there could be some litigation here.

 

[Reg Man]

Word of Caution if opening hot tap. If your open vent/cold feed from the hot water vessel are frozen or partialy, opening the hot tap will cause a vacum in the vessel and cause it to collapse.

 

[Dannypipe]

Danny can i just say that i have been looking at your portfolio and may i just say how fantastic that is!! there are some excellent design pieces there did you have much say in where things went or were they customer orientated?

Thanks very much for the compliment. I would say most of the positions were dictated by the client, designer or original layout. However a great amount of it has been chosen by me and my business partner. The website is being updated next month, as half our portfolio is not online...as the designer thought it a bit too bathroom heavy. However I've realised some projects that I'm really proud of are missing, so I'm going to have them put on.

My web designer a lady called Judith Barret is very helpful and talented.

 

[Henno82]

Cheers, when the time is right for me i might ask you for her details if you don't mind