With weather warnings in place across the country, a lot of people will be experiencing the type of freezing conditions ripe for plumbing disasters. When the temperatures drop below freezing, the water within exposed or un-insulated pipework can freeze.
Boiler damage and burst pipes
In plumbing systems, this can limit water supplies to taps, showers and toilet cisterns. In heating systems, this can limit water supplies to the boiler or heat source. As an added complication, water expands when frozen, so this can lead to boiler damage, cracked or burst pipes, and substantial leaks.
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) offers the following advice for dealing with the havoc that sub-zero temperatures can cause to the plumbing and heating systems:
- If a pipe freezes or has burst, turn off the mains water supply at the stop-valve - often sited under the kitchen sink.
- If there isn’t an internal valve or one doesn’t know where it is, turn off the water at the external valve - often found under a cover in the garden or path.
- If the pipe is burst, one should turn off the mains water and the leak cannot be controlled immediately, open all cold water taps and flush the WC, so that the pipework and storage system drains quickly. Do not open hot taps.
- If there is a frozen pipe running from a storage cistern (that is not controlled by a valve) and if one suspects that the pipe has split, they should empty the cold water storage cistern by opening the cold water on the bath, shower and taps - then call a professional plumber.
- If any part of the hot water system is frozen or affected by a burst pipe, there could be a risk of explosion, if the boiler (or other heat source) is kept alight, so ensure it is turned off, or for solid fuel systems, extinguish the fire. Switch off any electric immersion heater and then call a professional plumber.
Thawing pipes:
- If the frozen pipe isn’t split, thaw it out slowly by applying hot water bottles.
- Be careful - although water may be flowing from taps, other parts of the system may still be frozen.
- Don’t try to thaw the pipe too quickly, as there may be splits in the pipe, which are not immediately noticeable.
- Never use a naked flame to thaw a pipe.
- Always start thawing a pipe at the end, nearest to the tap.
- Only ever attempt to thaw pipes that are easily accessible and/or at ground level. If one is not feeling competent in thawing the pipe, they can call in a professional.
