Frozen Pipework Repair

How to Tell if You Have a Frozen Pipe

There are a few common signs to look out for when the weather is cold. The most common sign is low or no water pressure; if there’s no water coming from your taps, or your toilet struggles to refill after a flush, then it’s likely you have a frozen pipe. Another way you can tell is to monitor the performance of your boiler and central heating system, a drop in performance may indicate a frozen pipe, such as the boilers condensation pipe. An obvious sign commonly seen on external plumbing is a build-up of frost or ice, this most likely indicates that your pipe is leaking, making it easier for your pipe to freeze.

What Happens if a Frozen Pipe if Left Unprotected?

The more times a pipe freezes and thaws out, the more vulnerable it is to bursting. This is because the freeze-thaw process with expand and contract the pipe, weaking the structure until it eventually breaks. This may start with a small, hairline crack, or it may cause the pipe to burst completely, which in turn can cause extensive water damage, especially if it isn’t caught quickly.

How to Protect Pipes From Freezing

The thought of the damage a frozen pipe may cause can be scary, but don’t worry there are steps you can take to protect your plumbing and minimise the risk to your property. The quickest and easiest way to protect your pipes is to insulate them, this is called lagging and is especially important on external pipes which are vulnerable to the elements. It’s also important to fix any leaks within your plumbing, as small drops of water can easily freeze, causing pipes to expand and worsening the leak. It can also be beneficial to keep your heating on low consistently throughout the cold weather, this ensures your pipes will stay above 0 degrees and prevents freezing. Servicing your boiler annually will also help to ensure your heating is reliable throughout winter.

Another, more effective, method of protecting your pipes and heating system is by installing a trace heating system. Trace heating systems are an effective way to maintain and prevent the temperature of pipes from dropping too low and freezing. It involves the use of electrical heating cables wrapped around pipes to provide a continuous source of a small amount of heat to keep them from freezing.

The benefits of trace heating far outweigh the cost associated with its installation and maintenance, as the system is only installed on the vulnerable pipework, ensuring external pipework doesn’t freeze and the boiler doesn’t break down. The system also uses a very small amount of energy, around 15W/mtr, which makes running costs extremely low and with an inbuilt thermostat, it will only run when needed.

As well as preventative measures, you can also protect your plumbing after your pipes have already frozen. The most important step is to know where your stop tap is located, as this ensures you can isolate your water supply in the event of a burst pipe, which will protect your property from as much water damage as possible.

How Can Metro Plumb Help

All of our plumbers are highly trained and can repair any frozen pipe problem you may have to restore your plumbing back to it’s former glory. Whether it’s a small freeze or a burst pipe, we’re on hand 24/7 every day of the year. Get in touch today to see how we can help!