One of the oft neglected hazards of winter are frozen pipes. Unfortunately, many people are ill prepared for dealing with a frozen pipe. I will give you a quick overview of what to do when faced with a frozen pipe.
Prevention is better than Cure
The best way to prevent pipes from freezing over is to keep the water temperature warm. In other words, don't leave your water heating off for prolonged periods of time. Alternatively, place a portable heater near pipes that are likely to freeze, or you can even use a high wattage bulb to the same effect.
Another good tip, especially if you are going to be away from home for a while is to leave the taps in your house dripping slightly. This ensures that the water in the pipes is always moving, and this movement will prevent the water in the pipes from freezing.
Whilst many of us will have to deal with plumbing that is already installed, if you happen to be in the enviable position of having new plumbing installed, then do no have the pipes fitted to the outside of external walls.
For the majority of people with existing plumbing, it is still possible to combat the hazards of winter by insulating the pipewpork. Fibre glass and heat tape are known to give satisfactory results.
Better Late Than Never...
When we are unable to prevent a pipe from freezing, we have no option but to deal with the problem. It is not really as difficult as some may think.
Obviously, you can minimise the damage done by spotting a frozen pipe sooner rather than later. Warning indications of a frozen pipe include ice or frost on the outside of a pipe, so too is the absence of running water when a tap is turned on.
Once you detect a frozen pipe, it is important to thaw the pipe as soon as possible. There are special equipment for thawing pipes, but something as simple as a hair dryer can suffice. Do not, however, make the mistake of using heat from a naked flame. If you find the task of thawing a pipe too difficult to contemplate, don't hesitate to enage the services of a plumber.
When the pipe has thawed out, check for leaks. If and when a leak is detected, you have two options. You can either fix it yourself, alternatively, you can get a good plumber.
If you are a resident of Sutton in Surrey, and would sooner hire a seasoned plumber to repair the problem for you, visit the PlumbersAid web site.
http://www.plumbersaid.co.uk
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