Frozen pipes: how to defrost and protect communications from icing
Freezing pipes is one of the most unpleasant problems that a country house owner can face. We will share tips on how to deal with this scourge and make the ice melt.
Ice-covered communications can leak, because frozen water expands causing cracks in copper pipes. In addition to the fact that the permeability of water can be reduced to a minimum, or even stop altogether, you run the risk of facing the need for serious repair of cracks when the pipes thaw.
How to prevent pipes from freezing
Pipes should also be insulated in all unheated rooms (cellar, basement, attic and garage). Look for sources of drafts (cable openings, ventilation shafts, windows) and insulate the pipes at these locations.
Before winter starts, close the main valve that supplies water to the rest of the pipelines. Then turn on the tap of each line and allow the remaining water to drain until the liquid stops dripping. Then close the taps.
How to protect pipes from ice formation at low temperatures
Keep garage doors and front doors closed at all times. Any sources of drafts should be sealed.
Open the hot and cold taps slightly so that a small trickle begins to trickle. This will ensure the constant movement of water through the pipes, preventing ice from forming.
Set the thermostat to maintain the temperature at least + 13ºC both day and night. If the house is not insulated very well, then it is better to strengthen the heating. Keep all doors open to allow heat to fill the entire house and warm the pipes in the walls.
Open the cabinets under the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen. Thus, warm air from the room will circulate around the plumbing connections located there.
Make sure that cleaning products and other chemicals are out of the reach of children and animals.
Check the weather forecast for upcoming frosts.
What to do if the pipes are frozen. How to make ice thaw
If the water stops flowing from the tap, or just barely flows, then, most likely, the pipe is blocked by the formed ice. Check all taps to determine if the entire plumbing is frozen. If so, close the main valve, leave all taps open and call a plumber.
If only one pipe is frozen, turn on the appropriate tap to help the water start moving as soon as it thaws. Locate the valve closest to the blockage and leave it open until you are sure the pipe is actually cracked.
Try the hair dryer trick. First, find the area where the ice has formed. Then, starting from the water tap and moving along the pipe to the frozen area, warm up with a hairdryer from the top and bottom. Do this until full water pressure is restored at the open tap. Then reduce the pressure to a small stream and let it flow until the ice has completely melted.
When using a hair dryer, make sure that it does not come into contact with water, which may start flowing from a crack in the pipe.
If water leaks out during warming up, immediately turn off the hairdryer and close the nearest shut-off valve. Keep the tap open while doing this. Then call a plumber to fix the damaged pipe.
If you cannot reach the problem area with a hairdryer, then you should also turn off the water supply valve, and leave the water tap in the open position.