Thawing Frozen Pipes

Uninsulated pipes exposed to freezing temperatures are likely to become blocked with ice. This commonly occurs in cold uninsulated lofts. Garden taps are also prone to freezing. You may not be aware of the problem until the water refuses to flow when you turn on a tap.

Old plumbing, especially the rising main, is invariably made from lead which, being a soft metal, has a tendency to split as the water freezes - call in a qualified plumber to deal with permanent repairs to lead pipework.

Step 1

Trace the location of the blockage by following the run of frozen pipework.

Step 2

Because copper is a good conductor of heat, you can usually thaw a pipe, using an electric hair dryer. Warm the pipe gradually, working back from the affected tap or valve. Treat old lead pipe in the same way, but warm the whole pipe evenly. If you cannot use a hairdryer, wrap the frozen pipe in hot towels.

Step 3

Insulate vulnerable plumbing to prevent it freezing again. You can buy lagging bandage to wrap around the pipework, but the job is much easier using foamed plastic tubes split lengthwise to fit over standard size pipes.

When insulating long straight runs, butt the ends of the tubes together and bind them with self-adhesive PVC tape. Cut a tube with a sharp knife to fill any gaps.

• At a bend, cut a series of wedges from the split edge to allow the tube to be formed around the curve. Use tape to bind and seal the tube in place.
• At a right angle elbow joint, mitre the ends of two adjoining foam tubes.
• When two pipes meet at a tee-junction, cut a wedge from the side of the straight tube to receive the tapered end of the tube joining it.