Frozen Pipes: How to locate where the problem is, prevention and treatment.

[leesider29]

Pipes are frozen but not sure where.

Had light on in the attic all night so not that, have had the hair dryer to the stopcock but don't think it is that either as no ice around it or look bloated.

One thing someone had said to me was about the outside tap and to sort that out first as that could be the problem but that has been frozen for over 2 weeks so don't think it is that either.

Would anyone have any other ideas of where to check?

Thanks

 

[coleen]

Re: Frozen Pipes

We had light on in the attic all night and we still had frozen pipes in the attice. We had ice in our tank also. We put a heater in the attic for a few hours and used hairdryer on the pipes for a little while. We got it all thawed out so it could still be that you have frozen pipes in attic today

 

[Capt. Beaky]

Re: Frozen Pipes

Open the attic hatch for a few minutes every now and then. A time switch on a heater in the attic is fine but you've got to be very careful. You can buy lagging at most builders providers, B&Q, Homebase or Atlantic. An easy enough job for anyone.

 

[onq]

A light on in the attic will give some radiant heat and create a column of heated air above it, but this wll tend to rise up.
So unless you have it directly under something you're trying to keep warm its not going to be much help.

The outside tap frozen for two weeks might provide a clue.
Often this is close to where the mains water supply enters the house.
Am I correct in guessing that the water tap in the kitchen is not working?
If so your pipes may be frozen at or below ground where they enter the house.

There are other threads on AAM dealing with frozen pipes and you should search these out.
You presumably have no drinking water and you should notify the authorities and consider seeking alternative supplies.
If it isn't possible to do this you might have to move to temporary accommodation if that's possible until this cold spell eases.

ONQ.

 

[Corcaigh abu]

Will have to get extension lead and take hairdryer out to the pipes - oh happy days!

 

[CharlieR]

Try and lag you pipes that are liable to freezing with lagging that has a heated element to it so in severe conditions will stop it from freezing.