Away from house for a few days - now problem with OFCH

[Caveat]

Called into house briefly yesterday evening, turned on heating and it made odd noises then wouldn't 'kick in'.

Promptly turned it off and couldn't stay to investigate.

Is this simply likely to be frozen pipes and if so, what is the best way to approach this?

House is a bungalow built c. 1985 and will be back in and staying the night tonight.

EDIT: Sorry, should have said that the taps are (or at least were) working OK.

Could the actual kerosene be frozen??

 

[computerman]

Kerosene will freeze at -30 c.

So thats unlikely to be the cause, however in our temp. it can turn to gel particularly if the pipe runs along the ground.

You could try heating the pipe, (dont use a bloe torch!), hot water from the kettle.

 

[Caveat]

Kerosene will freeze at -30 c.

So thats unlikely to be the cause, however in our temp. it can turn to gel particularly if the pipe runs along the ground.

You could try heating the pipe, (dont use a bloe torch!), hot water from the kettle.

Thanks - I assume you mean the oil pipe leading to the boiler? or is the outside water pipe from the boiler to the house likely to be a problem too?

 

[computerman]

YesI mean the oil pipe.
they are usually 10mm and are easy to heat with a run of warm water.

From the boiler to the house, you will have 2 pipes (flow and return), 1inch, and given the age of the house, the pipe is likely to be gun barrel.

Its possible for either pipe or both to freeze. You can (for the moment) assume that the pipes are at a sufficent depth under ground not to freeze, However Look at the pipe as it enters the ground at the boiler, it could have frozen here. Then do the same where the pipe enters the house.

What I would do - is get 2 pump wrenches and loosen the compression fittings near the boiler. (Dont take them off completely - just loosen) see what the pressure is like. It should start spitting out at pressure. If the pipes are frozen from the boiler to house or vice a versa are frozen, you will have very little pressure.

People generally are afraid of water and plumbing, but if you think about it logicly and DONT completely open the fittings you should be ok.

I have had to do this in the past and found the pipes blocked where the pipe entered the house.

 

[Caveat]

Thanks for that - problem solved seemingly.

Poured warm water over any and all external pipes and fittings I could see, left it a couple of minutes, turned on heating and it worked fine - so maybe that was it.