Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: bertiecbx550 on 09 January 2010, 08:34:14

Title: frozen pipes
Post by: bertiecbx550 on 09 January 2010, 08:34:14
My mum and dads house is empty and i`ve gone there this morning and the pipes have frozen up and the heating failed...What do i do next? i cant afford a plumber so do i put a few small heaters around the house and try to warm it up that way or wait till the cold snaps over and hope and pray for the best??? God i wish i had listened to my dad more over the years....
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Plomien on 09 January 2010, 08:38:20
gently heat it up but make sure you stay there while you do incase of broken pipes.
if you use electric heaters it should be fine just don't do it too rapidly :y
http://www.homeserve.com/emergency/tips-burst-frozen-pipes
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: TheBoy on 09 January 2010, 09:10:17
If leaving house empty, water off at stockcock, and drain the system down.
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: waspy on 09 January 2010, 09:40:05
Quote
gently heat it up but make sure you stay there while you do incase of broken pipes.
if you use electric heaters it should be fine just don't do it too rapidly :y
http://www.homeserve.com/emergency/tips-burst-frozen-pipes

 :o :o :o Not a good idea.

Use a gas heater :y
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: STMO999 on 09 January 2010, 10:10:56
Quote
If leaving house empty, water off at stockcock, and drain the system down.


Stocks for c0cks? :o Old Chinese torture no doubt. :y
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Proz on 09 January 2010, 10:59:06
Quote
Quote
If leaving house empty, water off at stockcock, and drain the system down.


Stocks for c0cks? :o Old Chinese torture no doubt. :y


Sounds jolly painfull  :o :o :o :o :-?
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2010, 11:36:07
Stop cock off and some small heating on.....and open the cold water tap on the kitchen sink
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Lazydocker on 09 January 2010, 11:45:21
Quote
Stop thingy off and some small heating on.....and open the cold water tap on the kitchen sink

Ahhh I reckon Mr DTM has fallen foul of the word filter ::) ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2010, 11:46:24
Quote
Quote
Stop thingy off and some small heating on.....and open the cold water tap on the kitchen sink

Ahhh I reckon Mr DTM has fallen foul of the word filter ::) ::) ;D ;D


Fixed  :y
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: bertiecbx550 on 09 January 2010, 11:47:40
Done what you guys said and also been told by a friend that the central heating wont kick in till the pipes defrost some sort of safety cut out??? i`m just praying that it dont go for a knacker all together.... :-[
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2010, 11:48:07
I should add that an electrical heater will be fine, not much water can get in with the stop cock off and the cold tap open
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2010, 11:49:18
Bertie, if I was you, I would leave the heating on 24hours with the stat set to around 6degC whilst the house is empty
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: bertiecbx550 on 09 January 2010, 11:52:08
If i can get it to come back on i`ve already made that decision mark....Fingers crossed eh???? :-[
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 09 January 2010, 11:53:03
Quote
If i can get it to come back on i`ve already made that decision mark....Fingers crossed eh???? :-[

Indeed, fingers crossed.  :y
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: redelitev6 on 09 January 2010, 18:24:20
 :( If the pipes have frozen then there's every chance of burst pipes when it eventually thaws out ,give all the visible pipework a good inspection ,especially in the loft if you have a cold water tank up there, and look for any bulging pipes or splits,as has been said-turn off the stop tap ,open the taps in the bathroom/kitchen/wc , then get  a hot air gun or hair dryer and GENTLY heat the pipework working from the taps to the stop tap,it may get things moving again ,any chance you can check the water feed into the house ?this may have frozen as no water flow through the pipework could have caused it to freeze at the most vulnerable point ,either way be prepared to run around the house with buckets / dishes to catch any water running through ceilings etc .   
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: Kevin Wood on 09 January 2010, 18:39:07
In addition to the above advice, I would say that if you are not going to be around as it thaws, leave all the taps on, bath, wash basins, etc. included so that if there are leaks as it thaws most of the contents of the header tank will drain through the taps not through the leaks!

Kevin
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: bertiecbx550 on 10 January 2010, 19:13:14
Well i got 1 pipe that burst yesterday in the shower its come through the ceiling and light fitting and i`m really pissed off as i`d hoped we had done enough to stop this but i`m now fearing the worst with other pipes in the house......Always happens when you aint prepared for it....I`ll know better next time.. :-[ :-X
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: STMO999 on 10 January 2010, 19:16:51
Bertie....you're a walking disaster area. ;D
Title: Re: frozen pipes
Post by: bertiecbx550 on 10 January 2010, 19:18:52
You can look out i`m moving next door to you!!! ;D ;D