Winter is a beautiful season, but it also brings its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining your home. Frozen pipes are a common issue during the colder months, and if left unaddressed, they can lead to significant damage and costly repairs.In this guide, we’ll explore how to avoid frozen pipes, what causes them, and steps you can take to prevent them from freezing.
What causes frozen pipes?
Pipes freeze when they are exposed to freezing temperatures for extended periods. Water inside the pipes can freeze, expanding and putting pressure on the pipe walls, which can lead to cracks or even a burst pipe.
The most vulnerable pipes are those located in unheated areas of your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and exterior walls.
How to tell if you have frozen pipes
Identifying frozen pipes early can prevent serious damage. Signs of frozen pipes include:
- No water flow: If you turn on a tap and only a trickle or no water comes out, it could be due to a frozen pipe.
- Unusual noises: Bubbling or whistling sounds can indicate a blockage caused by ice.
- Frost on the pipe: Visible frost on exposed pipes is a clear sign that they may be frozen.
- Cold spots: Cold or damp patches on walls or ceilings near pipes can indicate freezing.
Can frozen pipes cause burst pipes?
Yes, frozen pipes can cause burst pipes. As water freezes, it expands, increasing pressure within the pipe. If the pressure becomes too great, it can cause the pipe to crack or burst, leading to leaks and potentially severe water damage. Preventing pipes from freezing during cold weather is crucial to avoid this costly issue.
How do you prevent frozen pipes?
Preventing frozen pipes involves taking proactive steps, especially before freezing temperatures arrive. Here’s how you can protect your pipes:
Leave the heating on to keep pipes from freezing
Even if you're away from home for an extended period, it's essential to keep your heating on at a minimum temperature of 10°C. This practice helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, preventing your pipes from freezing.
Cold spots in your home, especially those in unheated areas, are most susceptible to freezing. Keeping your heating on, even at a low setting, ensures that warm air circulates throughout the house, protecting vulnerable pipes in places like basements, attics, and garages.
If you have a smart thermostat, consider using its frost protection feature. This feature automatically turns on the heating if the temperature drops too low, providing an extra layer of protection against freezing pipes.
Insulate pipes
Exposed water pipes, particularly those located in unheated or colder areas of your home, such as lofts, basements, and garages, are at high risk of freezing.
To protect these pipes, you should insulate them using foam pipe insulation, pipe lagging, or heat tape. These materials are readily available at most DIY stores and are easy to install. When insulating, make sure to cover not only the straight lengths of pipe but also bends, valves, and fittings, which are often overlooked but equally vulnerable.
Don't forget to insulate external pipes, such as drainpipes and overflow pipes, as they are directly exposed to the elements. Proper insulation can significantly reduce the risk of freezing and bursting pipes during a cold snap.
Insulate water tanks
Water tanks, especially those situated in unheated areas like lofts, garages, or basements, can be a major source of problems during freezing weather. Insulating your water tank is a crucial step in maintaining its temperature and preventing the water inside from freezing.
You can buy inexpensive tank jackets designed specifically for this purpose at most DIY stores. Properly insulating your water tank not only helps prevent freezing but also contributes to energy efficiency by reducing heat loss.
Remember to measure your tank before purchasing insulation to ensure a snug fit that covers all exposed surfaces. This simple step can protect your water supply and prevent the headaches associated with a frozen tank and potential bursts.
Service your boiler
A well-maintained boiler is crucial to keeping your home warm and your pipes from freezing during the winter months. Scheduling an annual boiler service, ideally during the warmer months, ensures that your heating system is operating efficiently and is prepared for the colder weather ahead.
Cold spots in your system can be particularly vulnerable to freezing if your boiler is not functioning correctly. Regular servicing helps identify and fix potential issues before they become problems, such as ensuring that the system circulates heat evenly throughout your home.
Find out what a boiler service includes and how much a boiler service costs with our helpful guides.
Encourage warm air flow
Encouraging warm air to flow around your home is an effective way to prevent pipes from freezing, particularly in colder or unheated areas.
Start by opening interior doors, especially those of bathroom and kitchen cabinets, to allow warm air from the heated parts of your home to circulate around the pipes located in these spaces. This simple step can help keep the temperature around the pipes above freezing.
Additionally, if you have a loft with water tanks or pipes, consider leaving the loft hatch open during icy weather to allow warm air to rise and keep these areas from becoming too cold.
Be mindful of any draughts or cold air entering your home; seal any gaps around windows and doors to keep the cold out and the warmth in.
Fix leaking taps
A leaking tap might seem like a minor issue, but in cold weather, it can lead to bigger problems, such as frozen or burst pipes. Contrary to popular belief, leaving a tap dripping during freezing weather does not prevent pipes from freezing—in fact, it can make the situation worse by causing your drains to freeze, which can lead to water backing up and potentially overflowing into your home.
It's crucial to fix any leaking taps promptly, ensuring they are fully turned off and not dripping. This not only reduces the risk of your pipes freezing but also conserves water and helps prevent potential water damage from leaks or overflows.
Know where your stopcock is
Knowing the location of your stopcock and how to use it is essential, especially during freezing weather when the risk of a burst pipe is higher.
The stopcock controls the flow of water into your home, and in the event of a frozen or burst pipe, shutting it off quickly can prevent significant water damage. Ensure the area around your stopcock is clear and accessible, so you can reach it easily in an emergency.
If you're unsure where your stopcock is, take the time to locate it and familiarise yourself with how to operate it. This knowledge can save you time, money, and stress if you ever need to shut off the water supply due to a burst pipe or leak.
Turn the water off at unoccupied properties
If you're planning to be away from home for more than a few days, or if you own a property that will be unoccupied during the winter months, it's wise to turn off the water at the stopcock and drain the system.
Draining the water ensures that no water is left in the pipes to freeze and cause damage while you're away. To do this, after turning off the stopcock, open all taps and let the water run out until they're empty. Once done, close the taps to prevent any remaining water from escaping when the system is turned back on.
This simple precaution can protect your property from costly water damage caused by frozen and burst pipes while you're not around to address the issue.
How to thaw frozen pipes
If you suspect that your pipes have frozen, it’s essential to act quickly to prevent them from bursting. Here’s how to thaw frozen pipes safely:
Pour hot water on your condensate pipe
For boilers with a condensate pipe, which is often located outside, freezing can block the pipe and shut down your boiler. You can thaw it by carefully pouring warm (not boiling) water over the pipe until the ice melts.
Apply a heating pad
Wrap a heating pad around the frozen pipe section, or place a hot water bottle on the affected area to use as a compress. Leave it in place until the ice has melted and water begins to flow again.
Turn up the thermostat
Raising the thermostat can help increase the overall temperature in your home, which may be enough to thaw pipes in unheated areas.
Open taps
As you’re thawing pipes, keep taps open. This helps relieve pressure and allows melting ice to escape, reducing the risk of a burst pipe.
When to call in a JustFix professional
While some situations can be managed with DIY methods, there are times when it’s best to call in a professional. If your pipes are difficult to access, if you’re unable to thaw them yourself, or if you suspect a pipe has burst, contact a qualified heating and gas engineer.
At JustFix, our team of professionals is ready to assist with any heating emergencies, ensuring your home stays safe and warm during winter.
FAQs
What temperature do pipes freeze in the UK?
Pipes can start to freeze when temperatures drop below 0°C. However, this is more likely when temperatures stay below freezing for several hours.
Can pipes freeze in one night?
Yes, pipes can freeze overnight, especially during a cold snap. If temperatures plummet suddenly, unprotected pipes can freeze in just a few hours.
