Frozen Pipework Etc

It pays to master simple techniques for coping with emergency repairs, in order to avoid the inevitable damage to your home and property.


If water won’t flow from a tap during cold weather, or a tank refuses to fill, a plug of ice advice may have formed in one of the supply pipes. The plug cannot be in a pipe supplying taps or float valves that are working normally, so you should be able to trace the blockage quickly. South West London Plumbers are able to locate frozen pipes and thaw them. In fact, freezing will usually occur initially in and around the roof space.


Because of their makeup, pipes made of copper will transmit heat quickly. You can use a hairdryer to gently warm the suspect pipe, starting as close as is possible to the affected tap or valve and working along it. Leave the tap open, so water can flow normally as soon as the ice thaws. If it is not possible to heat the pipe with a hairdryer, you could maybe wrap it in a hot towel or even hang a hot water bottle over it, anything to put some warmth into the pipework.


Preventative measures:

A South West London Plumber can take preventative measures to stop pipes from freezing. The best action to take is to insulate your pipework and fittings to stop them from freezing, particularly the ones in the loft or under the floor. If you are going to leave the house and heated for an extended period of time during the winter, when the system, make sure that before you leave, you cure any dripping taps, so that leaking water doesn’t freeze in your drainage system overnight and cause problems.