Preventing frozen pipes

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 2,363

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  15/12/10 - 09:34 #2

  You could consider a compact frost protection heater 500W. They're sold on ebay for around £30 delivered.

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• fainéant Posts: 2,654

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  15/12/10 - 09:45 #3

  Try searching for a greenhouse heater (but not a paraffin one, of course!)

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• Raring_to_go Posts: 20,565

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  15/12/10 - 09:49 #4

  Are you using the correct insulation on the pipes.
  
  The link

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• Caxton Posts: 28,881

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  15/12/10 - 10:26 #5

  Raring_to_go wrote: »

  Are you using the correct insulation on the pipes.
  
  The link

  
  Fit that round the pipes and then cover with a layer of ordinary loft insulation and it will take one hell of a low temperature to freeze them.

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• Raring_to_go Posts: 20,565

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  15/12/10 - 10:49 #6

  Caxton wrote: »

  Fit that round the pipes and then cover with a layer of ordinary loft insulation and it will take one hell of a low temperature to freeze them.

  
  An important point is not to prevent the convection of heat from the house reaching the pipes.
  
  My system was recently put to the test with –12 C and it was okay....

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 32,379

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  15/12/10 - 10:55 #7

  Mrs Fosdyke wrote: »

  Does anyone know of a small electric heater I can put in the loft to stop the pipes freezing?
  
  They're already well lagged, but this hasn't stopped them freezing twice in the last fortnight.
  
  All the heaters I've looked at (Screwfix/Amazon/B&Q) look as though they'd be a bit to powerful and expensive to run.

  
  A small oil filled radiator would be enough. They also recommend you leave the loft hatch open.
  
  I agree with what others have said, you require more insulation on the pipes though.

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 1,065

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  15/12/10 - 13:31 #8

  Is it water pipes or a plastic condensate pipe that're freezing?

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• Caxton Posts: 28,881

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  15/12/10 - 19:47 #9

  Andykel wrote: »

  Is it water pipes or a plastic condensate pipe that're freezing?

  
  What would a plastic condensate pipe be doing in a loft?

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• camer Posts: 5,237

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  15/12/10 - 19:51 #10

  Caxton wrote: »

  What would a plastic condensate pipe be doing in a loft?

  Could be the condesation drip drain from an extractor fan or a roof vent.

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 1,065

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  15/12/10 - 19:54 #11

  Caxton wrote: »

  What would a plastic condensate pipe be doing in a loft?

  
  Mayhaps the boiler is installed in the loft. :rolleyes:
  
  I know as much as we've been told, and we haven't been told what's freezing.

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• stvn758 Posts: 19,656

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  15/12/10 - 20:14 #12

  Leaving the tap dripping a little during the night, the flow of water usually stops ours from freezing.

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• afcbfan Posts: 7,161

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  15/12/10 - 20:26 #13

  You keep the loft hatch open a little all winter, obviously?

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• c4rv Posts: 29,611

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  15/12/10 - 20:36 #14

  Also try removing the insulation under the pipe so the heat from the house can warm it up.

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• [Deleted User] Posts: 7,481

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  18/12/10 - 09:31 #15

  c4rv wrote: »

  Also try removing the insulation under the pipe so the heat from the house can warm it up.

  
  
  Strangely enough, that did the trick - on his second call-out the plumber said that the insulation was keeping the cold in
  
  Anyway, thanks everyone for your advice, I've done as some of you have suggested, left the hatch open, and installed an oil filled radiator underneath

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