FEATURE
PIPES, PUMPS,
VALVES & FITTINGS
“Causing damage to property and
compromising heat and water just when
it’s needed most, freezing pipes are a
Frozen P’s can solve
burst pipe problems
With winter coming, so too is the dreaded frozen pipe. It can
be avoided if installers consider the letter ‘P’, so says Nigel
Sanger, divisional director, technical support, at JG Speedfi t.
Right now, at the time of writing
and during the hottest UK
summer on record, it seems odd
to be talking about freezing pipes.
But come winter, when the shimmering
heat is a dim and distant memory, we
all know what’s going to keep us busy –
dreaded frozen pipes.
Causing damage to property and
compromising heat and water just when
it’s needed most, freezing pipes are a
major and costly problem. According to
the Association of British Insurers, claims
rocket by 290% during periods of bad
weather and the ‘Beast from the East’
brought misery to millions.
In thinking about how to frame the
answer to this, I kept coming back to the
letter P.
PREPARATION
Think ahead. We know that winter follows
autumn, and that life’s going to get cold.
So, now’s the time to fi x the problem –
before it becomes a problem. Even better,
for plumbing and heating engineers, it’s
a great opportunity to upsell on a job
and provide added peace of mind for
customers – even if it’s just advising them
on what to do.
PRESSURE
The more pipework that freezes, the
higher the internal pressure. And as
water is incompressible, something
major and costly problem”
have been put through their paces and
proven (yet more Ps!).
PREVENTATIVE
Planning pipe layouts and lagging
the pipework are all key preventative
measures. But there’s another simple and
effective measure – draining the pipes
when the bad weather’s forecast. It’s a
simple operation – close the internal
shutoff valve to stop the mains supply, then
empty the exposed pipe – alas, it’s rarely
done.
A simple job that takes fi ve minutes can
save a winter’s worth of worry. Then, when
the cold eases off, simply turn the water
supply back on.
PROGRAMMING
Another way to stop ice from forming
within pipes is to keep the pipes inside the
house warm at all times. This can easily be
done by programming the thermostat to
keep temperatures up. As energy company,
SSE, advise, set your thermostat at 12-15ºC
when you’re away from the property and
prevent internal pipes from freezing.
POLICY
Following higher than usual numbers of
call-outs to fi x frozen pipes, a number of
industry fi gures are asking for new policies
regarding external pipework, saying that
complacency is contributing to many of
the problems.
It seems that despite regulations, many
homes still use externally run condensate
pipes. Forcing an increased use of internal
pipework would be a big step to solving the
problem – but it’s still a long way off.
Of course, there’s another ‘P’ we could
employ. Permanent hot summers… but
that’s another story.
ENQUIRY NUMBER 134
must give. In periods of prolonged cold
72 72
Heating & Plumbing Monthly | OCTOBER 2018 | www.hpmmag.com
temperatures, the pipe will fail – whatever
the material.
PLASTIC OR COPPER?
Both types of material are widely used,
but there’s a view among some people that
plastic pipes are more prone to freezing
and bursting. Not so. Unlike copper,
plastic systems expand when frozen and
can accommodate water expanding into
ice to a certain extent.
However, plastic will also split under
extreme conditions. The fact is, all
materials are subject to damage, and,
therefore, all need attention if they’re to
perform in the cold.
PLACEMENT
It’s obvious that if pipes are outside they’re
more exposed to the cold, and so are more
likely to freeze. Clearly, the best place for
pipes is inside the home, preferably away
from a cold exterior wall.
Installers should always carefully
consider pipe layouts and avoid placing
pipes in areas such as a loft or a single skin
garage.
If you’re installing new pipes, try to
avoid these locations and place them
where they can benefi t from heat and
insulation. If you can’t, there’s always
lagging.
PROTECTION
Out in the cold, pipes – like humans – can
benefi t from wrapping up in something
warm. Any pipe exposed to cold – inside
or out – will benefi t from lagging. For
external pipes, it’s essential, regardless
of what material they are made
from. Even knowing this, however,
many homeowners leave their pipes
unprotected.
There are many different types of
lagging available in the market that is
easy to install and protects pipes from
adverse weather conditions.
For the best results, make sure it’s
certifi ed to BAS standards as they’ll
Above: Lagged pipes offer better
protection against freezing and bursting
Below: Ensure pipes are lagged in cold areas of the
home, including garages and single skin lofts
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