Frozen Pipes and the Rothenberger Plumb Freeze ECO

As this is my first ever blog post I thought I would start with something that is relevant for this time of year, freezing pipes.

We all know frozen pipes can cause large amounts of damage and large plumbing bills.

When water freezes in a pipe it expands and can exert pressure over 2,000 pounds per square inch. This pressure is enough to rupture almost any pipe filled with water which provides no place for the ice to expand.

Pipes are most susceptible to freezing when located in unheated areas, crawl spaces and on outside walls.

Pipes in these areas should be lagged with the relevant pipe insulation to help prevent against pipes splitting.

The thicker the lagging the better, especially if you live in a particularly cold part of the country, or have a well-insulated loft. (This can stop warm air rising from the rest of the house to heat pipes and tanks in the loft).

Any hard to reach areas that you can’t insulate with tubular lagging like in the eaves, should be wrapped with layout lagging or an old towel.

Ensure you know were your mains water stopcock valve is, and make sure you can turn it off and on. It will usually be somewhere on the ground floor of your home.

If you have a water pipe that becomes frozen it may be thawed very carefully with a hot water bottle, heated towels or hairdryer, ensure you start at the end of the pipe and not in the middle as trapped water can expand and cause the pipe to burst and ensure that if there is a tap on the end of the pipe that it is open.

Never use a naked flame and beware when using electric hair dryers as if water does suddenly escape, you run the risk of electrocution!

Using electricity around a wet pipe can be dangerous, all precautions must be taken.

If your home is affected by a burst pipe and you have water damage, check your insurance policy as it may cover alternative accommodation costs for you and your family.
Leave windows, doors and any built in cupboard doors / drawers open to aid drying out.
Keep affected rooms heated but do not over heat as this could result in further damage. Store any damaged items in a dry place. Your insurance company may want to see them as part of your claim.

Many tool hire centers will hire out de-humidifyers which you can use to draw moisture out of the air, remember they usually need emptying periodically though!
If you know of an elderly neighbour, pop round and offer to check their stop taps and insulation for them.
If you’re climbing into any loft spaces, please take care and make sure you use a ladder capable of the job.

If you are looking to freeze pipes for work, the Rothenberger PLUMBFREEZE ECO may be the answer for you.

We can supply these electric pipe freezing units through our online store, just click on the picture below to be taken direct to the product.

This unit uses state-of-the-art electronic technology to freeze domestic 8-22mm copper and plastic pipe without the use of traditional refrigerant gasses.

Its simple and safe the PLUMBFREEZE ECO can be programmed to freeze specific pipe sizes.

Visual LCD temperature gauge and an audible warning signal help to monitor the freezing process.

Once work is complete the automatic thaw facility thaws the pipe quickly and safely.

Weighing less than 12kg the set is supplied in a robust carrying case with 8-10-15mm inserts, 2 quick fit master clamps and contact paste.

Can be used in the following applications.