frozen water pipe, advice?

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

Soldato
Joined
11 Oct 2005
Posts
5,718
Location
Derbyshire
Hi, My bath/shower pipe has frozen.

It is the small diameter one that is angled horizontal downwards outside of the house outside of the bathroom which in turn connects to the large soil pipe.

Been like that since yesterday morning when I had a shower.

Amy idea of the best way to unfreeze it? Been in this house (new) for 7 years never had this problem before.

Just dont know how to unfreeze it. Apart from waiting for the outside temp to warm up ?
 
poor some hot water over it if you can but only if its a brass pipe.

failing that use a heat gun or hair dryer.
 
The pipe is outside. about 10 foot above the ground. Runs angled from bath outlet to the large soil pipe. It is made of plastic with a diameter of around 2 - 3 inch.

I did think of emptying the bath with a bucket and putting salt into the drain hole?
 
Ladder + extension lead + hair dryer :p

Be careful though, also try your best to not overheat the pipe. It's gonna be difficult since it's plastic tbh. Probably not advisable.
 
same thing happened to me last week
10 kettles of boiled water sorted it out ( i have the plastic pipes too and they are ok for the hot water to go on ) mine were anyway
hair dryer will take ages

also, make sure your pipe is paralel / inline with the big down pipe, mine some how had turned and was causing some water to sit and collect as it was unable to reach the down pipe, im thinking it then froze and the buildup began

failing this

put house on market and move to spain as it wont happen there
 
Last edited:
And make sure there is sufficient fall on the pipe. Our plumber who did ours had the pipe running uphill so it stayed full of water and froze the first winter.
 
OKay 2 kettles of boiled water onto pipe from bathroom window, needed to be a contortionist for that one.

Salt poured into bath plug hole.

Now waiting.
 
Okay, all sorted now.

Poured some boiling water on it and got step ladder out and took pipe work off. solid cores of ice in it. So all sorted now.

BUT, Where the pipe comes out of the house through the brickwork, around the pipe hole was filled with mortar? that has crumbled away. I have put all the pipe work back on and no drips as far as I can see BUT I have no mortar where the pipe elbow exits the house now.

Should I replace that now? at this time of year and temp? or leave it? and what would i use. Thanks and I hope this makes sense.
 
Magic_x_uk said:
OKay 2 kettles of boiled water onto pipe from bathroom window, needed to be a contortionist for that one.

Salt poured into bath plug hole.

Now waiting.
Click to expand...

why dont you just turn the hot tap on? fill the bath with hot water?

the heat from the hot water in the bath will slowly melt its way along the pipe :S
 
Last edited:
arknor said:
why dont you just turn the hot tap on? fill the bath with hot water?

the heat from the hot water in the bath will slowly melt its way along the pipe :S
Click to expand...
That's what I was thinking.

I would refill around the pipe, could always use silicone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom