Frozen pipes

The advice below should help you deal with a problem that happens when the water inside your pipework freezes. Yes frozen pipes are a real pain so hopefully if you adhere to the advice given, you should be able to avoid frozen pipes and the misery they bring. Without water, our lives become very uncomfortable. Therefore if there is no water, then check with neighbours and if they are without too, it could be a supply problem and the supply company should be contacted. If it is just your pipes that are affected, then they may well be frozen (if the weather is very cold of course.) An Acton Plumbers can make important checks.
The following steps should help:
Step 1
Isolate the water supply at the main stop cock. You should find this under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home.
Step 2
Visually inspect all the pipework that you can for evidence of freezing i.e. ice forming on the pipes.
Step 3
Opening a cold water tap that is situated very close to the part of the pipe that’s frozen will allow water to flow when it thaws.
Step 4
The use of direct heat such as a heat gun or blowtorch is a bad idea as it will probably damage your pipes.
Step 5
You could use something like a heat pad or even the warm air from a hairdryer to defrost the pipes. Also the running water behind the frozen section can help to thaw the problem. A trickle of water from an open tap can be a sign that it is working.
Step 6
Once the blockage has thawed, Thoroughly check the system for leaks. If any have occurred and you are not confident in you abilities, you may need to call in a professional like Acton Plumbers to rectify and check your system.