lagging pipe - suitable materials

LifeisEvenbetter

Hoping to get some advice please.

A pipe outside has frozen up tonight (only discovered this when the water from the washing machine flooded the kitchen!). have managed to thaw the pipe and there appears to be no leaks.

I would now like to lag the pipe. Want to do it asap. What can i use as an emergency measure?

Was thinking about wrapping bubble wrap and a silver space blanket around plastic pipe. And then perhaps a towel. Do you think this would be ok to stop it refreezing again tonight?

Thanks.

Dippypud

All the things you mention are better than nothing, unless you have proper pipelagging to hand. Wrap pipe with bubble wrap then towel or cloth. Try to keep it dry if poss.

Hope this helps.

ariba10

Static air is one of the best insulators. (A woolen jumper keeps you warm with air gaps between the strands).

Wrap whatever reasonable loose material you can arround it, then put a waterproof layer on top.

maninthestreet

what diameter is the pipe?

nettttie

I know this wasn't my question but it's answered the one I was going to post.
My washing machine drain pipes are bare outside = 2 floods last year. So pre-last week I managed to get the last bit of insulation from B&Q that would fit around the pipe but unfortunately it wasn't enough. Had one small flood last week so I need something to use temporarily. Is the wool hairy jumper better than the bubble wrap (tonnes of bubble wrap! kinda need my woollies - granted they'll be dirty :rotfl:)?

...and then something waterproof.

Doesn't help the overflow is flowing onto the pipes (think its something to do with the ballcock in cold water tank - another thread)!

I'll do all I can in the morning - we've no snow yet!

Thanks guys for any help :T

DVardysShadow

nettttie wrote: »

I know this wasn't my question but it's answered the one I was going to post.
My washing machine drain pipes are bare outside = 2 floods last year. So pre-last week I managed to get the last bit of insulation from B&Q that would fit around the pipe but unfortunately it wasn't enough. Had one small flood last week so I need something to use temporarily. Is the wool hairy jumper better than the bubble wrap (tonnes of bubble wrap! kinda need my woollies - granted they'll be dirty :rotfl:)?

...and then something waterproof.

Doesn't help the overflow is flowing onto the pipes (think its something to do with the ballcock in cold water tank - another thread)!

I'll do all I can in the morning - we've no snow yet!

Thanks guys for any help :T

If it is an overflow or drain then you haven't really found the right answer.

First, solve the leaking. Second, ensure that the pipe runs always slope towards the discharge and that there are no dips where water can sit. Third, make sure that you have a water trap inside the premises where water can sit.

Only after these issues should you bother with insulation. Insulation might have solved the problem for the last 10 years, but it won't solve the issue in the kind of winter we are having now.

ormus

as above. there should be no standing water anywhere external/outside, inside a waste pipe.
hence waste pipes dont require insulating, generally.

27col

As above.There is not normally any standing water in a waste pipe if it is fitted with correct falls. Therefore the pipe cannot freeze up. If yours freezes then you need to find out where there is standing water in it. Insulation will do nothing to prevent it freezing. Insulation is only of use if some heat is being applied. No heat is being applied to your waste pipe so it will eventually freeze if there is standing water in it.

ormus

not strictly true.
the wind chill factor can be cut to zero with insulation. so may prevent a freeze up.