outside tap causing cold pipe to kitchen sink to freeze?

latecomer

Lots of the outside issues seem to be caused by a constant slow release (e.g dripping tap) which allows ice to build up. Might be worth checking whether anything leaking water.

latecomer

ormus wrote: »

you can try opening the kitchen sink doors and putting a small fan heater in there for an hour or so.

Will have a look at it when I get home - not sure we have a fan heater but will have a shot with OHs hair dryer and hot towels on outside tap.

latecomer

Hair dryer managed to resolve the problem although I think I know why its just the cold pipe - ther eis an air brick under teh kitchen window and I think the cold pipe sits in front of this. The hot pipe is about 3 inches to the side and probably doesn't sit in front of it.

Covered it over with with some wood just to stop the flow of air and while it was ok at 12:30am it was frozen again by 6:30am. Going to try cutting the chipboard round the pipes and see if I can thread down some lagging over the pipes. Failing that its taking the flooring up and cutting a panel of two in the chipboard floor to get access.

ormus

stuff the air brick cavity with some rockwool type insulation.
(assuming you dont have gas in the kitchen).

latecomer

Its under the floor so shouldn't affect the gas but as its a lattice type it would be difficult to stuff with rockwool.