frozen pipes

madlyn

i have got frozen pipes (yay)
i have been into the loft and found a half full water tank with a sheet of ice on the top, a frozen ball !!!!, and it appears the inlet pipe to fill the tank is frozen.
a plumber has advised the following.
open all the taps that dont work. done
try to get some heat into the loft. done had a fan heater up there for an hour.
keep loft hatch open a bit. done
when i got to work turn of the water. will do
sit back and wait for then to thaw.

does anyone have anymore advise?
and do i keep the taps open all the while until the pipes thaw?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

I would keep the stop tap off at all possible times including when you are in.

If the inlet pipe to the water tank is frozen it is likely to be burst or split at a joint.

madlyn

if i keep the stop tab off, will i still be able to have my heating on?

ormus

yes. the heating is a system on its own.
what sort of boiler do you have?

do you have more than one tank in the loft?

tony6403

madlyn wrote: »

if i keep the stop tab off, will i still be able to have my heating on?

Combi and condensing boilers will not operate if there is a drop in water pressure ( 0.75 to 1.25 bar are the usual requirements).
If you have such a boiler there is a strong likelihood that it will not work for long or at all if you turn off the stop tap.

ormus

it usually takes months for my combi/condensing pressure to drop, to require opening the valve to repressurise.
i probably do it 3/4 times per annum.

madlyn

it's to late.
the snow has lifted the temp a little, which has defrosted the pipes and burst.
as i had done what i was advised i think i have managed to minimise to much damaged being caused.
just got to sit and wait for a plumber now.

madlyn

the events of the last couple of days have been horrid, and i really hope it never happens again.
so i'm open to suggestions that will hopfully stop it happening again, but i have a couple of questions.
1- does leaving the loft hatch open a few inches really make a difference?
2- as i'm going away for 3 days at xmas, i'n thinking of putting a small fan heater on the landing and setting it to come on for a short time a couple of times a day to add a bit of heat. is this a good idea?
3- should i turn off my water at the mains tap?

ormus

turn the mains stopcock off. but leave the heating on.
make sure all pipes etc in the loft are properly lagged. dont leave any gaps.