outside pipe frozen- is central heating ok to run?

paddles

My plummer advised trying to put blow heater under sink to help unblock frozen pipe. Waiting to see. In the meantime, as I can't contact him, am I ok leaving the central heating on?

Sparkpea

yes its fine

Poochie05

I have same problem and have tried the blow heater but no success, so I guess I'll have to wait for a thaw. Heating is runing fine and I understand it runs off a different system but is it OK to turn the heating off or would it be better to keep it on? How often does the central heating need fresh water?

Sparkpea

heating system only uses about 1 pint of fresh water a year so long as theres no leaks etc.

personally I would leave heating on so the pipes dont freeze overnight but you can turn it off if you like and hope for the best

paddles

Poochie05 wrote: »

I have same problem and have tried the blow heater but no success, so I guess I'll have to wait for a thaw.

How many hours b4 you gave up? My plummer said it could take a few hours. I've my heater on now for 3hours and will leave it til i go to bed (hate to think of my ESB bill but if it works, will be delighted)

Poochie05

I only gave it a couple of hours. Wasn't sure how long it would take, the pipes got really hot, I couldn't put my hand on the stopcock it got so hot, so figured that would have thawed anything but there wasn't a drop from the tap so I decided it was further down the pipes, but I might give it another go in that case.

Sparkpea

it could take hours and it might never thaw even with the heater on because tonight its super cold

paddles

feck it. at this stage after 4 hours of ESB usage I'm reckoning I'll keep going with it otherwise the last 4 hours of blow heater has all been a waste. surely, the heat has to move to the problem EVENTUALLY?

Poochie05

I'd say it depends on where the pipe is frozen. If it's not in the pipe just under the sink, but is further down the pipe or even out at the stopcock on the path in front of the house, I doubt a heater under the sink will shift it.

paddles

So what's the alternative? Just wait? Like all week (at this rate!) What happens about the pipes bursting whenever it DOES thaw? What can we do to prepare for that??

paddles

OK, heater left on overnight and no budge. Will a plummer be realistically able to do anything if the problem is way under the ground?
Or do I just have to wait?

Buford T Justice

You just have to wait. Its unlikely that the plumber can do anything for you. Even the ground will be rock solid this weather so he won't be able to dig the ground to get at the pipes.

Hellrazer

Is there any way at all to defrost the mains pipe coming into the house?

We`ve no water this morning (Maynooth) hot or cold so Im assuming the hot water tank has emptied and is not refilling.Heating is workin fine thank fook!!

Two days before Xmas,4 kids and no water--This is gonna be great fun!!!!!!

Thniking of pouring petrol all along the ground where the pipe runs from the stop cock outside to the house--Any ideas if that would work??

Have to do something!!

Help appreciated!!

Plombier

There is no simple solution.