Construction hair dryer for defrosting pipes. Emergency defrosting of a plastic pipe: advice from professionals. How to warm up a pipe: practical recommendations for restoring system functionality

Since recently, for external and internal highways, pipelines from all kinds of polymer materials, the issue of defrosting plastic pipes is very relevant. This problem is a consequence of insufficient preventive measures to prevent them from freezing, which is quite common.

In this article we will look at several effective ways how to defrost plastic water and sewer pipes.

Reasons for freezing

Before you familiarize yourself with all the options for defrosting a plastic water pipe or sewer, you should figure out why they freeze, since there is a high probability that the situation will repeat itself.

So, there are several reasons:

• Laying the external pipeline at the level of soil freezing - the depth of soil freezing is calculated using special zoning maps, however, in any case it must be at least 600 mm. However, it is better to lay the pipeline a little deeper, especially in regions where winter temperatures drop to extremes. Also solve this problem possible by laying a heating cable and insulating the system.

• Incorrect calculation of thermal insulation or its absence can also cause freezing of internal and external pipelines. The problem can be eliminated in the same way as in the previous case.
• Incorrect pipeline diameter - this reason usually concerns external systems. In pursuit of savings, some homeowners use pipes with a diameter corresponding to the calculated minimum sufficient to supply water to the building. However, with small consumption, water stagnates, as a result of which it has time to freeze.

Therefore, experts recommend using for external systems water pipes with a diameter of at least 40-50 mm, since the increased diameter reduces the risk of freezing and the severity of its consequences. To prevent freezing, you should lay a heating cable, insulate the pipeline, or replace it with pipes of larger diameter.

In the photo - thermal insulation of pipes

• Insufficient thermal insulation of the pipe or its complete absence in the area where the pipeline passes through outer wall(foundation). This problem can be eliminated only by laying heat-insulating material. In this case, most likely, you will need to widen the hole in the foundation.
• The fit of pipes to walls made of artificial stone, for example, on ground floor or in the basement. In this case, you just need to lay heat insulating material between the pipeline and the wall that caused the freeze.

Advice! Theoretically, a heating or hot water supply pipeline can be laid at a shallower depth than cold water. However, in practice, you should not count on the pipe itself to heat, since a temporary interruption in the water supply can lead to its freezing.

Accident options

The choice of method for defrosting a plastic sewer pipe or water supply depends on what type of accident occurred:

• A pipe has frozen in an external underground pipeline;
• Freezing occurred in an external open pipeline;
• Freezing has occurred in the internal pipeline;
• The pipe located in the hard to reach place, for example, mounted on a wall.

In any of these cases, freezing may be accompanied by cracks in pipes or fittings.

Note! Polyethylene pipes are the most resistant to freezing, followed by metal-plastic layers, which also contain polyethylene. But polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride pipes do not tolerate frost well and can burst after the first freeze.

Solution

Repairing cracks

Before defrosting the pipe, you should inspect it for cracks. It is quite possible that defrosting plastic pipes will not be necessary. If the pipeline has cracks, then the damaged section simply needs to be cut out, and for this it is not necessary to melt the ice.

The cracked pipe is replaced with a new one of the same type, which is joined to the pipeline using.

Note! When defrosting, regardless of the method, the tap closest to the ice plug must be open. If the plug is removed mechanically, the tap should be removed altogether, but at the same time, after eliminating the plug, you must quickly shut off the pipe.

External defrost

If you're frozen internal pipes, for example, in the basement, you can defrost them yourself by heating them with some kind of heat source, for example, an electric heater, a hairdryer or an electric blanket.

It must be said that some craftsmen use open heat sources for these purposes, such as gas burners and blowtorches. However, it should be kept in mind that this method is unsafe, since carelessness can simply burn through the pipeline.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to use a special device for defrosting metal pipes, since it can only work with conductive materials. Naturally, polymers are not one of these.

Internal heating

If a traffic jam occurs in a closed section of the pipeline, for example, located in the ground or built into a wall, external heating is not suitable, since the price of such an event will be too high, not to mention the labor costs.

Therefore, most affordable option– melt the cork hot water, which is poured into the system from inside the building. However, water will not simply pass through the pipeline to the ice plug section, since most often it contains air and water plugs. In short sections, a solution to the problem can be a metal-plastic pipe of a smaller diameter or an oxygen-resistant heat-resistant hose that is inserted into the pipeline.

But how to defrost metal plastic pipe underground or another type of pipeline that has many bends? There is a solution for this case as well - you need to use an Esmarch mug, which is popularly called a bucket enema, as well as a hose, similar to those used in construction water levels, and steel wire with a cross-section of 2-3 mm, of a suitable length.

Instructions for performing this work are as follows:

• First of all, you need to open access to the frozen area; for this you will need to remove the tap.
• Next, the ends of the tube and wire must be fastened so that they move parallel through the system. The tube should protrude slightly forward, about 10 mm.
• Then the tube-wire pair should be advanced to the ice plug. When it becomes impossible to push the wire and tube further, you need to pour boiling water into it through an enema. In this case, under the open end of the pipe it is necessary to place a container into which the water will return.

Keep in mind that this process is not quick and can take several hours, especially if the frozen area is long. Therefore, before you defrost a plastic water pipe underground, you should stock up on a sufficient amount of water.

It must be said that there is another way to defrost plastic pipes - this is to use homemade heater, made of two-core cable. However, we will not consider this method, since even under the best circumstances, this process will take much longer than defrosting with hot water.

Advice! So that this operation does not damage inner layer system, which is quite delicate, it is advisable to round the end of the wire.

These are, perhaps, all the most effective ways to defrost pipes. Having eliminated this problem, you must make sure that it does not happen again next season.

Conclusion

Defrosting a frozen sewer or water pipe can be quite a difficult and troublesome task. Therefore, it is much easier to prevent this problem at the pipeline installation stage. However, if such a situation does occur, you need to act according to the scheme described above.

From the video in this article you can get Additional information on this topic.

There are both external and internal methods of influencing a frozen area. Naturally, the effectiveness and labor intensity of each method is different, as is the time to achieve a positive result. When preparing to defrost plastic pipes, you should be prepared for the fact that the length of the frozen section inside the building, as a rule, is no more than 3-5 m, and underground it can reach more than 20-30 m.

How to defrost a plastic water pipe underground? You can also use the hot water method to defrost underground water pipes. Only for its implementation in field conditions A longer length of tubing will probably be required.

More effective option The way to warm up a plastic pipe in the ground is to heat water to the state of steam and supply it under pressure to the place of freezing. To heat the liquid, you need to use a sealed vessel with a pipe at the top. A flexible and durable oxygen hose or hydraulic level tube is suitable as a supply tube.

How to warm up a plastic pipe of an internal polymer water supply? From the outside it may seem surprising that the pipes inside the room are frozen. The situation might look like this. A water pipe branch without sufficient thermal insulation runs inside an unheated room and, with a sharp, significant drop in temperature, freezes. This can also happen at the entrance of the pipeline to the house if the pipeline is not insulated and comes into contact with concrete or brick structures foundation or walls.

Let us immediately note that most heating methods steel pipes cannot be used. Below we will show how to defrost water in a plastic pipe without traditional torches and a welding machine.
In our arsenal of tools there are several answers to how to defrost a plastic water pipe. But first you need to determine the place where the ice plug has formed and, preferably, its extent.

If there is no collapsible connection point or tap in the frozen area, or it is located far away, you can try to use the external impact method by pouring hot water over the pipe. In general, this method of defrosting plastic water pipes is ineffective due to the low thermal conductivity of the pipeline itself, but it can help with its small diameter and small frozen area.

The other method will also require hot water. Its essence is to supply coolant inside, directly to the place of freezing. For implementation, you will need flexible pipes of small diameter, a funnel and a container for collecting thawed water. If the area to be defrosted has no bends, you can use a metal-plastic pipe. The step-by-step process of how to defrost a plastic pipe in the ground is as follows:

• You can use a tap to enter the pipeline; if you don’t have one, disassemble the nearest connection point;
• We place a container near it to collect water;
• place the tube inside the frozen pipeline;
• we move it to the place of the ice jam;
• feed through a funnel hot water;
• As it thaws, the water will come out, and the pipe needs to be pushed further.

This method is more effective than the previous one, but for its successful implementation you need to have constant access to hot water.
If the water in a plastic pipe freezes, what should you do? You can try to warm it up with a self-heating cable. For any pipe diameter, spiral winding will give the desired effect over time. And taking into account the fact that this material can be purchased either in a coil or as a finished product with a fork, the labor intensity of the process is minimal.

Heating a plastic pipe for sewerage

How to defrost a plastic sewer pipe? There is an opinion that it is correct installed pipe gravity sewer, even without thermal insulation, cannot freeze due to its slope, large diameter and elevated temperature drains. And if this happens, it should be checked for blockages, damage due to soil subsidence, etc.

Fundamentally, the ways to thaw a frozen plastic sewer pipe are not much different from defrosting a water supply. Here external heating is used with the opening of the trench, electric heating pipes and subsequent installation of heat insulation. The most commonly used method is heating the liquid inside the system. Why assemble a device from a flexible metal-plastic pipe and a water heating element.

How to heat a plastic pipe using electricity

Another means of heating a plastic pipe underground is electricity. This original method is at the same time simple, effective and extremely dangerous, since carelessness can cause a short circuit and receive an electric shock. When carrying out preparatory and main work, do not forget about the means personal protection and compliance with safety regulations. The material you will need is a copper two-core wire, as well as a compressor or pump to pump out the thawed liquid.

First you need to prepare the wire:

• from a segment of 70-100 mm we remove the upper insulator;
• one of internal wiring where the insulation is cut, we bend it and press it to the main wire;
• completely clear the second wiring;
• We also press it to the main wire and at the very edge, we make 2-3 tight turns on top of the first one, cut off the excess;
• retreating from the created turns, we expose the pressed first wire and also make several turns in parallel, without touching the turns of the second wire;
• We install an electrical plug at the other end of the wire.

In this design, it is important to ensure that the exposed wires do not move. During its operation, the wire is inserted into the pipe all the way to the frozen area and electricity is supplied, under the influence of which the ice quickly melts. As you progress, the thawed water must be removed and the wire must be pushed further.

But what if none of the proposed methods suits you? What to do with frozen water in a plastic pipe? The answer is simple. Call a team of specialists who, using an industrial steam generator, will restore the functionality of the pipeline, regardless of its purpose.

Many people like winter for its beauty, fluffy snow and a wide range of entertainment, but there are also those who suffer from this amazing time of year, for example, those with frozen water pipes. Is this a tragedy or a minor problem? Everything depends on you. If you were unable to ensure that the network was installed correctly, you will have to learn how to save it from the cold. So, how to defrost a HDPE pipe in the ground and return water to the house?

Causes of pipeline freezing

It has been wisely noted: it is better to prevent a problem than to solve it later. Therefore, if you are just conducting communications, and do not want to deprive your house of water with the onset of winter, frantically looking for tips on how to defrost a pipe in the ground, it is better to install utility network wisely, taking into account the climate and relying on the advice of professionals.

So why do pipes in the ground freeze?

• errors in the design and/or installation of the network;
• shallow laying depth (the norm is below ground freezing, about 2 meters);
• ignoring climate data (you may not expect that winter temperatures in your area are so low);
• insufficient water flow (the pipeline does not like downtime; if it is used occasionally, the system can be ruined);
• lack of insulation or its poor quality.

Meanwhile, plastic pipes withstand frost better than their metal “brothers”

Determining the location of freezing

When faced with a problem, you will naturally look for information on how to defrost water in a pipe underground, but this is not enough - you still need to determine exactly where the structure is frozen in order to act precisely.

The underground location of communications does not allow for visual inspection, so you will have to be content with the tactile method. What does it mean? The technology is simple: stop the water, remove any detachable connection (the main thing is that it is located after the tap with which you shut off the pipeline). Insert a plumbing cable into the hole (of course, you should choose the maximum length). As you insert it, measure the distance. When the cable hits the ice, you will know at what distance from the starting point the ice jam occurred. In principle, you don’t have to measure it, but simply attach the fragment of the cable that has passed into the structure to the ground, and thus calculate where the problem is.

Snow is a natural insulation that protects water pipes from freezing

Pipe heating technologies

So, how to defrost a plastic pipe underground? Homeowners, accustomed to metal communications, often pick up welding machine. Alas, in the case of HDPE networks, it is not your help: plastic does not conduct current.

Breaking ice with steel wire is also an ineffective method. The best ally in such a situation is hot water. But there are a few more secrets on how to defrost a pipe underground. First things first.

The most effective technologies for heating plastic communications are internal; external heating of a frozen area is ineffective.

Hardware ice crushing

The easiest, but also the most expensive way is to crush the ice using a powerful jet of water, which is supplied from special device, called a hydrodynamic machine. This unit is special, capable of accelerating water to such a speed that it can cut not only ice, but also harder materials. It’s a good “device,” but expensive, and it shouldn’t be given into the hands of non-professionals. Meanwhile, if you are an expert in the field of heating pipes, why not?!

What does the process look like in practice? Take a hydrodynamic machine. A flexible hose is connected to the pressure pipe of the unit, which is inserted into the frozen pipe. The device turns on, and in a matter of seconds it breaks the plug. That's it, water supply has been restored.

If you don’t have such a machine, or you don’t know how to use it, you can always find a master who is ready to do a block of work for you, for a fee, of course.

This is what a miracle unit looks like - a steam generator that can restore the water supply to your home

Warming up with a steam generator

This is also a fairly effective method - a meter-long ice plug can melt in a minute. However, keep in mind: in addition to the apparatus, you will need buckets, rags and working hands. The fact is that while the hose is removed, the “cured” pipe will turn into a fountain. That is why it is important to do everything correctly and promptly.

Worth paying attention! If you do not have the opportunity to purchase a factory model of a steam generator, then you can get a so-called “pressure cooker” or an autoclave. They, too, can defeat the ice, naturally, with proper management of the “devices.”

How to use a steam generator? It's quite simple, remember:

• pour several liters of water into the container;
• connect the heat-resistant hose to the safety valve;
• insert the hose into the system until the ice forms;
• turn on the unit and wait for defrosting.

The wisest way to protect communications from frost is to lay the pipes deep enough and insulate the network

Method with a boiler

Why not turn ice into boiling water? Imagine, it's not difficult at all. The method is not only time-tested, but also budget-friendly.

For such heating you will need a wire (copper, two-core, with a cross-section of 0.5 mm). The length must correspond to the same pipe parameter. You also need the same amount of steel wire, but with a smaller diameter - 3 mm. You will also need tools, but simple ones - available in every home.

So, the copper wires should be stripped - about 60 mm (the second - 1 cm away from the cut), so that there is enough for several turns. Turns should be made on each wire separately - so that they do not touch, otherwise a fatal short circuit cannot be avoided. Now the wires need to be attached to the steel “brother” using insulating tape. Make sure that the structure does not shorten. Also tie the ends to steel wire so that they do not interfere with pushing the homemade “boiler” into the frozen pipe.

Place the finished structure into the system and connect to the network. After a certain period of time, the pipe will warm up and simply “spit out” the ice plug. When this happens, the boiler must be turned off and the pipe closed. After cleaning and restoring the connection, the pipeline will work like clockwork.

Imagine, an ordinary Esmarch mug can save pipes from freezing: here is the technology for heating the network

Using a pear

This option Although cheap, it is quite labor-intensive. If you like challenges and like to experiment and test new technologies, then let's get started.

For the technique you need to stock up on the following materials:

• Esmarch's mug or the so-called “pear” (from any pharmacy);
• steel wire (length - depending on the situation in accordance with the length of the pipe, diameter - several millimeters);
• water level;
• insulating tape.

Worth paying attention! Can't find the right length of water level? Make a “device” yourself by purchasing two levels and extending the tube using improvised means, for example, a regular fountain pen.

So, the tube from the level should be attached to the wire using electrical tape. If you doubt the reliability of the tape, you can use a heat-shrink tube of suitable size. Then everything is simple: you fill the “pear” with hot water and use it to pour it into the system. The water flow rate may vary depending on how severely the pipe is frozen, as well as the diameter of the system itself. However, you should try to pour boiling water quickly, then the result will not take long to arrive. Yes, the process is labor-intensive, but it is less expensive (both in terms of strength and finances) than digging ditches and replacing the pipeline if it becomes completely unusable due to frost.

But the problem may lie in the distribution valve

Non-standard situations

If the cause of freezing pipes is improper design or installation of the system, then the situation may have to be resolved by other methods.

Let's look at the most common mistake - shallow laying of communications. If there is no snow and the frost is severe, you are guaranteed ice in the pipes. This situation (shallow laying of the network and lack of an insulating layer) is observed mainly in old estates, the owners of which are accustomed to winters that are snowier than now. Trouble, as a rule, happens to the section of the network from the distribution well to the residential building. Under such circumstances, work on heating communications should begin with a well - a unit that distributes water to several neighboring houses. Sometimes the problem lies in the lid - don’t be surprised, because the product is made of cast iron, so it does not protect the taps and pipes located in the well from frost. The frozen contents of the water distribution unit will have to be warmed up. Professionals recommend doing this using a blowtorch, of course, carefully - so as not to damage the rubber gaskets, otherwise the well will turn into a fountain. If you don’t have a blowtorch on your household, a hair dryer will do. Don't own either one or the other? Warm the unit with boiling water, and then insulate it (with a vapor barrier and mineral wool).

Have a cozy winter

And don’t forget to show your neighbors how to defrost HDPE pipes in the ground, because they, too, have probably helped you out with advice more than once.

Video presentation of the steam generator operation

The answer to the question: the water supply is frozen, how to defrost it, interests many owners of private houses in Russia. The fact is that freezing of the water supply is far from a rare phenomenon in our country, where low temperatures are present in larger territory countries for at least six months. This phenomenon can lead to disruption of life over large areas.

As for private households, a frozen pipeline can make almost any house unsuitable for living in it. In this case, if you do not accept emergency measures before it defrosts, the home will have to be abandoned until spring, and irreparable damage will be caused to it and its communications.

In order to successfully combat freezing of pipelines in winter, it is necessary to find out in advance why the pipes freeze, because normally they should not be covered with ice. In addition, the appearance of ice and complete blockage may indicate that negative changes have occurred in the system that significantly affect its performance. If the homeowner notices this in time, he can take measures to remove the ice in advance before it causes significant damage to the pipeline.

If we talk about the most common reason for frozen pipes in winter, it is usually:

• Errors in design and installation pipeline.
• Homeowners are often too lazy to dig a deep trench, which leads to laying the line above the freezing point of the soil in this area. As a result, the soil “stands up like a stake” during severe frosts, which leads to pipeline breaks and pipe damage.
• Improper plumbing in the building.
• And also due to the fact that highways are not insulated.

When placing such communications, even in warm basements, it is necessary to periodically carry out work to monitor the integrity of the insulation and, if necessary, replace it with a new one. This also applies to inspection wells, which some homeowners haven’t looked at for years. As a result, almost ideal conditions are created for the formation of ice and frost in winter period.

In addition, a great influence on freezing engineering communications also renders the speed of water flow through the pipes, as well as their diameter. Thus, water constantly flows in the main pipelines of housing and communal services networks, which allows them to operate normally even in icy soil. In private households, where such flow is relatively weak, and the pipes have a diameter of one or two inches, pipes need to be laid approximately half a meter deeper ground freezing point in winter.

In order to get rid of this negative aspect, many homeowners leave their water taps open in cold weather. As a result, the system will be operational for the entire time it is used. If you close the tap, it is quite possible that the process of ice formation will begin.

Another common and natural cause of pipe freezing is laying utility lines in unheated rooms, it could be an entrance or a basement. Here, ice jams usually occur at night when the water flow drops to a minimum level. Moreover, if in apartment buildings access to the pipes is open, which makes it easier to deal with traffic jams; in private households they are usually difficult to access. As a result, fighting ice here is quite difficult and such activities require a lot of time and, in some cases, money.

How to find a frozen area

Before proceeding directly to heating the pipes, it is necessary to determine the part of them where the freezing area is directly located. The fact is that the method used for heating the entire line will depend on where exactly it is located and what its dimensions are. At the same time, if it is damaged by ice, the question of repairing it will arise, and not about getting rid of ice jams.

There are two ways to detect an ice jam:

• visual,
• tactile.

The visual method consists of carefully studying the external condition of the pipe. To do this, the water supply system is inspected throughout the areas to which there is free access. So, if the communications are made of plastic material, for example, metal-plastic, the homeowner will see swelling or deformation of a different shape.

A frozen section of metal-plastic pipes can be noticed by swelling or other deformation.

As for metal pipes, which are not ductile, it is difficult to detect a blockage visually. In this case, as well as when communication is carried out using a hidden method, it will be necessary to use the tactile method. It consists of feeling for a jam using a feeler gauge:

1. Nearest connector knee to a suspicious place dismantled.
2. Into the resulting hole introduced ordinary plumbing cable or thick wire.
3. Rope or wire advances along the pipe until it stops.
4. Their length, after they are applied to the wall or soil, will indicate to the expected place of freezing.

There are also special devices designed to determine where ice forms in utilities. They are used by professional plumbers and these devices are practically not used in everyday life.

How to defrost a pipe indoors

The methods used to defrost utilities directly depend on where exactly the pipeline is located. So if it is installed indoors, then you can get rid of ice jams using:

• hot water;
• construction hair dryer;
• electricity.

hot water used for heating pipes in open sections of highways, while this method can be used for cleaning products made of both metal and plastic. In this case, it is best when it is boiling water, since it is this that allows you to melt the ice the fastest. In addition, rags and rags are also used to speed up the process.

1. To start rags and rags placed on the pipe.
2. Location of suspected jam start pouring boiling water on or hot water. The process is lengthy, since the surface of the main will have to be constantly irrigated with new portions of hot water.
3. The heating process stops only after water does not start flowing from the open taps.
4. Complete removal of ice from the system can be completed in a few hours and during this time the valves should not be closed.

Rags and rags are necessary here to increase the contact area of ​​the pipe with boiling water, as well as to prolong its effect on it.

Rags and rags increase the contact area of ​​the pipe with boiling water, and also prolong its effect on it.

Frozen water pipes can also be warmed up with hot air by applying it to open areas systems. For this purpose they usually use heat gun or powerful construction hair dryer. At the same time, a temporary canopy is erected over the problem area from scrap materials. In the same case, when the homeowner does not have industrial equipment, he can use any device that generates warm air. So it can be an ordinary household hair dryer.

The third common method of defrosting pipes is to use electricity. It is considered one of the most effective and can be used to remove ice from both metal and plastic products. It is worth noting separately that this method requires taking certain precautions.

Metal lines this method is heated using welding transformer.

1. The output cables of the device must be connected to a suspicious area at a distance from the jam at least half a meter.
2. Voltage is applied so that a current of magnitude passes through the metal from 100 to 200 amperes.
3. Usually a few minutes This impact causes the ice to melt, thereby restoring the permeability of the pipe.

As for plastic communications, then they are heated using a two-core copper wire with a cross-section 2.5 – 3 millimeters:

1. One of the cores is partially stripped and 5 turns around the cable.
2. The second core is lowered below the first and the same manipulations are performed on it. Trying to perform spiral winding at a distance of 3 millimeters from the first winding. The resulting device is a simple homemade boiler.
3. Ready product insert into the pipe and turn on the current. Under the influence of the potential that arises between the coils, the water heats up and the ice begins to melt.

This method is good because when using it, the system does not heat up and the plastic does not deteriorate.

How to defrost pipes outside

Defrosting pipelines outside has its own specifics due to the fact that the temperature here is usually much lower than indoors. At the same time, the pipes on fresh air They are also heated using electricity, a hair dryer and hot water, just like indoors. In addition, due to more severe weather conditions, powerful special equipment is used. So, for example, heating of lines is carried out using:

• heating cable for water supply;
• steam heater;
• autoclave;
• hydrodynamic machine.

If you decide to use it to defrost a water supply or sewer system on the street electricity , then it is advisable to use not a welding transformer for this, as when performing a similar procedure indoors, but a special device, because:

• it has great power
• allows you to adjust the current strength,
• allows you to regulate the voltage of the supplied current.
• safer to use than a welding transformer used for other purposes.

Modern industry also offers homeowners pipe heating cable. It should be distinguished from such a product as pipe heating cable, since this product is not intended to combat already formed ice, but to prevent this phenomenon. If you equip a pipeline with such a cable in dangerous areas, ice simply cannot form there.

Heating cable for water supply inside a pipe used when it is not possible to heat it from the outside. The fact is that the electric current supplied to it is converted into thermal energy, which allows you to melt the ice. At the same time, with its help you can clear ice jams in the most inaccessible places, because:

• the cable can be inserted into the pipe at several tens of meters,
• he's flexible, which makes it possible to reach even ice in difficultly curved knees.

Construction hair dryer It is rarely used outdoors, since it is simply not able to warm up problem areas in windy conditions. If there is no other way out, you will have to build a temporary shelter from scrap materials to complete the work.

As for hot water, then in this case it will need to be poured inside the system. For this purpose it is used

• funnel,
• a flexible hose that moves deeper into the pipeline as the ice thaws.

IN difficult cases they use industrial equipment: steam generators, autoclaves, hydrodynamic machines. Steam generator Defrosts using steam. To do this, a hose is inserted into the pipeline through a pipe or a disassembled elbow and hot steam begins to flow through it until it is completely cleared of ice.

A hydrodynamic machine creates hydrodynamic pressure that “breaks through” ice jams.

Autoclave can also generate steam, so it can be used to combat ice jams. Here the operating scheme is approximately the same as with a steam generator. In this case, it is preferable to use a steam generator, since it is more suitable for performing the described operation. As for hydrodynamic machine, then it creates hydrodynamic pressure that “breaks through” ice jams. This machine is professional and is usually used by organizations specializing in the maintenance of utility lines.

Checking the water supply after defrosting

After the water supply has been thawed, it must be checked for damage. This can be done first of all visually. To do this, the surface of the pipes is inspected for the presence of cracks, tears and swelling. In severe frosts, such damage is usually visible to the naked eye.

When they are minor, you will need to perform a pressure test of the line. In this case, the defects that have arisen can be detected by emerging drips. Some malfunctions may appear much later, so the system should be left under observation for about a week to avoid an emergency.

Insulation and prevention of pipeline freezing

In order to prevent pipes from freezing in winter, it is necessary to carefully follow the procedure for assembling and laying the water supply system. So it must be placed in the ground at a depth below the freezing point of the soil in a given region. Information about this can be found in a special reference book, which shows freezing points in all regions of the Russian Federation.

In the case when weather In your region, severe and frosty conditions are not uncommon; all communications should be laid in special thermal insulation cases. In addition to saving heat, such devices prevent pipes from freezing. Such pencil cases do not rot, are not afraid of exposure to moisture and therefore can last at least 50 years without replacement.

As for the insulation of pipelines, they usually use glass wool or polyurethane foam. Also relatively recently, special thermal insulation covers, mounted on top of the existing insulation. If the pipe lies in the ground and needs to be protected from freezing, it is placed in a trench with it. expanded clay or the same pencil case made of insulation.

Summing up

In conclusion, it can be noted that there are many ways to clear ice from a pipeline if it freezes, but it is better not to resort to using them. In the case when all communications are carried out according to the requirements building codes and rules, no cold will be scary for them. At the same time, the service life of the water supply and sewerage systems will increase significantly, and the cost of their maintenance will decrease significantly.

One of unpleasant consequences prolonged severe frosts cause freezing of water in the heating pipeline, hot and cold water supply or home sewage system, so owners of private houses need to know how to defrost a pipe underground, preventing it from being damaged by the formed ice crystals. Indeed, in addition to the formation of an ice plug that completely blocks the internal lumen of the pipe, crystallization of water is accompanied by an increase in volume frozen ice V limited space, which can lead to rupture of the outer walls of the pipeline.

To prevent water from freezing, external pipes must be carefully insulated, but if for some reason this still happens, they need to be properly defrosted using the technologies described below.

Defrosting water and sewer pipes

In order to substantively consider this issue, this article will describe several ways to combat this dangerous phenomenon, used using ordinary household tools and available funds household chemicals.

In addition, the reader will be presented detailed instructions And useful recommendations for the installation of water pipes, the implementation of which will avoid unpleasant consequences.

What to do to prevent pipes from freezing

Most often, the main reason for freezing water in pipes is a violation of the technology for laying external or underground pipelines and non-compliance with the rules for using water supply systems in winter. To avoid having to deal with a similar problem in the future, it is enough to follow simple rules for the installation and operation of the supply or drain pipeline in the cold season.

1. The bottom of the trench for laying the pipeline should be located below maximum depth soil freezing for this region, in accordance with the requirements of SNiP II-G.3-62 “Water supply. Design standards".
2. It is not allowed to lay pipes in the ground near structures made of monolithic reinforced concrete., since its thermal conductivity is significantly higher than the thermal conductivity of the soil. I recommend reading about that in the previous article on our website.
3. When the pipeline passes through the foundation, walls and other building construction, it is necessary to provide thermal insulation from monolithic concrete using a thick layer of mineral wool.

1. For laying underground or external water supply lines, pipes with a diameter of at least 50 mm should be used, since Reducing the pipe diameter promotes faster freezing.
2. If possible, pipes made of polymer materials should be used for these purposes, since they have moderate elasticity and do not collapse when an ice plug forms, but only slightly increase in volume.
3. For guaranteed frost protection, One or two lines of heating cable should be laid parallel to the pipe, which, regardless of frost, will constantly maintain a positive temperature.
4. In unheated residential buildings seasonal accommodation, before the onset of the cold season, you need to completely drain the water from all water supply networks, including water supply, heating and sewerage.

In any case, when installing an external or underground water supply system, you should remember that the price of thorough thermal insulation will be much lower than the cost repair work to replace a damaged section of the pipeline in winter.

Note!

Advice! To completely remove water from all utilities, their pipes should be located at an inclination of 1-2° to the horizon, towards the lowest point of the water supply, sewer or heating system.

Pipe defrosting technology

Option 1: defrosting a steel water pipe

In practice, two methods are used to warm frozen pipes. They differ from each other in the way thermal effects– internal and external heating:

• For metal pipelines you can use both the first and second methods, however, external heating is usually more effective because it allows the surface to be heated over a large area at once.
• Electrical heat can be used as an external heat source. heating devices or an open flame source, for example a heating cable, a hair dryer, blowtorch or a gas burner. When heating steel pipes using these tools, the following rules must be observed:

1. First of all, you need to determine the location of the ice plug formation and provide free access to the pipe, after which open the nearest water tap to allow free flow of thawed water.
2. Connect a heat source or light a flame gas burner and gradually begin to warm up the frozen area, slowly moving the tool away from water tap to the supply riser.

1. As the temperature rises, water will begin to appear from the tap, which indicates the gradual thawing of the ice plug.
2. It is safer and no less effective to use a household heating pad or heating electric cable, which must be evenly wound around a frozen section of the pipe and then plugged into the electrical network. To speed up the process, I recommend wrapping the heating cable in a thick cloth or old blanket.
3. To warm up a long area metal pipe, which is located on the street or in the wall, you can use a welding machine. To do this, you need to connect the leads of the low-voltage winding of the transformer to different ends of the frozen section using thick cables.

Note!

Advice! When using open fire, be sure to follow the rules fire safety. This method cannot be used to heat pipes that are wrapped in roofing material or covered with a layer of bitumen waterproofing.

Option 2: defrosting metal-plastic pipes

Metal-plastic water pipes, as a rule, are used to carry out intra-apartment or intra-house wiring of the water supply system, so they can freeze if they are filled with water for a long time in an unheated room with a negative temperature.

1. In most cases, to eliminate an ice jam, it is enough to turn on the heating system in the house and warm the air in the room to above-zero temperatures.
2. If a plug has formed in the heating system, you can place it next to the radiator or battery electric heater or a medical lamp with a deflector.
3. You can warm up an open metal-plastic pipe in the house with your own hands if you wrap it in several layers of thick fabric and pour hot water on it, after placing a bucket or bowl under it.
4. For metal-plastic pipes The use of a heating pad or an electric heating cable is also effective, but the use of open fire in this case is strictly prohibited.

Note!

Advice! Beforehow to defrost heating pipes, you need to check the water level in the expansion tank and make sure that no air gets into the autonomous heating system during operation.

Option 3: defrosting a plastic water pipe

Plastic water pipe made from polypropylene or polyethylene pipes most often used to supply water to the house from a well when autonomous system water supply or for connection to a centralized water supply system. It is also often used for internal distribution of hot and cold water supply in many apartments and residential buildings.

Most often, freezing of water supply networks occurs at the entrance to a residential building or at the exit from the water metering unit., and this area is usually located underground. In this case, the methods described above will not work, so you need to use the internal heating method. To do this you will need Esmarch's medical mug and a thin long hose.

1. Before defrosting polypropylene pipes underground, you need to roughly determine the location of the ice plug formation and disassemble part of the water supply to provide free access to the supply pipe.

1. Attach the end of an elastic steel wire to the free end of the flexible rubber hose so that it protrudes 10 mm in front of the end of the hose.
2. Insert the hose with the wire attached inside the supply pipe and gradually push it deeper, correcting its progress with the help of the wire.
3. Having reached the location of the supposed ice plug, connect the free end of the hose to the outlet of Esmarch’s mug and pour hot water into it.
4. After this, you need to raise it as high as possible and open the drain valve, directing the heated water to the place where the ice forms.
5. As it warms up, thawed water will flow out of the end of the inlet pipe, so you need to place a bowl or bucket under it.

The diagram shows how to defrost a pipe using an Esmarch mug

Note!

Advice! In order to prevent flooding of the house as a result of a sudden supply of water after removing the ice plug, you must first, slightly not completely, turn off the inlet valve, which is located between the metering unit and the main pipeline.

Option 4: eliminating ice blockage in the sewer

Freezing of the sewer system rarely occurs because, as a rule, it receives waste heated water from the drain holes of plumbing fixtures located in the house or apartment. If this does happen, several methods will be presented below, which will describe in detail how to defrost a sewer pipe in a private house when an ice plug forms.

1. If the underground drainage collector is located at a shallow depth, you need to light a fire above the place where it is located and keep it burning until the entire layer of earth warms up.
2. Pour a large amount of concentrated solution down the drain table salt . This solution has very low temperature melting, so it will not freeze, and the salt included in its composition will slowly dissolve the ice plug.
3. Through the toilet flush or window inspection hatch insert an electric heating cable into the sewer system until it reaches the ice obstacle, and connect it to the power supply.
4. Open the inspection hatch of the septic tank, and through the outlet drain pipe Place a flexible garden hose inside it. Having reached the location of the suspected ice plug, supply hot water from the water supply system into the hose until the ice completely thaws.

Conclusion

After reading this article, it is easy to conclude that there are a large number of simple and effective methods that allow you to independently eliminate the consequences of water freezing in any pipeline of a private home.

Additional information on this issue can be obtained by watching the video in this article, or reading similar materials on our website. All your questions and suggestions can be left in the comment form.