How to defrost plumbing: professional advice. How to defrost a plastic pipe: we cancel trips to an ice hole in severe frost How to quickly defrost plastic pipes with water

Winter frosts are a test that not only living beings have to endure, but also engineering communications.

If the rules for laying pipelines are violated in winter, they often freeze and then the problem arises, how to defrost a water pipe?

Causes of freezing water in pipes

As a rule, the cause of freezing of water in pipes is an elementary violation of the water supply installation technology. For example, if the pipes were laid without taking into account the depth of soil freezing in a given area.

Or the requirement to conduct pipe insulation was ignored. It happens that pipes freeze not only in external networks, but also indoors if there is no heating in it.

How to avoid freezing pipes?

In order not to require defrosting of water pipes, care should be taken to ensure that the following requirements are met during the installation of the pipeline:

• When laying underground pipelines, ditches should be dug to a depth that exceeds the level of soil freezing in the area.
• It is not necessary to lay the water supply pipeline near reinforced concrete structures. The fact is that the coefficient of thermal conductivity of concrete exceeds that of the soil, that is, when pipes are laid in the immediate vicinity of reinforced concrete elements, the likelihood of water freezing in pipes increases.
• It is advisable to install pipelines complete with a heating cable.
  This, of course, will lead to an increase in the cost of installation, but it will forever get rid of the problem of freezing.
• In places where the pipeline passes through the wall of the building, glass wool insulation should be used to avoid direct contact of the pipe with the wall.
• In pipes of small diameter, water freezes more often, therefore, for plumbing, it is advisable to use pipes with a diameter of 50 mm or more.
• When laying pipelines in unheated rooms and on the streets, it is best to use polyethylene pipes. Such pipes tolerate freezing and defrosting well, unlike polypropylene pipes, which can become unusable if they freeze once or twice.
• If the water supply or sewerage is supposed to be used only periodically (for example, in the country), then during downtime, it is advisable to completely free the system from water so that there is nothing to freeze.

Methods for defrosting metal pipes

There are several ways. They will be described below.

But when choosing any of them, you should adhere to the following general rules:

• When heating pipes, keep the water tap open so that the defrosted water can escape.
• It is forbidden to produce a sharp heating of the frozen section of the pipe, starting from its middle.
• Warming is carried out from the water tap towards the riser. But if it requires heating the sewer pipes, then you need to move in the opposite direction, that is, from the riser to the water intake point.
• Heating of the pipe should be started after the location of the frozen section has been assessed. This will help you choose the right defrosting method.

All methods can be divided into two large groups, these are:

• Methods based on external impact on the pipe.
• Methods with an internal defrosting method.

Consider how to defrost water pipes using external exposure.

This will require the use of some kind of heating device, it can be:

• Blowtorch;
• Building hair dryer;
• Electrical heating device.

When using a blowtorch indoors, fire safety measures should be taken.

In particular, a metal screen should be installed behind the pipe to protect the walls.

Using any of the listed devices, you should methodically act on the pipe. The success of the measures taken will be evidenced by the water that will appear from the supply tap.

It should not be forgotten that when freezing, water expands in volume, so it is likely that steel pipes will be damaged after freezing.

After the water is warmed up, you should carefully inspect the pipeline for leaks.

The safest and most effective way to defrost pipes by external exposure is to use an electrical heating tape or heating cable.

In this case, you just need to wind the tape around the frozen area and plug it into the network.

To defrost steel pipes, you can also use this method: a welding machine is taken and connected to different ends of the frozen section.

As a result, the pipe heats up. When using a welding machine, the whole process takes 2-4 hours, depending on the length of the frozen section.

How to defrost a plastic pipe?

Recently, steel pipes for plumbing are used less and less, they have been replaced by plastic pipes. Such pipes are not subject to corrosion and do not collapse if water freezes in them.

However, if an ice plug appears in them, practically all methods of external influence cannot be applied to them. Naturally, the use of open fire to heat the plastic will lead to the destruction of the pipe, and the use of a building hair dryer often turns out to be ineffective, since plastic does not conduct heat well.

Connecting a welding machine to such pipes is also completely useless, since the pipes do not conduct electricity.

The mechanical method of action, that is, the removal of the ice plug by inserting a steel bar inside, can be effective with a small freezing area, however, its use creates a serious risk of damaging the pipe.

Thus, if it is necessary to defrost plastic pipes, the only way left is to use hot water poured inside.

Below are several ways to defrost plastic pipes. All of them are quite effective, however, it is advisable to use them only on small diameter pipelines.

The first way to defrost is to organize the supply of hot water to the place of freezing.

It is done like this:

• To defrost a plastic pipe, a pipe or hose of high rigidity with a smaller diameter should be prepared.

To remove an ice plug in a pipe with a diameter of 20-30 mm, a pipe or hose with a diameter of 16 mm should be used.

• If the damaged section of the pipeline is straight, then it is more convenient to use a metal-plastic pipe. In the event that the frozen pipeline has bends, the use of a hose is required.

Ordinary irrigation hoses are not suitable for this operation. The fact is that they soften greatly under the influence of hot water, so it will be problematic to push them further.

For defrosting use gas or oxygen hoses.

• Metal-plastic pipes are sold, as a rule, rolled into coils. Therefore, the pipe should first be unbent, and then begin to move along the pipeline, pushing the ice plug all the way.
• Now you can pour hot water into the pipe, trying to maintain the highest possible temperature.
• Defrosted water will flow out at the pipe connection, so a collection container should be placed there.
• As the ice melts, the plastic pipe will need to be pushed further and further until the problem is completely fixed.

This defrosting method is good if an ice plug has formed in an area located near the entrance to the pipe. If the pipe is frozen far from home and there are turns and bends in the pipeline section, then the pipe cannot be pushed into the pipeline.

• To carry out the work, you will need a hydraulic level, a coil of steel wire with a diameter of 2-4 mm, and an Esmarch mug, that is, a device that is used in medicine for cleansing enemas.
• We take the tube of the hydraulic level and wrap it with wire or attach the wire to the tube with adhesive tape or electrical tape. This must be done so that the wire does not stick out in different directions, while the tip of the tube should protrude by one centimeter.
• Now we connect the second end of the hydraulic level tube to the outlet pipe of the Esmarch mug and begin to push our structure into the pipe.
• Since the hydraulic tube has a small diameter and weight, there are no difficulties when pushing through, even if there are turns along the way.
• Push the tube until the tube hits the ice plug.
• Now pour hot water into Esmarch's mug and open the supply valve.
• As the ice plug decreases, push the tube further.
• A suitable container should be installed at the junction of pipes to collect the escaping water.

This method of defrosting is quite effective, but it takes time. For one hour of work, you can have time to free from ice about 0.8-1.0 m of the pipe.

So, there are several fairly effective ways to help solve the problem of how to defrost water pipes. However, all of them are time-consuming, so it is more correct to take the necessary measures, for example, to prevent freezing of water in the pipeline.

Since recently pipelines made of various polymeric materials are increasingly used for external and internal highways, the issue of defrosting plastic pipes is very relevant. This problem is a consequence of insufficient preventive measures to prevent their freezing, which is quite common.

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

Reasons for freezing

Before you get acquainted with all the options for how to defrost a plastic water pipe or sewer, you should figure out why they freeze, as there is a high probability that the situation will repeat itself.

So, there are several reasons:

• The laying of 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 temperatures drop to extremes in winter. This problem can also be solved 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. You can fix the problem in the same way as in the previous case.
• Incorrectly executed pipeline diameter - this reason usually concerns external systems. In the pursuit of savings, some homeowners use pipes with a diameter corresponding to the estimated minimum sufficient for the water supply of the building. However, water at low consumption stagnates, as a result of which it has time to freeze.

Therefore, experts recommend using water pipes with a diameter of at least 40-50 mm for outdoor systems, since the increased diameter reduces the risk of freezing and the severity of its consequences. To prevent freezing, it is necessary to lay a heating cable, insulate the pipeline or replace it with pipes of a 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 the outer wall (foundation). This problem can only be eliminated by laying a heat-insulating material. In this case, most likely, it will be necessary to expand the hole in the foundation.
• Fitting pipes to walls made of artificial stone, for example, in the basement or in the basement. In this case, you just need to lay a heat-insulating material between the pipeline and the wall that caused the frost.

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

Accident Options

The choice of method for how to defrost a plastic sewer pipe or water pipe depends on what type of accident has occurred:

• Pipe frozen in outdoor underground pipeline;
• Freezing occurred in an outdoor open pipeline;
• Freezing has occurred in the internal pipeline;
• A pipe is frozen, located in a hard-to-reach place, for example, mounted in 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 PVC pipes do not tolerate frost well and can burst after the first freezing.

Solution

Crack repair

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

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

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

External defrost

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

I must say that some craftsmen use open sources of heat for these purposes, such as gas burners and blowtorches. However, it should be borne in mind that this method is unsafe, since due to inaccuracy, you can simply burn the pipeline.

Unfortunately, it will not work to use a special apparatus for defrosting metal pipes, since it can only work with conductive materials. Naturally, polymers are not among those.

Internal heating

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

Therefore, the most affordable option is to melt the cork with hot water, which is poured into the system, from inside the building. However, water will not just pass through the pipeline to the ice plug area, since most often it contains air and water plugs. For short runs, a metal-plastic pipe of a smaller diameter or an oxygen thermo-resistant hose that is inserted into the pipeline can become a solution to the problem.

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

The instructions for doing this work are as follows:

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

Keep in mind that this process is not fast 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.

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

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

Here, perhaps, are all the most effective ways to defrost pipes. Having eliminated this trouble, it is imperative to make sure that it does not happen again next season.

Conclusion

Defrosting a frozen sewer or water pipe can be quite a daunting task. Therefore, it is much easier to prevent this problem at the pipeline installation stage. However, if such a situation nevertheless occurred, it is necessary to act according to the scheme described above.

See the video in this article for more information on this topic.

In winter, freezing plumbing and heating pipes are a common problem. This can happen if the required standards were not met during the laying of the pipeline and technological standards were violated. Regardless of the root cause of the problem, the question arises: how to defrost a water pipe?

Consider some of the causes of ice plugs in the water supply:

• the water supply was laid at insufficient depth;
• incorrectly performed work on thermal insulation of pipes;
• pipe diameter is incorrectly selected;
• worn pipes.

How to prevent plumbing from freezing

• when laying water pipes, it is necessary to take into account the depth of soil freezing in a given area and dig a trench below this level;
• the pipeline should be placed away from concrete and reinforced concrete structures, as they are subject to freezing stronger than the soil;
• in places where pipes enter the building, good thermal insulation should be made, most often, mineral and glass wool are used;
• it is better if the diameter of the outer pipes is more than 50 mm - the more water in the pipe, the longer it will freeze;
• piping can be done with an electrical cable that will heat the pipes at dangerously low temperatures.

If it was not possible to prevent freezing, you should start defrosting the water supply.

This can be done in several ways, all of which can be divided into two categories:

1. Impact outside.
2. Warming up from the inside.

Regardless of the choice of pipe defrosting method, several rules must be observed:

• it is necessary to determine as accurately as possible the frozen section of the pipe and its length;
• all valves must be open so that the thawed water has an outlet;
• it is necessary to start warming the pipe from an open tap and further to the riser;
• sewer pipes, on the contrary, are heated from the riser in the direction of the septic tank.

Methods for defrosting water pipes through exposure to the outside

In such cases, prolonged heating of the pipe surface and further heat exchange between the pipe itself and the ice inside are carried out.

Boiling water or just hot water. The frozen section of the pipe is wrapped with foam rubber or rags that absorb water, and poured with boiling water, constantly maintaining the temperature of the rags or foam rubber, and, accordingly, the pipe. This method is used in open sections of the pipeline: in basements, at the entrance to a building, etc. Well suited for metal pipes, as metal is an excellent heat conductor.

Building hair dryer. The pipe heats up under the influence of hot air. It is necessary to blow the pipe from all sides. In order not to lose heat, something like a pavilion can be made around the pipe, for example, from a plastic film. When heating a plastic pipe in this way, it is important to carefully monitor the heating process so that the pipeline does not melt. If the pipe freezing area is small, a conventional fan heater or a household hair dryer will do. If the pipe has bends, narrowings, entrances to the fittings, they also need to be heated.

Blowtorch or gas burner. This method requires special attention due to the high risk of fire.

Electrical heating cable or electrical heating tape. The safest and no less effective way to defrost pipes. The cable must be wound around the pipe in a spiral and connected to a power source. This method is only suitable for open pipes.

Defrost unit or welding transformer. Two wires, positive and negative, are connected to different ends of a frozen section of a metal pipe, an electric current heats the water and the ice plug melts. The time spent on heating metal water pipes using a welding transformer is minimal.

Methods for defrosting water pipes through exposure from the inside

All the methods described above are good for metal pipes, but are not suitable for plastic. Therefore, there are methods "from the inside". The most important thing is to find the nearest detachable connection in order to disconnect the frozen section from the remaining highway.

Two-core copper wire. The principle of operation is similar to a boiler. The cores of the wire are separated and exposed. Then each must be twisted into a small spiral (from 3 to 5 turns), it is better to make one core a little shorter so that the spirals do not touch and there is no short circuit. Next, the wire must be brought into the pipe and plugged into the outlet. An electric current passing through water heats it up well.

Hot water. A laborious process that requires patience, but at minimal cost. The hose must be thinner than the pipe. It is inserted into the disconnected pipe until it stops in the ice plug and filled with hot water. As the ice melts, the hose moves forward. Be sure to need a container for thawed water. On straight sections of the pipeline, it is better to use a metal-plastic tube; for bends, a flexible hose is more suitable: gas or oxygen.

"Mug of Esmarch" - in a popular way an enema. In addition to it, a rigid wire and a hose from the hydraulic level. The wire is attached to the tube (with adhesive tape, electrical tape, whatever), the Esmarch mug is connected to the hydraulic level tube on one side, and the other is pushed into the water pipe to the ice plug. Next, the mug is raised higher and hot water is poured into it. As the ice thaws, the hydraulic level hose must be advanced further until it is completely defrosted. This method is suitable for underground pipes.

Special equipment for preventive washing of water and sewer pipes. Utilities have it, you can call specialists at home.

All methods of defrosting pipes have their own advantages and disadvantages and take a lot of time. To avoid possible problems with the water supply, it is better to adhere to all technological norms for laying pipes in advance.

Video

This video shows how pipes are defrosted with a burner:

See how you can defrost a water pipe with steam:

Why do pipes freeze? The reasons can be very different: pipes are laid at insufficient depth, inefficiently insulated, too small volumes of water are transported through them, pipes are operated at extremely low temperatures. In doing so, it must be taken into account that if pipe defrosting, laid in accessible places, does not cause any particular difficulties (for example, they can be warmed up with a regular household hair dryer), then how to defrost the outdoor ones when laying underground? “Good luck” if the pipe is frozen at the point of entry - in this case, you can simply heat the walls. And if the freezing point is a few meters from the structure? Is there a solution to the problem or do I need to wait for heat? There is a solution to the problem!

If the pipes are metal, then the defrosting process is quite simple. To do this, we take an ordinary welding machine and connect it to different ends of the pipe. This simple electrical method fixes the problem within two to four hours. The longer the frozen section of the pipe, the longer the defrost takes.

But what if it's cold plastic pipe? Currently, networks are mainly used made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which can withstand pressures up to 10 atm. They are not subject to corrosion processes and do not collapse when freezing. According to its properties, polyethylene is not a conductor of electric current, therefore, defrosting with a welding machine is not possible. Removing the ice plug with a steel bar is also fraught with damage to the pipe. Thus, there is only one way out - to use hot water to defrost.

The proposed three methods for defrosting polyethylene pipes are the "know-how" of craftsmen. However, despite their some eccentricity - they work. Their only drawback is that they are only suitable for pipelines of small diameters.

Method 1

It should be borne in mind that an ice plug in the pipe will not allow hot water to get inside if it is poured just like that. So you need to find a way to supply hot water to the frozen zone. To do this, you can use a hose or pipe with a smaller diameter. For example, if you need to defrost a water pipe with a diameter of 25 or 30 mm, and the frozen section is straight, then using a metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm will be most effective. First we straighten the metal-plastic pipe (m / p pipes are usually rolled up into coils), and then we push it into the frozen pipe until it reaches the ice. After that, we serve the hottest water through it to the freezing point. Thawed cold water will pour out through the gap between the water and plastic pipes. By the way, if your water supply is limited, then you can use thawed water: heat it up and send it back to the freezing point. In this case, the ice plug will melt, and you can push the metal-plastic pipe further.

But what if the frozen section of the water pipe has bends and turns? In this case, it will not be possible to use a rigid metal-plastic pipe. Is there a solution? In such a situation, you can use a rigid hose. Note that an ordinary watering hose is not suitable for this, it will soften from hot water and it will be impossible to push it through. Oxygen hoses and hoses for connecting gas cylinders turned out to be effective in such a situation. Such hoses are quite rigid, but, nevertheless, they can be pushed no more than 10-15 meters from the input. In addition, they are quite heavy and you need to push them through the pipe with significant effort.

Method 2

How to defrost a water pipe if it happened tens of meters from the house and the pipeline has bends and turns? There is an efficient and economical way. To do this, you need a set of hardened steel wire (2-4 mm), a building hydraulic level and an Esmarch mug (banal enema). The cost of such a set is low, and many have all its components on the farm.

First, it is necessary to align the hydraulic level tube and the wire, and then fasten the end of the wire to the hydraulic level with electrical tape. To ensure greater hardness, a loop can be made at the end of the wire. The wire itself should not stick out, and the end of the hydraulic level tube should protrude 1 centimeter in front of the wire. After that, the other end of the hydraulic level must be connected to the Esmarch mug and the wire with the tube should be pushed into the pipeline until it stops at the ice plug. Due to the fact that the hydraulic level tube has a very small diameter and very low weight, it easily moves through the pipeline, overcoming all turns. Next, pour hot water, making the frozen water supply "enema". To collect thawed water, you need to substitute a container under the water pipe, because how much hot water is poured in, how much cold water is poured out. As the ice melts, we continue to push the wire with the hydraulic level tube. This method of defrosting pipes is quite lengthy; up to 1 m of pipeline can be thawed in about an hour, i.e. during the working day, 5-7 m of the pipe can be freed from ice. In this case, one should not rush, before pushing the tube / hose, it is necessary to fill in at least 10 liters of hot water, it works at minimal cost.

Scheme of the process of defrosting a pipe using a wire, a hydraulic level and an Esmarch mug

Method 3

Consider a situation where we have a frozen polyethylene water pipe of small diameter (20 mm) 50 m long with a laying depth of up to 80 cm. Note that this is an insufficient depth of laying a water pipe, which is why it froze. A distinctive feature - the water supply runs under the roadway. Utilities in such a situation, as a rule, are advised to wait for the thaw, but, nevertheless, there is a way to do without them.

We will need the following “equipment”: a copper two-wire wire (we select the length and thickness of the section according to the length and diameter of the frozen water pipe), a plug for an outlet, a compressor and a hose for blowing out thawed water. So, for example, for a pipe with a diameter of 20 mm, you can take a wire of 2.5-3 mm and an automobile fuel hose with a diameter of 8 mm, a conventional automobile compressor (in extreme cases, you can use a pump).

We warn you that using this method you must be especially careful, since the work is done using high voltage.

Now you need to prepare all this for the defrosting process. From a small section of the wire, you need to remove the outer insulation, divide it into two wires and strip one of them (remove the inner insulation), gently bend the remaining wire in the insulation in the opposite direction along the wire. In this case, care must be taken that the insulation is not damaged.

Then, almost next to the bend of the wire, you need to make 3-5 turns of bare wire (as close as possible to each other) and cut off its remaining end.

After that, step back 2-3 mm from the turns made, expose the second wire and wrap it around the wire in the same way. The turns of the first and second wires must not touch, otherwise a short circuit will occur in the future.

We connect the plug to the other end of the wire and the “unit” for defrosting the pipe is ready. Popularly, this device is known as a “bulbulator”: if you place it in water and connect it to the mains, then when current passes through the water, a reaction occurs with the release of a large amount of heat. In our case, such a device is ideal, because only water is heated, and the wires remain cold, i.e. plastic pipe will not melt even by accident.

The assembled device must be checked. To do this, it must be placed in a jar of water and connected to the power supply. If air bubbles come out of the contacts and a slight buzz is felt, the unit is working. Once again, we remind you that when in contact with water while the device is working, you can get an electric shock.

We begin the process of defrosting the water supply. The wire must be carefully pushed into the pipe so that it does not bend. Therefore, it is preferable to take a wire of a larger cross section. When the wire hits the ice plug, you need to turn on the "bulbulator" and wait one or two minutes. Now you can try to push the wire further: the ice has begun to melt. When about a meter of pipe is defrosted, it is advisable to blow out the thawed water with a compressor, this is necessary to reduce the volume of heated water, and so that the water supply system does not freeze again in the already defrosted area.

If there is special equipment, then it is advisable to weld a crane onto the pipe. When water flows through the pipe, the wire is pulled out of it, and the tap is closed, i.e. flooding of the place where the defrosting procedure is carried out (for example, the basement) will not occur.

To prevent plastic pipes from freezing, remember:

• pipe laying should be carried out at a depth below the freezing level of the soil of a particular region. In the northern and eastern regions of Ukraine - Luhansk, Kharkov, Poltava, Sumy, Kiev, Chernigov - the depth of soil freezing does not exceed 100 cm, in the southern - (Nikolaev, Odessa, Kherson) - 60 cm, in the rest - 80 cm . It is desirable to lay water and sewer pipes at a depth of at least 120-140 cm.
• water supply and sewerage should not be laid near reinforced concrete structures (pillars, beams, foundations, grillages), since the thermal conductivity of concrete is much higher than the thermal conductivity of the soil, i.e. the probability of soil freezing from the side of reinforced concrete structures increases. In this case, it is necessary to insulate the pipes (for example, place plates made of extruded polystyrene foam between the pipeline and reinforced concrete structures)
• if finances allow, a heating cable can be laid next to the pipeline. At present, the production of self-regulating heating cables, which are switched on only when necessary, has already been mastered.
• it is advisable to insulate the places where the pipeline passes through the walls of buildings and structures with glass wool, mineral wool and mounting foam to prevent direct contact of the pipe walls with the walls of buildings
• when arranging a water supply system in a summer cottage, it is advisable to use pipes with a diameter of at least 50 mm, pipes of a smaller diameter are more susceptible to freezing
• when choosing between different polymeric water pipes, you should be aware that polyethylene pipes tolerate the multiple freezing and thawing process well, while polypropylene pipes can burst after two or three defrosting
• if the water supply or sewers are used irregularly in winter, it is better to completely drain the water from the system.

If all these conditions are met when laying a water pipe, you will not have to think about how to unfreeze the pipes.

A water supply system is a system for supplying water to consumers to provide drinking water and water for technical purposes. An extensive network runs throughout the settlement and provides the necessary outlets for supplying water to private, multi-apartment buildings and industrial facilities.

Rice. 1. water supply system

plastic plumbing system

Plumbing is divided into 2 types:

• outdoor;
• internal.

Internal systems run inside residential and industrial buildings. External pass outside: underground and above it.

External water pipes are often exposed to external factors. They are winds, sub-zero temperatures, natural disasters. Sub-zero temperatures cause pipes to freeze. This prevents liquid from passing through them and complicates the possibility of consumption.

Types of polymers

Plastic plumbing is made of a polymer material, which is characterized by properties that depend on the type of polymer:

• Polyethylene pipes. They are used for outdoor water disposal, water flows in them for drinking and household needs of the population.
• PVC pipes. Differ in long service life, use with rather easy installation and dismantle. After the expiration date, they must be recycled.
• Profiled pipes. Produced from combinations of polyethylene and propylene. The advantage of such products is resistance to high temperatures.
• Spiral. They are made on the basis of a profile with hollow polyethylene walls. A feature of the application is the appointment for a free flow.

Fig. 2 polymer pipes

Advantages of using polymer structures:

• high rates of tightness of connections between sections;
• resistance to corrosion processes;
• ease of installation of water pipes;
• low cost;
• long period of use;
• stable indicators in relation to the effects of chemical reagents;
• no formation of salt deposits.

The problem of freezing plastic plumbing

The basis of all products is polymers, which can be unstable to temperature indicators. A common problem faced by public utilities or owners of private residential buildings is the freezing of external water supply.

In order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, owners of private houses are advised to anticipate such risks in advance and prevent them. For this you need:

• take into account climatic conditions, type, condition of the soil;
• take into account the specifics of the local highway;
• take measures to protect the water supply from low temperatures.

Polymer pipes are damaged due to the specifics of the material:

• discrepancy between the quality of products, installation of products intended for internal use underground;
• use occurs without taking into account the technical characteristics of the material;
• the use of low-quality elements for connection and fastening;
• rigid fasteners that do not meet the requirements;
• the location of the water supply in places where the route passes, the load on the soil is increased and has technical features.

Reasons for freezing

The main reason that leads to the freezing of the pipeline in winter is improper laying of products. This means that the pipes run at insufficient depth. If you lay them above the specified mark, then the soil will freeze through.

The design of the gasket must be made in accordance with the climatic conditions of a particular region. Examination and analysis of hydraulic work helps to know the possible depth of laying.

There are special cases when laying at the depth indicated by experts is not possible. In this case, heating systems for such gaskets should be provided.

Rice. 3 faucet freezing

The cause of freezing is the lack of pressure in the pipeline. Low speeds lead to ice buildup.

The diameter of polymer pipes becomes a factor influencing the formation of build-up. Too large diameter contributes to freezing due to lack of water flow, too small diameter leads to interruptions in water supply and also causes freezing.

Checking the integrity of the plastic water pipe

To find the place of freezing and defrost it, it is necessary to determine the places where the frozen plastic water pipes are located:

1. Pipes are inspected. According to its physical properties, water has the ability to expand when it freezes, so the pipe becomes wider in the place where freezing has occurred. The water plug pushes the plastic apart, it increases in size.
2. This method involves the partial dismantling of the pipeline. The section to which there is access is cut, the flexible cable is passed inward and turned to the place where it rests on the ice plug. In this way, you can defrost a plastic water pipe that is underground.
3. The ability to bend pipes along their entire length is not always feasible. If this can be done, then where a frozen pipe is found, crackling occurs.

Rice. 4 plumbing damage

Methods for defrosting polymer pipes that conduct water

There are several available methods to defrost a water pipe underground on your own. This will require additional equipment that can be used at low temperatures.

1. Heating of polymer pipes with a building hair dryer. The disadvantage of this approach is that plastic does not conduct heat. This means that the use of such a tool will not bring quick results.
2. Exposure to hot heat. The pipe is wrapped with rags and poured with boiling water. This method helps to warm the water and get rid of the ice build-up in the plastic pipe. To do this, water is allowed through pipes. The pressure is chosen as low as possible.
3. Hot water start. This is an internal way to defrost pipes. For him, find the nearest connection point, place a flexible hose in the hole and let hot water through it.
4. The use of a steam generator A special sleeve of the steam generator is introduced into the junction. Steam is supplied from the moment when the sleeve rests against the cork. The feed is carried out slowly, gradually increasing the speed.
5. The use of electricity. For this method, twisting of thick two-core wires is suitable. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the wires are not connected in order to avoid a short circuit. The wires are carried to the place of the traffic jam, turn on the electricity. Warming up is slow.
6. Cleaning with a hydrodynamic machine. The method provides for the treatment of the place where the product has iced over with pressure. As it breaks down, the plug shifts and shrinks. A hose with a nozzle advances it further. This technique is effective, but requires an investment of money.

Fig.5 hydrodynamic machine

After the work is completed, the next stage begins: inspection and damage assessment. A faucet is opened in the house, about a liter of water is drained, the faucet is buried. This method allows you to warm up the heating.

Under the connection sites or at the excavation site, which have been freed from the soil, water is expected to appear for 20-25 minutes. If water appears, then this indicates damage to the pipe where it was possible to remove the ice plug.

In this case it is necessary:

• carry out excavations;
• find the place of damage;
• carry out site replacement.

If there is no water after half an hour, then this means that the site does not need to be replaced. It is necessary to insulate the pipes, then cover with soil.

Damaged areas are being repaired in the winter, taking into account the fact that the main work will be carried out under more favorable weather conditions. The places where the pipe froze and a leak occurred are cut out, replaced with new ones reinforced with special joints or fittings. Welding is often used if conditions permit. After connecting the sections, water is let in and the tightness of the connection is checked. If the products have been cleaned from the remnants of water, sand, foreign objects, and the connections are fixed in accordance with the standards, then the water supply will begin to work properly.

Prevention of freezing water in the water supply

To prevent the water in the plumbing system from freezing, it is necessary to take measures in advance or carry out repairs to the existing system in the warm season.

If there is no regular use of running water in a private house, then the water is drained, the taps are turned off. Start-up is carried out gradually, increasing the volume of water used.

Builders and utility specialists recommend taking into account some points when designing, installing and using water supply systems:

• designers identify the levels of freezing in a particular region, laying is carried out in accordance with these measurements;
• do not lay pipes for water near reinforced concrete structures, which have a higher degree of thermal conductivity, thereby taking heat onto themselves;
• for installation, heat-insulating materials are used in cases where the owners are sure that freezing is quite possible, this may depend on the climatic conditions of the region or on the impossibility of laying to a depth of more than 2 m;
• for thermal insulation use pieces of foam, mineral wool, expanded clay, vermoculite, rags;
• places where the system enters distribution wells or residential premises are considered the most defenseless, therefore they are insulated with the help of special cases, the filling of which involves the use of building-type foam, mineral wool;
• water pipes are wrapped with special cables that are connected to the heating system at low temperatures, strong frosty winds;
• where water pipes are most susceptible to freezing, it is recommended to use products with thick walls, with a cross section of at least 5 mm.

Unlike plastic plumbing, metal structures have a longer service life. This is due to the physical properties of metal pipes of water pipes. They are also prone to freezing for several reasons:

• use for installation of different products with excellent production times;
• the appearance of corrosion inside the pipe;
• use of incorrect fasteners, poor quality parts;
• the appearance of rust, condensation;
• salt-type deposits inside due to the peculiarities of physical qualities, which increases the risk of ice formation in a weakened place.

Rice. 6 frosting of a metal water pipe

After the end of the season, the following events are held:

• remove all heating elements to prevent overheating of the system during the hot season;
• inspect the system for damage;
• reconstruction is carried out to prevent freezing in the future.

Competent design and timely repair work will avoid problems with freezing water in the water supply and lack of water supply.

If a plug has formed inside or outside the water supply, measures must be taken to warm the plastic pipe and provide ways to protect the water supply system in the ground.