Frozen pipes!! Argh what do I do now!?

[Justalittlelemondrizzle]

Washing machine wouldn't work before. I've diagnosed frozen pipes. The washer is in an out building and a small part of the pipes are outside. Part of this section are uncovered.

Now they're frozen, what can I do to prevent them cracking as they thaw (Not likely anytime soon I know!)

Should I wrap the exposed pipes now?
If so, what with?

I've turned the water off at the valve to the washer, I've no idea how to turn the water off to the out building so this will have to do will dh gets home.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Offending pipes!

Anyone? 😓

When ours froze we left the tap open so any thawed water could escape and not refreeze.
Our pipes were frozen under the road so nothing we could do but wait. But figured if the water could run on of the tap then water behind could start running which wouldthaw the frozen bit.

Could you try a hair dryer on the pipes?

Second hairdryer

Once it's thawed keep the tap at drip so it doesn't re-freeze

No idea if this helps but thought I’d share anyway as it was posted on my local village Facebook page...

WS plumbing and heating are recieving lots of calls and there are lots of comments about boilers not working.

Please check the little white plastic pipe out side; the condensing pipe which will go into your boiler. It could be frozen; warm it up with some water out of the kettle warm not boiling and wrap a towel round to defrost

My boiler pipe is on the outside and has frozen so no heating or hot water 😭

I’m reminded of the thread which was on here about a poster who HATES log burners - saving the day at the moment! 😂

Is also have frozen pipes and no hot water or heat but my log burner is keeping me cosy too and I love it

Our boiler condensing pipe froze yesterday and I poured hot, but not boiling, water on it and it worked immediately- phew!

Just had this EXACTproblem what to do:

1.Pull out washing machine
2.Turn off water supply (will be stop cock or possibly flick switch on washing machine hose)

1. Take out hose thing from back of machine
2. Get hairdryer and heat water pipe leading to hose. This will be the iced bit
3. Turn water on and off quickly to see if ice melted. Repeat till melted
4. Put hose back in machine
5. Turn water back on.

8 machine back - voila

(Don’t forget step 2 or water will spurt everywhere after the ice has melted while you will be running around madly looking how to turn water off )

Thankfully the boiler and all heating in the house is fine. I don't fancy taking a hairdryer out in this weather + I don't think it'd reach. I'm stuck at home with baby so I've tried to insulate the exposed pipes as best I can with what I have available. I've used sponges, wool, t-towels soaked in hot water and even a wooly headband. I may have gone overkill but it's snug as a bug now. 😂 I'm hoping this will help it thaw throughout the day. And I'll try the washer later on. 🤞

Hair dryer and boiled water when we could!

Log burner saving me here too. Boiler replacement so no heating or gas.

Feeling smug as being without heating was my excuse for getting it (rather than being cosy when the weather is bad).

Warm water!

I have a condensing boiler and did what Crazycatlady describes, but I did a few rounds of hot water from the kettle. It worked!

Only downside was I felt like a numpty out in the snow with a kettle

Ffs hairdryer? You pour boiling water on them. They are metal pipes. I just did the same. Jeez

Better than a hairdryer pilar! ...

Wait OP! You need to take the wet towels off! Pour boiling water on. Only insulate the pipes with DRY stuff and keep them dry! Like a towel covered with a bag or something.

Umm can I suggest not putting wet fabrics on the pipes. It’s well below zero, they’ll just freeze.
Hot water is all you need.

I just said that!

My washing machine pipes have been frozen for 3 days and still are and today the boiler has decided to be a dick as well.
I have tried the water thing on the outside of pipe 3 times and no luck.

Have defrosted the boiler pipes twice so far. Once at 2am and the other an hour or so ago.

Log burner are go here too

Omg! A kettle full of boiling water and hey presto our clothes are washing!! I'll now re wrap with dry towels eye to prevent them refreezing. Thanks 😁

Alright Whisky it was clearly as cross post. I got distracted halfway through typing and press send on my message a few mins later than I otherwise would have. wow.