How to defrost a plastic pipe: an overview of options and some important nuances. How to defrost a reinforced plastic pipe Defrosting plastic water pipes

Low temperatures in winter are the reasons for unpleasant moments associated with the water supply at home. If you go to the gasket water pipes illiterate, then in winter the question is, the water in a private house has frozen - what to do, will be encountered quite often. Moreover, there are always situations associated with road accidents. This is a rupture of the pipe, if it is steel, a rupture of valves. And if this problem in the summer can be dealt with quickly with minimal cost, then in winter everything gets more complicated. Therefore, it is very important to first of all conduct correct installation... And the condition here is only one - to insulate the pipelines or lay it below the freezing level of the soil.

Home water supply froze

How to defrost pipes

It should be noted that the water supply network consists of two sections: external (external), it is most often both underground and internal. As for the latter, the main part of the route is laid inside heated premises, so the question is, the water in a private house is frozen over - what to do is not appropriate here. But partly the internal water supply also runs through unheated rooms. For example, in the basement and in the attic. It is there that freezing of pipes can occur. How to defrost them?

There are several options. Let's take into account that plastic pipes were laid inside the house.

You can use hot water for defrosting. To do this, first, the pipe is wrapped with a rag, and only then boiling water is poured onto it. The process can take several hours, everything will depend on the length of the frozen area.

Defrosting hot water
You can use a hair dryer (construction or household). A very effective option, but requiring a certain approach to the process itself. The thing is, especially for the construction hair dryer, that the air from the device comes out with enough high temperature which can melt plastic. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely set the distance from the hair dryer nozzle to the surface of the pipe.
We use a hairdryer
You can use a heating cable for defrosting, which is laid in an electric underfloor heating system or a special cable for plumbing systems. They wrap a frozen section of the track with it and plug it into an outlet. This is the most quick option... Usually in this way, you can defrost a fairly long water supply in 2-3 hours.

Attention! Before defrosting water in a private house, it is recommended to open all shut-off valves on the route completely. Defrost water must move freely through the pipeline and flow out of the taps.

Defrost pipes underground

It is clear that water pipes located in the ground are more difficult to defrost. The easiest of all the options is to excavate the place of their laying, get to the track and apply one of the above methods. But there are several problems with this.

Digging the frozen ground is not easy. It will take a lot of time, effort and labor. In any case, the owner of the house cannot do this on his own.
There is always the possibility that digging a trench could damage plastic pipe... And this is an additional problem that will have to be solved immediately.

Therefore, it is better to use alternative options. One of effective methods defrosting is using hot water... True, for this you have to prepare. First, you need a supply of water itself, which must be heated. The easiest way to do this, without great expense, is to install a barrel under which to build a fire. Secondly, it is necessary to somehow organize the supply of water inside the water supply system. For this, it is best to install a small electric pump at the inlet. It is even better if hot water is poured into a hose with a smaller diameter than the route, which will need to be pushed into the pipeline.

Defrosting a hot water pipe

That is, the hose is pushed to the ice plug, then hot water is pumped into it. It quickly melts the ice, and the hose must be pushed further as the track thaws. As soon as water flows out of the tap with a high pressure, that's it - the ice plug has melted. It should be noted that this option for defrosting a water supply system is one of the most effective. True, you prepare for it longer than you perform the process itself.

We use electricity

Another option that answers the question of how to heat water in a private house. For this, electricity is used. It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that the use electric current- business is always dangerous. Therefore, it is not recommended to use this option for defrosting the water supply system. But, as an alternative, you need to know it.

For this, an ordinary two-core wire is used, the cores of which must be disconnected and stripped for a length of 20 cm, that is, freed from insulation. The bare wire is twisted to a size of 8-10 cm.

Attention! Do not allow both bare wires to connect to each other. This will lead to short circuit, therefore, it is imperative to install a jumper between them, preferably a wooden one. Its size should be less than the diameter of the water pipe.

Now the prepared two-core wire is pushed into the pipeline up to the ice plug. After that, it is connected to a 220 volt supply network. The water inside the pipe begins to boil and defrost the ice. Essentially, the bifurcated wire acts as a heating element. As it defrosts, it will need to be moved inward.

We use steam

And a few more alternatives that use steam. It should be noted that they are rarely used only because steam generating installations are not cheap.

Steam generator

Using a steam generator. Its hose is introduced into the pipeline where steam is pumped.
Using an autoclave. This is an installation that works on the basis of boiling water. The process itself is exactly the same as in the case of a steam generator. That is, a hose is inserted into the water pipe, connected to the autoclave, through which steam from boiling water enters the inside of the line.
Using a hydrodynamic machine. This is a professional equipment, which is based on the process of heating water and supplying it under pressure inside the water supply line.

All three options are very effective. If the water entrance to the house or the entire route is frozen, then they can be used to warm up the pipes in a few minutes.

So, the answer was given to the question, the water in the house froze - what to do? In the proposed technologies, there are very simple methods that do not require large expenses; there are quite serious options based on the use of special equipment. If the problem is not very big, then you can get by with small funds. If everything is very difficult, then it is better to call specialists. They will not only solve the problem of defrosting, but also help prevent further troubles.

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July 22, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction works(laying the foundation, erecting walls, constructing a roof, etc.). Internal construction work (laying of internal communications, rough and final finishing). Hobby: mobile communications, high technologies, computer technology, programming.

I have told many people many times about manufacturing technologies engineering systems in private homes. And all the time he drew attention to the fact that pipelines must be laid below the freezing point or carefully insulated. However, from time to time I get asked questions about how to defrost a plastic water pipe.

I remember a case when a neighbor in the country called me in mid-January and tearfully asked me to fix the water supply system. As it turned out, he planned to hold the anniversary outside the city, and when he arrived at the site after a long stay in warm countries, he was faced with the fact that no water was flowing from the taps. And all the sophisticated electronics that provide water to the cottage don't work either.

As it turned out, it was the ice plug that blocked the metal-plastic pipe laid underground. And since with his own hands he could only sign business papers, had to call me for help.

Of course, we coped with the problem, and I turned out to be the most honored guest at his holiday. I also decided to tell you about how to defrost plastic pipes for water supply and sewerage. Suddenly, the instructions below will be of invaluable help to you. Especially when a reliable plumber friend isn't around.

Causes of freezing pipelines

In my practice, I very rarely met people who make or order modern engineering networks (water supply, sewerage) from steel pipes... Plastic is more common.

And I think it is correct, because the price of polymer pipes is constantly decreasing, and the operational properties of such a solution have always been at their best:

plastic pipelines have an attractive appearance;
pipes are not subject to corrosion during the entire service life;
mount engineering network as simple as possible without using electric welding (maximum - a soldering iron);
pipes do not conduct electricity and do not accumulate static electricity.

The only thing that cannot be eliminated under any circumstances is the danger of freezing the liquid in them. However, I know for sure that people encounter this nuisance only in those cases when they entrusted the installation to an illiterate engineer.

Only such a person can lay a water supply system at an insufficient depth in the ground or not insulate the engineering system. As a result, you come to the dacha to celebrate your birthday, and nothing flows from the tap. Sadness.

To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to dig a sufficiently deep trench for the water supply and sewerage pipes. The average depth of soil freezing in the Moscow region is 1.4 meters. However, this indicator depends on many other factors, therefore, to determine exact value it is better to turn to specialists or use special cards with tables.

By the way, many people ask why central water pipelines in cities do not freeze. I will answer without hiding. There, the flow of water does not stop around the clock, so the liquid is in motion and does not turn into ice.

And in the country pump equipment turns on only from time to time. Therefore, it is imperative to take measures to insulate water pipes.

Pay special attention to insulation and deepening drain systems where water flows at a low speed. Otherwise, a plug will form and you will have to decide how to defrost the plastic sewer pipe. This activity is difficult and far from enjoyable.

If, for some reason, a ditch of a suitable depth cannot be dug, it is necessary to wrap the pipes in heat-insulating materials or come up with systems for heating them. Or use both.

If you know that your pipes are poorly insulated, and at night they promise a very severe frost, leave the water turned on overnight to ensure the flow in the pipe.
In this case, the likelihood of the appearance of ice is significantly reduced.

But it often happens that people return to the issues of pipe insulation only when they have already faced the freezing of water. There is nothing left, you have to melt the ice. I'll tell you about this now.

Defrosting water transport communications made of plastic

Underground

First, let's take a look at how to defrost a plastic plumbing pipe underground. This, in my opinion, is the most laborious and time-consuming process. Especially in winter, when not only the water in the pipes froze, but also the earth itself, where they were laid.

The simplest scheme is as follows:

Above the place where the plastic pipe passes, it is necessary to light a fire. You can use firewood or coal, and also ignite car tire... The latter will burn for a long time, but emit black smoky smoke. Consider this.

The advantage of this method is that not only the water in the pipe must be heated, but also the earth itself must thaw. And we need this in order to move on to the next point of our work.

Then I advise you to dig up the pipe to check if it is damaged. This will be easy as the fire softens the earth and makes swinging the shovel easier.
Usually, good quality plastic pipes will not burst with ice, so nothing needs to be repaired. The main thing is not to break the pipe already during excavation.
After making sure of the integrity of the communications, I recommend insulating the pipeline thermal insulation materials or pave. If this is not done, then personally I will not give a guarantee that after filling the trench with earth, the water in the pipe will not freeze again.

If you once faced freezing water, I recommend redoing the engineering system in the summer. After all, your friend will not always come to the rescue on time and dig out this pipe. It will be necessary either to deepen the trenches, or to insulate the water transport system along its entire length.

By the way, someone once told me that he insulated pipes with empty plastic bottles. The scheme is as follows:

you dig a pit and check the pipe;
take more plastic bottles, you wrap the plugs so that there is air inside;
you put them around the pipe;
you cover everything with earth.

The bottom line here is that the air inside has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and will not allow the water in the pipes to freeze.

What can I say. In my opinion, you will spend more time collecting bottles than working. Better go to the store and buy basalt shells. It will be clean, tidy, efficient and not very expensive.

And to everyone folk recipes I'm in Lately I resort less and less. Unless he himself is sure of their effectiveness.

Another way to remove ice plugs is to use hot water. I see several disadvantages here at once:

you will have to disassemble the plumbing system somewhere in order to pour water there;
the pipe will remain uninsulated and the liquid can freeze again at any time;
the method will not work if the ice is on great distance from the place where you are going to pour boiling water.

Nevertheless, sometimes I have resorted to this method. To make it more effective, I will give a few of my own tips, which were formed in the process of work:

If your summer cottage is connected to the central water supply, do not turn off the taps. Additional pressure from the central water pump can help break the plug.
If water comes from pumping station(i.e. wells or wells), the equipment must be turned off. Otherwise, you will ruin expensive and electronics, as the water will go out of the pipes.
You can understand that the plug has been removed by the fact that the water poured into the pipe will all go away.

Another tried and tested method that I have sometimes used to thaw pipes. It must be implemented carefully, as you can get an electric shock. Nevertheless, I will describe the technology, suddenly you will not have another way to fix the problem.

The scheme is as follows:

I take an electrical wire, separate one core from another and remove some of the insulation. Then I roll one wire into a spiral. I do the same with the second living room, but the twist needs to be placed slightly behind, about two centimeters away.
It is very important to make sure that these twists do not move in the process of work and do not come into contact with each other. This could result in a short circuit and electric shock. So be sure to secure the ends of the wire very carefully.
I put the tool prepared in this way into the pipe until it hits the ice plug.
After that, the wire must be connected to electrical outlet... Heating of the liquid inside the pipe will occur due to the potential difference across the twists. The walls of the pipe will not melt; the water temperature will not rise to this level in any case.
As it defrosts, you need to move your appliance down to full recovery patency of the engineering system.

Remember that thawed water must be drained all the time, otherwise it may freeze again.

There are also special devices for defrosting pipes. It is about steam generators, autoclaves and hydrodynamic devices. It is not necessary to buy them, it is enough to rent the necessary unit in a specialized building supermarket.

The work takes place as follows:

Steam generator... It is necessary to place the hose of the device inside the pipe and let the steam under pressure there. Considering that the temperature of the medium is much higher than the boiling point of the liquid, the defrosting process will take place very quickly, and the plastic will not be damaged.
Autoclave... Steam is also used here, but the principle of operation is somewhat different. First, the water is heated in the container until steam is generated from it. Then a hose is pushed into the water pipe (up to the ice plug), the other end of which is connected to the autoclave.
As the ice thaws, the hose must be moved through the pipe until the water flows in the direction you want.
Hydrodynamic machine... It breaks ice not with temperature, but with a jet of liquid injected under high pressure. As a result, the cork can be disposed of very quickly and efficiently.

And if someone tells you to just bend the wire and break through the ice, you don't need to. This will most likely damage the plastic sheath of the pipeline itself, but not the ice plug.

Overground

As you can imagine, defrosting open plastic pipes (for example, in a basement, storeroom or other unheated room) is much easier. Here you will not need the help of a specialist at all. Especially if you follow my advice.

The easiest way to heat is with a blow dryer or other similar heat source. By directing the air flow to the engineering system, you gradually heat the walls of the pipes, which give their thermal energy water. And the ice melts.

By the way, a hair dryer can be replaced with an ordinary heater, which is placed near the pipe.

You've probably seen how metal pipelines are heated with blowtorches. So, this heating method is categorically not suitable for plastic. The polymer has a very low melting point (about 140 degrees), so a flame from a gas or gasoline burner will melt not only the ice, but the pipe along with it.

Naturally, an obligatory stage of any defrosting is the insulation of pipes or the installation of heating elements that maintain the required temperature of the liquid. I offer several options to choose from:

Take mineral mats and wrap them around the pipes. It is imperative to protect all this from above. waterproofing material to avoid moisture and some kind of protective cocoon. Roofing material is suitable, which will cope with both tasks.

Buy and fix on pipes special shells made of polystyrene, basalt fiber, foamed polyethylene and so on. The easiest option. They are mounted quickly and easily, without the use of special tools.

Wrap the heating pipe electric cable... This way will fit and for heating ice, and for the prevention of its further formation. You just need to make sure that the cable is constantly connected to the electrical network.

And it is best to wrap the pipes with cable, and then with insulation. The combination of these methods will provide you drinking water at any time of the year, regardless of the temperature "overboard".

Defrosting a sewer pipe

I will separately tell you about the way to remove the plug from drain pipe external sewerage system of a private house. It is with this problem that the majority of residents of private country houses are faced.

So, to fix the problem you will need:

rigid steel wire;
hydrolevel (dense polymer flexible tube);
Esmarch's irrigator;
a bucket for collecting dirty liquid;
hot water.

I fixed a similar problem like this:

He removed a piece of the sewer pipe, opening access to the pipe connecting the internal and external sewerage systems Houses.
He leveled the steel wire and tied the hydraulic level to it with electrical tape, through which hot water will flow into the pipe.
Then he put all this device into the sewer pipe, and attached Esmarch's mug to the opposite end of the pipe.
After that, with the help of an impromptu pump, he began to pump hot water inside, gradually moving the device inside the pipe.
Excess water and thawed sewage were poured out through the neck. I collected them in a pre-set bucket.
As soon as the water stops flowing out, it means that the cork has thawed and the engineering system can be assembled.

As in the case of plumbing, in order to avoid freezing of the drain, you need to lay pipes at the required depth or insulate them with heat-insulating materials. Better to spend time and money on this in the summer than digging through the waste in the winter, on the eve of your birthday.

Regardless of the chosen defrosting method and pipe laying method, I will give a few more tips to follow when thawing pipes:

if you know exactly where the ice plug is located, you do not need to heat this particular section of pipes from the middle;
to ensure the outflow of the melted water, it is necessary to open the water tap;
I recommend starting the defrosting procedure from the consumer (supply valve) to the water intake source (vertical riser).

Conclusion

There are a lot of ways to defrost pipes and everyone who has encountered a similar problem knows his own way to thaw ice. I would be glad if you could share it with our readers by describing it in the comments to this article.

And I invite everyone to get acquainted with the video in this article, where you can find many other tips regarding the operation of the engineering systems of a residential building.

July 22, 2016

If you want to express gratitude, add clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thank you!

In winter, there are frequent cases of freezing of water pipes in private houses. If the pipelines are laid underground, then most often the reasons are insufficient burial and insulation of the pipelines in combination with stagnation in the pipes. If pipes located in the walls freeze, then this phenomenon can occur due to very severe frosts. In any case, the home owner needs to know how to defrost water pipes in a private house. Below we will look at how to eliminate ice plugs in metal and plastic lines.

It is not enough to know how to defrost a pipe underground. First you need to find the immediate freezing point. This can be done in a simple and proven way. Shut off the water supply in the water supply system. After that, it is necessary to unscrew any detachable connection that is located after the crane. A plumbing cable is launched into the opened hole. It is gradually introduced into the pipeline until its end abuts against the ice plug.

This will be the freezing point. To mark its position on outside pipes, the cable can simply be applied to the ground for the same length as it entered the pipe. In this place, you should look for a place of freezing. So in a simple way you can find the right place in a pipe made of any material.

Methods for defrosting pipelines

Of no small importance when defrosting pipes is the material from which it is made. The methods of influencing the pipeline depend on this.

Defrosting metal pipes

Consider how to defrost metal water pipes in a private house. Usually they pass underground, so there are certain difficulties in digging trenches in winter, although their location is also possible. open areas... After the pipeline is exposed, it is affected in the following ways:

Use an open flame. For example, from gas burner or blowtorch... You can also make a fire on a frozen section of the pipe;
Use welding transformer... One wire from it is connected to one frozen section of the pipe, and the second wire to the second. The ice plug melts very quickly;
Pipes are watered with boiling water, after wrapping them with rags.

Important: During the defrosting process, the water taps must be kept open. This is necessary for the free flow of defrosted water from the pipes.

It is easier to defrost the sewer pipe, since all the melted ice will go down the drain, and the situation is the opposite with the water supply system. The released water will have nowhere to go, so it is advisable to disconnect the pipe from the taps, or at least open the taps.

How to defrost plastic pipes

Plastic pipes require more respect for themselves due to the lower strength of the material. Let's see how to defrost water in a plastic pipe that is in plain sight:

We examined the heating of an open section of the pipeline. How to defrost a plastic water pipe underground? There are also several ways to do this:

1. Hot water supply. The plastic pipe is detached from the tap. In some large container, for example, a barrel, water is heated. A hose with a smaller diameter is used, which freely enters the pipe. It is pushed inside the pipe until it reaches the frozen area. After that, hot water is supplied to the pipeline. This can be done by means of an injection pump.

The melted water will gradually flow out of the pipe along with the hot water supplied. The end of the hose should be pushed further and further until all the ice plug has been removed. After that, water will pour under strong pressure.

Tip: Plastic or metal-plastic pipes should be pre-insulated in open areas to avoid additional ice jams.

2. Application of a steam generator. The plastic pipe is detached from the taps. A special sleeve from the steam generator with a special nozzle at the end is introduced into it. It is injected until it reaches the frozen area. Steam is fed through the sleeve into the pipe, quickly melting the ice. As the frozen cork melts, the sleeve moves deeper into the pipe. With such a device, there is no question of how to defrost a pipe located in a wall or underground.

3. The use of electricity. This method works on the principle of heating water with a boiler. To do this, you need to stock up on a thick two-core wire of sufficient length. The veins are split. Each of them is released from the insulation and then twisted. Two thick twists are obtained, located at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. The likelihood of their connection to each other should not be allowed to avoid a short circuit.

The wire is pushed inside the pipe to the place of the plug. After that, the end of the wire is connected to the mains. Ice melting occurs due to its heating with an electric current. In this case, the plastic walls do not heat up, since only the conductive water is heated. As the ice melts, the wire moves further along the pipeline.

4. Hydrodynamic cleaning. Any ice plug in the pipe can be removed with the jetting machine. Hot water is fed into it under pressure through a special nozzle, which contributes to the destruction of ice for a very a short time... As the cork breaks down, the hose with the nozzle moves further along the pipe. It should be noted that such equipment is mainly from specialists due to its high cost.

5. Another way to defrost the water pipe is shown in the photo.

Freezing prevention

We've looked at how to unfreeze polypropylene pipes(and pipes made of other types of plastic) or metal pipelines. Preventing pipelines from freezing is equally important. The occurrence of this unpleasant situation can be avoided if you adhere to some rules:

We have covered the main ways to get rid of ice plugs in water pipes. However, it is much easier to prevent water from freezing in pipelines than to fix problems later.

Why do pipes freeze? The reasons can be very different: the pipes are laid at insufficient depth, they are ineffectively insulated, too small volumes of water are transported along them, the pipes are operated at extreme low temperatures... It should be borne in mind that if defrost pipes laid in accessible places does not cause any particular difficulties (for example, they can be warmed up using the usual household hair dryer), then how to defrost outdoor when laying underground? "Successful" 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 should you wait for the 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. So simple electric way fixes the problem within two to four hours. The longer the frozen pipe section, the longer the defrosting process takes.

But what to do if frozen plastic pipe? Currently, networks are mainly made of high density polyethylene (HDPE), which can withstand pressures up to 10 atm. They are not subject to corrosive processes and do not deteriorate when freezing. By its properties, polyethylene is not a conductor of electric current, therefore defrosting with welding machine impossible. Removing the ice plug with a steel rod is also fraught with damage to the pipe. Thus, there is only one way out - to use hot water for defrosting.

The proposed three methods for defrosting polyethylene pipes are "know-how" 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 the 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 area. For 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 the most effective would be to use a reinforced-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm. First, we straighten the metal-plastic pipe (metal-plastic pipes are usually rolled into coils), and then we push it into the frozen pipe until it reaches the ice. After that, we supply the hottest water along it to the freezing point. Thawed cold water will pour out along the gap between the water supply and the plastic pipes. By the way, if you have a limited supply of water, 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 reinforced-plastic pipe further.

But what if the frozen section of the water pipe has twists 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 a regular 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 connection hoses proved to be effective in this situation. gas cylinders... 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 unfreeze a water supply pipe if it happened tens of meters from the house and the pipeline has bends and bends? There is an efficient and economical way. To do this, you need a set of hardened steel wire(2-4 mm), construction water level and Esmarch's circles (banal enema). The cost of such a set is low, and many have all its components in the household.

First, it is necessary to align the pipe of the hydraulic level and the wire, and then screw the end of the wire to the hydraulic level with electrical tape. A loop can be made at the end of the wire to provide greater hardness. 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 hydro level must be connected to the Esmarch mug and push the wire and tube into the pipeline until it stops in the ice plug. Due to the fact that the hydraulic level pipe has a very small diameter and very low weight, it easily moves along the pipeline, overcoming all the turns. Next, fill in hot water, making the frozen water supply an "enema". To collect thawed water, you need to substitute a container under the water pipe, because how much hot water is poured, so 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, in about an hour you can defrost up to 1 m of the pipeline, i.e. during a working day, 5-7 m pipes can be freed from ice. In this case, you should not rush, before pushing the tube / hose, you need to fill in at least 10 liters of hot, it works at minimal cost.

Diagram of the pipe defrosting process using a wire, a hydro level and an Esmarch mug

Method 3

Consider a situation when we have a frozen polyethylene water supply system 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 water supply, which is why it froze. Distinctive feature- the water supply runs under the carriageway. Utilities in such a situation, as a rule, advise to wait for the thaw, but, nevertheless, there is a way to do without them.

We need the following "equipment": a copper two-core wire (we select the length and thickness of the cross-section according to the length and diameter of the frozen water pipe), a plug for a socket, 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 a car fuel hose with a diameter of 8 mm, ordinary car compressor(as a last resort, you can use a pump).

We warn you that using this method, you need to be very careful, since the work is done using high voltage.

Now you need to prepare all this for the defrosting process. WITH small area the wires must be removed from the outer insulation, divided into two wires and one of them must be exposed (remove the inner insulation), the wire remaining in the insulation must be carefully bent into reverse side 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 tightly as possible to each other) and cut off its remaining end.

After that, step back 2-3 mm from the turns made, strip the second wire and wind 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. This device is popularly known as a "bulbulator": if you put 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 heats up, and the wires remain cold, i.e. the 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 leave the contacts and a slight hum is felt, the unit is working. Once again, we remind you that if you come into contact with water while the device is working, you can get an electric shock.

We begin the process of defrosting the water supply system. 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 "bulb" and wait one or two minutes. Now you can try to push the wire further: the ice began to melt. When about a meter of the pipe is thawed, it is advisable to blow out the thawed water using 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 will be carried out (for example, the basement) will not occur.

To prevent plastic pipes from freezing, remember:

the laying of pipes should be carried out at a depth below the level of freezing of the soil of a particular region. In the northern and eastern regions of Ukraine - Lugansk, 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 ... Plumbing and sewer pipes it is advisable to lay at a depth of at least 120-140 cm.
you should not lay water supply and sewerage near reinforced concrete structures (supports, 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 of extruded polystyrene foam between the pipeline and reinforced concrete structures)
if finances permit, a heating cable can be laid next to the pipeline. Currently, the production of self-regulating heating cables has already been mastered, which are switched on only when necessary.
it is advisable to insulate the places where the pipeline passes through the walls of buildings and structures with glass wool, mineral wool and polyurethane foam to prevent direct contact of the pipe walls with the walls of buildings
when arranging a water supply system for 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 polymer water pipes, you should know that polyethylene pipes well tolerate multiple freezing and thawing processes, while polypropylene pipes can burst after two or three defrosts
if plumbing or sewers in winter time use irregularly, it is better to completely drain the water from the system.

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

A plumbing 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 for the necessary outlets for supplying water to private, apartment buildings and industrial facilities.

Rice. 1.water supply system

Plastic plumbing system

Water supply systems are divided into 2 types:

outdoor;
internal.

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

Outdoor water pipes are often exposed to external factors... They are winds, subzero temperatures, natural disasters. Subzero temperatures cause pipes to freeze. This impedes the passage of liquid through them and complicates the possibilities of consumption.

Polymer types

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

Polyethylene pipes. They are used for external drainage, they flow water for drinking and household needs of the population.
PVC pipes. They are distinguished by a long service life, use with relatively easy assembly and disassembly. After the expiration date, they are subject to processing.
Profiled pipes. Available in a combination of polyethylene and propylene. The advantage of such products is considered resistance to high temperatures.
Spiral. They are made on the basis of a profile with polyethylene hollow walls. A feature of the application is considered to be the appointment for a free-flow flow.

Fig. 2 polymer pipes

Advantages of using polymer structures:

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

Plastic plumbing freezing problem

The basis of all products is polymers, which may be unstable to temperature indicators. Freezing of the external water supply system is a frequent problem faced by employees of public utilities or owners of private residential buildings.

In order to prevent the appearance of such a problem, the owners of private houses are advised to foresee such risks in advance and not to allow them. This requires:

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 subject to damage due to the specifics of the material:

non-conformity of product quality, installation of products intended for internal use, underground;
use occurs without consideration technical characteristics material;
the use of low-quality elements for joining and fastening;
rigid mounts that do not meet the requirements;
finding a water supply system in places where the route passes, the load on the ground is increased and has technical features.

Freezing reasons

The main reason that leads to freezing of the pipeline in winter is the incorrect laying of products. This means that the pipes are not running deep enough. If you lay them above the indicated mark, then the soil will freeze.

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

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

Rice. 3 freezing of the water tap

The cause of freezing is the lack of pressure in the pipeline. Low speed leads to ice build-up.

Diameter polymer pipes becomes a factor influencing the formation of a build-up. Too large a diameter contributes to freezing due to lack of water flow, too small a diameter leads to interruptions in the 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 pipes of the water supply are located:

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

Rice. 4 damage to the water supply

Methods for defrosting polymer pipes that conduct water

You can defrost your own water pipe underground using several available methods. This will require optional equipment which can be used at low temperatures.

Heating of polymer pipes construction hairdryer... 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.
Hot heat exposure. 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 passed through pipes. The pressure is chosen as low as possible.
Hot water start. This internal way defrost pipes. They find the nearest connection point for it, place a flexible hose in the hole and run hot water through it.
Steam generator application. A special sleeve of the steam generator is introduced into the junction. Steam is supplied from the moment when the sleeve abuts against the stopper. The feed is carried out slowly, gradually increasing the speed.
The use of electricity. For this method, twists of thick, two-wire wires are suitable. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the wires are not connected in order to avoid short circuits. Wires lead to the place of the plug, turn on the electricity. Warming up is slow.
Hydrodynamic cleaning. The method provides for the treatment of the place where the product is frozen with pressure. As it breaks down, the plug shifts and shrinks. The hose with the nozzle propels it further. This technique is effective, but requires an investment of money.

Fig. 5 hydrodynamic machine

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

Under the connection areas or at the excavation site, which we managed to free from the soil, water is expected 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:

excavation;
find the place of damage;
replace the site.

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 them with soil.

Damaged areas are repaired in winter period taking into account 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 connections or fittings. Welding is often used if conditions permit. After connecting the sections, water is allowed in and the tightness of the connection is checked. If the products have been cleaned from the remains of water, sand, foreign objects, and the connections are fixed in accordance with the standards, then the water supply will start working properly.

Prevention of freezing of 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 the existing system v warm time of the year.

If in a private house there is no regular use of the plumbing, 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 specific region, laying is carried out in accordance with these measurements;
do not lay water pipes near reinforced concrete structures that have more high degree thermal conductivity, thereby taking heat onto itself;
insulating materials are used for installation 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;
pieces of foam are used for thermal insulation, mineral wool, expanded clay, vermoculite, rags;
places where the system enters distribution wells or living quarters are considered the most defenseless, therefore they are insulated with the help of special cases, the filling of which involves the use of foam construction type, 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 water pipe metal constructions have a longer service life. This is due physical properties metal pipes water pipes. They are also prone to freezing for several reasons:

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

Rice. 6 freezing of metal water pipes

After the end of the season, the following activities are carried out:

delete all heating elements to prevent overheating of the system during the hot season;
inspect the system for damage;
carry out reconstruction in order to prevent freezing in the future.

Competent design and timely implementation renovation works will avoid problems with water freezing in the water supply system and lack of water supply.

If there is a blockage inside or outside the water supply, it is necessary to take measures in order to warm the plastic pipe, and provide for ways to protect the water supply system in the ground.