How to quickly defrost metal-plastic pipes with water. How to thaw a frozen water supply: a review of the most effective methods. De-icing with electric current

The work of the sewerage system is invisible as long as everything goes as expected. The design and installation of a sewer system is accompanied by taking into account many factors, including work in conditions low temperatures. However, a situation cannot be ruled out when the sewer freezes in the ground (a certain section of the pipe freezes). Under normal conditions this should not happen, but installation errors may appear in winter.

By the way, when trying to understand at what temperature the sewage system freezes, you should take into account not only the location of the pipes, but also the material from which they are made (the thermal conductivity of plastic and cast iron is very different), the diameter of the pipe, the slope angle, i.e. the action of many factors in combination.

Why does the sewer freeze?

Reasons for freezing sewer pipes:

• incorrect design of the angle of inclination of the sewer pipeline. Water does not have the ability to move by gravity, it stagnates in the pipes, which leads to freezing in winter time;

• insufficient burial depth. According to SNiP, the septic tank is installed at a depth of at least 2 meters from the soil level, the pipe system is located below the freezing point characteristic of the region. But a situation is possible when you are simply too lazy to dig a trench for laying pipes deep (or there is no possibility) or frosts exceed the average and the soil freezes deeper;

• lack of insulation. Sewage pipes laid above the freezing point of the soil require insulation. The place where pipes exit the room must also be insulated. However, in practice, such a requirement is either ignored or an inappropriate thermal insulation material, or it was installed incorrectly;

• small pipe diameter. If we consider consumer reviews, then most often those who have laid pipes with a diameter less than the recommended 110 mm are faced with the problem of sewerage freezing. Owners of summer cottages and houses that are used seasonally are especially often guilty of this. Due to insufficient diameter, the sewer pipe freezes faster;

• blockages. They happen due to large objects getting into the system or insufficient water flow, which causes plaque to form in the pipes.

Causes of septic tank freezing:

• The drainage from the septic tank is broken. In this case, the septic tank overflows, heavy fractions settle, and the water freezes;

• the septic tank is removed from the source of wastewater. Then the water, moving to the waste pit, cools, which leads to its freezing at the junction of the pipe and the septic tank.

Many users who do the work themselves do not even think about whether the sewer system is freezing. After all, the very principle of operation of a septic tank is that it is a container for storing wastewater with actively occurring decomposition processes. Since heat is released during the decomposition of solid residues, freezing is practically excluded. In addition, according to standards, the septic tank is installed at a considerable depth.

However, no one is insured against force majeure and the owner country house It’s better to know in advance what to do if the sewer is frozen.

How and how to defrost a sewer in a private house

Exists different ways and means on how to warm up a frozen sewer (how to melt the ice in a pipe). All methods can be combined into two large groups:

• thermal method. Provides for the organization of heat supply to the freezing point. The work is progressing slowly, but there is no risk of causing damage to the pipeline system. This method is most suitable at home when special means not available, and calling specialists is impossible or too expensive;

• chemical method . Currently, chemical defrosting is rarely practiced. Firstly, because not every chemical can cope with icing. Secondly, because this is a costly method. And thirdly, because many users prefer local sewerage, i.e. systems that are capable of performing partial wastewater treatment.

One of the components of local systems is the presence biological treatment, and chemistry can negatively affect the life of bacteria. However, its simplest variety - steep saline solution - is still used, according to reviews.

A more technologically advanced option is to use a drug like Mellerud. The components of Mellerud pipe cleaner react with water to produce heat.

Note. You should carefully use a chemical method to defrost plastic sewer pipes. Because Severe overheating can cause them to deform.

Defrosting the sewer - the procedure for performing the work

If a problem arises and the sewer system in a private house is frozen, you must first determine the location of the ice jam. Craftsmen note the importance of following the order of work, and it is better to start from the place where the water exits the septic tank. This order of work is due to the fact that the sewer pipe system is designed with the obligatory condition of ensuring unhindered flow of water. This means that all pipes, incl. The drain pipe is located at a slope to the exit point.

Ice plugs must be melted so that the water can drain naturally. Otherwise (when performing work outside), you need to be prepared for the waste to flow into reverse side, which will necessitate pumping them out. This convincingly proves that work should begin in the direction from the septic tank to the internal pipes.

But there are exceptions to this rule. Ultimately, the order of work will be determined by factors such as:

• the location where the ice plug forms. If the water is frozen in the inside of the sewer (unheated house), then it will be much easier to defrost;

• cork sizes. Perhaps the size of the ice plug will be only a few centimeters, then the volume of water that needs to be pumped out can be neglected;

• geometry of the sewer system. The more straight sections in the system, the easier it is to remove the ice plug;

• laying method. Typically, sewerage is located underground. And if ice has formed in pipes located at a sufficient depth under a layer of frozen earth, the number of options for use is sharply reduced. You can’t get through the septic tank - you have to carry out work from inside the house.

The most in a simple way To improve the winter functioning of the sewer system, you will need to contact specialists who provide sewer defrosting services. Masters not only know how to defrost a frozen sewer, but also have special equipment and also provide a guarantee on the work. However, according to various reasons Many people prefer to solve the problem on their own. And as reviews from forum members testify, it was quite successful and fast.

What to do if the sewage system in a private house is frozen

Heating methods will differ depending on where the ice jam occurs. Let's look at each problem and possible solutions.

Frozen sewer drain

The sewer drain or drainage from the septic tank rarely freezes, because... it is located deep in the ground. However, if the water is not drained, it will cause the septic tank to overflow and freeze.

What to do if the sewer drain is frozen?

To defrost the drain, experts advise filling the septic tank. hot water or saline solution. Then you should pump out the wastewater from the septic tank and repeat the filling of water. With time warm water will eliminate the ice jam and the system will function normally.

A sewer drain is also called a pipe that drains wastewater from the source of their formation: in the sink, toilet, bathtub. It can freeze if the room is not heated and the water from the drain has not been drained. Or, the water flow is too weak. Typically, indoor drains freeze where they meet the source of drainage and can be easily removed by using a hair dryer. In the same way, the problem is solved if the sewer riser in a private house freezes.

Septic tank frozen

This is possible if the drainage is not organized correctly.

What to do if the septic tank freezes?

To fix the problem, you can take the following measures:

• heating with a light bulb. The light bulb on the carrier is placed inside the septic tank. Due to the power of the lamp, heating occurs environment, and the ice gradually thaws. The method is very slow, and you also need to monitor the water level and lower the lamp lower. From practice: 1 m of ice melts in a day, at an outside temperature of -15 degrees;

• pouring hot water and then pumping it out;

• pouring quicklime into the septic tank. Users note the effectiveness of the method in cesspool, but this method is unlikely to be suitable for a septic tank.

Frozen sewer pipes

The most difficult of possible situations, since there are two obstacles: firstly, the pipes are located underground, which makes the use of external heating problematic, and secondly, it is difficult to accurately determine the specific place where the pipe froze.

How to detect places where ice jams form?

You can determine the location of freezing using two pieces of wire. To do this, one of them needs to be entered into sewer system from the side of the house, and the second from the side of the septic tank. Knowing the length of the sewer and the sum of the distances over which the wire was moved, you can not only find (identify) the place where the ice plug formed in the pipe, but also its dimensions.

What to do if a sewer pipe freezes?

Methods for removing ice jams by heating.

External heating

Involves the extraction of soil to the level of pipe laying. Once you have direct access to the pipes, you can:

• use open fire: burner, blowtorch. You can wrap the pipe with rags or cover it with firewood and set it on fire. The method is only suitable for metal, cast iron pipes sewerage;
• wrap in foil, then heating cable and connect to the network;
• use heating tape;
• use construction hair dryer for plastic pipes.

Recommendation. Users advise covering the heating area with insulation, so defrosting will happen faster. At the same time, passive heating itself is not suitable in case of frozen sewer pipes, because The thermal insulation material does not heat, but only conserves heat.

External heating is not very popular due to the difficulty of removing frozen soil above the piping system. This begs the question, how to warm up a frozen sewer that is impossible to access? The answer is obvious - only from the inside.

Internal heating

The technology involves influencing ice from the inside, i.e. directly inside the sewer pipe. Options include:

• heating the wall if the sewer pipe is frozen indoors;

• use hot water.

In order to clean a straight pipeline, you need to insert a rigid hose into the sewer and connect it to a funnel into which you pour water. As the ice melts, the hose can be advanced further. You can increase the effectiveness of the procedure by using water with salt. The ratio varies from 1:10 to 1:1 (salt: water).

To defrost a sewer pipeline of complex configuration, the same steps are performed, but using flexible hose. The hose is wound to a flexible wire in increments of 500 mm, so that the edge of the wire protrudes above the edge of the hose by 20-30 mm. The end of the wire is bent inward for rigidity. The free edge of the wire should be 10-15 mm; its task is to bypass obstacles and lead the hose. As the water melts, the hose is pushed further. Instead of a funnel, you can use a pear.

When choosing this method, you need to consider that:

a) the water temperature must be more than 80 °C;

b) water supply is continuous;

c) excess water will come back out, so you need to install a container under the pipe to collect it.

The productivity of the method is 1 m per hour, with a pipe diameter of 110 mm.

• using a welding machine connected on both sides to the pipe. Suitable for metal pipes;

• using any intoxicating liquid, such as alcohol. From practice, volume 1 m.p. pipes with a diameter of 110 mm is 8 l. This method is expensive;

• use of a steam generator.

What to do to prevent the sewer from freezing in winter?

To prevent re-freezing, it is necessary to periodically drain (especially during severe frosts) significant volumes of hot water into the pipeline.

The solution to the problem of water freezing in the sewer system should not be limited to bringing the system into full functional readiness. After all, the possibility of re-freezing is not excluded.

Measures to prevent sewer freezing include:

• correct . This procedure must be carried out at the stage of laying the pipeline;
• laying pipes to a depth below the freezing point of the soil;
• connecting a heating cable (resistive or self-regulating).

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

Let's look at some of the causes of ice jams in the water supply:

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

How to prevent water pipes from freezing

• when laying water supply 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, since they are subject to freezing stronger than the soil;
• where pipes enter the building should be good thermal insulation, most often, mineral and glass wool are used;
• it is better if the diameter of the outer pipes is more than 50 mm - than more water in the pipe, the longer it will freeze;
• Pipe laying can be done with an electric cable, which will heat the pipes at dangerously low temperatures.

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

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

1. Exposure from outside.
2. Heating from the inside.

Regardless of the choice of method for defrosting pipes, several rules must be followed:

• it is necessary to determine as accurately as possible the frozen section of the pipe and its length;
• all shut-off valves must be open so that the thawed water has an outlet;
• you need to start heating the pipe from an open tap and then to the riser;
• Sewer pipes, on the contrary, are heated from the riser towards the septic tank.

Methods for defrosting a water supply through exposure to the outside

In such cases, prolonged heating of the surface of the pipe 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 watered with boiling water, constantly maintaining high temperature rags or foam rubber, and, accordingly, pipes. This method is used on open areas pipelines: in basements, at the entrance to the building, etc. Well suited for metal pipes, since metal is an excellent heat conductor.

Construction hairdryer. The pipe heats up under the influence of hot air. The pipe must be blown from all sides. In order not to lose heat, you can make something like a pavilion around the pipe, for example, from polyethylene film. When heating a plastic pipe using this method, it is important to carefully monitor the heating process so that the pipeline does not melt. If the area where the pipe freezes is small, a regular fan heater or household hair dryer will do. If the pipe has bends, narrowings, or entrances to fittings, they also need to be heated.

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

Electric heating cable or electric 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.

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

Methods for defrosting a water supply through exposure from the inside

All the methods described above are good for metal pipes, but are not very suitable for plastic. That's why there are methods from within. The most important thing is to find the nearest plug connection to disconnect the frozen section from the remaining line.

Two-core copper wire . The operating principle is similar to a boiler. The wire strands are separated and exposed. Then each one 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 it will not work short circuit. Next, you need to insert the wire into the pipe and plug the plug into the socket. An electric current passing through the water will warm it up well.

Hot water. A labor-intensive process that requires patience, but with minimal costs. The hose should be thinner than the pipe. It is inserted into the disconnected pipe all the way into the ice plug and filled with hot water. As the ice melts, the hose moves forward. A container for defrosted water is a must. For 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.

“Esmarch's mug” is popularly known as an enema. In addition to it, there is a rigid wire and a hose from the hydraulic level. The wire is attached to the tube (with tape, tape, whatever), the Esmarch mug is connected to the hydraulic level tube on one side, and the other is pushed into the water pipe until 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 flushing of water and sewer pipes. Have utilities, you can call specialists to your home.

All methods of defrosting pipes have their own advantages and disadvantages and take a lot of time. To avoid possible problems with water supply, it is better to adhere to all technological standards 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, insulated ineffectively, too small volumes of water are transported through them, pipes are operated at extremely low temperatures. It must be taken into account that if defrosting pipes, laid in accessible places, does not cause any particular difficulties (for example, they can be warmed up using a regular household hair dryer), then how to defrost the external underground installation? It’s “lucky” if the pipe is frozen at the entry point - in this case, you can simply heat the walls. What if the freezing point is a few meters from the structure? Is there a solution to the problem or should I wait for it to warm up? 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 method eliminates the problem within two to four hours. The longer the frozen section of the pipe, the longer the defrosting will take.

But what to do if you're frozen plastic pipe? Currently, networks mainly use those made of polyethylene high density(HDPE), which can withstand pressures up to 10 atm. They are not subject to corrosion processes and are not destroyed when frozen. Due to its properties, polyethylene is not a conductor electric current, so defrosting using a welding machine is not possible. Removing an ice plug using a steel rod is also fraught with danger and can damage the pipe. Thus, there is only one way out - to use hot water for defrosting.

Suggested three defrosting methods polyethylene pipes are the “know-how” of folk craftsmen. However, despite their somewhat eccentricity, they work. Their only drawback is that they are only suitable for small diameter pipelines.

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 in just like that. This means we need to find a way to supply hot water to the frozen area. 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 the most effective would be to use a metal-plastic pipe with a diameter of 16 mm. First, we straighten the metal-plastic pipe (m/p pipes are usually rolled into coils), and then we push it into the frozen pipe until it reaches the ice. After this, we supply the hottest water possible through it to the place of freezing. Thawed cold water will pour out along the gap between the water supply and metal-plastic pipes. By the way, if your water supply is limited, then you can use thawed water: heat it up and send it again to the place of freezing. In this case, the ice plug will melt, and you can push the metal-plastic pipe further.

But what to do 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 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 require considerable effort to push them through the pipe.

Method 2

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

First, you need to align the hydraulic level tube and the wire, and then screw the end of the wire to the hydraulic level with electrical tape. To provide 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 this, the other end of the hydraulic level must be connected to Esmarch’s mug and the wire with the tube must 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 light weight, it easily moves along the pipeline, overcoming all turns. Next, add hot water, giving the frozen water pipe an “enema.” To collect thawed water, you need to place a container under the water pipe, because as much hot water is poured in, as 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 pipeline, i.e. During a working day, 5-7 m of pipe can be de-iced. In this case, you should not rush; before pushing the tube/hose, you need to fill in at least 10 liters of hot water; it works at minimal cost.

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

Method 3

Consider a situation where we have a frozen polyethylene water supply small diameter (20 mm) with a length of 50 m with a laying depth of up to 80 cm. Note that this is an insufficient depth for laying the water supply system, which is why it froze. Distinctive feature- the water supply runs under the roadway. In such a situation, utility workers usually advise waiting for a thaw, but, nevertheless, there is a way to do without them.

We will need the following “equipment”: a copper two-core wire (we select the length and thickness of the section according to the length and diameter frozen water pipe), plug for socket, compressor and hose for blowing out defrosted water. So, for example, for a pipe with a diameter of 20 mm, you can take a 2.5-3 mm wire and a car fuel hose with a diameter of 8 mm, a regular Automobile compressor(as a last resort, you can use a pump).

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

Now you need to prepare all this for the defrosting process. WITH small area wires, you need to remove the outer insulation, divide it into two wires and expose one of them (remove the internal insulation), carefully bend the remaining wire in the insulation in the opposite direction along the wire. In this case, care must be taken to ensure 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 to each other as possible) and cut off its remaining end.

After this, 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 should not touch, otherwise a short circuit will occur in the future.

We connect a 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 place it in water and connect it to an electrical outlet, then when current passes through the water, a reaction occurs, releasing a large amount of heat. In our case, such a device is ideal, because only the water heats up, and the wires remain cold, i.e. a plastic pipe will not melt even by accident.

The assembled device must be checked. To do this, you need to place it in a jar of water and connect it to power. If air bubbles leave the contacts and a slight hum is felt, the unit is working. We remind you once again that if you come into contact with water while the device is working, you can get an electric shock.

Let's 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 use a wire with 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 has been thawed, it is advisable to blow out the thawed water using a compressor; this is necessary to reduce the volume of heated water and to prevent the water supply from freezing again in the already thawed area.

If you have special equipment, then it is advisable to weld a tap 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, a basement) will not occur.

To prevent plastic pipes from freezing, remember:

• pipes should be laid at a depth below the freezing level of the soil in a particular region. In the northern and eastern regions Ukraine - Lugansk, Kharkov, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, 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 advisable to lay water and sewer pipes at a depth of at least 120-140 cm.
• You should not lay water supply and sewerage systems 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 likelihood of soil freezing from reinforced concrete structures increases. In this case, it is necessary to insulate the pipes (for example, place extruded polystyrene foam slabs between the pipeline and reinforced concrete structures)
• if finances allow, a heating cable can be laid next to the pipeline. Currently, the production of self-regulating heating cables that turn 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 polyurethane foam to prevent direct contact of the pipe walls with the walls of buildings
• when installing a water supply system summer cottage It is advisable to use pipes with a diameter of at least 50 mm; pipes of smaller diameter are more susceptible to freezing
• when choosing between different polymer water pipes, you should know that polyethylene pipes tolerate multiple freezing and thawing processes, while polypropylene pipes can burst after two or three defrosts
• If the water supply or sewerage system is used irregularly in winter, 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.

In winter, it is not uncommon for water pipes to freeze in private homes. If pipelines are laid underground, then most often the reasons are insufficient depth and insulation of pipelines in combination with stagnation in the pipes. If pipes located in the walls freeze, this phenomenon may occur due to very severe frosts. In any case, the home owner needs to know how to defrost water pipes in a private home. Below we will look at how to eliminate ice jams in metal and plastic lines.

It is not enough to know how to defrost a pipe underground. First you need to find the immediate place of freezing. This can be done in a simple and proven way. The water supply to the water supply should be shut off. After this, you need to unscrew any detachable connection that is located after the tap. A plumbing cable is inserted into the opened hole. It is gradually introduced into the pipeline until its end hits the ice plug.

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

Methods for defrosting pipelines

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

Defrosting metal pipes

Let's look at how to defrost metal water pipes in a private house. They usually run underground, so there are certain difficulties in digging a trench in winter, although it is also possible to locate them in open areas. After the pipeline is exposed, it is affected in the following ways:

• Use an open flame. For example, from gas burner or a blowtorch. You can also make a fire on a frozen section of pipe;
• Use a 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;
• The pipes are poured with boiling water, having first wrapped them in rags.

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

It is easier to defrost a sewer pipe, since all the melted ice will go down the drain, but with a water supply the situation is the opposite. 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 careful handling due to the lower strength of the material. Let's look at how to defrost water in a plastic pipe that is in plain sight:

We looked at heating the 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. Plastic pipe disconnects from the tap. In some large container, for example, a barrel, water is heated. A smaller diameter hose is used that fits freely into the pipe. It is pushed inside the pipe until it reaches the frozen area. After this, hot water is supplied to the pipeline. This can be done using a pressure pump.

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

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

2. Use of a steam generator. The plastic pipe is disconnected from the taps. A special hose from a steam generator with a special nozzle at the end is inserted into it. It is injected until it reaches the frozen area. Steam is supplied through the hose into the pipe, quickly melting the ice. As the frozen plug 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. Use of electricity. This method It 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 separated. Each of them is released from the insulation and then twisted. The result is two thick twists, located at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other. The possibility of connecting them to each other must not be allowed to avoid a short circuit.

The wire is pushed inside the pipe to the plug location. After this, the end of the wire is connected to the mains. Ice melts by heating it with electric current. Wherein plastic walls do not heat up, since only the current-conducting water is heated. As the ice melts, the wire moves further along the pipeline.

4. Hydrodynamic cleaning. Using a hydrodynamic machine, you can eliminate any ice plug in the pipe. Hot water is supplied into it under pressure through a special nozzle, which helps to destroy the ice in a very short time. As the plug breaks down, the hose with the nozzle moves further along the pipe. It should be noted that such equipment is located mainly in specialists due to its high cost.

5. Another method of defrosting a water supply is shown in the photo.

Freeze Prevention

We looked at how to defrost polypropylene pipes(and pipes made of other types of plastic) or metal pipelines. Equally important is preventing pipelines from freezing. The emergence of this unpleasant situation can be avoided if you follow some rules:

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

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

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

Defrosting water and sewer pipes

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

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

What to do to prevent pipes from freezing

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

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

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

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

Note!

Advice! For complete removal water from all engineering communications, their pipes should be located at an inclination of 1-2° to the horizon, towards the lowest point of the water supply, sewer or heating system.

Pipe defrosting technology

Option 1: defrosting a steel water pipe

In practice, two methods are used to warm frozen pipes. They differ from each other in the method of thermal influence - internal and external heating:

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

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

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

Note!

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

Option 2: defrosting metal-plastic pipes

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

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

Note!

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

Option 3: defrosting a plastic water pipe

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

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

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

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

Note!

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

Option 4: eliminating ice blockage in the sewer

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

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

Conclusion

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

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