Cold water not working on top floor of house - pipe frozen?!

[arwright16]

Hello everyone

I live in a 3-storey 2 year old (new build) house.

Today, the toilet and sink and shower on the top floor won't run any cold water at all, but the other 2 floors run fine. It is very cold at the moment (-10) or so, but the heating has been on, and in fact, the top 2 floors have a separate themorstatic control, that tends to kick the heating in below 10C regardless of the timer setting. Saying that, the top floor gets colder as the thermostat is on the middle floor and does not always put the heating on based on the temperature of the top floor.

I am worried that the pipe might have frozen, but then why has it not done it earlier during this cold spell? We don't use the bathroom on the top floor much though, does that have anhything to do with it?

Annoyingly, our warranty has just run out with the builders, otherwise I would have called the plumbers in straight away, but was hoping to avoid a call out charge if possible.

Has anyone got any ideas?

thanks in advance

 

[stem]

I am worried that the pipe might have frozen

Sounds like it

But then why has it not done it earlier during this cold spell?

Pipes are (or should be) insulated. All insulation does is slow the escape of the warmth from the pipe to the atmosphere. It doesn't prevent it altogether, so after a long time without use, the water inside the pipes will eventually get as cold as the surrounding air. The longer the cold spell the higher the chance of it happening. Other factors can also play a part, for example, if a pipe is exposed to a draught, then the wind direction may also effect it.

We don't use the bathroom on the top floor much though, does that have anything to do with it?

Quite likely. If water is run through the pipes regularly then warmer water replaces the water that has sat there and started to cool. This even applies to cold water pipes, as the incoming water from the main is several degrees above freezing.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Turn off the water, in case the pipe has burst (ice occupies more space than water and can split pipes) Try to find where the pipes are likely to have frozen, look for gaps in the insulation, pipes in particularly cold spots, such as in the loft, near air vents etc. then warm these areas gently with a hairdryer or hot water bottle.

 

[arwright16]

thanks - what a quick reply! I could not get to any pipework to have a look, so I ran the ho water tap for a while, hoping it might heat up the pipe next to it. The cold water is now working! Should I worrya bout burst pipes? There are no visible pipes to have a look at!

thanks again

 

[stem]

The pipe has to be badly frozen, usually over quite a long section to split a pipe or push a fitting off.

Many smaller frozen sections don't cause any permanent damage. But I would keep your eye open for any damp patches on the ceiling above and below your top floor just in case. But it sounds like you have got away with it. Most bursts produce a considerable leak that would be readily noticable and even audible.

To help prevent it happening again, I would suggest running some water through the pipes in your top floor bathroom perhaps last thing at night before you retire.