Tap And Pipe Frozen...

[ahappychappie]

Hi,

Visited NEC Caravan & Camping show on Sat - arrived nice and early so made a brew...

Should have thought on given the several below zero forecast this week... Unfortunately I didn't - just looked in the sink - the tap has been pushed off - you can see ice in the tap itself, the component built into the sink as well - it wont move as its frozen solid.

I'm hoping the tap will screw back in put fear its snapped off - its a Smev. Biggest concern is pipe feels frozen and will it burst? Currently have the heater on but not sure it will defrost as the pipes are inside the furniture.

Just wondered if anyone had any advice and best way to prevent - bit reluctant to put anti freeze in or something as use it for making brews etc.

Thanks in advance..

 

[Davenjo]

Just been out to look at mine and, from what you describe, I think you may have broken the tap. If you have, it should't be too much of a problem to replace though as it looks like the assembly just drops into the sink and is secured with a large nut from below - it would then just be a small electrical and plumbing job to reconnect. Looking around, depending on model, I think you will be looking at circa £30-£40 for the replacement (plus fitting if you don't want to tackle yourself).

I would be concerned about the pipes as, with the damage to the tap, there is a chance that the ice may have already split them and you wont find out until they defrost. However, the pipes will flex a bit more than the rigid tap fixing so you may be OK.

Make sure your water pump is switched off so if there is damage in the pipes any escape will be limited. I'd also check your water tank as, depending how much water was in there, that may also be split.

I suggest you leave the heater on for a while but don't be tempted to apply heat directly to the pipes as rapid defrost could cause further damage.

In terms of preventing, if not using the van and frosts are predicted, drain everything down and leave the tap open and water pump off. We had our water system freeze up on a camp site last year but, fortunately, the water tank (underslung) was only circa 50% full and the heater in the van kept the internal pipework frost free and avoided any damage - if going away and significant frost is predicted we no longer bother filling the onboard tank and just take a container of water which we keep in the van.

Good luck and hopefully things aren't too bad.

 

[ahappychappie]

Thanks - sorry just read my post again and probably a bit misleading re tap - whilst the tap itself is frozen its the tap arm that has pushed off.

I've just been back to the van, with the heater on, the ice in the main tap and the arm has defrosted and the arm has pushed back on fine. Being impatient I tried the pump - you can hear it whirring away but no water - really hoping that's because still frozen water in the pipe or even start of the tap rather than a split pipe... All I can do is wait until it warms up. The pipe I'd describe as semi rigid so not sure if that offers more protection or makes it more prone to splitting!

For now i've removed the tap arm, opened the tap - tho it closes when you close the sink lid and switched off the pump. Obviously hugely concerned if pipe has split as presume its a big job to remove furniture to replace pipe etc - I didn't do the conversion myself it was done professionally.

Thanks again.

 

[Davenjo]

Sounds more promising! The water pump whirring without success is most probably just down to there still being an ice block in the pipe or the tank water being frozen. Switch off the pump, keep the heater running and check again later but with the silly temps over the next few days, if you can get everything defrosted, drain down ASAP.

 

[Mick]

Hi,

Visited NEC Caravan & Camping show on Sat - arrived nice and early so made a brew...

Should have thought on given the several below zero forecast this week... Unfortunately I didn't - just looked in the sink - the tap has been pushed off - you can see ice in the tap itself, the component built into the sink as well - it wont move as its frozen solid.

I'm hoping the tap will screw back in put fear its snapped off - its a Smev. Biggest concern is pipe feels frozen and will it burst? Currently have the heater on but not sure it will defrost as the pipes are inside the furniture.

Just wondered if anyone had any advice and best way to prevent - bit reluctant to put anti freeze in or something as use it for making brews etc.

Thanks in advance..

Hi that's what happened to mine. Also the shower attachment thats sits on the rear furniture under the tap froze up.

I used a hair dryer on it to start and I just switched the heating on and left the furniture doors open and it was sorted. I got away with no damage. The heating, even in -10 worked fine, but leaving the furniture doors open was key.

Guy up the road just went to B&Q and bought some of that grey pipe foam that you fit over the pipes. Looks like shit but it seems to have worked.

 

[ahappychappie]

Ok an update...

Temperature was a fair bit warmer today, tried tap body and that was moving freely. So refilled water, switched on pump - gurgle splutter gurgle - then flowing water - yay - checked for any leaks after running water but all seems ok.

So it looks as though all ok, but just a reminder to everyone to drain down as easy to forget and conequences could be expensive...

Thanks all

 

[Davenjo]

Pleased it’s all ok. Easy mistake to make, especially if you are using all winter and forget to drain down betweeen trips.

 

[Higgeee]

Same happened to me, water frozen in tap forced the end of it off into the sink. Pump didn’t work yesterday but took the van out for a run and it’s working fine today.

Made sure I drained it down properly until the weather warms up a bit. Could have been a costly mistake!