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Frozen pipe in a hot boiler room? This weeks video

RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,689
edited January 31 in THE MAIN WALL

When I heard about the frozen pipe, I didnt think much about it. It was bitter cold. Then, I heard the pipe was in the boiler room. Commercial boiler rooms tend to be very warm. How could a pipe freeze in there?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvff5DL9EHY
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons
Brckwrth

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,127

    Near the fresh air intake.

  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,689

    @EBEBRATT-Ed

    I asked a plumbing teacher about that and he said, "We need work in the winter too,"

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • johnre9999
    johnre9999 Member Posts: 2

    I agree with the air intake diagnosis. We see that often. Solutions (in order of preference) we have used to resolve

    -Relocate the water pipe

    -Insulate the water pipe

    -Heat tape the water pipe

    -Relocate the air intake

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,416
    edited February 13

    Automatic boiler room air dampers in the colder weather surely can be the cause of a pipe freeze up in a boiler room. Any type of failure that leaves them open, ie. when louvers become frozen in the open position sure can make a mess. Adding a heat source to the area can help when relocating the pipe(s) is not an option.

    Watched the video after posting🙄

  • JustinTheCarpenter
    JustinTheCarpenter Member Posts: 8

    Pipe froze outside the heated area & hydraulic pressure opened the weakest part of the line which was in a heated space.

  • flowpro
    flowpro Member Posts: 6

    Ive seen this quite a few times in boiler rooms. Its always a draft from outside air and usually on a un-insulated copper pipe.

  • jblum
    jblum Member Posts: 13

    "If a pipe or coil can freeze, it will freeze: just wait" (Murphy's Law for plumbers)

    Intplm.
  • mattman
    mattman Member Posts: 19

    Entirely possible. We had fire protection sprinkler system installed in a boiler room. It had an atmospheric boiler in the room so it had a louvered opening for combustion air. So naturally the sprink ran the main RIGHT IN FRONT of the louvers. Pure genius. I made him relocate it away from there.

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