Froststop

Froststop manufactures & installs heat trace systems to protect pipe work from freezing preventing you the inconvenience & expense of experiencing problems associated with freezing temperatures. We design systems using the best quality equipment to offer our clients the highest protection against frozen pipes. Systems can be designed to the clients needs for domestic & commercial applications. The range of Froststop products are suitable for attics, water mains (above & below ground), milking parlours, water & oil tanks, boiler condensate drains, water filters, pump houses, rainwater harvesting systems, tractor diesel lines, driveway & footpath heating. Froststop can design systems for any problem caused by freezing weather conditions.

Contact Froststop now to discuss your frost protection needs. It will be too late when cold weather hits.

Most believe Insulation protects pipes from freezing but if freezing temperatures persist day & night like the last two arctic cold spells of 2010 frost will penetrate pipe insulation after approx 48 hours. Plumbers reported that 80% of burst pipe work in attics were insulated. Pumping cavities and adding more insulation to the attic puts pipe work at higher risk as attic temperatures will be colder due to less heat loss through the ceiling which needs to be done to reduce heating costs. Insulating under the felt & slate won’t guarantee pipe work from freezing but in the majority of homes will cost more than a Froststop system.

How do pipes Burst?

After freezing takes place & the ice within the pipe starts to thaw too quickly. The ice expands by up to 8% in volume. If the pipe can’t take the stress from the expansion of the ice inside the pipe, it will split along the length of the pipe. A split in the pipe can range from 1 – 3 inches depending on pipe size, which allows huge amounts of water to escape.

Overview

Froststop systems prevent freezing by gently heating the pipe within the pipe insulation. Systems switch on at 4 degrees and off at 6 degrees and takes only 1.5 minutes to raise the pipe temperature from 4 – 6 degrees.

Attic heaters or Infra red bulbs are not guaranteed to prevent pipes freezing as most heat generated is lost through the felt & slate with only a localized area being heated. Running times are constant as ambient temperature is used to control these products so running cost is an issue. Another important factor to consider when choosing a product is Safety, is the product a fire hazard? Any product with a glow heating element or unsealed wiring can be a fire hazard due to dust or moisture in an attic. Insulating the attic, results in the attic being colder while insulating the underside of the felt and slate will cost more than a proper Froststop system.