Froststop

Following recent spells of arctic weather in January and December 2010 an opportunity opened in the market for manufacturing and installing frost protection systems to solve the growing problem of frozen pipes and burst pipes in homes & SMEs, due to either substandard, or surprisingly, superior insulation in buildings.

Most believe Insulation protects pipes from freezing but if freezing temperatures persist day & night like the last two artic cold spells of 2010 frost will penetrate pipe insulation after approx 48 hours. 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.

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 localised 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.