F.A.Q.

Why do pipes burst when they freeze?

The reason many water pipes burst is because water expands as it freezes. If this expansion occurs in a closed environment such as a water pipe, there could be substantial pressure placed on the inner walls of the pipe material, whether it is iron, lead or PVC plastic. Even if a pipe is strong enough to handle the occasional stress of frozen water, the cumulative effect can weaken the structural integrity of the pipe and eventually it will burst.

 

My house is newly built and insulated at ceiling level; do I need to protect my pipes?

Yes as current building regulations mean that the attic area is now more prone to freezing as less heat from your house is entering your attic. Don’t forget that pipe insulation will not prevent your pipes from freezing; it will only slow the process down.

 

Is trace heating safe to be left on in a house unoccupied?

The manufactures of the trace heating we use say it is perfectly safe to be left on in homes that are unattended.

 

Where is my stopcock?

Homes typically have an internal and an external stop cock.

Water can be turned off by rotating the stop cock in an anti-clockwise direction.

Generally, stop cocks can be found in the pipework under your kitchen sink or in the downstairs bathroom or cloakroom.

They are sometimes located in basements.

External stop cocks are normally found in the footpath just outside your property.

In some cases there will be only one stop cock serving a number of properties (a shared supply), so it may not be right outside your property.

 

Why choose “beat the freeze.ie”?

We are a specialist company from Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland that are focused on preventing pipes from freezing in Ireland. We employ dedicated staff to research products and solutions, the best of which will be added to this website. Also, we are a sister company of Conneely Builders a well established and respected building contractors based in Co Galway, Ireland.

 

What is a U value?

The U-value (or U-factor), more correctly called the overall heat transfer coefficient, describes how well a building element conducts heat.

To put it simply, U-Value is the measure of the rate at which heat is lost through a material. As it is a measure of heat loss, the lower the U-Value the better.

 

 Who is responsible for the pipe-work coming into my property?

The part of the service pipe that links the water main in the street to the boundary of your property is the responsibility of the local authority, group scheme etc. The part of the service pipe from the boundary of your property to and within your house is your responsibility if you are the owner otherwise it is your landlord’s responsibility.

 

What Is A Passive House?

A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source.

As a sister company to Conneely Builders who constructed the first passive commercial building in Ireland, we have unrivaled experience in this area.click here for more information.