Frozen copper pipe

[shivvy]

I know a few people on here have asked questions about frozen pipes but I don't think any of them answer my problem.
It was minus 12 here last night and when we woke up this morning we had no water coming out of the cold tap in our kitchen. Our water supply comes into the house via a sink in a large lean-to shed which has no insulation.The first part of the pipe is lagged but there is a portion of exposed copper pipe before it goes into the brickwork towards the kitchen. I presume that the water has frozen in this exposed length of pipe.
Is that a correct assumption and if so what should my next steps be?
PS - I have already shut off the water supply.

Thanks.

[ELVIS68]

Have a look at this.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA0dzwzGFi8

[johnk]

Try warming the exposed piece of pipe with the cold tap open, should come through eventually but the pipe may be split.

[shivvy]

Thanks elvis and john.
A plumber friend told us not to try and thaw the pipe and to turn the water off until it thaws by itself. But with the forecast suggesting that we aren't going to get above zero for any of its 5 day forecast surely it is worth a go?

If I was to use a hairdryer as the youtube video (and many other sites) suggests, is it MORE likely to make the copper pipe split?

[gingejbee]

No, the pipe will have split when the water in it froze (if it has split, that is). So, careful warming would be worth a try (tap open!).

[shivvy]

Looks like it might be the water supply that's frozen - any ideas anyone?!

[DTCwordfan]

very gentle warming - I used to use a Camping Gaz soudogaz flame gun and gently play the heat up and down the pipe not resting on any spot - leave your tap open so you will know if you are successful. As lagging is short in the shops, wrap old clothes/materials around the pipe and also leave it dripping - keeps a wee flow going in the line

[shivvy]

Thanks DTcrosswordfan but I meant the water supply that comes to us from underground. I have been warmimg the exposed pipes but unfortunately your technique can't work for the underground pipes.

[DTCwordfan]

underground outside, tough, underground inside - maybe a storage heater?

be unusual for the water source to freeze as once you are down about 3 feet the soil should be warm enough. We haven't got any bloody Russian-like tundra in the UK - yet..........