During freezing temperatures, we want to ensure your water keeps flowing and your pipes don’t get frozen.
Frozen pipes can lead to bursts which can lead to flooding, wasted water and damage to our network and customer properties.
Tips to avoid frozen pipes
To avoid potential bursts, leaks and issues with your water supply, there are some things you can do now to prevent this from happening.
Insulate your pipes
- An approved plumber can help you do this or you can make your own with insulation and some strong tape
- You can also buy pipe lagging from your local DIY store
Repair any dripping or leaking taps
- Make sure you get any dripping taps fixed – even a small trickle can lead to a frozen pipe
Check where your stop tap is
- Make sure you know where your stop tap is, just in case you do need to turn the water off quickly if your pipes freeze and burst
Keep your heating down low
- If you are going to be away for a short while, you could consider turning your heating on low to prevent pipes from freezing
What to do if your pipes freeze
- Turn off the water supply at the stop tap
- Check to see if the pipe has burst
- Open the affected taps and heat gently with a hair dryer, hot water bottle or towels soaked in hot water
- Do not use a blowtorch or anything with a naked flame to thaw the pipe
What to do if your pipes burst
- Turn off the water supply at the stop tap
- Open all the taps to drain the system as quickly as possible (you can save this water to use elsewhere). When the water stops running, turn all the taps off
- Call a WaterSafe approved plumber. IWNL are not able to help with internal plumbing
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Advice on how to detect a leak
Watch our handy video on how to detect a leak within your property
