Every winter, hundreds of litres of water are wasted when frozen pipes burst. Repairs can be expensive and stressful, but you can avoid them by following some of these simple tips below.

Avoid expensive repairs

  • Know where your main stop valve is – this enables you to turn off the water supply to your home. Usually, this can be found under the sink, or in the garage where the mains supply enters the property.
  • Keep rooms that may not be used that often heated at the lowest setting. This will prevent your pipes and tanks from freezing.
  • Make sure your cold-water tank and pipes are properly insulated – you could save money on your energy bills too!
  • Repair dripping taps and faulty washers.
  • If you’re going to be away for a short period of time, leave your central heating on a low setting to prevent your pipes from freezing.
  • Have the name and phone number of a reputable plumber on hand. You can find a list of plumbers on the WaterSafe website here.

What to do if you have a burst pipe

  • Shut off the water at the main stop valve.
  • Turn off your central heating to prevent damage or an explosion.
  • Open all taps to drain water from the pipes.
  • Contact a plumber

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