How to prevent your water pipes from freezing

Avoid burst pipes causing serious damage to your home

The cost of replacing possessions and repairing water damage to your home can be expensive. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take which will help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, and stop you having to call out an emergency plumber.

1. Have regular check-ups

• An annual service of your heating system before winter can prevent breakdowns during cold spells and will ensure your boiler is running effectively. You can also use this time to check your thermostat is working properly and ask your service engineer about the benefits of adding antifreeze to your system.
• Get any damp patches in your home checked by a surveyor as they could be a sign of a gradual leak within the wall.
• Simple things you can do yourself include regularly checking radiator valves, overflows on toilets and looking for leaks on water or central heating tanks. Consider fitting a flood detection device to alert you to leaks at an early stage.

2. Locate your stopcock

This will normally be located below your kitchen sink, or wherever the water supply enters your home. Make sure you can access it and close it easily.

3. Drain your system

If you’re planning on leaving your property unoccupied during winter, turn off the stopcock and drain the plumbing of both hot and cold water systems as your insurance policy may not cover you in the event of a leak while you are away.

4. Get those pipes lagged

• Most houses have pipes and water tanks in the loft and these are particularly susceptible to freezing. Pipe lagging (an insulating foam sleeve) should be at least 5cm diameter and even thicker if your loft floor is well insulated, as this prevents heat from your home rising into the loft and warming the pipes. Remember that thinner pipes will require thicker insulation.
• It’s important you don’t insulate the underneath of your tank. Warm air from the room below helps to keep the tank heated, so insulate only the sides and the top to prevent that heat from escaping.

5. Keep the heat flowing

• If you leave your home unoccupied for a short while, leave your heating on its usual setting (or just a few degrees lower) while you are away. It’s also advisable to leave your loft door open in your absence, as this allows heat to circulate around your tank and pipes.

6. Check your plumbing

• Damage to pipes happens if the water in them freezes but the escape of water only happens when the frozen pipes thaw out. Checking your pipes for signs of freezing or bursts such as leaking or dripping joints, will help you to deal with potential problems before the water escapes.
• Repair any dripping taps before icy temperatures set in to prevent them freezing and becoming blocked.

7. If your pipes do freeze

• Turn off your outdoor water mains and inside stopcocks (or similar). You can then proceed to thaw the pipes yourself, or call on the expertise of a plumber.
• To thaw the pipes yourself, use gentle heat from a hairdryer or hot-water bottle and work your way from tap to tank. Open the tap nearest the frozen section of pipe to see when the ice has melted.
• You’ll need to prepare for any water that may leak from burst pipes, primarily by covering any electrics that are nearby.