Protect your pipes

Why you should protect your pipes

Water pipes can be sensitive to a sudden drop in temperatures. In some cases, this can lead to a burst water pipe in your property that will not only leave you without water, but also a hefty bill to repair the damage too!  

So here are some helpful tips to help:

• Make sure your water tanks and pipes are well insulated and there are no gaps in the lagging at bends, valves or fittings
  
  
• Pay special attention to water tanks and pipes in unheated areas like loft spaces and garages
  
  
• Fix dripping taps – even a small trickle can result in a frozen pipe
  
  
• Find your property’s internal stopcock and make sure you can turn it off – most stopcocks are fitted under the kitchen sink and shut off by turning clockwise. You can watch a short video on to locate your stopcock on WaterSafe's website.
  
  
• Minimise draughts from outside and close doors and windows to unheated parts of your property
  
  
• Ask a friend or neighbour to check your property regularly if you are away
  
  
• If a property is going to be unoccupied for long periods, turn off the water at the stopcock and consider draining down the system so there is no water left in the pipes