How to stop pipes freezing this winter
Five cheap fixes that prevent frozen and burst pipes, plus what to do if a pipe has already frozen.
Water expands by about nine percent when it freezes, and that pressure can split a copper pipe overnight. The good news: most frozen pipes are preventable.
Before the cold snap
- Insulate pipes in lofts, garages and crawl spaces.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor taps.
- Keep the heating at 12°C or above, even when you are away.
If a pipe freezes
Open the tap it feeds, then warm the pipe gently with a hairdryer, starting nearest the tap. Never use an open flame. If you cannot find the frozen section, call us.