Simple steps to protect your home from burst pipes ahead of snow and ice this week

South West Water is reminding everyone of the little things they can do to protect their homes against the risk of leaks as freezing conditions continue.

Temperatures across the region are set to plummet with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for snow and ice this week. A sudden drop in temperature, such as this, can lead issues on the water network.

When temperatures drop and water freezes and turns into ice it expands by nearly 10%, which stops the flow of water through pipes. This can cause even new pipes to split, often resulting in leaks and bursts causing flooding and damage.

Martin Pipe, Customer Leakage Regional Manager, said: “Every winter, we see a high number of bursts both on our network and on our customers’ private pipes due to freezing conditions. When this happens, our teams work hard around the clock to keep the taps flowing for our customers. Alongside these efforts, there are lots of things our customers can do to prepare their homes for cold weather and prevent leaks and bursts which can cause significant damage to their properties.”

Great tips to protect your homes from freezing weather

• Wrap up your pipes and water tanks with lagging – especially those in unheated areas such as lofts, garages or gardens
• Find your inside stop tap (usually under the kitchen sink or where the pipework enters your property) and make sure you can turn it off if you discover a leak or burst
• Leave the heating on low if you go away
• Check your central heating boiler has been serviced
• Bleed your radiators – this will improve efficiency and reduce the risk of radiator pipes freezing
• Keep the contact details of a reputable plumber on hand
• Check your meter to see if you have a leak. Details of how to do this are on our website here: https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/leaks

What to do if you have frozen pipes

• If you don't have any water, check with neighbours. If they still have water, your pipes may be frozen
• Check pipes for signs of a split – a leak or burst will not occur until the water has thawed
• Turn off the supply using the internal stop tap
• If the central heating and other water heating appliances are already on, keep on. However, if they are currently turned off do not be tempted to switch them on to thaw frozen pipes as this could cause damage
• Drain the cold water system only by flushing the toilet and opening cold taps over sinks and baths
• If you don't find any damage, turn on all the taps and thaw the frozen pipe using a warm towel or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel
• When the pipes have thawed and you're sure no damage or leak has occurred, turn off the taps and slowly switch the supply back on using the internal stop tap
• Recheck the pipes now that they are under pressure and check again for signs of damage or a leak before switching on water heating appliances.If you discover a leak or burst pipe, call a reputable plumber immediately. South West Water supports approved contractor schemes and a list of approved contractors can be found on the WaterSafe website or by calling 0333 207 9030.
• For more information and advice on preparing for freezing temperatures visit southwestwater.co.uk/household/your-services/your-water/water-pipe-responsibility/cold-weather