 This page provides important information about protecting your home against frost.
Before the cold weather arrives back to top
- Locate your main supply stop cock and make sure it's working correctly. You'll usually find it under the sink.
- Check that all pipe work, cisterns and tanks are well insulated - especially when they're located in unheated areas like lofts, cellars and outbuildings. They should be insulated with good quality waterproof foam lagging, meeting British Standard 6700 and Water Supply Regulations.
- Make sure you keep buildings heated during prolonged periods of frost. You should set automatic timers to 'constant' or '24 hours'. Use your thermostat to maintain a low level during the night and when you are away from the home.
- Repair dripping taps and faulty washers.
When you're going to be away from home back to top
- If your home is to be unoccupied for more than three days, consider draining down the water system - leaving taps open. All heating systems and other water heating installations should be turned off. When you get back home you should refill the system slowly to avoid airlocks and be sure not to relight the boiler until the system is fully recharged with water.
- It's always a good idea to get someone to check the premises while you're away.
If your pipes freeze back to top
- Although the damage occurs when the pipes freeze the burst will only become apparent when the ice in the pipe thaws. If freezing has occurred you must turn the stop tap off. Once the pipes are thawed, you should open the taps to drain the system. This will reduce damage.
- Whatever you do, never switch on water heating appliances, boilers, or immersion heaters until you are sure the system has thawed - otherwise there's a risk of explosion. If you have a gas or solid fuel fire, or electric heaters unconnected to the central heating, you should use these to reheat your home. And never try to thaw pipes with a naked flame.
- Once you're satisfied that the plumbing has thawed - and no leakage is apparent -
close the taps and slowly open the stop tap. When the pressure has returned, check the plumbing system for leakage and only then switch on water heating appliances. If you do spot a leak, isolate the affected pipe by closing the stop tap, then call a plumber.
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