During the winter months, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect against frozen and burst pipes in your property. Here’s a few tips on how to stop this from happening.

WHY DO FROZEN PIPES BURST?

When you’re home gets cold in the winter months, your pipes' water may freeze overnight and then burst throughout the day when the temperature rises back up.  Because of this, your home may experience flooding and water damage as the frozen pipes thaw out again.

Naturally, the pipes that are exposed to the coldest temperatures - such as garden, garage, and shed taps - are the most likely to freeze.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE FROZEN PIPES?

It's simple: the tap releases the water very slowly, if at all. If so, attempt to locate the pipe's most likely frozen spot, which is typically its greatest exposure to cold. You can use an electrical heat pad, hair dryer, or heat lamp to warm the pipe.  Keep in mind that running water will help the ice thaw more quickly, so keep the taps open.

A gas burner or other flame source should not be used to heat the pipes.  There is a chance the ice will explode if it heats up too quickly.

HOW DO I STOP THE PIPES FROM FREEZING UP?

• Ideally, the inside of the property will have a stop valve if it has an exterior water source, such a garden tap.  If so, make sure there is no water left in the pipe by draining it and opening the outside tap and closing the internal valve.
  
  
• Make sure your garden sprinkler system is fully drained before using it, and use pipe insulation—which is readily available at most DIY stores—to insulate any pipes that might be vulnerable to damage.
  
  
• Ensure that the heating is set to stay at or above 12 degrees Celsius even while the home is unoccupied.  While it may be tempting to turn the heating down completely while the house is unoccupied in order to reduce gas and electricity costs, ruptured pipes come at a much larger cost.

If you rent out your home and don’t have a managing agent, make sure you send your tenants a letter outlining the risks associated with frozen pipes as well as the safety measures they should take to avoid such damage.

TENANTS, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PART 2 OF WINTER IS COMING: HOW TO GET YOUR RADIATORS READY FOR WINTER, FOR SOME SIMPLE STEPS TO ENSURE YOU STAY WARM THIS CHRISTMAS.

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