How do I protect against frozen pipes?

Cold weather can put your plumbing at risk because water expands as it freezes, increasing pressure inside pipes and joints. This can lead to splits, bursts or pulled-apart connections, causing serious damage and costly repairs. In this guide, we’ll show you how to prevent pipes from freezing in order to keep your water supply safe during the winter months.

Check all pipes inside your home and any bare pipes outside your home are lagged and protected before the cold weather comes. Your local plumbing merchants and DIY stores can help you find the right insulation.

WaterSafe plumber Colin Stainer shows you how to quickly and easily insulate pipes in our video.

If you're not confident in doing it yourself, a qualified plumber will be able to help you. Use our postcode search to find a plumber near you.

You can take steps to prevent pipes from freezing by:

• Insulating all pipes in unheated areas like lofts, roofs, garages and outbuildings.

• Fitting your water tank with an insulation jacket or alternatively the top and sides of the tank can be wrapped with suitable insulation material. However, don’t place loft insulation under the tank as this stops heat from the rooms below helping to keep the water in the tank from freezing.

• Insulate toilet cisterns, water tanks or pipes in exposed places or unheated outbuildings. Better still, if not in use, drain them for the winter.

• Leaving your heating on a low setting especially if your home is empty for a while.

• Checking your central heating boiler has been serviced.

• Finding your stop tap, so you can turn off the water supply quickly if a pipe freezes or bursts. Most are under the kitchen sink or, sometimes, in a cupboard, garage or cellar.

• Turning off your water supply and draining the system if you’re going to be away for a while; a WaterSafe recognised plumber will be able to give you advice.

• Giving neighbours a key for your home and contact details for someone to help in an emergency if you go away.

• Repairing leaks at taps or valves as soon as you discover them. Read our advice on how to find a water leak for more information.