When water freezes inside a pipe it expands, and that pressure can split the pipe wide open. When it thaws, the result is a flood. In a cold region like the Highlands, prevention is far cheaper than the repair and clean-up. Here’s how to keep your pipes safe.
Lag your exposed pipes
Pipe insulation, or ‘lagging’, is inexpensive foam tubing that slips over your pipes to protect them from the cold. Focus on pipes in unheated areas, lofts, garages, outbuildings, and against external walls. Outside taps and the boiler’s condensate pipe are especially vulnerable.
Keep the heat on low
During very cold spells, leaving your heating on a low setting (around 12-15°C) even when you’re out helps keep pipes above freezing. It’s far cheaper than dealing with a burst.
Going away? Take precautions
- Leave the heating on a low frost-protection setting.
- Ask a neighbour to check the property.
- Consider draining the system if it will be empty for a long period.
- Know where your internal stopcock is so the supply can be shut off quickly.
If a pipe does freeze
Turn off the water at the stopcock and open the nearest tap to relieve pressure. You can gently thaw the frozen section with a hot water bottle or warm towels, never a naked flame. If a pipe has already burst, shut off the water immediately and call a plumber.
We’re here to help
If you’re facing a frozen or burst pipe in Inverness or the Highlands, we offer fast emergency plumbing call-outs to stop the damage and put things right. Call us on 07463 777020.