Burst & Frozen Pipes
Steps to take when you have a burst or frozen pipe emergency, plus preventative measures to keep your home's water supply running smoothly.
Burst Pipe Emergency
A burst pipe is classed as a water emergency - it can cause serious damage to your home's structure and electrical wiring. The following steps describe what you should do as soon as you discover a burst pipe:
1. Turn off the water supply
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Turn off the main stop tap - you should find this under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home.
Turn off the main stop tap
- Drain the system - turn on all your cold taps.
- If water has been leaking through for some time and the ceilings are bulging - be careful, rooms may not be safe to enter.
- If you notice the leak quickly you can catch dripping water in buckets. Punch a hole in the ceiling to let water out if it starts to bulge.
2. Turn off water heating systems
- Switch off the central heating, immersion heater and any other water heating systems.
- If the central heating uses solid fuel, let this die out.
- Once water heating has shut down, turn on the hot taps to help drain the system.
3. Turn off the electrics
If water leaks near your electrics or electrical appliances, switch off the mains immediately. If it is wet, don't touch them!
4. Call a professional to repair the damage
Electrical wiring damaged by water can be very dangerous - you will need to call in a professional is this happens. For a fast, affordable fix, see Electricians.
Finding a reliable plumber to repair the burst or frozen pipe(s) is simple - see Plumbers.
To protect your home against unforeseen problems that can hit the pocket hard, you might also want to take out Water Supply Pipe Cover.
Frozen Pipe Emergency
A frozen pipe is also an emergency, because this will cause it to burst causing thawed water to come pouring from the break. The following steps describe what you should do as soon as you discover a frozen pipe:
1. Turn off the water supply
- Turn off the main stop tap. You should find this under the kitchen sink or where the service pipe enters your home.
- Turn off the stopcock in your cold water tank if you have one, it's usually found in the attic or loft.
2. Beat the burst
Protect everything around the pipe that appears to be frozen to avoid damage if it bursts.
3. Thawing out
- Open the tap nearest to the part of the pipe you think is frozen so the water can flow through when it has melted.
- Thaw the ice in the pipe with a hot water bottle or hairdryer (taking care to keep it well away from any water), beginning from the tap end and working back toward the cold water tank. Never use a heat gun or blow torch.
Preventing Burst Pipes - Winter Care
If a burst pipe leaks and water comes gushing through the ceiling, it can wreak real damage on your home and its contents. Even worse, burst pipes and leaks can be complicated to fix, repair work may also involve digging up your lawn, tarmac or paving.
You can avoid this kind of damage by preventing burst pipes and leaks in the first place. As frozen pipes often burst, winter care is crucial. Try the following care tips:
- Insulate your loft and the sides of your water tanks.
- Insulate all your pipes.
- Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat in.
- If you're away for awhile, spending winter somewhere warmer perhaps, then ask a friend or relative to check on your home and make sure pipes haven't burst or frozen.
- Re-washer dripping taps because if they freeze they'll block the pipe. This will also it will save up to a litre of water a day and your money if it's a hot tap.
- Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check regularly that you can turn it off easily in an emergency. It's handy to label it so you remember where it is in a panic.
- In very cold weather the heating will need to be on low, or set to come on a couple of times a day, especially if you're going away. Most modern boilers have a frost protection thermostat, which turns on automatically if the temperature drops to a level that will cause your pipes to freeze.