News Blog

Here are some preventative measures to help in your home this winter.....

Don’t leave your heating off for long periods of time. If you’re away from home this winter, leave your heating on, just for an hour a day, or at a low level.

Ask a plumber to fit a leak-detection device. This will detect if there’s a sudden spike in your water usage, cutting off your supply, thus helping to limit the damage.

Carry out visual checks for leaks. As the temperatures drop, it’s good advice to regularly check under sinks and behind bath panels for any cracks, drips or leaks.

Don’t put your dishwasher or washing machine on before you go out. Only using these appliances while you’re at home means you’ll hopefully be able to spot a leak before it becomes a bigger issue.

Turn the water off if you’re going away for a significant amount of time. If you're away over the Christmas period turning your water off will go some way in helping prevent issues such as leaks.

If your pipes do freeze......

Turn the water supply off at your stopcock. They're usually under the kitchen sink or in the downstairs toilet - familiarise yourself with the location of yours.

DON'T pour boiling water directly onto a frozen pipe. This can cause it to crack, so should never be attempted. Heating in a more controlled way will help reduce the risk of this happening.

Switch your water and central heating off, then call an emergency plumber.

Contact your insurance provider. Most insurers have a 24-hour helpline.