We are currently experiencing intermittent issues with public access, we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.Any homes and businesses left empty for more than a day or two are particularly at risk and should be protected against possible freezing and bursts.
To help customers, Affinity Water has made a short film: ‘How to deal with frozen pipes’, starring Customer Service Technician Rob King which can be viewed at Affinity Water or YouTube (see Useful Links section of this page).
- Check where your stop taps are to isolate your water supply and that they work;
- Insulate exposed water pipes with felt, pipe wrap or other suitable insulating material and cover any outside pipe or fitting with a waterproof material;
- Make sure your cold water tank is insulated;
- Leave central heating on a frost-protect setting overnight;
- If you are planning on leaving your home or office unattended for long periods, turn off the water supply, outside taps and exposed pipes.
Dealing with frozen pipes
If pipes do freeze, turn off the stopcock to cut the water supply and use a gentle heat source to defrost pipes. Start thawing the pipe near where it enters the house.
Dealing with burst pipes
If a pipe bursts, turn off the stopcock, leave a tap on to allow the thawed water to escape and contact a qualified plumber. For a list of local qualified plumbers please visit Affinity Water.
Affinity Water has advice on its website about coping with the cold weather and protecting pipes from freezing. Visit Affinity Water Cold Weather for more information.