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How To Prevent Your Water Pipes Bursting in Cold Weather

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A burst water pipe is the last thing you want during the winter – not only does it potentially have very high costs if it goes undetected, it also can leave you without hot water until it’s fixed. Preventing a burst water pipe is easy, so make sure you take the necessary steps to protect your home now.

How Do Burst Water Pipes Happen?

Whilst poor installation and rusting are causes of burst water pipes, the most common cause is through repeated freezing and thawing of a pipe. This becomes an especially pressing issue if the pipe is located in a non-insulated area such as a loft space or a cavity bordering an outer wall, as these areas are more likely to drop to sub-zero temperatures in the winter months. The easiest way to lessen the chance of a frozen pipe is to place insulation on the side of the pipe that faces the exterior; this will allow heat from inside the house to keep it warm and prevent a burst water pipe.

So how does the pipe actually burst? Generally, a freeze in the pipe will mean that the water pressure at the tap end of the pipe will begin to increase. Once this pressure becomes substantial enough you’ll end up with a burst water pipe, with the rupture occurring at the spot where the pipe is weakest. The result of this is a leak, and depending on the size of the pipe and its location, a costly cleanup operation. Generally a plumber is the best option to fix a burst water pipe, and although they may be costly will cost significantly less than any water damage that has to be cleaned.

How To Prevent Burst Water Pipes

There are a number of simple steps you can take to prevent a burst water pipe, and they mainly revolve around preventing the pipes from freezing. You should generally start taking these precautions once the temperature drops below -2°C. The first thing to do is to leave your tap on a slow drip – whilst this will waste a small amount of water, it will prevent the build up of pressure that can cause a catastrophic rupture if the pipe freezes and could potentially save a lot of money. As mentioned above, it’s also sensible to insulate your pipes from outside cold temperatures as well. The third thing you can do is to leave the heating on, even if you aren’t in the house (at around 10°C should be sufficient).

Hamblin Watermains are Burst Water Pipe Specialists

If you have a problem with burst water pipes and want it fixed or you need advice on how to prevent them from happening, Hamblin Watermains have a wealth of industry experience that means you can resolve your problem quickly. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call us on 01189 891 500.


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