The little things you can do to help stay leak-free this winter

We are reminding everyone to protect their homes and properties against the risk of leaks ahead of the cold snap, to help save time and money.

Temperatures across the region have plummeted in the past few days. A sudden drop in temperature can result in water-related issues, such as frozen pipes and leaks.

Water expands by nearly 10% as it freezes and turns into ice, which stops the flow of water through pipes. This can cause even new pipes to split, often resulting in leaks and bursts causing flooding and damage.

Great tips to help you get winter-ready

• Wrap up your pipes and water tanks with lagging – especially those in unheated areas such as lofts, garages or gardens
• Fix dripping taps – even a small trickle can result in a frozen pipe
• Find your inside stop tap (usually under the kitchen sink or where the pipework enters your property) and make sure you can turn it off
• Leave the heating on low if you go away
• Check your central heating boiler has been serviced
• Keep the contact details of a reputable plumber on hand.

What to do if you have frozen pipes

• If you don't have any water, check with neighbours. If they still have water, your pipes may be frozen
• Check pipes for signs of a split – a leak or burst will not occur until the water has thawed
• Turn off the supply using the internal stop tap
• If the central heating and other water heating appliances are already on, keep on. However, if they are currently turned off do not be tempted to switch them on to thaw frozen pipes as this could cause damage
• Drain the cold water system only by flushing the toilet and opening cold taps over sinks and baths
• If you don't find any damage, turn on all the taps and thaw the frozen pipe using a warm towel or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel
• When the pipes have thawed and you're sure no damage or leak has occurred, turn off the taps and slowly switch the supply back using the internal stop tap
• Recheck the pipes now that they are under pressure and check again for signs of damage or a leak before switching on water heating appliances.
  
  

Why does my water taste different in the winter? 

In the final stages of the water treatment process, we add a small amount of chlorine just before we send it down the pipe to you- this is essential to make sure your water stays protected and quality is maintained as it moves through the network to your tap.

Sometimes the taste of chlorine can become more noticeable, and this is normal, particularly during the winter. When the weather gets colder, it takes longer for the chlorine to leave the water. 

If you prefer your water without the chlorine taste then try filling a jug or bottle and popping it in the fridge for a while- the taste and smell should improve over time as the chlorine naturally leaves the water as a gas. 

Prioritising repairs during a big freeze

We're continually investing and upgrading our network, replacing mains to reduce interruptions to supply. But we can’t replace the whole network at once, so it is likely that during the colder months we will see more burst mains.

Our crews will prioritise the repairs of burst mains and urgent leaks first. So any non-urgent repairs may take a little longer than usual.

Our contact centre also receives a lot more calls and messages from customers about frozen and burst pipes, so we really appreciate your patience if the wait is a little longer than usual to get through. 

It’s important to know that any big freeze is followed by a thaw which can cause interruptions to your water supply. Would you be able to access an alternative water supply during a disruption? If not, get in touch and sign up for our Priority Services Register.

Visit our advice on preparing for the cold weather for more information.