What To Do When Frozen Pipes Burst

Winter has arrived! Last week Storm Arwen brought heavy snowfall to many regions across the UK. As temperatures drop below zero, pay close attention to your businesses pipes as they are more susceptible to freezing and could potentially burst. The last thing you want is damaged water pipes with expensive repairs and business downtime.

When disaster strikes, it’s easy for things to quickly go from bad to worse, so it’s important to know what to do in advance so you can do all you can to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

What to do if a pipe freezes

If you discover a frozen pipe, you need to act fast to limit the risk of the pipe bursting and causing damage to your business.

• Turn off your water supply at the stopcock.
• Turn off your immersion heater and central heating.
• Turn the cold tap on so any water in the pipe can escape.
• If the water is not draining properly, turn off the tap as this could indicate that the pipe below is frozen. Remember to switch it off as soon as the stream of water stops.
• If you have safe access to the pipe you can wrap a heated cloth around the point of the freeze to try to thaw it.
• Contact an approved plumber as soon as possible.

What to do if a pipe bursts

If you discover a burst pipe, you need to act fast to limit water damage and flooding.

• Turn off your water supply at the stopcock.
• Turn off your immersion heater and central heating.
• Turn off your electricity at the mains if the water has leaked near your electrics or near any appliances.
• Turn on all taps to train your pipes quickly. Remember to switch the taps off as soon as the stream of water stops.
• Soak up or block off any escaping water with think towels
• Contact an approved plumber as soon as possible.

Tips for preventing frozen pipes

Unfortunately there is no guaranteed way to prevent frozen pipes. However there are steps that can be implemented to help reduce the chances by protecting your pipes:

• Make sure all taps are turned off properly with no drips.
• Install an insulation jacket around your water tank.
• Set your heating system on low as warm buildings best prevent frozen pipes.
• Check for leaks at taps and valves. Fix any leaks before they have time to freeze.

Are you concerned that you may already have a leak? View our Leak Assistance FAQs.

If the leak is an emergency, please contact your Water Network Owner, you can find contact details here. You can also find out who supplies your business water by clicking here.

For more helpful water efficiency advice about safeguarding your business over the winter months, download our annual Castle Water Winter Wise guide for free below.