January 2010
Business Stream urges companies to protect pipes after hundreds suffer bursts over Christmas.
Hundreds of Scottish businesses have had to seek help with burst pipes over Christmas and New Year, according Business Stream, Scotland’s leading non-domestic water supplier.
Around 25 per cent of calls to Business Stream customer services – representing more than 700 businesses – since the cold snap first started have been from business owners requesting emergency repairs to leaks caused by frozen pipes.
As the freezing temperatures continue, Mark Powles, chief executive of Business Stream, said all businesses and public sector organisations could protect their workplaces by taking a few simple steps.
By protecting pipes and leaving heating on low in unoccupied workplaces during cold weather, organisations can help avoid burst pipes, which could potentially ruin equipment, carpets, furniture, stock and premises.
Mark said: “The recent cold weather has shown how problematic frozen pipes can be, and I’d urge all organisations to make sure they’ve taken appropriate steps to protect themselves against potentially-damaging bursts.
“Temperatures have been so low recently that even leaving the heating off over the weekend can mean a disaster come Monday morning.”
Before Christmas, Business Stream warned that the cold weather could wreak havoc by bursting water pipes in offices and workplaces that have shut down their heating systems.
Mark added: “Clearing up after a burst pipe is not only a major inconvenience that no-one needs on returning to work, but it can be extremely expensive to do. On top of paying a plumber to fix the problem, there may be equipment or furniture to replace, not to mention the cost of lost productivity caused by the clean-up operation.
"If the cold weather is going to continue then it’s really important that businesses take a few simple precautions to avoid the headache of coming in to burst pipes.”
Business Stream has issued the following series of simple tips that customers can follow in order to avoid a potential disasters:
Heat –
Leave your heating on at a low temperature.
Make sure heaters are well-maintained and working properly.
Insulate –
Check loft insulation is thick and in good condition.
Protect –
Have any leaks at taps or valves repaired.
Fit draught excluders to your doors and windows.
(ENDS)
Issued on behalf of Business Stream by The BIG Partnership
For more information, contact: Bryan Garvie, Jane Robertson or Charles Cameron on 0141 333 9585 or firstname.lastname@bigpartnership.co.uk
Notes to editors
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water, Business Stream has been formed as an arms-length company with its own board and independent management team. Its goal is to provide a first class service for business customers and respond to the challenge of other established utility companies entering the new, competitive market which opened on 1 April 2008.
Under the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, Scottish Water had to split its operation into wholesale (Scottish Water) and retail (Business Stream) units. Although ostensibly remaining a part of Scottish Water, Business Stream is a new business working completely independently of its parent company in order to ensure fair and transparent retail practice under the rules of the new competitive marketplace for business customers.
The Business Stream website can be found at www.business-stream.co.uk