Frozen Pipes

1. Turn the stop-valve off straight away

Shutting off the water will minimise flooding straight away. Check for any obvious damage to pipes that may indicate a burst, such as sprung joints. If you notice any damage, call a plumber immediately.

2. Don't switch on your boiler or immersion heater

In a frozen pipe, the water doesn’t have anywhere to go. So switching on any water heating system will ultimately result in a burst pipe.

3. Gently heat any frozen sections of the pipe

Wrap a heated cloth around the pipe or use a hot water bottle. Open the closest tap and start thawing from the tap backwards.

4. Don't use a naked flame to defrost pipes

Applying a flame directly to a frozen section of pipe is a fire hazard and will only cause more damage to your water system.