Tips on keeping your home warm
15th January 2025
Customers
Protect your pipes and keep your home warm
Winter weather can be harsh. One common problem during the cold months is frozen or burst pipes, but with a few simple steps, you can keep your home warm and your pipes safe.
How to report a burst pipe:
If you have a burst pipe please report it by calling us on 0300 555 6666. We treat a burst pipe as an emergency and aim to ensure the area is safe within 24hrs.
We will do our best to repair the pipe at the same time but a follow up appointment may be needed.
Read more about what to do in an emergency if you’re unsure.
Our tips on keeping your home warm:
1. Keep your home warm
Try to keep the temperature in your home above 12°C (54°F). Even if you’re not using every room, keeping the heating on, even at a low setting, will help stop your pipes from freezing. If you’re away, try setting the heating to come on for an hour or two each day.
2. Open your cupboard doors
If you have sinks in your kitchen or bathroom, open the cupboard doors underneath to let warm air reach the pipes. This will stop them from freezing and is a free and easy fix.
3. Insulate your pipes
If your pipes are in colder areas like outside walls or in cupboards, you can protect them with cheap pipe insulation (foam pipe covers). You can find these at most DIY shops and even online. They’re quick to fit and can save you from repairs later.
4. Know where your stopcock Is
It’s important to know where your water stopcock (the valve that turns off your water supply) is, just in case a pipe does burst. If you can’t find it, ask us. Knowing how to turn off your water will stop a big mess and extra damage if something goes wrong.
5. Take care of outdoor pipes
If you have an outside tap, make sure it’s drained and disconnected before the cold weather hits. If you have outdoor pipes, try covering them with some old towels or cloth to help protect them from freezing.
6. Thaw pipes (carefully!)
If you think a pipe has frozen, you can try to thaw it out yourself with a hairdryer or by wrapping it in warm towels. Don’t use anything that could cause a fire like a blowtorch. Worcester & BOSCH have some greats tips on how to safety thaw a frozen condensate pipe.
7. Let the taps drip
When it’s especially cold, letting your taps drip just a little bit can help prevent pipes from freezing. It doesn’t use much water, and it could stop you from facing a much bigger problem later.
8. Check your boiler
Boilers can also freeze in the cold weather, so make sure yours is working. If you notice any issues with your heating, report it to us by managing your home online soon as possible.
9. Reach out for help
If you’re struggling to keep warm or need advice, don’t hesitate to contact us. We have support available to help you keep your home safe and warm.
