With temperatures plummeting this winter, it's important to know how to fix a frozen pipe should it happen in your home. This might seem like a minor inconvinience, but it can actually wreak havoc if they crack, causing floods, leaks, and water damage – not exactly what you need after an expensive Christmas period!
Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to prevent this from happening, from keeping your heating on low when you're not home to insulating pipes both internally and externally for protection.
Here, we offer the best advice on how to protect your home from this pesky problem this winter, and what to do should the worst happen.
How to fix frozen pipes
To find out how to fix a frozen pipe, we turned to Harry Davis, co-owner and managing director of Eden Energy Partners, who recommends the following steps:
1. Turn off your water supply: To reduce the risk of flooding, make sure you turn off your water supply promptly.
2. Warm the pipe: Using warm towels, a hot water bottle, or a hairdryer on a low setting, gently warm the pipe starting from the end closest to the tap, working back toward the frozen section. Do not use an open flame or high heat, as this can create a fire risk or damage your pipes.
Note: If several of your pipes appear to be frozen, the pipes have split or you notice a leak, it is time to call in the services of a qualified plumber.
Harry Davis is a heating and plumbing engineer by trade and the co-owner and managing director of Eden Energy Partners, a company focused on smarter heating and cooling solutions. As a director of the company, he plays a leading role in the strategic vision, operations, and growth of the business, aiming to deliver sustainable and efficient energy systems to commercial and residential clients.
Signs of frozen pipes
Unsure if your pipes are frozen? According to British Gas, you should watch out for the following signs:
- Your boiler isn't turning on
- Your central heating is making gurgling sounds when it’s switched on
- You have a clogged sink and a slow-flushing toilet
- Little or no water is coming out of your taps
What causes pipes to freeze?
Freezing occurs when the water inside your pipes drops below 0°C, which, according to Harry Davis, puts pressure on the pipe and causes splits or bursts when it eventually thaws.
"This most commonly happens in areas of the home that are poorly insulated or exposed to cold air, such as lofts, garages, external walls, or unused rooms," he explains. "Long cold snaps are an obvious risk, but freezing can also occur during short cold periods if heating is turned down too low or rooms are left unheated."
How to prevent frozen pipes
Frozen pipes are less likely to occur when the following preventive measures are in place:
1. Install insulation
One of the best things you can do to stop frozen pipes is to insulate them. Use pipe lagging and prioritise spots that are particularly exposed to the cold, such as external pipes and those that are located in the loft, cellar or water tanks.
Insulating pipes is one of those energy saving tips that will not only save you money on your bills but will also prevent your home from any potential damage from burst piping. The insulation will keep the water inside your pipes warmer so you greatly reduce the risk of them freezing.
"A quick and easy technique that can help you save money on your bills for the incoming winter period is pipe lagging," explains Alex Beckwith, bathroom expert at Victorian Plumbing. "By simply wrapping your pipes in insulation, you can prevent and delay the point of freezing."
Pipe lagging involves wrapping your pipes in an insulating material, like this foam 15mm pipe insulation from Wickes, to stop the cold from reaching them and from heat being lost through them. Lagging is inexpensive and comes in many different forms, from foams to tapes. In many cases it can be fitted on a DIY basis. Fitting a tank jacket, like this one for £22 on Wickes, is also a good idea.
2. Know where your stopcock is and turn your water off
"If you have an emergency from a broken outdoor tap, you’ll quickly need to know where your stopcock is located," says Andy Simms, Construction Consultant at MyBuilder. "It’s also advisable to turn your water off at the stopcock if you're going away for a lengthy period – especially over the winter months."
3. Keep your heating on
Right now, central heating costs per hour are very much on people’s minds, and although it can be tempting to try to save money by switching your heating system off, this can actually spell disaster for your pipes.
By keeping your thermostat at around 12–15°C when you're out, you'll prevent your pipes from dropping to freezing temperatures. Don’t worry if you don’t have a thermostat – simply set the timer on your boiler so the heating comes on for a short time each day.
4. Fix leaks quickly
A faulty plumbing system and any leaking taps are even more prone to freezing so make sure your system overall is in good working order – don't just ignore the problem.
In fact, leaky taps can lead to all kinds of other issues in cold weather, causing drains to freeze and water to back up to your sink, which can eventually lead to an overflow.
You can avoid any of these kinds of problems by simply ensuring your taps are always properly turned off and finding out how to fix a dripping tap so that you can put the issue right quickly.
5. Consider smart heating and energy management systems
Installing a smart heating and energy management system in your home, such as OH4, can reduce the risk of frozen pipes, explains Harry.
"They help by maintaining stable background temperatures and giving homeowners better visibility and control over how heat is distributed around the home, without unnecessary energy use. Ultimately, well-designed, efficiently managed homes are far less vulnerable to frozen pipes."
6. Protect outdoor taps
You probably won’t give your outdoor taps a second thought over winter, but it’s a good idea to keep them switched off during the colder months and ensure they are well-insulated. According to Andy, frozen outdoor taps can add "serious pressure" to your internal pipes.
This £5 tap jacket is the easiest – and cheapest – way to protect your outdoor faucet from freezing.
Frozen pipes are a common problem during the cold winter months, but by following the preventative steps above, you'll be in a good position to stop it from happening – and know what to do should it occur.
Now that you know how to fix a frozen tap, you might also want to learn how to prevent a heat pump from freezing and whether heat pumps work in cold weather.
