Weather

Summary of Advice

Act quickly, as prolonged exposure to water leaks can cause serious damage to your property.

• Turn off the water at the main supply and drain the system by running all the cold taps.
• Contact your insurance company or landlord.
• Call in the professionals to repair the damage.

Also consider the following:

• Turn off the water heating system then drain it by running the hot taps.
• Turn off the electrics.

In addition, these tips will help prevent a burst pipe and damage to your home:

• Insulate your loft and the sides of your water tanks.
• Insulate all your pipes.
• Open the loft trap door on cold days to let heat in.
• If you're planning to be away for a while, ask a friend or relative to check on your home and make sure the pipes haven't burst or frozen.
• Replace the washers on dripping taps because if they freeze they'll block the pipe.
• Make sure you know where your stop tap is and check regularly that you can turn it off easy in and emergency.
• In very cold weather, keep your heating on low throughout the day, or set it to come on a couple of times a day, especially if you're going away.