In winter burst pipes cause great inconvenience to thousands of people and much damage to buildings and furnishings. Most of this could be avoided if simple precautions were taken at the right time. The danger is greatest if -

• The house is unoccupied and unheated - even during the day.
• You have an outside w.c., or a cistern or water pipes in the roof space which are not lagged.
• The bathroom or kitchen is on the north or east side of the house.

NOW IS THE TIME to act and so prevent damage to your property, inconvenience to your family and unnecessary expense!

Contents of this page:

• What To Do
• Insulation
• Insulation Materials

What To Do

• Make sure taps are turned off properly.
• Lag the cold water cistern
• Place small portable heater near flushing cistern in outside w.c.
• Lag pipes in danger spots.

Insulation

Remember that insulation is not the complete answer to freezing up - it only delays the cooling effect of surrounding low temperatures. Regular heating of your home combined with good insulation is the only sure way of protecting pipes and fittings from damage during long periods of very cold weather. Maintaining the temperature of the house at only one degree above freezing point is sufficient to avoid trouble. Where this is not possible consider a local secondary source of heating, such as a low power tubular heater.

Insulation Materials

Pipes - Preformed foamed plastic sections, glass or mineral wools usually covered with a canvas backing or wrapped with a plastic tape, or felt tape (provided it can be kept dry).

Cylinder - Thermally insulated jacket.

Cisterns - Glass fibre lagging or insulating boards.

Outside WC Cisterns - Thermally insulated jacket or glass fibre lagging.

More About Emergencies:

• Frost Precautions
• Thaw Frozen Pipes
• Bursts And Leaks
• Turning Off Water
• Flooding