Households are being urged to avoid burst pipe damage as a cold snap causes temperatures to drop below -8c in some regions.
As the mercury plummets, insurance and repair experts are warning of the risk of water pipes freezing and bursting.
This damage can land homeowners with average bills of £9,300 to fix, according to the Association of British Insurers trade body – up £500 from five years ago.
Additionally, residents of homes with burst pipes may have to move out while repairs are done.
Drip by drip: Leaking pipes can land homeowners and renters with massive repair bills
But with temperatures suddenly shooting up, homeowners have been warned of the danger of burst pipes – as frozen water may have cracked pipes and the thaw will then lead to leaks.
Pipes that crack in this way can release up to 15 gallons of water a minute, causing immense damage to walls, floors and contents.
Insurer Aviva says that 6 per cent of British homes have had damage caused by leaking pipes due to freezing.
Meanwhile insurer RSA says the risk of this damage could be higher this winter as households try to save money on energy bills by turning their heating on less.
Aviva’s claims figures from 2022 show homeowners suffered problems such as collapsed ceilings, waterlogged carpets, damage to electrics and damage to expensive furniture.
Hazel Johnson, director of claims at Aviva, says: ‘Frozen and burst pipes are a serious problem and even one burst pipe can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to someone’s home, not to mention the huge inconvenience of having to sort repairs during the height of winter.
‘Once pipes burst, the high water pressure can flood an entire home, leading to severe structural damage that can leave a property uninhabitable for months.
‘Escaping water can also cause problems with mould, alongside higher utility bills, damage to household contents and the loss of irreplaceable personal items.’
How to avoid burst pipes this winter
Put the heating on
Keep your house and pipes warm by setting your heating to come on for an hour or two, especially if you won’t be in the house for a period of time – around 13 degrees Celsius will help stop pipes freezing, Aviva said.
Insulate pipes
Insulate exposed pipes with specialist insulation called lagging, which you can usually buy from your local DIY store. Don’t forget exposed pipes in the loft, or your cold-water tank.
Fix leaky taps
Repair leaky taps as the excess water can sit in pipes and cause damage if it freezes. Test each of your taps by turning them fully off. If any continue to drip, get them fixed.
Know where your stopcock is
The stopcock will turn water off in case of an emergency.
It is normally located under the sink, but it’s important you know where yours is.
Peter Clayton, energy and heating expert at of retailer Trade Plumbing, says prevention is vital in avoiding your pipes becoming frozen.
However, if you do find that your pipes have frozen, Clayton said: offers his advice on what to do: ‘Start by locating which pipes are frozen, this will usually be in a cold area of the home.
‘You will need to slowly heat up the area in order to thaw the pipe, this can be done by using an electric heater in the location of the frozen pipe.
‘By slowly heating the space it should thaw the pipe. This can be time consuming so be patient.
‘It is also possible to heat the pipe more directly using a heat source like a hair dryer, however, do not heat too close as this can result in damage.
‘Never use boiling water or a direct flame to heat pipes. This can result in damage and can be extremely dangerous as your pipe may burst.
‘If you are unable to safely thaw your pipe then make sure to enlist professional help.’
