FROZEN water pipes can cost hundreds of pounds to repair if left to explode – but you can avoid being caught out by using one hack.
Winter brings colder temperatures and frozen water inside pipes can expand causing them to burst.
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Fear not though, as Evan Jones, a plumber and bathroom expert from Bathroom Supastore, has revealed one easy trick to stop your pipes from freezing – and it can cost as little as £3.
It will come in handy for households looking for ways to avoid forking out extra money over the coming months with the cost of living so high too.
The hack involves buying a cheap hot water bottle which you can use to thaw out your pipes and stop them from exploding.
You just have to fill the bottle up and work it along the pipes until the frozen water has worked its way out.
It’s most likely the safest option as well.
Evan said: “Electric or gas portable heaters and household electrics such as hairdryers should never be used to thaw your pipes as they could start a fire, especially in enclosed spaces such as the attic or cellar.
“The safer option is to use a cheap hot water bottle.
“While hot water bottles are mostly used to keep us warm at night they are great for wrapping around a frozen pipe to thaw them too.”
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Of course, you should shop around for the best deals on water bottles, as you want to make sure you’re getting the best quality product.
We looked online and found one on sale at Asda for £3, one for £2.99 at The Range and another on Amazon UK for £4.99 excluding delivery.
How can I stop my pipes from freezing?
To avoid getting to the stage where your pipes are frozen and potentially about to burst, there are some things you can do.
Maintaining your pipes will be much more cost-effective than having to get them repaired.
You can do this by keeping your pipes warm with insulation – we found some online starting from as cheap as 62p.
You should put it on pipes in colder places throughout your house, such as the loft, garage or basement.
You can try heating tape as well, which works like an electric blanket for your pipes, although they can be a bit on the expensive side.
Evan said: “To be safe, you should avoid heating tape if you don’t know what you are doing.”
While keeping the heating off might seem like an effective cost-cutting measure, it will increase the risks of burst water pipes.
Instead, keep your heating on a low enough level not to cost too much, but enough to keep your pipes warm.
Evan added: “Keeping your home at a consistent temperature is one of the best ways of preventing your pipes from freezing.
“Keeping your home between 12-15C will keep your pipes from freezing.”
Lastly, you can let some pressure out of your water system by dripping your taps intentionally.
In other news, one plumber previously revealed how finding hidden pipes can help save you from having to fork out for repairs.
Plus, Octopus Energy customers have been left furious over a money-saving scheme where some sat for an hour in the dark to only save £1.
