It's the first frosty morning of the winter here at Aqua Soft HQ and, with temeratures set to plummet further this week, you may be worried about the impact that this can have on your water pipes. Whilst this can certainly be a worry, don't fear! Here are some tips on how to stop pipes freezing.

Why are frozen pipes a problem?

Even when the taps aren't turned on,your pipes will usually have a small amount of water in them. When the temperature drops, this water can freeze leaving you without running water. Whilst this is a problem in itself, the bigger issue is that they are also at risk of bursting and flooding your home. Not what you want!

What can I do to prevent this?

• It's much harder for running water to freeze so it's a good idea to turn your taps on and off on a regular basis. Don't forget however, if you’re on a water meter, make sure you keep an eye on your usage if you do this.
• Allow warm air to circulate around pipes in your loft or under the sink by opening up loft hatches and cabinet doors.
• Insulate your water tanks, especially in colder places like the loft and wrap pipes in cold areas with pipe sponge covers. If your water softener is installed outside, make sure that it is in an insulated and weatherproof cabinet!
• Consider completely draining the water from your system if you are likely to be away from home for long periods of time in the colder months.
• Whilst not something that many are wanting to do this year, it's better to leave your heating on when you are away from your property! You only need to set your thermostat to a low level of 12-15 degrees but this will stop internal pipes from freezing by keeping the air inside warm.

What if it's aleady too late?!

If the worst case happens and your water pipes have burst, turn off the stop cock and contact a qualified plumber ASAP! 

If your pipes are only frozen however, you could try defrosting them yourself:

• Turn on the taps. This will help to relieve pressure on the system and will help you to find where the frozen pipes are. Outside pipes or Pipes in unheated places like lofts and outside pipes are the ones which are most likely to freeze. You may be able to work back from the affected tap to find the section that needs thawing.
• You can also try turning up your heating as increasing the air temperature in your home can be enough to thaw affected pipes.
• When the pipe is exposed, you can also try applying heat to the pipe itself. Make sure you do this slowly however! Never use a blow torch or any other form of direct flame as this could melt the pipe or cause it to explode. Instead, a hairdryer on a low heat setting is ideal. If there is no power source nearby, you can wrap a warm cloth around the frozen section of the pipe instead.

If in doubt, it's always sensible to call the experts. Stay warm!