How to prevent frozen pipes this winter

Insulate all exposed pipes: loft tanks, pipes in unheated garages, outbuildings, and any pipework on external walls. Self-adhesive foam lagging is cheap and easy to fit — wrap generously at bends and joins.

Insulate the cold water storage tank in the loft — but do NOT insulate the floor under the tank. Heat from the rooms below helps keep the tank from freezing.

Drain and close the outdoor tap for winter: turn off its isolating valve inside and open the outdoor tap to drain any water from the external section.

Know where your stopcock is and make sure it can be turned off quickly — in a burst pipe emergency, fast action limits damage. Turn it to check it moves freely now.

If you're leaving the house empty for more than a few days in freezing weather: either leave the heating on low (minimum 12°C), or drain the system completely via the drain-off valves.

Seal any draughts near pipework — holes where pipes pass through external walls are a major culprit for pipe freezing. Use expanding foam or exterior silicone.

Fit a frost thermostat: these automatically turn the heating on if the temperature inside drops below about 5°C, protecting pipes even if you forget to leave the heating on.